Welcome to BAWCC
In the heart of San Francisco’s Tenderloin community, the Bay Area Women’s & Children’s Center is a unique presence. In this multi-ethnic neighborhood, BAWCC focuses entirely on the needs and issues of low-income families, children, and women. Since opening in 1980, BAWCC has had a dual program of: Direct Services and Advocacy/Planning/Long-Term Projects. BAWCC has also initiated and led community projects such as the two playgrounds in SF Civic Center, Tenderloin Community School, and the Tenderloin Recreation Center, and three more playgrounds.
At BAWCC’s two sites, our Center on Leavenworth Street, and our Family Center at Tenderloin Elementary Community School, we provide services to more than 600 families, children, and women each month.
At BAWCC’s Center in the heart of the Tenderloin, our family, children, and women’s programs continue at “full-speed”. Those services include: our Drop-In Program, holiday Angel Child Program, Food Pantry, Clothes Closet for women and children, Parent-Child Program, Tenderloin Scholarship Fund for college-age youth, and Youth Sports Programs.
Photo By: Jennifer Cheek-Pantaleon
BAWCC's Temporary Website.... Pardon Our Dust!
BAWCC is working on our new website, & it will be ready soon, but in the meantime... here is a little information about what we're doing now. Thanks for your patience!
BAWCC's Programs at our Center on Leavenworth Street
At BAWCCs Center in the heart of the Tenderloin, our family, children, and womens programs continue at full-speed.
Those services include: our Drop-In Program, holiday Angel Child Program, Food Pantry, Clothes Closet for women and children, Parent-Child Program, Tenderloin Scholarship Fund for college-age youth, and Youth Sports Programs.
A group of staff and neighborhood kids working together on a project.
Tenderloin Community School Youth Sports Initiative
In 2002, BAWCC launched the Tenderloin Youth Sports Initiative. Through TYSI, more than 500 low-income kids are involved in regular sports activities. BAWCC sponsors the daily physical education program at Tenderloin school, weekly sports clubs: tennis, soccer, rugby, and in partnership with Yerba Buena Ice Skating Center, more than 100 Tenderloin kids have taken ice skating classes, some becoming gold medal skaters.
BAWCC's Drop-In Service Program, Clothes Closet & Food Pantry
BAWCC’s Drop-In Service Program, Clothes Closet & Food Pantry assists families and women with referrals medical, educational, food, housing employment, childcare, legal and other needs for families and women.
BAWCC has one of the largest Free Clothing Closet for women and children in San Francisco. Anyone who needs free clothing is welcome! We also distribute household items for daily needs and we have a Job-Interview Closet for women entering or re-entering the workforce. Once a week, BAWCC provides a nutritional food package to 100 families and individuals in need.
Tenderloin Scholarship Fund
Launched by BAWCC in 1990, the Tenderloin Scholarship Fund provides much-needed funding for youth living in the Tenderloin who want to pursue their education past high school.
To date, BAWCC has given nearly 200 Tenderloin youth scholarships to continue their schooling, with most going to college.
Tenderloin Community School
A Model of What a School Can Be:
BAWCCs longest and largest community project is the Tenderloin Community School and BAWCCs on-site Family Center.
The brightest building in the Tenderloin is alive with childrens voices, laughter and energy as neighborhood students pour through the doors of the Tenderloin Community School. This vibrant red and yellow elementary school opened in December 1998 marking an important change in this low-income, inner-city neighborhood. Now, thanks to BAWCC, Tenderloin children and families have their own school with many on-site services and programs
The Tenderloin, home to more than 3,500 children, was the only San Francisco neighborhood with no public school. Before the school opened, 1,200 young children went to more than 45 schools, all around the city. Now, thanks to BAWCCs initiating the Tenderloin Gradeschool Campaign, all that has changed.
The result is a stunning, well-thought-out school and family center that includes a 400-student K-5 elementary school, on-site childcare center, and many built-in services staffed by BAWCC which were requested by Tenderloin parents during the 8 years of the schools planning and construction.
In addition to the kindergarten through 5th grade classes, there is a library, rooftop learning garden, state-of-the-art dental clinic, family room, community kitchen and computer center. BAWCC provides the staffing and programming for these on-site services.
Library Program
The Library, set up by BAWCC when the school opened, is a colorful and welcoming “home” for books with state-of-the-art technology for students to do hands-on research. Each classroom visits the Library every week to learn library and research skills, choose books and listen to readings.
Dental Clinic
This partnership between BAWCC & UCSF provides a full-service, Free Dental Clinic which is available to all 400 children attending the school. Dentists and Dental Assistants from UCSF’s Pediatric Dentistry Division staff the Clinic, with support from BAWCC, students receive check-ups, teeth cleaning, x-rays, fillings, crowns, etc.
Tenderloin Family Fair
BAWCC has sponsored the spring Tenderloin Family Fair since 2001. On a beautiful spring day, we have more than 500 children, parents and other family members come to the school to enjoy a great festival with carnival games, craft activities, a bouncy-house, yummy food and terrific prizes. Many kids go away with 6-7 brand new books we well as other coveted prizes that they have “won”. Books : BAWCC collects thousands of new children’s books throughout the whole year so that most of the children can take home plenty of prize books from the Family Fair to read during the summer.
Computer Center – Technology Program
BAWCC set up the Computer Center and provides the Technology Program at the school. All students have regularly scheduled classes where they learn computer & research skills and create multimedia projects related to their classroom curriculum.
Learning Garden Program
At the direct request of Tenderloin families, BAWCC asked that a rooftop garden be built into the school’s structure. Staffed by BAWCC’s Garden Coordinator, the Garden provides a hands-on approach to how things grow and what plants need with a special emphasis on cooking and nutrition.
BAWCC's After-School Clubs
BAWCC sponsors 16 after-school clubs, held in classrooms right at the school every week day. There is a Homework Help Club for students 4 days a week, and many additional academic and sports clubs.
BAWCC ‘s Clubs are coordinated and/or taught by teachers at the school.
The Family Room
The Family Room is a special place for the school’s families, located right in the lobby of the school, and is staffed by BAWCC. The Drop-In Morning Program is a welcoming place to meet and share information with other parents and family members. BAWCC also sponors the Parenting Classes at the school. All are welcome.
BAWCC's Litercy Program
BAWCC supports the school-wide Literacy Initiative at Tenderloin Community School.
BAWCC also sponsors on-site one-on-one literacy tutoring for students at the school.
BAWCC's Physical Education Program: Structured Activity Time
BAWCC sponsors SAT, Structured Activity Time, so that every child gets 30-minutes of exercise every weekday, in a fun, engaging, structured format.
Click here to access our printable donation form.
Please print the form and mail to BAWCC:
Bay Area Women's & Children's Center
318 Leavenworth St.
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-474-2400
Contact us
318 Leavenworth St
415.474.2400
BAWCC's doggy receptionist, Taya, with one of her favorite regular visitors, Julia.
Bay Area Women's and Children's Center 318 Leavenworth St, San Francisco Contact info: Tel: 415-474-2400 Mail: bawcc123_gmail.com
