About Us
“The purpose of life is to be useful, to be compassionate. It is above all, to matter, to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all.” - Leo Rosten
RSVP members give many reasons for choosing to serve their communities. Some may want to use their experience in new ways; others to meet new people. Still others want to have a structured schedule (or not have a structured schedule). Most know that volunteering leads to the benefits of living longer and enjoying a higher quality of life But the most important reason that people volunteer is that someone asked them to. RSVP invites you to volunteer!
Who Are We?
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”My impression of RSVP is one of choice and dignity. Staff are extremely welcoming and helpful.” - Katherine Ulm, YMCA volunteer
RSVP San Francisco & Alameda Counties is a 33-year-old organization that connects individuals 55 and over to a wide range of volunteer options in San Francisco County and, since 2006, in Alameda County. Working with over 80 organizations, RSVP’s five-person staff serves as a strong link between those wishing to contribute to their community--and non-profit organizations throughout San Francisco and Alameda Counties. RSVP is funded and supported by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and Northern California Presbyterian Homes & Services (NCPHS).
Who Are Our Volunteers?
“I enjoy helping where I can, when I can. We all need someone sometime to help and care and share.” - William Bailey volunteer, Outer Mission/Ingleside Center
The 800 men and women 55 and over that come through RSVP’s doors each year represent a cross-section of San Francisco and Alameda Counties’ diverse communities. They are the people like you who have a little more time and a lot more experience to give—and the energy and passion to make a difference. As we begin a new era, our volunteers will include members of the “baby boom” generation, who are choosing in growing numbers to contribute their time to help their communities.
Where Do Our Volunteers Serve?
“RSVP sends us qualified, interested and engaged individuals who then help to make our visitors’ experience of the museum that much more enjoyable!” - Paula Rampe, Manager of Volunteer Programs, Asian Art Museum
Our partners range from organizers of one-time events such as the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and AIDS/LifeCycle to cadres of community volunteers—like Seniors Against Investment Fraud ($AIF) members who teach older adults how to avoid fraud and investment scams, and Neighbordhood Emergency Response Teams (NERT) participants that help neighbors prepare for emergencies. We place volunteers in schools, community centers, hospitals, environmental groups, and organizations like the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP), where volunteers help answer Medicare questions; and SCORE, the Service Corps of Retired Executives, which utilizes volunteers’ experience to advise business owners.
History
Since its beginnings in 1966 as SERVE (Serve & Enrich Retirement through Volunteer Experience), when 23 volunteers were first recruited on Staten Island, New York, RSVP has grown into the largest senior volunteer program in the United States, with 700 projects and 480,000 volunteers. In 1973, RSVP had 50 volunteers locally; today there are over 800. The Northern California Presbyterian Homes & Services became the sponsor of RSVP San Francisco in 1995. In 2006, NCPHS expanded its sponsorship to RSVP Alameda County, bringing the two branches together under one management umbrella.