When James, a 52-year-old mechanic, found it difficult to qualify for a car loan due to his credit, Peninsula Family Service’s Financial Empowerment program was there to help. The training helped James create a plan to manage his money and slowly build up his credit. As James’ credit went back up, he was able to qualify for a car loan with a reasonable interest rate through the DriveForward program. “I had never dreamed of buying…
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About 28% of the population 65 years and older live alone. Eight out of ten have a chronic condition or illness, and one in four experience some form of mental disorder. Often overlooked, older adults who experience loneliness and social isolation have a serious health risk, equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. In our community, older adults have a chance to fight against the negative impact that aging alone may have in their lives:…
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Hector is a one-year-old tricycle enthusiast. He wished he had one, but he couldn’t ask his parents for it. Whenever Hector wanted to say something, he just couldn’t find the words to express what he was thinking. So last Christmas, Hector had an idea: He wrote a letter to Santa asking for a red tricycle. And through generous donors like yourself, the tricycle finally came! But reaching developmental milestones and achieving independence is not something…
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Pandy Garvic began her involvement with our organization nearly 25 years ago, as a member of the Hillsborough Auxiliary to Peninsula Family Service. Her parents had a strong commitment to their community. “My mother was the first woman to be the mayor of our city, and one of the first women mayors in Ohio in the mid 1960’s. I always admired her ability to see the bigger picture in meeting our community’s needs.” From her…
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The date is here! The Rotary Club of San Mateo Sunrise has announced its Color-5K! Come join us on June 3rd at the College of San Mateo. Registration opens at 8:00 am and the race starts at 10:00 am. This year is very special for Peninsula Family Service, as we are the primary recipients of the fundraiser. Get your tickets today by clicking here. Last year we had a lot of fun, meeting new people in…
Read MoreThe following is from a conversation in September between retiree Joan Gurasich, at Little House Activity Center in Menlo Park and 70 Strong Lead Navigator Theodora Kyle-Singer. What struck Theodora was Joan’s warm demeanor and her approach to transitioning from a high level Product Management and Marketing executive in the heart of Silicon Valley to a lifestyle of retirement. Joan graciously agreed to sit down over coffee to reflect on her life, decisions and philosophy…
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Peninsula Family Service’s participants of the Mature Worker Job Coaching program visited the LinkedIn campus in Sunnyvale. This program, a collaboration between NOVA and Peninsula Family Service, is part of our Second Careers Program. During this visit, participants had small group conversations with employees. They also talked with HR representatives. In these discussions, they learned more about what LinkedIn looks for in prospect employees and about in-demand skills. This half-day event took place on October…
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Surlene has lived in the same house in Redwood City for 70 years. When she was looking for new ways to keep active, she had no idea that the solution would be so close. “I’ve lived most of my life here,” Surlene said, “but I had no idea that I could have been going to Fair Oaks.” After learning about 70 Strong through a mailer, she became curious and contacted our Community Navigator. “She was…
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For 30 years, Francis has dedicated her life to providing for her family, working long hours at multiple jobs and has never once taken a vacation. Though her other children have moved on to begin their own lives, her son Juanito has a developmental disability and requires careful attention. Francis is on-call 24/7 to care for her son’s needs. “Every time Juanito gets sick I need to leave work quickly and come and check on…
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Sometimes, finding your true calling can be a long journey. Marquel, one of our teachers at Leo J. Ryan Child Development Center, knows this well. After years of hard work training to become a dental professional, she finally earned her certificate and secured a high paying job. Still, Marquel felt unfulfilled. “I felt like I needed to do more,” she explained, “I just wasn’t using all of my skills as a dentist. I knew I…
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