Valenc 826 ia Annual Report 2010 – 2011 Table of Contents

Table of Contents

2Greetings At4 a Glance

After-School6 8In-Schools 10Workshops Tutoring Program

12Field Trips 14Summer 16Scholarships & Awards

18Publications 20Financials 22Our Supporters

1 Greetings

What Students, Teachers, and Parents Say Dear Friends,

Drum roll please! As we gear up for an exciting 10th Anniversary year in 2012, we’d like to share with you our first formal annual report, 826-style.

We hope you will take a few minutes to peruse the 2010–2011 timeline and read through the many accomplishments in each of our program areas. A few of our favorites: We served 6,097 students and 183 teachers and published 172 different volumes of student writing. We grew our summer alumni internship program by 200 percent and our college scholarship program by 50 percent. We also unveiled a gorgeous new website.

Of course, most important to us is what the students, teachers, and parents we serve have to say about 826 Valencia. We are proud to share some highlights with you on the facing page.

As we continue to grow and expand our programming in these difficult economic times, it is more crucial than ever to have the support of our community. Thank you, as always, for being at the heart of what we do.

Sincerely,

Leigh Lehman Brian Gray Executive Director Board President

AFTER SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS IN SCHOOL WORKSHOPS

2 3 At a Glance

History Named after our street address in the Mission District of , 826 Valencia was founded in 2002 by educator Nínive Calegari and author . They were looking is a nonprofit for a way to support overburdened teachers and connect talented working adults with the students who could use their help the most. organization dedicated to Today 826 consists of a writing lab, a student-friendly Pirate Supply Store (which partially funds our programs), and two satellite classrooms in nearby public middle schools. 826 supporting students ages 6 to 18 offers programs that reach students at every possible opportunity—in school, after school, in the evenings, and on the weekends. Our innovative program model has been so successful with their creative and expository that seven additional 826 chapters (each with its own 501(c)(3) status) have opened in cities across the country, in New York, , Ann Arbor, Seattle, , , and writing skills and to helping Washington, D.C. teachers inspire their students to Programs and People Our programming includes a full spectrum of free offerings to students in the San Francisco write. Our services are structured Bay Area, including writing and publishing field trips, evening and weekend creative writing workshops, a program where we send volunteers into high-needs schools to help teachers around the understanding that implement dream projects, and a summer program for students who are reading below grade level. In addition, we offer a range of opportunities for students to publish their work great leaps in learning can happen in student newspapers, chapbooks, anthologies, and in local and national media outlets. with one-on-one attention and Over the last ten years, more than 2,400 volunteers have signed on to help out at 826 Valencia. They range greatly in age, background, and expertise, but they all have a shared passion for our work with young people. Our volunteers are journalists, filmmakers, scientists, that strong writing skills are lawyers, retirees, and recent high school and college graduates. Their participation is a crucial component of our programs’ success, and we are grateful for their generosity and fundamental to future success. steadfast dedication.

4 5 2.14.11 The Young Authors’ Book Project, our largest annual publication, is featured on KQED’s The California Report. 11.13.10–11.14.10 2.3.11 5.10.11 The Year in Review 147 students seek tutor support 4.29.11 Everett Middle School journal- at our second annual Great San Young Writers’ Wall un- ists visit batting practice to Francisco Personal Statement veiling ceremony honors After-school students Samantha, interview players for the San Weekend. five featured writers from Alex, Citlalli, and Santiago review Francisco Giants Magazine. 7.1.10 after-school tutoring. Hop for the San Francisco Chroni- 2.17.11 cle’s movie section. 6.30.11 Pedro and Bianca, the first alumni Pasha, our porcupine pufferfish, Our Spelling Bee for interns to work at 826 Valencia, 10.17.10 thinks for about a half an hour Cheaters featuring Tracy tutor students at summer camp. Indie-rocker Thao Nguyen brings about puffing up, but then decides Chapman, Lemony Snicket, three writers to Different Fur Studio against it. Too showy. Lisa Brown, Adam Savage, to record a song they wrote together and Thao Nguyen raises during summer camp. 4.27.11 1.24.11 nearly $100,000. The Writing and Publishing Sixteen-year-old Tino Mori 8.2.10 Apprentices, a group of dedi- completes his second novel, The Calendreous Monarch, Author Joe Loya kicks off cated teenage writers working 11.16.10 and promptly begins a third. our week-long Young Au- on long-term creative projects, 826 representative Emilie Coulson thors’ Workshop for high meet with staffer Justin Carder flies to New York City to accept the 5.18.11 school students with the for their first workshop of the 2010 Innovations in Reading Prize 6.27.11–6.29.11 class “Owning Your Story.” calendar year. The Bookwich luncheon 10.9.10 from the National Book Foundation. with Catherine Keener 826 Valencia staffers join 42 col- at the St. Regis Hotel leagues in LA for the annual 826 We celebrate the release of our student lit- raises over $100,000. National staff conference. erary journal The 826 Quarterly, Volume 12 at Lit Crawl, the culminating event of San Francisco’s annual Litquake Festival. 8.26.10 1.21.11 First 8/26 Day Write-a- 12.5.10 thon, an idea conceived by 100 Club dinner 4.25.11 Longtime student and “Mayor of 826” 3.1.11 the Youth Advisory Board, celebration at the We announce our six 2011 Carson Everett publishes his fourth Christ- 826 Valencia and 826 NYC raises over $8,000. Mina Dresden college scholarship win- 6.1.11 10.7.10 mas-themed chapbook, The Cute Couple’s Gallery for 150 of are featured on NBC Nightly ners, four of whom are 826 6.20.11 Christmas, to widespread acclaim. our most dedicated News with Brian Williams. CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360° airs a seg- Valencia alumni. 66 students arrive for the first Director and screenwriter volunteers. ment featuring Education Contributor Judd Apatow visits Mission Steve Perry’s visit to 826 Valencia for a day of our six-week Exploring High School for a chat with Storytelling & Bookmaking field trip. Words Summer Camp. 826 co-founder Dave Eggers.

