Pathways for Kids San Francisco

Founded in 1998 by local business leader, Peter Dwares and like-minded board members, Pathways' vision is to prepare inner city kids for both higher education and a variety of career options by involving them in career exploration activities - in class, after class, in the workplace and one-on-one - tapping their imagination and motivation and inspiring them to explore their own paths.

Through the ongoing recruitment of volunteer coaches, Pathways also advances philanthropy in our community as participants enjoy the opportunity to give back to the kids by sharing their own experiences.

To date, Pathways' programs have served over 8,000 kids and we are significantly increasing our exposure every year.

The goal of the program is to engage students in career and life skills activities, thus illuminating the link between today and tomorrow. Working with teachers to plan interactive lesson plans and workshops, our career professionals stimulate student interest in the future-their own future.

Class Coaches visit the classroom as one time or multiple visit speakers and have the option to adopt a class for a three to six week focused program. The basic activities include planning projects for the students to complete in class. Because we are working with teachers, all plans reflect the class curriculum. Speakers engage students in discussions about life and what it will take to succeed.

Coaches are given a suggested curriculum during their orientation. Pathways has created guidelines in tandem with teachers, volunteers and students. The guidelines outline different strategies for stimulating student self esteem and vision for the future. Often we as a society focus on negative behaviors and trends, highlighting all the reasons youth should fail. Our focus is on the positive aspects of the youth's life-both within themselves and the community at large-highlighting the reasons they will succeed.

The following Career Exploration Activities (CEA's) allow coaches to work more closely with those students who wish to act on the newfound desire and ambition generated from "Coaches in the Classroom" program participation:

- Host a student job shadow (have student spend a day in an office)
- Host a class job shadow (have an entire class come to an office)
- College Counseling (help a student find out more about college)
- Power Lunch Series Discussion Leader (on Career / College Topics)
- Research Project Mentor (provide real-world project ideas and research resources)
- Student Internship/Job Provider
- Career Readiness Consultations (discuss skills needed in workplace, provide resume feedback, host mock interviews)
- Informational Interview Host (allow a student to interview you in order to find out more about your profession and practice communication skills)
- Career Mentoring
- Field trip host or speaker

Pathways has many volunteers who are willing to get involved in the above ways-each volunteer becomes a doorway to opportunity.

Career Awareness Field Trips

As part of the Pathways Coaches in the Workplace activities, a variety of off-campus "career awareness field trips" continue to be offered in collaboration with our partner schools and field trip hosts. Recent career awareness field trips have included:
- Sports Career Seminar, lunch and game day with the San Francisco Giants.
- Coast Guard and Waterfront Businesses Seminar hosted by the World Trade Club.
- Career Fair at LA Fitness
- Napa Valley Kids Fair hosted by Connolly Ranch

Previous Career Awareness Field hosts include:

- California Pacific Medical Center
- Connolly Ranch Napa Valley
- Golden State Warriors
- Myth Restaurant
- Rebecca Beeson Fashion Design Studios
- San Francisco Giants
- Wells Fargo Bank

Additional off campus field trips that offer educational enrichment and career awareness are currently under development.

Pathways works with San Francisco middle schools and high schools to organize career fairs whereby students may interact with a variety of career professionals representing a broad spectrum of disciplines. Career fairs allow students exposure to many professionals who would not otherwise be available to answer questions or offer direction. The objective is to plant seeds while at the same time identifying candidates for Pathways Coaches in the Workplace activities.

Below is a sample coach/mentor roster from a Pathways Career Fair:
- Mark Ibanez (KTVU Channel 2-Sports Director)
-Alex Tourk (Director Government Relations-San Francisco 49ers)
-Steve Wright (SalesForce.com)
-Olivia Swiley (Community Liaison-San Francisco Mayor's Office)
-Peter Dwares (Real Estate Investor-Attorney)
-Matt Gonzales (San Francisco Supervisor)
-Mike Shumann (KGO Channel 7-Sports Reporter)
-Didier Perez (Venture Capitalist)
-Lisa Dewberry (San Francisco Public Defender)
-Peter Howes (Howes Entertainment-Sports Promotions)
-Dorian Johnson (Deputy Director, NIFTE)
-Lt. Nicol Juratovac (San Francisco Fire Department, Firefighter)
-Artina Lim (Program Officer, DCYF)
-Keith Crawford (Promoter, MIITS (Music Industry in the Schools))
-Marc Vogel (Executive Chef)

It's a great way to give back to your community!

Pathways for Kids welcomes individuals who may want to contribute their time working with our youth. You can help in the office, our partner schools or after-school programs. We are constantly recruiting new coaches, setting up new career fairs, writing new brochures and updating our donor information.

