Celebrating 20 Years of Community
This year, Grace Place for Children and Families reached a major milestone: 20 years of educational impact and community empowerment. To celebrate with our students and families, we welcomed nearly 400 attendees to its 20th Anniversary Fall Homecoming Festival—a joyful day dedicated to honoring two decades of meaningful connections, growth, and shared memories.
The campus was transformed into a fall wonderland with activities for all ages. Families and friends gathered for classic autumn crafts like wreath-making, scarecrow building, pumpkin painting, and leaf rubbing, sparking creativity and seasonal cheer. Throughout the day, children and adults alike dove into lively games, from sack races to “find the candy in the haystack,” while an inflatable corn maze added to the adventure. A favorite for young guests was the face-painting station, where imaginations ran wild.
The festival’s treats also brought back the flavors of fall, with delicious hot dogs, caramel apples, snow cones, and freshly popped popcorn filling the air with the scents of the season. Guests—some returning as alumni—reminisced over memories made at Grace Place and shared in new ones, creating a heartwarming atmosphere of reunion and nostalgia.
Reflecting on the journey from Grace Place’s humble beginnings, Chief Learning Officer Diane Ponton, who joined Grace Place as its first employee in 2004, said, “It was incredible to see so many familiar faces come back to Grace Place. This event was a beautiful reminder of how far we’ve come over the past 20 years. We’ve grown from a small homework club to a thriving community of learners and leaders. Watching our students and families celebrate together is what makes all our hard work worthwhile.” Reconnecting with alumni and seeing, years later, the positive impact Grace Place had on their lives is a powerful testament to the lasting value of our work and mission.
The Fall Homecoming Festival was a powerful tribute to the dedication and resilience of Grace Place, a community pillar that has educated thousands and inspired countless families in the Golden Gate area. As Grace Place looks forward to the future, it’s clear that its mission to empower and uplift will continue to shine as brightly as ever.