Everett Middle School [ San Francisco, California STRAIGHT-UP NEWS] Volume 07, No. 1, Winter 2011

Where the Owls get their news 12.14.10 UNIformS 9.8.10 By Aracelia Romero UNIform There are a lot of pros and cons to the Ev Por Aracelia Romero ES erett uniform. But what do students think? - you run out of uniform clothes, and you I would like to change the Everett uni only have clean regular clothes to wear out, Hay muchos puntos a favor y en contra del Eighth-grade journalists cel- form policy. In my opinion, it would help - you can’t wear them. uniforme de Everett. ¿Pero qué piensan los el tiempo y tienes que lavar la misma ropa y students express themselves better if the If it were optional, empiezan a perder color. No hay absoluta estudiantes? A mí me could wear whatever they wanted. However y you wouldn’t have mente nada de rojo ni azul en el unifo - Eight-year-old Andrea Ramos gustaría cambiar la 4.7.11 , actual. No puedes vestir pantalones vaqurme 6.2.11 I still think they shouldn’t wear red, blue, or to wash the uniform política de uniformes inappropriate clothing. I think it should be every week. On the ros azules ni camisa blanca sin cuello en estee - ebrate the release of the first de Everett. En mi 3.9.11 momento. Everett tiene uniforme debido a optional for people to wear the uniform be other hand, uniforms opinión, si los estudi cause some people can’t afford clothes other- with the Everett logo - la violencia de las pandillas y por seguridad. antes pudieran vestir writes her first editorial, “What Is than uniforms. If uniforms were optional, represent Everett and Mi opinión sobre uniformes es que en lo que quisieran, eso le students would have a choice. keep students safer. ocasiones no me gusta porque vestir lo mis Students celebrate permitiría expresarse National Pet Writ- Family and friends of 53 young writers If you have nothing mo cada día se hace aburrido. De la misma - ever issue of Slick, a lifestyle The Everett uniform is a white collared mejor. Sin embargo, shirt and black pants, or shorts that are else to wear, you can forma, si se te acaban los uniformes y sólo Release party for Volume 7, Issue 1 aun así pienso que no sometimes big and plain. Girls can also count on the uniform. tienes tu ropa regular para salir, no la pu deberían vestir rojo, New in Fashion” for the 33rd issue wear black skirts. You have to wear the I’ve interviewed a few edes utilizar. Si fuera opcional, no tendrí - azul o ropas inapro same clothes all the time, and you have to students, and just about - que lavar la ropa cada semana. as ing Month (an 826 invention) with the piadas. Pienso que gather at Brava Theater with author Khaled magazine from James Lick wash the same clothes, so they start to fade. all of them agreed Adicionalmente, los uniformes con el llevar uniforme debe There is absolutely no red or blue in the cur with me on the uniform logo de Everett representan a Everett y of Straight-Up News, the bilingual ser opcional porque rent uniform. You can’t wear blue jeans or a- being optional. Sierra Photo courtesy of w mantienen a los estudiantes más protegidos. of our in-house newspaper, the ww.nbsd.k12.ms.us hay personas que no white shirt without a collar right now. Ever Webber explained, “Wearing the same thing Si no tienes nada más que ponerte, puedes pueden pagar otras It’s Hard - release of a publication called ett has a uniform because of gang violence every day gets boring; then you have to keep ropas. Si los uniformes fueran optativos, los contar con el uniforme. Entrevisté a unos Hosseini to celebrate the release of our ninth Middle School. and for safety. washing the same things over and over.” estudiantes tendrían una opción. cuantos estudiantes y prácticamente todo 9.23.10 newspaper from the Everett Middle My opinion on uniforms is that I don’t That’s why uniforms should be optional. El uniforme de Everett es una camisa de estuvieron de acuerdo conmigo en que el s Valencia Bay-Farer. like them at times because wearing the same cuello blanca y pantalones negros o panta uniforme debe ser opcional. Sierra Webber thing every day gets boring. Likewise, if lones cortos que a menudo son grandes y- explicó, “vestir lo mismo cada día se hace Taking Care of One. aburrido, luego tienes que lavar lo mismo annual pub- básicos. Las niñas pueden vestir faldas ne Young Authors’ Book Project gras. Tienes que vestir la misma ropa todo - una y otra vez.” Es por esto que los uni School Writers’ Room. - College essay tutoring season begins formes deben ser opcionales. Pow Er To THE PEoPlE lication, Beyond Stolen Flames, Forbidden wHy EvErETT : SHoUld Hav E a S with tutor visits to five San Francisco By Alexia Castaneda TUdENT Gov ErNmENT Fruit, and Telephone Booths. Have you ever wanted to change something for the better? Have you noticed or felt them to the head of the government and de high schools. you were unhappy with some of the rules? bate them in meetings. - life. A couple skills people learn in student Students are punished for rebelling against All representatives would be picked and government are maintaining a stable school some of the rules or policies at school. But preferred by students because they would and being compatible with fellow repre they just want to change and improve their be elected by students who would vote in a sentatives. Sometimes students will have - student life. Everett does not have a student poll. The representatives would be regul to miss some class to work for the student government, but if we did, we would have students that chose to take the job, plus theyar government, but they’ll still have to make it 4.6.11 a lot of freedom and the ability to make would have to maintain a 3.27 grade point up. Students in government make connec school-wide decisions. Students would be average. There would be school-wide elec tions and are confident. They will find and - able to make school activities. Sales are also tions and debates so students could choose - make plans that suit the school and ever Photo courtesy of a big part of a student government; repre candidates. Students would have to cam one involved. y- semo.edu sentatives could take turns after school sell - paign and publicize themselves. Sometimes - As for the structure of the student gov KIPP Bayview Academy visits 826, marking ing Jamba Juice or candy to other students. - people at my old school, Thomas R. Pol ernment, the head student-government - IN THIS ISSUE: With a student government, we would licita (TRP), became so obsessed with win - teacher and vice principal would assist in have representatives for each grade group ning that they even decided to use bribery to - big topics, yet it would still be mainly run News ...... that would go and help out and also take gain more votes, but usually those students by students. After their run is over, they 1 suggestions from students. Student rep would be taken out of the running by the would have learned and developed quali our 100th field trip of the year. resentatives would go into classrooms to- school principal. ties to do positive things outside the school, - Student Culture ...... make announcements to the grade groups to The benefits for schools with a student and the next cycle of student government 3 tell them what’s happening and what migh government are tremendous. It would teach would start. A very positive outcome of stu Sports ...... possibly affect things in the school. The t and give responsibility to students. With dent government is the one at TRP in Daly - 4 they would take the suggestions and bringn, this sense of a team and leadership, the rep City. TRP was able to raise a lot of money resentatives would learn key skills for future - for good things, like free Jamba Juice and Entertainment ...... trips to Great America. 6

