Causes: Animal Protection & Welfare, Animals, Breast Cancer, Cancer, Health, Health Care

Mission: Shanti is a pioneering nonprofit that builds human connections to reduce isolation and improve quality of life. We believe that meaningful relationships are essential for navigating life’s most difficult challenges. Every day, we ease the invisible suffering that can accompany isolation or illness, and combat it through the power of personal connection. Because when we take care of each other, we make San Francisco a healthier and more compassionate community, for everyone.

Results: For nearly 50, Shanti has been cultivating compassion in our community. Founded in 1974 by Dr. Charles A. Garfield at the UCSF Cancer Institute, Shanti was one of the first volunteer organizations in the United States to provide support to people with life-threatening illness. Shanti emerged from the UCSF cancer ward halls to become one of the world’s very first community-based organizations to help support people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS during the epidemic’s early, most nightmarish days. In 2001, we expanded our services to include women diagnosed with breast cancer, and in 2015, we expanded again to serve women facing any cancer diagnosis. Also in 2015, we welcomed into the Shanti family community partner Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS), whose mission ensures that no person has to make the decision between caring for their pet or caring for themselves. To bring our internationally recognized model of care to more underserved members of our community, we launched two new programs in 2016.Our LGBTQ Aging & Abilities Support Network (LAASN) addresses social isolation as well as emotional, behavioral, and health challenges faced by LGBTQ seniors and adults with disabilities. Our Peer Advocate Care Team (PACT) supports current residents of Potrero Terrace and Annex to help them prepare for their public housing to be demolished and rebuilt into a mixed-income community.

Target demographics: marginalized individuals, including people who are living with life threatening illness or disability, aging adults, and individuals facing poverty and systemic inequities overcome barriers to care so they may improve their health and wellness outcomes.

Direct beneficiaries per year: 2,200+ San Franciscans

Geographic areas served: San Francisco

Programs: Shanti serves more than 2,000 San Franciscans every year through the following programs:COVID-19 Emergency Response Volunteer Program (CERV) is our most recent program, launched in March 2020.CERV was created in partnership between the City of San Francisco’s Department of Disability and Aging Services (DAS) and Shanti Project. CERV volunteers provide one-time or occasional practical support to older and vulnerable adults who are strongly advised to limit outdoor exposure during the Coronavirus pandemic. HIV Programs exist to ensure that the most underserved people living with HIV in San Francisco receive the compassionate support they need to manage all aspects of their health. LGBTQ+ Aging & Abilities Support Network (LAASN) addresses social isolation as well as emotional, behavioral, and health challenges faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer seniors and adults with disabilities. Margot Murphy Women’s Cancer Program offers services to mitigate the barriers women face after a cancer diagnosis. Our program augments hospital-based care and reduces the social, economic, linguistic, and cultural barriers that underserved women face accessing, maintaining, and completing treatment and transitioning into survivorship. Peer Advocate Care Team (PACT) PACT reduces isolation, stress, and anxiety among residents of Potrero Terrace and Annex as we help them to prepare for their housing to be rebuilt into a mixed-income community. Our Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS) program keeps people and their companion animals together. PAWS believes that no one should have to make the difficult choice of caring for themselves or caring for their beloved pets. We provide free comprehensive support services for pets of seniors and individuals living with disability or illness. Volunteer & Community Support Services Program offers meaningful opportunities to volunteer directly with our clients as Peer Support Volunteers and PAWS Pet Assistance Volunteers. We also provide other ways for volunteers to support our organization and our clients. Each year, hundreds of Shanti volunteers provide emotional and practical peer support services to some of San Francisco’s most underserved individuals, from those with challenges such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-threatening illnesses to LGBTQ+ seniors and adults with disabilities facing isolation. Animal lovers also help keep those most at risk in our community together with their beloved pets within our PAWS Program (Pets Are Wonderful Support). Volunteers provide a continuum of services such as dog walking, distributing and delivering pet food from the PAWS food bank, transporting pets and clients to vet appointments, and providing temporary pet foster care.