Become a Pathways for Kids Coach and talk to students at inner city schools for an hour or so a month about your career, opportunities they can explore or spend time with an inspired student for a few hours at your office. An important aspect of volunteer placement is that an individual's skills, talents and time availability matches the needs of the kids.

Our volunteers help us in serving hundreds of kids a year. Volunteers go into the classrooms of our partner schools to present their own stories and their experience with their careers. Volunteers also host students, in groups and one-on-one, in their work environments. Volunteers may also lend their expertise behind the scenes in our office in programming, administrative and general support.

How to become a volunteer!

Becoming a volunteer is EASY!

1. Complete the Mentor Intake Form.
2. We will contact you within two working days.
3. We will interview you briefly.
4. If you are working with kids outside the classroom, the law requires us to check references, criminal history and ask you to get a TB test.
5. That's it!

Want to join the team?

Please e-mail the completed form to info@pathwaysforkids.org or fax it to 415.781.1296 attention Program Director.

For more information call the Pathways Program Director, at (415) 781-1446.

1. Make a tax deductible donation to Pathways for Kids, a tax exempt organization under section 501 ( C ) (3) of the IRS Tax Code, Federal ID number 94-3313219.

Pathways for Kids depends upon public donations to continue its work. You can help! Making a donation through our secure server is fast and easy, and when we receive your donation, we will send you an acknowledgement in the mail for tax purposes. Click the button below to make a donation. Thank you for your support!

Please note: We use a nonprofit service to process our credit card transactions. LIC ORG is the name that will appear on your credit card statement - not Pathways for Kids. Using a 3rd party helps us keep our costs low and allows us to spend more time and money on our programs!

If you prefer to mail a check, please mail donations to:

Pathways for Kids Donations
331 Filbert Street
San Francisco, CA 94133

Your tax deductible donations can go a long way in helping us to achieve our mission. For example, a gift (or gifts) totaling $30,000 will allow us to serve hundreds of additional kids through the expansion of our programs. It will enable Pathways to hire additional full-time personnel to interview, match and monitor coach and student relationships while sending coaches out to the schools and students to the workplace.

Every donation of any size is greatly appreciated!

2. Contribute real estate, antiques or jewelry to Pathways and write the contribution off at the fair market value.

3. Donate an old car:
Did you know your auto donation qualifies as a charitable contribution and is tax deductible? You can now donate your used vehicle to support Pathways for Kids. Donate For Charity arranges a free vehicle pickup, handles all the DMV issues, sells the vehicle at auction, and distributes the net proceeds to Pathways for Kids. So if it's time to replace an older car, or if you have a boat and trailer that are just taking up space in the garage, consider making a donation. You'll avoid the headache of selling a used vehicle and receive a receipt entitling you to declare the fair market value of your vehicle as a tax deduction. When you're ready to donate, simply call Donate For Charity toll-free at (866) 392-4483 or

4. Include a bequest in your Will or Trust to Pathways for Kids and reduce your Federal Estate Taxes.

5. Set up a Charitable Remainder Trust.

The Charitable Remainder Trust is a popular and time tested method of making a generous deferred gift to a charitable institution that you want to support.

Through a Charitable Remainder Trust you can enhance your income and make a gift with favorable tax results. While securing a lifetime income that won't decrease, you also help San Francisco's at risk kids; breaking the cycle of indifference while increasing their potential for success.

Benefits include:
- Fixed Income For Life
- Current Charitable Tax Deduction
- Potential Capital Gains Savings
- Support Our Kids and Community

Please contact Pathways for Kids to receive more detailed information on the special opportunities derived from this option. Our phone number is: 415.986.5885. Please ask for the Executive Director.

6. If you are an employee with the City and County of San Francisco you can donate to Pathways for Kids through your Local Independent Charities (LIC) payroll deduction program.

7. Help Pathways for Kids raise money by soliciting individuals, corporations and foundations.

If you are interested in donating or have additional questions, please call 415.986.5885 today.

Thank you for your support!

I founded Pathways for Kids in 1998 in order to work with at-risk youth in San Francisco schools, helping to lead and mentor them into a successful future.

We have since served thousands of kids throughout the city. I extend my ongoing gratitude to everyone who has helped to assure our goals are achieved including our donors, partners, teachers, mentors, Board of Directors, employees, volunteers and most importantly our students.

Thank you for your support and commitment!

Peter L. Dwares
Pathways for Kids Founder and Chairman

331 Filbert Street
San Francisco, CA 94133

Tel: (415) 986 5885
Fax: (415) 986-5893
info@pathwaysforkids.org