Straight-up News 1 Programs

After-School Tutoring Mondays through Thursdays during the 2010–2011 school year, students piled into our wri- publications made at ting lab to work one-on-one with tutors on their homework in all subjects (not just writing!). 826 Valencia After the homework was done, they gathered their post-school, post-homework energy for The Ruelas Family fun reading and writing activities—like creating stories about imaginary pets or poetry about Sigifredo Ruelas, father of Melody, 9, swords. We enrolled 85 students in the program, half of whom have been attending for over and Karen, 12 (pictured above), and three years. In addition to our regulars, we continued to offer drop-in tutoring on Sundays, Lilia, 14, used to work 19-hour days, and he worried about how to provide his serving an additional 219 students. We also welcomed many younger siblings of our regular average daily student daughters with academic support. He students into the program. Not only is that really cute, because we have literally known these 51 attendance was referred to 826 Valencia three years kids since they were swaddled up like muffins in strollers, but it also further strengthens our = 3 students ago by the coordinator of a summer connection and commitment to the families we serve. And that’s what we’re all about. program his daughters attended. parent advisory What do you appreciate about the board meetings 6 after-school tutoring program at 826? I like that 826 provides support where I feel I have limited capacity. My daughters get help from high-quality Getting the Work Done tutors. I feel that the organization has A study with nearby Edison Charter Academy proven itself safe and trustworthy. What I like the most is the steadfast follow- Homework completed in Fall 2010: through and the personalized attention. 77% 90% What have you noticed about your daughters’ experience in school since coming to 826? Homework completed in Spring 2011: 78% Karen’s grades have risen, and all the 93% girls have shown more pride in their grades. Another nice thing about the program is that all homework is finished before the girls return home, which lets Edison students enrolled at 826 our family have more time together. Classmates not enrolled at 826

Research has shown that when students understand and complete their homework, their chances for overall academic success strengthen considerably.

6 7 - Programs “This anthology changed the way we feel about how books are writ ten — the process you go through and all the work behind the scenes.” —Student Editorial Board from the Young Authors’ Book Project

In-Schools Program A semester with the Straight-Up News (SUN) Becoming Young Our connection with teachers in San Francisco public schools grew even stronger last year. Authors More than half of the teachers we partnered with on classroom-based writing projects were Now in its eighth year, the SUN is the bilingual (English-Spanish), For the Young Authors’ Book Project, ones we’d worked with the year before. Building these relationships with teachers allowed professionally printed school newspaper produced by students in the Everett Middle School Writers’ Room. We worked with our most intensive publishing endeavor us to deepen our collaborations, publishing chapbooks in English and Spanish, returning Mr. Algones’s seventh-graders through the year to produce of the year, we partnered with teacher to the same classes throughout the year, and taking on longer projects. In our third year at three issues of the newspaper. A crew of dedicated volunteers Olive Mitra and 53 juniors and seniors the James Lick Writers’ Room, Ms. Jones’s class created two gorgeous issues of Slick, a new met in the Writers’ Room each week to assist students as they at June Jordan School for Equity. The lifestyle magazine for middle-schoolers. And at the Everett Writers’ Room, the seventh-grade researched, wrote, and edited their articles. Eight students also students worked with 826 Valencia became reporters for Giants Magazine, visiting AT&T Park tutors from January through May to journalism team at the Straight-Up News (SUN) kept up the tradition of excellence in print for press days, sitting in the press booth during games, and write and publish Beyond Stolen Flames, journalism for the sixth year in a row. Print is not dead—in fact, it’s still pretty young. About interviewing players. Through their trips to see the Giants, they Forbidden Fruit, and Telephone Booths, a thirteen or so. gained invaluable insight into the real world of journalism and honed their writing skills at the same time! 273-page anthology of stories about the power of myth.

“I was incredibly surprised to see that my fourth-period group, your After the writing was finished, a 19 Schools Straight-Up News group, did fantastic in the CST (California group of seven students formed an Standardized Tests) this spring. Ten new students are all profi- editorial board that worked alongside cient in language arts. Two others improved. And two more went = 9.5 schools 7,840 professional writers and editors to up from far below basic to basic! That’s a two-band increase! So make important decisions about the total hours of half my students in that class are proficient! I want to say that you, publication. In their introduction to the in-class tutoring in part, helped them. Thank you very much!” = 10 teachers book, they wrote: 50 Teachers — Alex Algones, seventh-grade language arts teacher and SUN partner teacher “This anthology changed the way we feel about how books are written—the = 28 students process you go through and all the work behind the scenes. When we first started 2,372 Students the class, we thought of myths as make- believe, and we had never thought of family stories as myths. Myths are still alive today when we tell stories about our families and our heroes to current generations and generations to come. We hope that you readers can dive into our minds and take a little piece of our history with you, just as we take past histories with us.”

8 9 Programs

Workshops The various workshops we offer at 826 Valencia, from college prep to cartooning, allow our talented volunteers the opportunity to share their skills and professional experiences with students through evening and weekend classes. Most workshops are four two-hour sessions. Below are three examples of workshops 826 Valencia hosted during the 2010–2011 school year.

