NEWS FROM Project Open Hand
Spring Issue, No. 102
SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 2015 OAKLAND’S PRESERVATION PARK Toast & Jam is our new brunch benefit event in the East Bay. See page 4 for details.
PATRICIA’S STORY I Won’t Give Up You can see it in her smile. Although Patricia has been battling breast cancer since 1995, her optimism and her positive attitude remain undaunted.
When Patricia’s breast cancer returned last year, Project Open Hand joined in her battle, providing healthy groceries to ensure she gets the essential nutrition she needs to stay strong and continue to recover.
“Before I started getting food from Project Open Hand, I was eat- ing a lot of cereal,” said Patricia, who lives on a tight budget after losing her husband to liver cancer. “I’m still fighting my cancer. I know I need to eat right, but life is expensive and most of my paycheck goes to my rent.
SINCE EXPANDING SERVICES LAST YEAR, PROJECT OPEN HAND SERVES CLIENTS WITH
MORE THAN 25 DIFFERENT TYPES OF CANCER. Patricia (in front) with members of our Client Services Team
Getting groceries and meals has helped me close the gaps in When asked which foods she most enjoys from Project Open Hand, my budget and get the healthy food I need,” Patricia said. Patricia said, “I love the bell peppers and the turkey. I’m not a big “Getting help from Project Open Hand helps me keep going, fruit eater, but I take the fresh produce I get and make great smooth- keep fighting. I won’t give up.” ies. And I’m trying new foods, too. I’d never had sunflower seed Ironically, Patricia visited Project Open Hand dozens of times butter before, but I’ve tried it and it’s really good! I can really see before she ever became a client. As a home healthcare aid for how nutritious and good the food is for me.” some of our critically ill clients, she often came to our San Patricia also enjoys being part of the caring community at Project Francisco Grocery Center to help clients do their weekly Open Hand: “I love coming in for my groceries, or for my clients, shopping or to pick up meals on their behalf. and talking with the volunteers and staff. Everyone is so nice. It’s “One day when I was in the Grocery Center with a client, I not just about getting the food and leaving. They really know how to thought to myself, I’m just going to ask. Maybe I can get some make me feel welcome – treating me in the same way that I care for help, too,” she said. my clients. I really appreciate that.” MEET OUR Simon Pitchford NEW CEOS and Mark Ryle
Project Open Hand is delighted to announce that Simon Pitchford and Mark Ryle have been appointed to lead our organization as Co-Chief Executive OpenHand.org Officers, starting April 4, 2015. Their appointment 730 Polk Street San Francisco, CA 94109 follows the departure of prior Executive Director, (415) 447-2300 Kevin Winge. 1921 San Pablo Ave Oakland, CA 94612 (510) 622-0221 Simon brings a wealth of scientific, sales and marketing, and operations experience to Project Open Hand’s mission is to nourish and engage our community by providing meals with POH, joining our agency in 2012 after a love to the sick and the elderly. 25-year career in the research and biotech MealTimes is published quarterly for the friends and clients of Project Open Hand. industry. Mark joined POH in August EDITOR: Maria Stokes, 2013 and brings a unique lens to his Vice President, Communications work at POH, having spent the first 20
DESIGN: Praise Santos, ComePlum years of his career in corporate finance, then transitioning to social FOUNDER: Ruth Brinker work in 2007. Co-CEOs Simon Pitchford (left) and Mark Ryle BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CHAIR: Scott Willoughby, impact by expanding programs and empowering Uber Technologies Q. WHAT ARE THE FIRST CHALLENGES YOU PLAN TO TACKLE AS THE CO-CEOS OF our most vulnerable neighbors to move toward VICE-CHAIR: Karl Christiansen, Wells Fargo PROJECT OPEN HAND? wellness. SECRETARY: Linda Glick, San Francisco
