St. Anthony Foundation Hosts 10th Annual Back-to-School Giveaway for Tenderloin Children

MEDIA ALERT

Media Contact:
Sally Haims | Chief Marketing and Communications Officer
(415) 254-5884 | SHaims@stanthonysf.org

Two‑Day Event Provides Free School Supplies, Clothing, Books, and Support for Families – August 7–8

WHAT:
On Thursday, August 7 and Friday, August 8, St. Anthony Foundation will host its annual Back-to-School Drive, a festive, rainforest-themed celebration of learning, growth, and opportunity. The two-day event will provide free backpacks, school supplies, clothing, and books to approximately 500 children from families living in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood, home to more than 3,500 children.

WHAT’S NEW:
St. Anthony’s Medical Clinic staff—including a pediatric nurse—will be on-site tabling at the event to connect families with health information and resources. This presence underscores St. Anthony’s commitment to integrated whole-person care in a one-stop setting, making it easier for families and individuals to access effective, comprehensive support. Additionally Wu Yee Children’s Services will join the event to support our shared guest community.

WHO:

• Approximately 500 Tenderloin children and their pre-registered families
• St. Anthony Foundation staff and volunteers, including Medical Clinic personnel
• Chronicle Books (book donor)

WHEN:
Thursday, August 7 and Friday, August 8, 2025
8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

WHERE:
St. Anthony Foundation – Poverello Room (1st Floor)
150 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco, CA 94102

WHY:
Back-to-school season brings excitement—and challenges—for families living in poverty or homelessness. School supplies and clothing can be out of reach for many in the Tenderloin, one of San Francisco’s most densely populated and underserved neighborhoods. With classes resuming mid‑August, this event ensures children can return to school with the tools they need and the encouragement they deserve.

This year’s rainforest-themed event celebrates new beginnings and resilience, reflecting how St. Anthony’s remains deeply rooted in the Tenderloin for over 75 years—providing care, compassion, and stability to generations of San Franciscans.

As the most effective and accessible one-stop resource in the Tenderloin, St. Anthony’s offers more than merely backpacks. Families rely on the foundation year-round for warm meals, primary and pediatric medical care, free clothing, tech access, job training, and a welcoming space that restores hope and brings stability.

This year, we’re proud to include direct medical outreach at the event—Clinic staff and a pediatric nurse will be available for questions and information—reinforcing our focus on whole-person care.

“An education is a fundamental right, and no child should fall behind because their family can’t afford notebooks or new shoes,” said Dr. Larry Kwan, CEO of St. Anthony Foundation. “This event is just one of the many ways we equip families with the tools to take the next step forward—rooted in care, fueled by community, and focused on the future.”

MEDIA CONTACT:
Sally Robb Haims | (415) 254‑5884 | shaims@stanthonysf.org

PHOTO OPS & INTERVIEWS (with permission):

• Tenderloin children and families
• St. Anthony Foundation leaders, volunteers, and Medical Clinic staff at their table
• Chronicle Books representatives
• Rainforest-themed décor and activity stations

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Each child will receive:

• A new backpack filled with age-appropriate school supplies
• Free shoes, jackets, clothing, and accessories from the Free Clothing Program
• A new book donated by Chronicle Books

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS AND COMMUNITY DRIVE PARTNERS:
Dolby, Family Giving Tree, Chronicle Books, GAP, Family Album Project, KPMG, OLLY, Janie and Jack, ThirdLove, Bombas, Wells Fargo, DocuSign, Pattern Energy, Hilton, FlySFO, and YPC.

About St. Anthony Foundation
For over 75 years, St. Anthony Foundation has served as a beacon of consistency and care in the Tenderloin. As the most effective and accessible one-stop resource in the neighborhood, we offer warm meals, medical and behavioral health care, free clothing, addiction recovery, job training, and employment opportunities—all in one welcoming place.