Three class profiles The Valencia Bay-farer How to Write Like a Dead Person Audio for Teens

WHAT: 826 Valencia’s in-house journalism WHAT: A class in historical fiction for students WHAT: Writing for radio for students ages 15 Workshops Oered at 826 class for students ages 8 to 14 ages 10 to 12, inspired by the teacher’s newest to 17 book Picture the Dead, a Civil War–era illus- WHO: Taught by Programs Coordinator trated ghost story for young adults WHO: Taught by Alex Collins, a radio journal- Miranda Tsang and fifteen volunteer tutors, ist who has reported and produced for various including Sean Conroy, a copywriter; Sabrina WHO: Taught by Lisa Brown, the bestsell- British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Eldridge, a writer for Sugar, Inc.; and Connor ing author and/or illustrator of several books National Public Radio (NPR) programs Buestad, a sports writer for children, teens, and new parents, includ- ing How to Be, The Latke Who Couldn’t Stop FINAL PRODUCT: A podcast of student-writ- FINAL PRODUCT: A newspaper written by Screaming, and Baby Mix Me a Drink. She has ten pieces, recorded at Youth Radio in Oakland and for students, released every five weeks been a volunteer and generous friend of 826 Valencia since the beginning. “Before the field trip, Alex, the instructor, told us 3 Non-Fiction/ Essay “I wrote my article about Fashion Week in New about recording with highly professional equip- A Page From the Grave, 5 Creative Fiction York, and it was cool because when I grow up I FINAL PRODUCT: ment, which caused the tech-nerd inside of me a chapbook of letters, stories, and profiles of 2 Poetry want to become a fashion designer. Writing my to brim with glee. In the soundproof room, the characters based on old photographs 5 Journalism article helped me find new styles and what the microphones picked up every sound we made, 1 Photography colors are for this season. I’m taking the class from the phonemes of our words to the slightest “These contemporary preteens effortlessly chan- 2 Audio/ Video Arts again right now!” lip smacking noise. I felt like Ira Glass. Each neled the spirits of bygone days: of old men 2 College/ SAT Prep and every young person present in the room was — Andrea Ramos, age 9 and orphans, authors and students, and, in one 2 Science Writing going to be able to conquer the world with their fantastic case, a circus horse. They wrote their 1 Study Skills voices and stories.” stories on parchment with dip pens and ink. I 6 Craft-Based 8 Editing & Publishing couldn’t have asked for a more enthusiastic and — Courtney Lee, age 18 inspired class.” total — Lisa Brown, author/illustrator 37 workshops

10 11 Programs “[My students] learned that narrative writing can be extremely creative with no limits.” —Alba Akrabawi

Field Trips Top 20 book titles of 2010–2011 Each one was published in two hours during a storytelling During two-hour visits to our center during the 2010–2011 school year, and bookmaking field trip. students wrote collaborative stories, published professionally designed and illustrated books, or received individualized attention on personal statements, The Amazing Honeymoon of Mr. Vamp and Mrs. Werewolf argumentative essays, or poetry. Through this program we reached out to Overcoming Freezing to Help People many different students and teachers all over San Francisco, forging powerful The Great San Francisco Tiger Rescue of 2011 and lasting relationships. Croc Hog and the Spectacular Fast Food Race Teachers Know Best Pointy the Fork Strikes Again: A Bowling Alley Tale Waffle Domination “Seeing the story take shape from their The Attack of Havlavalala and the Threat to the Bunnies ideas, working as a group very much Field how we do in school, then being able to Teachers The Sprinkles are Gone! finish their own stories and endings— Trips Chomper Chases the Ice Cream Dolphins in the Soda Ocean Served these were great things. I have been The Misplaced, Misfit Monk coming here for a few years now, and Lee and the Infamous Alien Adoption adding the bilingual component was 128 Quackers Is No Chicken great.” Schools The Sweet Friends of Pastry Park Take on Appetitus – Carlos Castillo, second-grade teacher Fashion Wars: The Wrath of Dr. Root Beer Served Cesar Chavez Elementary School Pinky and Billy Bob Seek the Giant Buffet 133 “The collaborative writing was a perfect 63 The Crazy Pirate and His Splashing Pirates scaffold for my reluctant writers. They Where Are the Poems? A Dancing Woolly Mammoth Knows! learned that narrative writing can be The Mystery of Puppy Face the Watermelon Zombie extremely creative with no limits.” The Revenge of Supa Ninja and the Mystery of 829 Valencia – Alba Akrabawi, fourth-grade teacher Cheese and Garbage on Mars 2,977 Cleveland Elementary School “I thought the one-on-one element as students were writing the ending with Students tutors was priceless. It is so valuable for Served my students to get that individualized 347 attention!” Outbursts from our cranky – Madeline Newman, fifth-grade teacher Think College Now Elementary School fictional publisher, Mr. Blue

12 13 Programs

Summer High School Writing Camp

In the summer of 2010, we offered two main programs, one for elementary and one for high We hosted this annual workshop (now called the Young Authors’ school students, to provide a space for writers who might not otherwise pick up a pencil Workshop) during the first week in August. Twenty-three stu- during the three long months between school years. dents attended the camp and participated in workshops with lo- cal authors including Gene Yang, Joe Loya, , Genny Day in the Life of Lim, Chinaka Hodge, and more. Michelle Benitez Exploring Words Summer Camp 9:30 Michelle Benitez arrives at We expanded this camp (previously called Summer Series for English Language Learners) with a 826 Valencia for her first session of small schedule change that made a big difference for our students. In addition to the intensive six- Exploring Words. week reading and writing programs we’ve offered for the last six years in conjunction with Mission Learning Center, we added another program we’re calling Playing Outside in the Sun (or should we 10:00 It’s Insect Week, so Michelle is say fog? We should probably say fog). Actually, we’re not calling it that, but we did partner with out- working on her imaginative narrative of a door educators to add some outdoor time to break up the day and keep students fresh and focused. It monarch butterfly’s migration to Mexico, also allowed us to grow the programs in a variety of ways. which will become the opening story of the summer’s chapbook, This Good Morning the First Thing I Did Was Read. Program Growth in 2010 11:30 Michelle walks to Mission Learning Center with the other second total number total number of students of students and third-graders in her group for lunch. in 2009 in 2010 12:30 Upstairs at Mission Learning Center, the focus turns to reading. Michelle selects a book about monarch butterflies, sticking with the insect theme.

hours of literacy hours of literacy 2:30 After a full day of writing and support per support per reading, Michelle and her group of student in 2009 student in 2010 210 twenty-five students head outside to play for the last session of the day.

