Three Very Special Programs Honored by Tipping Point Community

On December 8th, the Tipping Point Community’s Third Annual Awards Breakfast brought many of San Francisco’s elite together for an event that is always dedicated to a good cause, to honor programs that have made a great difference in their community. The a charitable organization dedicated to preventing poverty in the Bay Area, announced a $1 million donation from the Sergey Brin and Anne Wojcicki Foundation, one of their largest donations to date.

In the Bay Area, one-quarter of families are too poor to meet their basic needs. “When it comes to poverty, it’s too late for pessimism,” said Tipping Point Founder and CEO, Daniel Lurie at the annual Tipping Point Awards Breakfast. “We thank Sergey and Anne for their generous donation, which will allow us to further our mission to break the cycle of poverty for good.”

Each year, Tipping Point Community honors Bay Area organizations working to prevent poverty in the region. This year, each organization honored received a grant of $50,000. Among the three organizations was the Homeless Prenatal Program, which helps 3,000 homeless San Francisco families per year to access healthcare, and provides comprehensive services to ensure that clients stabilize their families for the long-term. “I had always thought I’d go back to Africa to help there, but there were so many women and children right here in San Francisco living without food, shelter and medical care; I couldn’t help but help,” said Martha Ryan, the Founder and Executive Director of the program.

Canal Alliance was also honored, as they have continued to help improve the lives of 3,000 low-income immigrants and working families in Marin County each year through education, case management and training for economic development. “Before I went to Canal Alliance, I didn’t know who I was. I was headed for a life in prison. Now, I have become the first person in my family to graduate from high school and go to college. My education is giving me choices about my future,” says Gerovan Barrios-Huinil, a client.

KIPP Bay Area Schools is the last program that was honored by Tipping Point, a program dedicated to providing back-office support to seven KIPP schools in the Bay Area, as they prepare students from under-served neighborhoods to succeed in college and in life.

Pictured above: Gideon Yu, Adriel Lares, Yvette Lares, Lacey Dunne, Kelsey Fithian