St. Anthony Foundation Celebrates 75 Years of Community and Care in San Francisco

MEDIA ALERT

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

The highly respected nonprofit organization reflects on its legacy of providing whole-person care with numerous events throughout the year

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., January 15, 2025 — St. Anthony Foundation, one of the largest whole-person care providers in San Francisco, is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2025. ‘Healing Happens Here’ is the message selected to be used throughout the year as it encompasses the holistic approach to services provided to support mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health while also speaking to the reciprocal nature of healing; it’s not just the guests healing at St. Anthony’s, it’s also the volunteers, donors, partners, and community.

Many smaller events throughout the year will lead to a few tentpole celebrations. In August, the foundation will host a 75th Anniversary Luncheon.  A community weekend block party with a San Francisco City Hall light-up is planned in October. In November, St. Anthony’s will celebrate the release of a new book by Barry Stenger, former Executive Director of St. Anthony Foundation.

Commemorative events planned for St. Anthony Foundation’s 75th anniversary will feature ‘75 Stories of Community and Care’ in which the foundation will share personal accounts of experiences with St. Anthony’s over the years from friends, neighbors, volunteers, donors, partners, and more. The collective effort of our community throughout the year makes it possible for the organization to tackle complex issues facing those most in need and equip them with the tools to sustainably exit homelessness, while never losing sight of the importance of a personalized approach founded on Franciscan values.

“Everything we do is rooted in community here at St. Anthony’s, as we are a collective whole that grows, heals, and thrives together,” said Dr. Larry Kwan, CEO of St. Anthony Foundation. “Everyone in our community has a unique story; when heard and shared, it can inspire us all.”

These stories of community will be distributed across digital channels throughout the year. As a primarily privately funded organization, St. Anthony’s relies on the generosity, compassion, and care of its extended community to support guests as they navigate a pathway to stability. The individual and cumulative accomplishments are impossible without the community’s support and kindness. In addition to the personal accounts already collected, St. Anthony’s seeks additional thoughts, memories, and stories from community members, volunteers, and past and present guests. Those interested in sharing their story are welcome to connect with us at communications@stanthonysf.org.

“St. Anthony’s is a place of great healing, whether medical healing, emotional healing, or spiritual healing,” said Dr. Larry Kwan, CEO of St. Anthony Foundation.  “It has been an incredible honor to be part of the legacy of uplifting the San Francisco community for the past 75 years, growing and integrating our services into a one-stop location to meet people where they are. We look forward to continuing to provide exemplary whole-person care for the next 75 years — this is just the beginning.”

Since St. Anthony’s opened its doors as a community dining room 75 years ago, the foundation has evolved and expanded to meet the material, physical, and spiritual needs of each person it serves. Most importantly, the foundation remains a place committed to honoring each person with dignity and respect, welcoming all as cherished guests.

We invite anyone not yet familiar with St. Anthony’s to personally experience and explore the compassionate and evidence-based best practices that can serve as a model for broader change in the city and beyond. For more information about St. Anthony Foundation and its 75th anniversary, visit stanthonysf.org/75 or follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

About St. Anthony Foundation
Located in the heart of the Tenderloin, St. Anthony Foundation is one of the largest, primarily privately funded whole-person care providers in San Francisco and a place of great love. We offer essential services, health care, and employment informed by our Franciscan values and evidence-based best practices for people experiencing homelessness, poverty, or addiction. Our goal is to build trust over time with individuals and to give each person the tools and opportunity to sustainably exit homelessness. We offer a welcoming healing community, a pathway to stability, and a model for broader change., and employment informed by our Franciscan values and evidence-based best practices for people experiencing homelessness, poverty, or addiction. Our goal is to build trust over time with individuals and to give each person the tools and opportunity to sustainably exit homelessness. We offer a welcoming healing community, a pathway to stability, and a model for broader change.