4:30 Michelle’s mom picks her up at Dolores Park, and we’ll see her again tomorrow morning!

percentage of parents delighted by the longer = 15 hours 100% day and more services = 5 students 14 15

Programs “During the reading, my heart was racing, and I saw some people crying. It’s amazing what words can do” —Aress Almendares

Scholarships & Awards 2011 Scholarship Winners Every year since 2002, 826 Valencia has awarded scholarships to outstanding Bay Area high Our six scholarship winners stood out because of how much they have gone out of their way to care—about their education, their com- school seniors—many of whom are 826 program alumni. Last year we awarded six $15,000 munities, and their future. It is an honor to have them as part of the scholarships (more than ever before!). We also recognized eight amazing teachers with our 826 Valencia family. Student Profile: $1,500 Teacher of the Month Award for their above-and-beyond commitment to education. Aress Almendares Maria Teresa Alfaro Winner of the Nathan Jillson Memorial Scholarship Aress Almendares, winner of the 2011 Graduate of Mission High School New Voice Scholarship, participated Freshman at San Francisco State University in our Young Authors’ Book Project 2010–2011 Teacher in 2010. The topic was the American number of scholarship of the Month Winners winners since 826 Elizabeth Jeronimo Dream, and Aress wrote about his life, opened in 2002 Winner of the 826 Valencia Scholarship where he’s been, where he’s going, and Susanna Bell 39 Graduate of John O’Connell High School Berkeley High School the wisdom he has amassed along the Freshman at University of California, Riverside way. During the book release party, he Suzy DeBlois read his essay to a room packed with Jasmine Pettway John O’Connell High School families, teachers, tutors, and authors. Winner of the Taylor Renfrew Ingham Memorial Scholarship Graduate of Metropolitan Arts & Technology High School Todd Higashi “Somehow when I was writing my Freshman at University of San Francisco Alameda Science and Tech Institute story, I started writing about personal struggles and of influences that only I Winifher Vasquez Jeremiah Jeffries knew,” he says. “The feeling of letting Winner of the Irving Hochman Memorial Scholarship Redding Elementary School = 3 scholarship winners Graduate of Mission High School it all spill out on paper felt like heaven. Freshman at University of California Santa Cruz It was like letting go of pain at will. I Olive Mitra must have written ten introductions June Jordan School for Equity until it felt right. As time got closer number of tears shed at the Jasmine Price-Tillery awards dinner in August: Winner of the Young Author’s Scholarship to submit my final draft to 826, I felt Richard Silberg too many to count! Graduate of June Jordan School for Equity scared, and I’m the fearless type. It Martin Luther King Middle School Freshman at Howard University was my mind, body, and soul on paper, total amount Beth Trevor so I felt vulnerable. I finally let go and awarded to Aress Almendares Jefferson Elementary School teachers submitted my paper, and my teacher $79,500 Winner of the New Voice Scholarship told me I was chosen to read at the Graduate of John O’Connell High School Suzanne Vradelis publishing celebration. I was shocked. Freshman at San Francisco State University West Portal Elementary School During the reading, my heart was racing, and I saw some people crying. It’s amazing what words can do. Since then, I’m a much more open person. I’m always grateful to have 826 as part of who I am.” 16 17 Publications

The Bookshelf

Nearly every project we take on at 826 ends with the publication of a professionally designed “Essentially — and I mean this in the cheesiest, most and bound book. Some of the projects take only two hours, some take several months, but sentimental way—826 has played an enormous role in in the end students leave 826 with the excitement of seeing their names in print, having my life, and I am eternally grateful.” their voices heard and their hard work celebrated. Here is a sampling of some of the 172 different titles published last year. — Gina Cargas

PagePage 1 Issue 35: January/February, 2011

Free to kids

Written by students. Read by all. OgS? al WITh D T’S ThE DE LL, Age 8 WhaBy Lucy Sto eah, I ARF! Dogs. Awesome, right?! y dogs know. Well, I’m here to tell you why ngs are so important to humans. First thi kay. first, how about some interviews?!llie what o the First, I asked my friend e funniest story was with her dog, Lucy, who’s about two years old and is a yellowp on lab. She said, “When she jumped uer out the counter and ate all the butt of the butter dish!” Pretty funny, huh? Heh. So, anyway, I also asked her ifthing her ere. Photo courtesy of Craig Stoll house was on fire, would the first rvived!), on my dog’s back and just stood th she would grab be her dog? She said, rabid muskrat (don’t worry, I su I have a Ridgeback and it was so funny.im “yes, but she’s too heavy for me to carry,ing!) and asked him the funniest story that He did it three times!” Next I asked to hwalk. (seriously, that dog would eat anyth happened with his dog, and he said, what was his favorite type of dog so I’d probably ask my dad for help.” “When he jumped up and put his paws He said, “A good dog! I like dogs whoe With that in mind, I went to find my in my hands.” few know that life is to enjoy. I often tak next interview! I asked my dog walker, Mike, a was rescue dogs who are scared of life. I likend I trudged a looong journey, throughlls, questions. First I asked him what to show them that they can trust me a the funniest thing that happened while that life is fun.” seas of basketballs and soccer ba s “I just cA and talked to a I went to the SP jungles of playing kids, and mountainhe he was out walking dogs. He said, ier-mix continued on p. 6 of snack containers, all the way to t, I’d recently started walking a terr the other day, he jumped Bermuda four-square court (seriously named tobi. avoid it if I were you!). I found Reid, a brownies will make you food if you leave hey are unbaptized souls, good for hell. t some ingredients out for them. but they work hard and are unfortunatelyide in you should know that goblins hate to Fairies, Brownies, shy. It’s sad that they have to h people and cute animals, so they try oblins are evil and goblins. Oh My! the woods because people invaded kill them and us. g and RvIce, Age 9 continued on p. 5 By MARgot Se their land. Now you know a little more about fairies. Brownies are very helpful creatures. 2 Mythical creatures are interesting and INSIDE: ...... stolen flames,beyond forbidden fruit, and telephone booths can do different things. I am writingou Fortunately they are practically like mini Technology & Society 4 ...... 7 about fairies, brownies, and goblins. y people. they look like mini people and Zoology (Sort Of) Culture ...... 8 can make up a mythical creature if you they eat mini people food—when they ory Society ...... written by feel like it, then you can put it into a st feel like it, if you leave some ingredients f students at June Jordan School for Equity that you make up also! out they will make you a piece o Many people believe in fairies; do you?too food. Now you know that maybe some Fairies are too bad for heaven and