CHAIR OF FINANCE COMMITTEE: Simon and Mark: We are excited to lead Mark: I believe every single person on this Timothy Barabe, San Francisco Project Open Hand to help ensure it continues planet deserves complete access to healthy, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AD HOC MEMBER: to thrive and grow over the coming years. We nutritious food. When you add the vulnerability Keith Maddock, San Francisco continue to implement Project Open Hand’s of our clients and all the love that comes with Diana Adachi, Accenture our meals, it is the most compelling story I can three-year strategic plan, which places Ben Baker, Walmart.com renewed emphasis on wellness and nutrition imagine. I get to be a part of this amazing team
Jorge Cino, Family Independence Initiative for all communities we serve. who wake up every day, committed to getting seniors and the critically ill the delicious, Mike Dillon, PwC The Food=Medicine Pilot Study that we are nutritious food that will help them feel better. Brendon Kearney, Vanguard Properties conducting in partnership with the University Our clients have so many hoops to jump
Anita Jaffe, San Francisco of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of through; while we can’t fix everything for them, Medicine is nearing completion. The pilot study Selwa Hussein, Pandora we can address the nutrition part. will demonstrate that providing nutrition to Carmela Krantz, ClearSlide people with critical illness benefits their health. Q. WHAT EXCITES YOU MOST ABOUT OUR Aneesh Krishna, McKinsey & Co. We anticipate the study results will help WORK? David Landis, Landis Communications Project Open Hand to secure new funding
Jay Stowsky, Haas School of Business, opportunities under the Affordable Care Act. Mark: The work we do is critically important to University of California, Berkeley As a result, we can better serve our existing our clients, our volunteers, our staff and the Bay Vivian Tan, Kaiser Permanente clients and expand to serve others. Area. It is essential that we continue to innovate. We must always look for improvements in Q. WHY DO YOU CHOOSE TO WORK AT process, structure, financing and sustainability LEADERSHIP TEAM PROJECT OPEN HAND? so we can keep doing what we do with all our CO-CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, Simon Pitchford and Mark Ryle hearts: providing meals with love. Simon: I have always admired Project Open Jessica Avalos Vice President, Human Resources Hand’s mission as the embodiment of selfless Simon: The people that I get to work with every giving and the power of community. We get Artrese Morrison, day. Not a day goes by when I don’t learn Executive Vice President to work with the most caring individuals who something about the generosity of the human give their valuable time, energy and dollars Robert Brenneman, spirit, whether from a client, volunteer, staff or Interim Vice President, Development to lift neighbors at a critical moment in their board member. That, and the challenge of
Maria Stokes, lives. Who would not want to be part of that? figuring out how we stay ahead of the curve to Vice President, Communications I feel like the luckiest person because I get to ensure that our services remain relevant and work with passionate staff, board members available for all the communities we serve for and volunteers who are helping us elevate our the next 30 years and beyond. 2 A Day in the Life of Our Dietitian BY MARIA MEALLA, CLIENT SERVICES TEAM
MEET KIM MADSEN, registered dietitian for our Wellness Programs. This April marked 16 years that Kim has worked with us at Project Open Hand. She has been a pioneer in the development and growth of our Wellness Programs and strives to ensure our clients receive nutritious meals with love that align with their healthcare needs.
HELPING CLIENTS MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES Each of our three dietitians meets with an average of five clients a day. In these meetings, they assess clients’ nutritional needs based on diagnosis, medical treat- ment and medication side effects. They also evaluate clients’ eating habits and other sources of food, then make recommendations to help clients make heathy food and lifestyle choices.
Kim works with clients to establish wellness goals and assists with problem solving, since many of our clients have low incomes and may face multiple life challenges. Our dietitians also make sure clients know that they are available to answer inquiries on a drop-in basis and over the phone.
