Fall 2026 Newsletter

One Night. More Than $500,000 Raised. Thousands of Lives Touched!

More than 400 people gathered for A Night in New Orleans at the Brennan Award Dinner. But the true impact of the evening goes far beyond the celebration at St. Mary’s Cathedral.

More than $500,000 was raised to help neighbors experiencing homelessness and survivors of domestic violence move toward safety, stability, housing, and a new beginning.

The real impact of the Brennan Award Dinner begins after the tables are cleared. Funds raised help fill critical gaps not fully covered by public funding, keeping our shelters safe and operating while providing meals, transportation, identification, work clothing, hygiene supplies and other essentials that help people move toward stability. Just as importantly, these funds support the case managers and frontline staff helping guests move toward safety, housing, employment and independence.

Sometimes that journey comes full circle. Two former SVDP-SF shelter guests who are now employees, using their lived experience to help others move forward, told their stories in a powerful video. Their journeys show what can happen when support, hard work and opportunity come together.

The evening honored Marie and Martin Murphy with the Brennan Award and Heffernan Insurance Brokers and the Heffernan Foundation with the Corporate Service Award for their extraordinary service, generosity and partnership. Because of everyone who gave, sponsored, attended and raised a paddle, more of our neighbors can move from crisis toward a new beginning. Thank you for being the light behind this work.

Relive the Moment & See the Impact

Visit our Brennan Award thank you page and meet two former guests who overcame homelessness and now help others as SVDP-SF employees.

Chick-fil-A Leader Academies Bring Comfort to Riley Center Children

On April 22nd, Chick-fil-A hosted a Regional Leader Academy Project at Palo Alto High School in support of SVDP-SF’s Riley Center for Survivors of Domestic Violence. Nearly 300 students representing seven Chick-fil-A Leader Academies came together with a shared purpose: to serve others. Together, they assembled comfort kits for children entering the Riley Center — many of whom arrive with little more than the clothes on their backs.

Each kit included thoughtful items like stuffed animals, blankets, water bottles, art supplies, and hygiene products. More than just essential supplies, the kits remind children that they are safe, cared for, and not alone.

Thank you to the Leader Academies from San Francisco Christian School, Mills High School, Highlands Christian Schools, Valley Christian Schools (San Jose), Golden Hills Middle School, Palo Alto High School, and New Community Baptist Church for their fundraising efforts and dedication in bringing this project to life.

A special thank you to Susanna and Philip Choe, operators of the Chick-fil-A restaurant in Daly City, for their leadership and hard work in planning such a meaningful event. Their surprise $10,000 donation to the Riley Center made an already impactful day even more extraordinary.

Winter Clothing Drive

Thursday, December 10, 2026 | 10 am – 3 pm | Administrative Office, 1175 Howard Street, SF

As we head into the colder months, shelter guests are in need of warm clothing. Please support SVDP-SF guests by donating new or gently used items at our clothing drive on December 10th.

Most needed items are: jackets, waterproof ponchos, pants, long sleeved shirts, women’s leggings, beanies, gloves, scarves, and men’s shoes (size 7-13).

All items must be washed and in good condition.

Questions? Please contact Sophie Spievak at volunteers@svdp-sf.org.

Series: Meet the SVDP-SF Program Directors

Spotlight on David Albizo, Division Circle Navigation Center Program Director

What is your role at SVDP-SF, and how long have you been here?

I became the Program Director in 2023. I first started in 2018. I went to work for another organization in 2021 and then returned to SVDP-SF in 2022 as the Assistant Site Manager at Division Circle Navigation Center.

What does a typical day at DC look like for you?

I am responsible for overseeing close to 80 employees here at Division Circle. Some of those responsibilities are making sure we are within budget, hiring of new staff members, and communicating with outside organizations such as the city or other community benefit organizations.

What inspired you to work for SVDP-SF?

I first started volunteering for another nonprofit in 2008. I began working for a nonprofit during that time and have enjoyed helping our most vulnerable population for the past eighteen years.

What’s one thing you wish more people understood about homelessness?

Homelessness can happen to anyone. Given the current economic conditions, some of us are merely a paycheck away.

What do you do in your spare time or on your day off?

I enjoy concerts, playing ice hockey (after playing baseball for a few years), and exploring what the San Francisco Bay Area has to offer.

Can you share an example of when you saw the DCNC team’s support positively impact a guest?

I have seen the DCNC team stand beside our guests during some of the most difficult moments of their lives, from medical emergencies to mental health crises. In those moments, our work becomes about much more than providing shelter. It is about making sure someone feels safe, supported, and not alone. That kind of compassionate care can be life changing, reminding our guests that they matter and that there are people committed to helping them move forward.