Grail Family Services (GFS)

ICYMI: Did you get this invite earlier this week? Tickets are LIVE for our annual 25th Anniversary Gala on September 7, 2024. 🎟 🥂 🎉 This year marks 25 years of Grail Family Services (GFS). We are thrilled to invite you to our 25th Anniversary Gala on September 7th at the Glasshouse in downtown San Jose. Doors open at 6:30pm. Join us as we celebrate the community members, families, and leaders who have supported us for the last 25 years. Buy tickets here: https://lnkd.in/g82fKTYe. Please reach out to Angelica Ramos for sponsorship opportunities at aramos@gfsfamilyservices.org.   We can't wait to see you on September 7th! 🌟 #GFS25 #PastPresentSiempre #GrailFamilyServices #Mayfair #EastSanJose

Last week, Sharon Lu and I had the privilege of speaking with community members in East San Jose at Grail Family Services (GFS). GFS is a fantastic organization that may seem like a standard childcare provider to some, but what immediately becomes obvious when you talk to their Executive Director, Veronica Goei, is that they're so much more. One of the standout qualities that sets GFS apart in the nonprofit space is their understanding of community fortification, a concept we talk about a lot at DC Design. Fortification is the act of leaving communities stronger than they were before they interacted with you or your services. This means offering support that helps families better provide for and take care of themselves. I strongly believe that the philanthropic and nonprofit space will never end multi-generational poverty until it embraces a fortification approach to change. What's obvious from the community's responses to GFS' programs is that they've understood that. 1. Community members told us about how GFS makes them feel like they’re not alone. For example, during the pandemic, GFS was a lifeline for parents, providing emergency supplies, information, and other resources for them to learn how to secure their own families during the pandemic. 2. GFS has a program called Jobs to Grow that's helping families become childcare professionals so that they can take care of each other and generate wealth within the community. 3. GFS provides childcare, which enables parents to work. But, GFS also empowers parents to support their own children’s education through classes parenting classes, ESL classes, activities for families to do at home to strengthen learning, etc. These and other GFS programs build a family’s capacity to take care of themselves and their community. It is this focus on the whole person, the whole family, that helps GFS' services produce the profound impact that the community has told us about. All of these insights are exciting and will feed directly into the next phase of this work, as we help GFS take their impact to the next level with the development of their 5-Year Strategic Plan. #fortification #strategicplanning #socialchange #socialimpact #eliminatingpoverty #eliminatingmultigenerationalpoverty #multigenerationalpoverty #generationalpoverty #intergenerationalpoverty #strategicplanning #socialimpactdesign

🎉🍎✨ Join Us in Celebrating Our Amazing Maestras for Teacher Appreciation Week at Grail Family Services! ✨🍎🎉 This Teacher Appreciation Week, we're thrilled to shine a spotlight on the incredible educators who make Grail Family Services shine so brightly! 🌟 Our teachers are not just educators; they are the heart and soul of our community. Highly qualified and deeply rooted in East San Jose, they bring passion and expertise to their roles, creating a nurturing environment where every child feels seen, heard, and valued. What sets our teachers apart is their unwavering commitment to excellence. They embody professionalism, warmth, and inclusivity, ensuring that our programs are not only friendly and welcoming but also equitable and bilingual. So, let's take this week to shower our teachers with the love and appreciation they deserve! Whether it's a heartfelt note, a warm smile, or a simple thank you, let's show our gratitude for the extraordinary individuals who shape the minds and hearts of our future leaders. 💖 To our phenomenal teachers at Grail Family Services: Thank you for your dedication, your compassion, and your belief in the potential of every child. You are the true heroes of education, and we are incredibly grateful for all that you do. 🙌 Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! ¡Feliz Semana de Apreciación a los Maestros! 🍎✨ #TeacherAppreciationWeek #GFSTeachersRock #ThankATeacher #GFS25 #graciasmaestras #maestrassonincreíbles

🎉🌟 Exciting News Alert! 🌟🎉 As we close out the Week of the Young Child, We're thrilled to announce a HUGE win for the children and families of San Jose! 🙌🏽 On April 9th, the San Jose City Council voted to accept the Children and Youth Master Plan, paving the way for transformative change in our community. 🌈 Grail Family Services was honored to participate in this advocacy effort in support of the Plan. 🌟 We brought more than 20+ families, staff, and Jobs to Grow participants to the council meeting to highlight the urgent need for investment in East San Jose. We are proud to have participated in the development of this plan and look forward to being an integral part of the implementation at the demonstration sites. 🏡✨ We extend our heartfelt thanks to the San Jose City Council, SOMOS Mayfair, and the ¡Sí Se Puede! Collective for their collaboration and dedication to creating positive change. Together, we're making strides towards a brighter future for all children and families in our city. 💫 #CommunityWins #SanJoseStrong #ChildrenFirst #GFS25 #ESSJ #weekofyoungchild 🌟