TEAMING UP WITH OUR CHEFS TO ENSURING QUALITY IN OUR DEMONSTRATING HOW TO MAXIMIZE NUTRITION GROCERY CENTERS PREPARE HEALTHY MEALS Kim works closely with our kitchen Every item in our Grocery Centers is Our dietitians collaborate with our team to create recipes that are deli- reviewed by our dietitians to make kitchen to provide cooking demos and cious, nutritious and meet a wide range sure it provides a complete, healthy recipes, featuring items that we carry of tastes. She and her team analyze serving size. in our Grocery Centers. These recipes every ingredient in every recipe to build are often adjusted so that clients with meals that are medically-tailored and limited kitchen facilities can prepare well-balanced. In all, we offer our Well- meals using only a hot plate or micro- ness Program clients seven different wave oven. diet types that help address a range of health challenges.
3 SPECIAL EVENTS
PARTICIPATING IN OUR TOAST & JAM SPECIAL EVENTS ARE A GREAT, FUN WAY TO SUPPORT JUNE 13 PROJECT OPEN HAND. Get ready for Toast & Jam, our new brunch Get more information and sign benefit at Oakland’s up for events by contacting us at Preservation Park. This [email protected] or 415-447-2404. New Orleans-style jazz brunch will feature talented East Bay chefs and live musical performance. Learn more at ToastandJam.OpenHand.org.
GIANT RACE AUGUST 23
RUN FOR FREE when you join Project Open Hand’s Giant Race team, “Fundraise to Run.”
Every Project Open Hand team member receives personal fundraising coaching, a ticket to the August 25th Giants vs. Cubs game, awesome VIP race day perks and are eligible for exclusive fundraising prizes. Run to nourish your body, fundraise to nourish your community. Register now at GiantRace.com.
VALENCIA CYCLERY’S 20TH PRIDE PARADE AVON WALK AIDS WALK ANNUAL BENEFIT SALE: JUNE 28 JULY 11-12 JULY 19 JUNE 11-14 Project Open Hand is cel- We’re celebrating 10 years of Be a part of our spirited 1065 & 1077 Valencia Street, ebrating 30 years of nourish- partnership with the Avon team, which raised over San Francisco ing our community with Foundation and Avon Walk for $50,000 last year! Pride. We invite you to dance, Breast Cancer, which have Stock up on all your bicycling skip, hop, shimmy and shake contributed almost $2 million You’ll get needs with incredible bargains! with us in this colorful, fun to our meals with love since All parts, accessories and cloth- parade! All members of the 2005. • A POH T-shirt ing get a 20% discount at the Project Open Hand parade register, and many bicycles will • A team dinner at POH contingent receive a free • Register to walk at be marked down as well! Get the t-shirt. www.avon39.org best deals of the year and 10% • Free breakfast and lunch on walk day will be donated to Project Open Sign up by emailing • Help us prepare sand- Hand! Previous benefit sales have [email protected]. wiches and cookies for raised a total of $123,184 in walkers the week of July 5 • Cool fundraising donations for POH! incentives • Cheer on walkers along valenciacyclery.com the route and at our Register at SF.AIDSWalk.net. cheering stations
4 NOURISHING OUR VOLUNTEERS WE LOVE OUR Clarence’s Story VOLUNTEERS Clarence is a soft-spoken senior with a big heart. A retired literature professor, he has always been drawn to nurturing others. “Over the years, there were many times when I enjoyed my students so much, I felt like I should be paying them for the joy of teaching!” he said with a chuckle. 86,479 Clarence continues to nurture others and feeds his own giving spirit by THE NUMBER OF lending a hand as a volunteer in our HOURS VOLUNTEERS Senior Lunch Program. He’s been CONTRIBUTED LAST YEAR coming for lunch at the Sunset Senior Center for about four years, commut- ing across town three or four days each week to enjoy a nutritious meal from Project Open Hand. After lunch, he THE DOLLAR VALUE clears empty plates for less-mobile CONTRIBUTED TO seniors, then buzzes around the OUR COMMUNITY dining room wiping tables clean and tidying up. Clarence discovered our Senior $1,400,000 Lunch Program one day while walking along Irving Street and seeing a banner advertising THANK YOU! our program. “Right from the very first day when I stepped inside the door, I felt welcome,” he recalled. “Right off the bat, the site coordinator, Larry, was so warm and kind. It just made all the differ- ence to be welcomed like that.”