It Is a Hard Job Taking THE 826 Quarterly 12 The Valencia Bay-farer BEYOND Slick Magazine Straight-Up News (SUN) We Are Not Made Up THIS GOOD MORNING THE Care of One The Quarterly is published The Bay-Farer is our in-house Last year we partnered with Slick is the lifestyle magazine for To Shakespeare or not to Shake- This gorgeous, glossy gem came FIRST THING I DID WAS READ This is a collection of stories for between two and seventeen times monthly newspaper, created by 8- 53 students from June Jordan teens by teens. It comes out of speare? That is just one of the out of a partnership with the And the second thing the English- and about pets from our National a year, and features some of the to 12-year-olds, featuring articles School for Equity to produce this the 826 Writers’ Room at James questions asked by the intrepid nonprofit Geneva Car Barn and language learners in our Explor- Pet Writing Month workshop, cre- best student writing from all our on everything from giant squids gorgeous, nationally distributed Lick Middle School twice a year middle-school journalists from Powerhouse—an organization that ing Words Summer Camp did ated by our talented after-school programs. This issue also features and the future to Justin Bieber’s collection of writing on myths. and is sold in fine stores all over the Straight-Up News. For seven provides arts-related job training was write. How can we be so sure? tutoring students. bite-sized summaries of student haircut and global warming. the Mission. years running, the SUN has to underserved youth. Because we have this wonderful works produced by after-school been the source for the finest bi- collection full of poems, letters, tutoring students for the literary lingual journalism in the Everett short stories, and more to prove it! connoisseur on the move. community.

18 19 Financials

–  Sources of Income By the Numbers We are proud of our financial track record at 826 Valencia, and we’re happy to report that our  Foundations total assets at the close of the fiscal year* exceeded $2 million. These are tough economic  Individuals times, but thanks to our many supporters, we were able to maintain the breadth and depth of all our programs and accomplish all of our organizational goals for the year.   Special events  Pirate Store  Investments 2009–2010 2010–2011  Corporations INCOME  Government Contributions from individuals $253,899 $339,070 In–kind donations Contributions from institutions $352,000 $434,045  Special events $77,798 $145,854 Other $180,470 $187,733

Total $906,883 $1,106,702

EXPENSES –  Allocation of Expenses Programming $607,043 $867,747 Fundraising $111,653 $139,669 Administrative $96,041 $75,255 Pirate Store $57,464 $47,090

Total $872,201 $1,129,761  Programning  Fundraising TOTAL ASSETS $1,936,089 $2,037,505  Administration  Pirate Store

