House Notes | March 2023

Family House Stories
Sweet Sisters

From Cusco, Peru, the Ponce De Leon family came to Family House last year when Luciana was diagnosed with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) and began treatment at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital. And this month, Luciana celebrated her first birthday and her older sister Sophie turned eight!

Watch the video to hear from their mom Gina about their life and experience at Family House, their home away from home in Peru.
Join us at our Gala in April

Don't miss out! There’s still time to get tickets, sponsor, or volunteer at the Family House Gala – a 60’s-theme celebration at the Fairmont San Francisco on April 29 featuring Beatles tribute band The Sun Kings, cocktails, dinner, and a live auction. 

Join us to honor CEO Alexandra E. Morgan’s 22 years of leadership. Your participation will directly fund family services, including temporary housing, meals, and amenities for families with a child being treated for cancer or other life-threatening illnesses. 

Volunteer Spotlight
Meet Volunteer Mary Kane

Every week, Mary’s energy and enthusiasm fills the house as she delivers fresh dinner meals to our families. For more than six years, she’s been actively involved in dinner service, and since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mary visits weekly to safely hand-deliver fresh meals door to door.

“In some ways, Family House has given me purpose,” said Mary. “It’s gotten me through Covid. What a gift that I’ve been able to go here every week.”

A Mother’s Gratitude for Family House:


Dear Family House Friends,

I want to express my deep-felt thanks for the incredible experience of staying at your facility this year.

I am a foster mother whose premature baby spent the whole month of January in the UCSF NICU. I stayed at Family House while I visited him every day.

It is plain to me that your organization is built on kindness to families like mine experiencing life-threatening issues with their kids. Every interaction I had with your staff and volunteers was always, without exception, kind, considerate and thoughtful. I commend you!

The facility itself is amazing – the beautiful kitchens providing each family with their own refrigerator and freezer space. All the groceries, fresh and otherwise, available for our use. The convenience of the laundry rooms, even with soap provided. It’s an amazing place. And I thank you sincerely.

– Mary, Healdsburg, CA
Please consider donating to Family House to help families like Mary’s.

Community & Connection

Enjoy photos from recent house activities designed to help families naturally connect and find hope, comfort, and healing together.
Arts & Crafts
We celebrated all things green, shamrocks, leprechauns, and more, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day! A big thank you to Project Sunshine volunteers for the arts and craft night, and to our friends at Salesforce for the festive snack bags for our kids and families!
St. Patrick's Day Fun
Thank you to the many Sephora employees who brought the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow to Family House this week with St. Patrick’s Day arts, crafts, gift bags, and yummy grab-and-go lunch. We deeply appreciate your energy, passion, and support.