Charities

To many, Silicon Valley symbolizes innovation and success. While this represents reality for many professionals living here, within our community, there are also many people struggling to meet the challenges of daily life.

The following organizations are working together to raise money to help people in need across Silicon Valley.

Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley
Since 1979, Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley has served a diverse community with quality social, vocational, counseling, crisis intervention, and refugee resettlement services. With a staff of seasoned professionals and hundreds of community volunteers, we combine contemporary clinical and social service skills with traditional values to strengthen and enhance the lives of our clients, whatever challenges they may face.

JFS is a non-profit agency, serving clients without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, or ability to pay. JFS is a partner agency of the United Way Silicon Valley.

"Jewish Family Services has been a master collaborator with United Way Silicon Valley. Their proven results make them one of our strongest partner agencies!"
Patrick Soricone, United Way Director of Evaluation and Self-Sufficiency Programs

Family Supportive Housing - San Jose Family Shelter
The San Jose Family Shelter was established in 1986. It offers a safe place for 35 homeless families to live and receive services for up to 90 days. Seventy percent of the residents are children—the majority under 10 years of age.

Family Supportive Housing is committed to the entire family. The three distinct services areas; the San José Family Shelter, Bridges AfterCare and GlennArt Arms encourage families to stay intact while addressing their needs for food, shelter, education and employment. A long held commitment to family is the guiding force of the entire organization which resonates in the heart of everything Family Supportive Housing does.

Beginning Steps to Independence
Beginning Steps to Independence, Inc. (BSTII) is a not-for-profit educational organization. We are dedicated to serving children with motor disorders such as cerebral palsy and those with no diagnosis but significant developmental delays. BSTII also provides support services to the families of the children we serve. We seek to be an active member of the community serving children with special needs, always promoting awareness of Conductive Education (CE).

BSTII is a vital and growing part of the community serving children with special needs. We offer a unique program for children with motor disorders. IN 2007 WE CELEBRATED OUR 10TH ANNIVERSARY!!! With three conductors and multiple classes, we continually look for ways to make affordable CE available to more children. We look forward to continued opportunities to affect the lives of the children and the families we serve.

Diabetes Society
The Diabetes Society was organized in 1963 by a group of mothers of children with diabetes. The Diabetes Society is a one-stop shop for diabetes education and support and serves 20,000 people annually. We give education, hope, and encouragement to those living with diabetes. Our programs include a 3-part diabetes management program, community-wide diabetes screenings, support groups, and diabetes education camps for children, teenagers, and families. The Society also helps recruit participants for the latest state of the art diabetes clinical trials.

The Society's client base includes children of all ages, teenagers, adults, and seniors. Most clients come from the low- to middle-income socioeconomic groups, and many are under or uninsured. While most adult clients come from the San Francisco Bay Area, the Diabetes Society serves over 460 children and teens with diabetes from all over California through our camp programs.

Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center Preschool
The Addison-Penzak JCC Preschool is a quality, developmental Preschool program. We work with parents to help develop the skills, values and attitudes to help the children grow to their fullest potential during the school year. Our staff is a team of warm, caring and creative individuals. Our program promotes a sense of community based on respect for others.

At the APJCC Preschool, we strive to help children to grow in all areas of development- social, emotional, cognitive, language and motor. In working toward this goal, we follow the National Association for the Education of Young Children developmentally appropriate practices.

San Jose Chamber of Commerce Heart Walk Team
The San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce is a coalition of businesses representing more than a quarter of a million jobs across every sector of the economy. We believe that like our community, the strength of our organization is found in its diversity.

The Silicon Valley Heart Walk encourages all Americans and their employers to take up walking, to be more physically active and to create healthy habits as part of their daily routine all year around and to live longer, stronger heart-healthy lives.