* July 1, 2010–June 30, 2011

20 21 Our Supporters

Rosemary & Jon Lehman Sarah Chester Kelley Keery June Liang Diana Chu Andrea Kershaw Thank You* R. Michael Lieberman & Deborah Bishop Amy Cohen Barbara Konecky Amy Love Sean Conroy Stacy Krieger $50,000 and above Dawn Dobras Vendela Vida & David Eggers Mike & Jenny Lucey Jaqueline Scott Corley Martha Kropf Marsha Garces Ayelet Waldman & Michael Chabon Anonymous Joshua J. Mahoney Marie D’Amico & Steve Capps, Julie Lacy Linda & Roger Goossens Ashley & Minott Wessinger of the The Brin Wojcicki Foundation Frank Marquardt & Emma Capps Greg Land Suzy & Bill Gray McKenzie Foundation Lisa Brown & Daniel Handler Brian Marsh Catherine Davis Courtney Landis Karen Green Rick & Nicole Wolfgram City Arts & Lectures Christopher McNamara & Jill Donaldson Abigail De Kosnik Nathan & Mary Lane Heffernan Group Foundation Richard & Wendy Yanowitch San Francisco Department of Children, Helaine & Rudy Melnitzer Benjamin De Kosnik Christine Law Hotel Rex Youth, & Their Families Maureen Middlebrook Julia della Croce Phred Lender Melind Joseph John Walter & Elise Haas Fund $500 – $999 Morehouse Family Fund Kariena Dill Gloria Lenhart Metta Fund Ameriprise Financial Corinna Mori Diane Dillon Jennifer Leonard Morgan, Lewis & Bockius $25,000 – $49,999 Baer-Mulcahy Management Van Nguyen Jennifer Dobrowolski Mark John Leonard PSN Family Charitable Trust David John Baker Risa & Bruce Nye William Donahoe Sheila Levine Farese Family Foundation Regroup Bi-Rite Market Joy Opfer Karen Donald David Ligare & Gerald Smith Lee & Russ Flynn Uvas Foundation Alexander Binnie Sheryl Pereira Karen Duffin Chad Lott The James Irvine Foundation Wild Planet Entertainment, Inc. Ernest Chow & Gwenith Hinze Malia Peterson Waymen D. Dwinell Kimberley Magowan & Brian Wagner National Endowment for the Arts The Wyss Foundation David & Alexis Colker Quadra Foundation Eber Charitable Trust II Kate Marshall Commonwealth Joshua Robison Farah El Abed Kathryn McCarthy $10,000 – $24,999 $1,000 – $2,499 Diablo Publications Mary Schaefer Nkechi Emeruwa Don & Judy McMorrow Anonymous Alexander Family Fund Samir Razuk Filho Lynn & Alan Seigerman Victoria Emery Burt & Sandra Meyer Tad & Emilia Buchanan Maria Baird & George Cotsirilos Mark Finnemore Lori & Glenn Shannon Marc Engel Microsoft Matching Gifts Program David B. Gold Foundation Christopher Beckmann The Gelfand Family Foundation Brendan Smith Jason Espada Alice Middleton The Dover Fund Cassandra Benjamin Michael Ginther & James O’Donnell Lincoln Smith Mike & Julie Farrah Michelle Mitchell The Fleishhacker Foundation Bernard & Vivian Manekin Foundation David Glasser Jennifer Soffen Amy Faulkner Katrina & Tim Morshead Brian & Susan Gray Jeffrey Bluestone Ajay Godhwani & Nita Chatwani Nancy Spector Jeanne Feldkamp Lori Murray James Greer & Daphne Keller Boston Foundation Grey Global Group Barbara Spicer Lisa Feldstein & Maxwell Drukman Bita Nazarian Jennifer Jimenez-Cruz Patricia K. Bruens Kahle/Austin Foundation University of San Francisco Christine Ferrari Andrew Neuschatz & Sharon Epel Jordan Kurland Carswell Family Giving Fund Michael Karas Sandy Vergano Peter Finch Beverly & Bradley Oneto Margaret A. Cargill Foundation Harold & Jennifer Check James & Patricia Lesser Cynthia Waszak Geary Anthony Firestine Madeline Ono The Family of Taylor Renfrew Ingham Kimberly Connor Ann Lyons & Jacques Rutschman Pamela Foeckler Outlaw Consulting The San Francisco Foundation Anne-Marie Cordingly Daniel & Lisa Martin $100 – $249 Rebecca A Fox Patti Pace The Stocker Foundation The Donald & Carole Chaiken Foundation Maryann E. Kirchner Family Foundation Anonymous M Allen Fryer & Jennifer Brokaw Pacific Foundation Services Sustainable Arts Foundation Eleven, Inc. Gayle & Michael Murphy Daphne Alden Charlie & Julie Gebhardt Laurie Ellen Pellicano Verizon Foundation Jacob Farkas Katy & David Orr American Express Foundation Sue Geisler Nancy Pelosi Peter Yedidia & Connie Rubiano Carol Francis Martin & Maria Quinn Sigrid Anderson Genentech Givingstation Pendragon Fine Books Galinson Family Foundation Rabine Family Fund David Arrick Kayvaan Ghassemieh Ellen Perelman $5,000 – $9,999 Gap Foundation Gift Match Program Jeffrey & Kelly Reine Amy Baker Guy Gilbert Permit Me Goldman Sachs Celia Sack Anne Bakstad & Ed Cohen Anthony & Caroline Grant Charlotte Petersen Brilliant Ink Google Matching Gifts Program Blake Seely Lynda Balslev Grasplan George Pfau EMIKA Fund Tony Grant Melanie Sherk & Kathryn Scott Chino Baluyut Joe Griggs Meredith Pike-Baky Gina Falsetto & Warren Brown Ann Hatch & Paul Driscoe Susan E. Stern Scott Banachowski Michael R. Hackett Stephanie Pinkham Tracy Ferron N & K Hawley Mary Taugher & F. Martin Booth Linda Barrett Deb Hamilton Sally Randel Franklin Advisers, Inc. Jay Jacobs & Liz Hume California Teachers Association Pamela & Douglas Barry Matthew & Kathleen Hannigan Patrick Reeves Harriet Heyman & Michael Moritz Fund Jeffrey & Jeri Lynn Johnson Chase Tingley Wayne & Therese Batmale Debra Hannula & David M Bienvenu Kazz Regelman Isabel Allende Foundation Kitchen Table Foundation Wells Fargo Community Support Tim Beattie Ed Haslam Dolly Reynolds Gail & Ian Jardine Latin School of Chicago Campaign Megan Beaudet Kristen Hatcher Kate Rezucha The Joseph R. McMicking Foundation Pauline Linhart Whole Foods Jennifer Benka Susan Heller Antonia Richmond Kerr & Wagstaffe LLP Lululemon Yahoo! Matching Gifts Program Erin Bennett Lisa Hennessy Donna Riley Mark Lampert & Susan Byrd Joshua Mahoney Barbara Bersche & David Katznelson John Herbstritt Marcia Rodgers & Garrett Loube Lee & Perry Smith Fund Diane & Tony Martorana $250 – $499 Dean Blackketter & Kathleen Wydler Lance Hirsh Jonathan Root Matt Middlebrook & Lisa Presta The McLin Family Foundation Gerald Ambinder & Audrey Ferber Deborah Bowers Kate Hoisington Karen Rowan The Morrison & Foerster Foundation Miracle Mile Investment Company Hathaway Barry Bowes Family Trust Cara Hopkins Salesforce.com Foundation Wolfe & Tara Rudman John Odell Jutta Degener Andrea Bromley Dan & Jackie Ikeda Gerald Scheible Scandling Family Foundation The Odell/Kemp Fund Michael R. Farrah Robert Brower Donna Ikeda Margaret Schlatter Amy Sherman-Palladino Ike & Zohreh Okuda Leslee Ann & Wayne Feinstein Janie Bryant Natalie Inouye Ivy Schlegel James & Karen Wagstaffe Barbara Parkyn Haiyi Hotels Worldwide Kathleen Buchanan Richard & Nancy Jacobs Brenton Schlender Virginia Achatz Pell Linda & Kit Hinrichs Cal Insurance & Associates Joseph & Urmila John & Lorna Jacoby-Schlender $2,500 – $4,999 Steve Portigal Caroline Hunter Chris Campbell Victor E. Johnson Harry Schlitt Alexandra Quinn & Mark Spolyar Joe & Barbara Gurkoff Philanthropic Fund Martha & Joachim Cargas Myla Jolley Elizabeth Schmitt Anonymous Benjamin Sigelman Campbell Judge & Kimberly Ellis Raja Shah Bouchercon 2010 John Wiley & Sons Brandon Chalk Steven Nathaniel Wolkoff Foundation Adam Klein Shelia Chatterjee Justine Juson & Travis Pacoe Bryan R Shiles Caruso Family Foundation Barry & Majorie Traub Pamela Kamatani Tiffany Shlain & Ken Goldberg Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy LLP Sydnie Kohara & George LaPlante & Sanjay Pardanani UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay Jason Krasko Helen Chellin Trudy & Steve Katznelson Allene Sieling

