Overview

Sunday Friends is an innovative San Jose-based nonprofit with a 25-year track record of empowering very low income families to break the generational cycle of poverty by fostering positive development in children while educating and guiding parents to support their children's life success. Our new strategic focus is now equipping families with tools and resources to achieve economic mobility. Since the start of the pandemic, we have developed a successful online learning community focused on Financial Literacy, Digital Inclusion, Entrepreneurship and Wellness & Stress Management. Supporting over 300 families representing over 1,000 individuals, we provide a social safety-net for families living with the challenges of poverty. We provide much needed basic necessities to families while they take part in our education programs. This support buoys up the families so that they can focus on other important learning and growth to help lift themselves out of poverty. Members are able to qualify for additional tiers of membership giving access to special opportunities like Back-to-School supplies, Holiday toys and gift cards. Participants are not just accessing a service—they are participating in a mutually supportive community that is focused on self-development and discovery. Opportunities are available for participants to provide insight and feedback that help shape the program for the needs of the community. Sunday Friends is intent on cultivating a community where each member can have a voice, be valued, and find value. Sunday Friends' name and program grew out of a group of volunteers visiting a family homeless shelter on Sundays. As the group developed, the participants starting referring to the volunteers as their 'Sunday friends' coming to spend the day with them. Now, more than 25 years later, Sunday Friends continues to provide learning opportunities for families to thrive into the future.