Donate
A Scoop of Joy in the Tenderloin: A Reflection from Dr. Larry Kwan, CEO
June 26, 2026
On Wednesday, June 24, the Golden Gate Greenway, where the community comes together to create positive change in San Francisco’s Tenderloin, was exactly what it has always been: a neighborhood.
It was also a special day.
Our Ice Cream Social was one of many celebrations taking place during I Love Tenderloin Week, a neighborhood-wide celebration hosted by the Tenderloin Community Benefit District and the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development. It was a joy to stand alongside De Marillac Academy, Wu Yee Children’s Services, 826 Valencia, SEED Impact, the San Francisco Fire Department, and so many neighbors and community partners who believe, as we do, in the power of bringing people together.
The Golden Gate Greenway was full of children chasing one another with ice cream cones, seniors playing bingo, families embracing a classic chilly San Francisco summer afternoon, and city leaders serving soft serve with smiles.
People often ask me about the Tenderloin. Yes, there is important work to do here, and many people need acute care. But it’s also important to see all the joy and life that exists in the Tenderloin. This neighborhood is home to more than 3,500 children. It is home to families. It is home to seniors. It is home to people from every background who care deeply about one another. Wednesday was a beautiful illustration of this neighborhood at its best: welcoming, diverse, and connected.
We served nearly 500 ice cream cones and welcomed another 100 neighbors for community bingo.
One of my favorite moments came when children ran up to Mayor Daniel Lurie asking him to sign their bike helmets. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins was handing out ice cream just a few feet away. Fire Chief Dean Crispen, Department of Public Health Director Daniel Tsai, Supervisor Bilal Mahmood, volunteers, neighbors, and families all stood together on the Greenway.
It was a simple, precious moment, and also just another summer afternoon in the Tenderloin.
That is why we celebrate the Tenderloin, and why we care for our neighbors who call the Tenderloin home.
Wednesday was a reminder that the Tenderloin has always been more than the headlines. It is, and always has been, a community.
The best way to understand the Tenderloin is to spend time here. I hope you’ll join us, volunteer alongside our community, and experience the beauty of this neighborhood for yourself.