*If your name is not listed properly, please call us at 415 642 5905 x210 so that we can correct the mistake in our database and 22 extend our profuse apologies! We truly value your support. 23 Our Supporters

Debbie Sipowicz Gregory Gardner Tanya Schornack Judy Smith Bette Garratt Schwab Charitable Fund Julia Smith Linda Gebroe John Houston & Karen Elizabeth Scott Cancion Soto Ana Marino Ghosh William Scott Shauna & Michael Stark Michael Grade Betsy Segarra Tania Stepanian James Greer Earl & Christine Siems Kimberly Stewart Hopper & James Stearns James Griggs Michael Silverman Anne & Craig Stoll Heather Haggarty & Jonathan Levine Paul Silvestrini & Catherine Chatti Cotter Eric Sumner Lauren Hall David Simison Christy Susman Howard Harband Karen Sixt Heidi Swanson Audrey Heller Katharine Swan Gloria Tai Patrick M. Holian Mary Taylor Keith Tao Denise M. Holian Torani June Taylor William & Katherine Kong Hubbard Bonnie Tsui David & Anne Thompson Prudence Hull Mike & Ellen Turbow Amy Thurman IDEO Vicki Vaughn Maria Thurman Anthony Iovino Sarah Vetters Joey & Mary Toboni Diane Johnsen Visa Givingstation Amy Torchia & Mike Levin Kelly Johnson Anna Wagner Jen & Adam Traeger-Hirschfelder Steven Kahn & Catherine Brady John R. Watts Philanthropic Fund Matthew Kelemen Erin Wilkey Paula Trahon Chris Kern Colin Williamson Anthony Valenzuela Andrew & Nancy Kho Ramona Williamson Stephaen Vance Jonathan & Tiffany Klein Valerie Williamson Nico Vera Keith Knight Kristin Wynholds Paul Vieyra & Stanley Abercrombie Dara Kosberg Anne Zimmerman Marc & Megara Vogl Jill Kramer Jessica Walter Jenny Krause In-Kind Partners Olivia Ware Donna Lack 20th Century Fox Elizabeth Weld Nolan Virginia Lacy A Bed of Roses Florist Peter & Lisa Westley Keith Laidlaw Bi-Rite Creamery Jessica Wheeler Kristina Lewis Books, Inc Tracy White Bonnie Lin Dependable Letterpress, Inc. Nancy Wiens Amy Linder Gordon Biersch Tricia Wong Paula Lynch Green Apple Books Maggie & David Wooll Valerie Margol International Pastry Wry Baby Melinda Maxwell-Smith Java Supreme Julia Yang Anne Mazer Lost Weekend Video Tiffany Zarem Brendan & Mary McLoughlin Miette P. McWilliams & S. Yazdi Mina Dresden Gallery $50 – $99 Alejandro Medina Mission Pie Anonymous Tessa & John Melvin Mission: Comics & Art Lisa Hammond Abercrombie Olive Mitra Mother Jones Melissa Jane & Raymond Archer Ellen Moore & John Fletcher Noe Bagels Lincoln Atkinson Maria Morga & Miguel Joshua de Avila ODC Dance Ben Bayol Frances Morse Papalote Mexican Grill Virginia Berry C. Scott & Danielle Morse Pop Chips Adelie Bischoff Joel Murach Range Restaurant Wendy A Bond Katharine Odell Ravenswood Winery Meryl Brennan Andrew Owen Ritual Roasters Fiona Burgess Thomas & Virginia Palmer San Francisco Center for the Book Amy Choi Jessica Partch San Francisco Zoological Society Roger Chu Leo & Lisa Pereira Sports Basement Mary Ciofalo Kenneth Peters Starbucks on Mariposa Street Kathleen Mandry Cohn Amy Petrolati & Phil Kohlmetz Sweet Constructions Kyle Conerty Julie A Presta Tartine Kathleen D’Amore Borys Procak Whole Foods Noe Valley Michael Damiano Mary Pult & Mitchell Rosenthal Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Joe Doctor Lynn Quade Yoga Kula Heidi Dolamore Timothy & Alexis Rand William Doyle Eric Rapin & Elaine Brannigan Ruann England Therese Rittenbach Janet & Jacob Ference Thomas & Pamela Routson Lisa Freeman Christina Ruiz-Esparza Sue Fujitani Mary Russell

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826valencia.org

San Francisco, CA 94110 CA Francisco, San

826 Valencia Street Valencia 826

Vendela Vida Vendela

Mary Schaefer Mary

Alexandra Quinn Alexandra

Abner Morales Morales Abner

Olive Mitra Olive

Thomas Mike Thomas

Matt Middlebrook Middlebrook Matt

Barb Bersche Bersche Barb

Michael Beckwith Michael

Brian Gray, President Gray, Brian

Board of Directors Directors of Board

Miranda Tsang Miranda

Valrie Sanders Valrie

María Inés Montes Inés María

Yalie Kamara Yalie

Lauren Hall Lauren

Jorge Garcia Jorge

Anne Farrah Anne

Emilie Coulson Emilie

Justin Carder Justin

Raúl J. Alcantar J. Raúl

Leigh Lehman, Executive Director Executive Lehman, Leigh

Staff Staff

one-on-one attention and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success. future to fundamental are skills writing strong that and attention one-on-one

Our services are structured around the understanding that great leaps in learning can happen with with happen can learning in leaps great that understanding the around structured are services Our

their creative and expository writing skills and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. write. to students their inspire teachers helping to and skills writing expository and creative their 826 Valencia 826