The Shanti Project http://www.shanti.org/
Founded in 1974 by Dr. Charles Garfield, Shanti has been at the forefront of a growing national movement to enhance the quality of life for persons living with life-threatening or chronic illnesses by providing volunteer-based emotional and practical support.
Shanti is a Sanskrit word meaning "inner peace" or "tranquility". It is an appropriate name since, ultimately, all of Shanti's direct service and educational programs are aimed at easing the burdens and improving the well-being of people in difficult life situations
Key to the success of Shanti's mission is the Shanti Model of Peer Support, which is both a philosophy and a set of techniques that are used throughout our work. It is a way of being with another person that frees both parties to be fully who they are and communicate their feelings to one another. It is a way of being which allows two persons to meet as equals. It is a way of relating to others that is characterized by certain values and attitudes.
My Hope Chest www.myhopechest.org/
My Hope Chest was founded by Alisa Savoretti in the fall of 2003. A breast cancer survivor and Las Vegas Showgirl, she was 38 and without insurance at the time of her diagnosis. Following a mastectomy and only 5 months after finishing her chemotherapy,Alisa returned to the Las Vegas stage and her career as a professional dancer – this time however, minus one breast.
Billing herself as the “Lop-sided Showgirl”, Alisa shared her personal story and plans for an organization as a result of it, gaining media attention through a news story on the local CBS affiliate. Alisa had to wait nearly 3 years to acquire her own reconstruction. She realized then that there is a huge gap in treatment that existed for “uninsured” women suffering from a mastectomy.
With the help of members of NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners), My Hope Chest was formed and became a 501c3 in December of 2003, and is the only “national” breast reconstruction organization working to help “uninsured” and under insured women heal completely.
Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center http://www.rencenter.org/
The mission of Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center is to empower and increase the entrepreneurial capacities of socially and economically diverse women and men, and thereby strengthen our communities through the creation of sustainable new businesses, new jobs, and the promotion of financial self-sufficiency. Renaissance provides business training and support services, access to resources, and networks for business owners at every stage of business development, from idea feasibility through start-up, growth, and expansion. We offer entrepreneurial programs throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and have offices in South of Market and Bayview/Hunters Point in San Francisco, East Palo Alto on the Mid-Peninsula, and San Rafael in Marin. We offer services in Spanish at Renaissance Mid-Peninsula and Marin locations.
Queer Lifespace http://www.queerlifespace.org/
Queer LifeSpace is a nonprofit counseling agency that seeks to bring sustainable mental health and substance abuse services to the LGBTQQI community.
Queer people often struggle with increased rates of suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, trauma, and loss of family. Government funding for nonprofits has dramatically decreased, making it difficult for existing local agencies to meet all the essential mental health and substance abuse needs our community requires. We are here to be a solution to these problems.
The mission and formation of Queer LifeSpace began with the shared vision of its 4 founding directors to bring quality, long-term and affordable mental health and substance abuse care to the Bay Area queer community.
The 4 became friends and colleagues while working together at New Leaf Services, which had to close its doors October, 2010, after 35 years of serving the LGBTQQI community.