“Seniors in our community are sometimes overlooked, but we always feel comfortable here. There’s such a great ambiance,” Clarence added. “Coming for lunch is a great time to get together, and in this expensive city, seniors can always use more support like this.”
When asked what his favorite meals are, Clarence replied defini- tively, “The fish dishes are the best. The sauces are delicious and imaginative.”
Last year, Project Open Hand served 347,630 meals with love through our Senior Lunch Program. Thank you for your generous support, which is enabling us to expand our program and add new lunch sites. Learn more at OpenHand.org/Seniors.
IN MEMORIAM LEAVE A LEGACY OF LOVE
REMEMBERING OUR DEDICATED Has Project Open Hand made a difference in VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE RECENTLY PASSED: your life or the life of a loved one? Please consider including us in your will, trust, life Andrew Nishihira, insurance policy or other planned gift. Kitchen Volunteer, 2009-2015 Contact Eileen Morris, Assistant Billie Cayot, Director of Development, at Grocery Center Volunteer, 2011-2014 [email protected] or 415-447-2413. Wendy Low, Senior Lunch Program Volunteer, 2004-2015 5 PROJECT OPEN HAND CONNECT WITH US Plate Clubs OpenHand.org The following is a list of Plate Club donors who have made gifts to Project Open Hand from January 1, 2015 to March 31, 2015, whose giving totals $1,000 or more since July 1, 2014 (beginning of our fiscal year). Their generosity enables us to provide nourishing food to so many of our neighbors. If you have questions about this list, please contact Eileen Morris, Assistant Director of Development, at [email protected] or 415-447-2413.
DIAMOND PLATE CLUB Community Thrift Store Arthur & Toni Rembe Rock Matthew C. Douglass Rachel & David Metz $100,000 First Dollar Foundation Scott Willoughby Margo Duckett John Moore Giant Race Fundraisers Tom May - David May II Foundation Douglas T. Yoshinaga Deborah Anne Duenas Kate Moore Salesforce.com Foundation Andrej Zervan & James Mercer Lesley & Phillip Dunkelberger Michael Mueller PLATINUM PLATE CLUB SCAN Health Plan John V. Fandel Richard Pacheco $50,000-$99,999 Karl Christiansen CHINA PLATE CLUB Geraldine A. Farmer Ann & Michael Parker The M.A.C. AIDS Fund J. P. Richards Dillingham $1,000 - $2,499 Samuel A. Fishman Carolyn & Damian Parker Marcia & John Goldman Linda S. Glick Anonymous (4) Thomas J. Fuss Lynn & John Peterson David R. Johnson BAR Architects Scherrie Gagliardi Richard Pitto & Ernest Sanchez GOLD PLATE CLUB Peter Marko Extraordinary Talent Productions Kelly Gaynor Donna & Keith Price $25,000 - $49,999 Howard Simons McKesson Foundation Matching Gift Mona C. Geller Robin Quist-Gates Anonymous (2) Charlotte von der Hude Program Denise Gibson Dhyan Raufa Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Peet’s Coffee & Tea Barbarah Hamilton Norman Robinson AIDS BRASS PLATE CLUB Premium Port Wines, Inc Dorothy Harkavy William Robinson Ghirardelli Chocolate Co. $2,500 - $4,999 Rainbow Grocery Cooperative, Inc. Monica & Stan Hayes Richard Ross Macy*s, Inc. Anonymous (2) Revolver U.S.A. Sharon & Mark Hood Melissa Rutz Estate of Billie Cayot Ancestry.com Westin St. Francis Joseph A. Iacocca Gretchen Schaffner & Alex Reid