🌟 Join us in celebrating the Week of the Young Child! 🌟 At Grail Family Services, we believe in the immense potential of our youngest learners. For nearly 25 years, our core mission has been rooted in building a community which best supports our youngest children and their families. This week, we're shining a spotlight on the importance of early childhood education and the incredible impact it has on shaping bright futures. From fostering creativity to building strong foundations for lifelong learning, every moment counts in the lives of our little ones. Let's come together to honor their curiosity, imagination, and boundless potential. We are grateful for our teachers, staff, and parents who all play a role in supporting the whole child with their whole family for the benefit of the whole community. Join us as we celebrate the joy, wonder, and magic of childhood! 🎉 #WeekOfTheYoungChild #EarlyChildhoodEducation #GrailFamilyServices #BrightFutures #GFS25 🌈✨

🎉 Exciting News Alert! 🎉 Grail Family Services is thrilled to announce that we've been selected to receive a $1 million gift from MacKenzie Scott's Yield Giving Open Call! 🌟 The #YieldGivingOpenCall, managed by Lever for Change, focused on elevating organizations working with people and in places experiencing the greatest need in the United States – and Grail Family Services (GFS) fits the bill perfectly. 🌍 Selected from among 6,353 applications nationwide, GFS is one of 250 organizations to receive this competitive award. Under the dedicated leadership of our Executive Director, Veronica Goei, Grail Family Services has served the East San José community for nearly 25 years, providing crucial services such as early childhood education, parent support, workforce development, and family navigation. 🏡 With this generous grant, we're poised to expand our reach, enhance our programs, and deepen our impact even further. This grant is not just a financial boost; it's a recognition of the impact of our work and the potential we have to create positive change in the lives of families and community. 💪 With this funding, we're committed to exploring opportunities to uplift family voices and talents within our community. We're dedicated to strategically addressing the root causes of inequity, particularly here in Mayfair, and building a stronger, more resilient community where every family can thrive. 🌈 A huge shoutout and heartfelt thanks to MacKenzie Scott and the incredible teams at Yield Giving and Lever for Change for their generosity and partnership. Together, we're making a real difference in the lives of families in need. 🙌 #GrailFamilyServices #YieldGiving #CommunityImpact #Gratitude #MakingADifference Finally, we extend a special thank you to the staff who run our programs and our Board of Directors for their continued support: Elizabeth Luna Zulma Maciel Thomas OConnor Aditya Nagarajan Karla Alvarez Kim Guptill Sandra Rasmussen DJ Wheeler Thomas O'Connor Smitha Gopal An Vo

🎉 Exciting News Alert! 🎉 Grail Family Services is thrilled to announce that we've been selected to receive a $1 million gift from MacKenzie Scott's Yield Giving Open Call! 🌟 The #YieldGivingOpenCall, managed by Lever for Change, focused on elevating organizations working with people and in places experiencing the greatest need in the United States – and Grail Family Services (GFS) fits the bill perfectly. 🌍 Selected from among 6,353 applications nationwide, GFS is one of 250 organizations to receive this competitive award. Under the dedicated leadership of our Executive Director, Veronica Goei, Grail Family Services has served the East San José community for nearly 25 years, providing crucial services such as early childhood education, parent support, workforce development, and family navigation. 🏡 With this generous grant, we're poised to expand our reach, enhance our programs, and deepen our impact even further. This grant is not just a financial boost; it's a recognition of the impact of our work and the potential we have to create positive change in the lives of families and community. 💪 With this funding, we're committed to exploring opportunities to uplift family voices and talents within our community. We're dedicated to strategically addressing the root causes of inequity, particularly here in Mayfair, and building a stronger, more resilient community where every family can thrive. 🌈 A huge shoutout and heartfelt thanks to MacKenzie Scott and the incredible teams at Yield Giving and Lever for Change for their generosity and partnership. Together, we're making a real difference in the lives of families in need. 🙌 #GrailFamilyServices #YieldGiving #CommunityImpact #Gratitude #MakingADifference Finally, we extend a special thank you to the staff who run our programs and our Board of Directors for their continued support: Elizabeth Luna Zulma Maciel Thomas OConnor Aditya Nagarajan Karla Alvarez Kim Guptill Sandra Rasmussen DJ Wheeler Thomas O'Connor Smitha Gopal An Vo

Thank you to our friends, funders, and community partners who joined us yesterday to celebrate our 24th Annual Fundraiser! Your presence reflects the commitment and support our Eastside community continues to receive which has allowed it to bloom like never before! Congratulations once again to our Siempre Awardees Supervisor Susan Ellenberg, SJBCDC, María Medina, and our honorary awardee Leslie Flowers, quien siempre estará con nosotros. See you next year for our 25th Anniversary!

Come singalong with our Family Choir this Thursday at the Mexican Heritage Plaza!🎶 Our kiddos and their parents have been practicing just for you, secure your tickets by visiting https://lnkd.in/gqTbf6qq

T-minus: 7 days!⏰ A huge thank you to all of our sponsors and contributors who believe in our mission and continue to support our efforts!✨ We hope to see you all next Thursday at our Annual Luncheon Fundraiser. Tickets are still available at https://lnkd.in/gqTbf6qq