James C. Hormel & Michael P. Anthem Blue Cross Patricia V. Angell Estate of Sylvester James William Schoch & Joshua Stein Nguyen BDO USA, LLP Les Behrens Patricia K. Joanides Margot Fraser & Stephen Schoen Capital Advisors Group, Inc. Allan Berenstein Ola Johnson Lucia & James Schultz SILVER PLATE CLUB Chapman and Cutler, LLP Ethan Bold John M. Keagy Anne & William Schwarzer $10,000 - $24,999 Clearslide, Inc. Mark Bresnik, MD David T. Keenan Roberta & Reed Severson San Francisco Foundation The Clorox Company Foundation Jane Bryan-Jones Susan Kegeles & Jeffrey Lazarus Shearer Family Trust Maidenherren Fund of The Silicon Robert Glavin, Inc. James Bryant Ruth Ann & John Kennedy Tosha Silver Valley Foundation Ke Kokua Charitable Gift Fund Kenneth Caldwell David Klein Ron Smithson, Jr. Middle Passage Foundation Microsoft Matching Gifts Program/ Melanie & Mark Cervenka Charles Knapp Vickie Soulier PwC Giving Campaign Karin & David Chamberlain Andrea & Kenneth Krueger Richard R. Spaete Union Bank Foundation Silicon Valley Bank Helen L. Chen Sherri & Corey Leal Mary Jean Stempien & Jim Stricker UPS Foundation Rosa & Rayce Anselmo Suzanne K. Clausen Beth P. Lind Stuart J. Sweetser Wells Fargo Foundation Kathy & Mark Bergman Marsha Condon Judith Biel Lipsett Paul G. Tashima Carmen McReynolds Swan A. Brown Shawn Marie Condon Jane Lurie Christopher Thompson & Yves Zsutty Estate of Jane Musser Martha Ehrenfeld Emily Cooke & Naggi Asmar Mary & Joseph Madruga Sheila & Robert Weisblatt Onnolee & Orlin Trapp Aey Phanachet & Roger Evans Marilyn & Dale Crandall Denise & Stuart Matlow Robert T. Weston Estate of Frederick Jacob Wenzel Raymond Hawks Patrica Cross Irmgard Schmid-Maybach Ellie Wood Brendon M. Kearney Priscilla Myrick & Thomas Cutillo Carol & Charles McCullough Edna & Brian Yeatman CRYSTAL PLATE CLUB Carmela Krantz Carolyn & Gordon Davidson Mary McGuire-Hickey & John Hickey T.G. Zimmerman $5,000 - $9,999 Gail & Peter McIntyre Diane Diggins Carolyn & Kenneth McMillen American Conservatory Theater R. Douglas Norby Michael P. Dillon Leslie & John McQuown
LYFT DRIVERS ARE UNSTOPPABLE!
When it comes to volunteering, San Francisco Lyft drivers can’t be beat. In 2014 alone, Lyft drivers participated in more than 30 volunteer shifts at Project Open Hand. Many drivers were so inspired by their experiences that they have become “regular” volunteers, helping out weekly at our organization.
Lyft’s connection to Project Open Hand was initiated by Lyft driver Keith Maddock (in the green apron). Keith started with Project Open Hand in 2011 and volunteers every Wednesday morning in our kitchen. He also WE LOVE HOSTING VOLUNTEER GROUPS! serves on the Board of Directors for Project Open Hand and frequently BRING YOUR CO-WORKERS, CLASSMATES, FAMILY helps out at our special events. AND FRIENDS FOR A GREAT EXPERIENCE. Learn more and schedule your group by calling our “Project Open Hand has almost become a second family,” said Keith. “I have met amazing people from all walks of life, and it feels good to know you’re volunteer hotline at (415) 447-2404 or emailing our helping people who really need it. No matter what mood you are in when Volunteer Services team at [email protected]. you walk in the door, you always leave in a good mood.” 6