by Araceli Martínez
In 1987, a forward-thinking group of San Franciscans came together to birth an organization dedicated to building, preserving, and serving families; 125 years later, the MNC Inspiring Success (Mission Neighborhood Centers), celebrate their inspiring success.
The 125th anniversary celebrations will take place on Tuesday, May 31, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with the participation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, and the Mexican Consul in San Francisco, Remedios Gómez Arnau.
Pelosi and Gómez Arnau will unveil the anniversary plaque on the main campus of the prestigious nonprofit Mission District at 362 Capp Street, hereafter known as the MNC Wolfsohn Campus in honor of Eva and Rachel Wolfsohn, the original founders in 1897.
“For generations, MNC Inspiring Success has diligently supported and empowered San Francisco’s poorest,” said Chamber Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
“It is a privilege to join such an inspiring organization in celebrating 125 years of remarkable service to our city while continuing to provide our neighbors with the community care and resources they need to thrive.
“As we reach that goal, every day, San Franciscans remain deeply grateful for MNC’s devoted advocacy on behalf of our children, our elders and our families.”
Richard Ybarra, president of the Inspiring Success MNCs, said he has been serving the community with multicultural services, from cradle to rocker, for 125 years.
“From the low-income, immigrant and working families we serve, to our board of directors, we are honored to have our esteemed Speaker Pelosi with us on this occasion.”
Ybarra said that during the event, other founders who support MNC Inspiring Success will be recognized, and a special plaque with their names will be inscribed.
These are famous San Franciscans such as: Paola Diviech, Charles J. Durbrow, Mortimer Fleishhacker, Leon Guggenheim, Moses Gunst, I. W. Hellman, Jesse Lilienthal, Eva Neubauer, Leon Sloss, Aimee Steinhart, and Abraham Stern.
Inspiring Success MNCs provide much-needed early care and education to low-income working families at 10 San Francisco campuses.
According to the SF Child Care Planning and Advisory Council, 6,122 children ages 0-2, and 5,567 children ages 3-5 in the city qualify for subsidized early care and education; 93 percent of subsidy-eligible children ages 3-5 get care, while only 27 percent of infants and toddlers (0-2) can get subsidized care.
“There are disparities in access based on race and ethnicity,” Ybarra said, noting that in 2017, 50.3 percent of child care slots were not available to children from working families.
“2020-2021 has shown how critical early care and education and child care are to supporting our workforce and key to rebuilding a strong economy post-Covid.”
According to Ybarra, more than 43 percent of Latino children ages 3 to 5 were not enrolled in preschool or kindergarten, compared to less than 33 percent of their Asian American, white and multiracial peers.
Recognizing this great need, MNC Inspiring Success partnered with Mission Housing Development Corporation to obtain the space in their affordable housing development and received financial support from the Low Income Investment Fund for construction costs.
MNC Inspiring Success’s $32 million current year budget is supported by funding from the City of San Francisco, the Office of National Head Start, the California Department of Education, and the San Francisco Office of Early Care and Education.
During its 62 years of providing early care, Inspiring Success MNCs have been at the forefront of providing educational, social and support services to low-income early childhood, youth, families and seniors in an engaging environment, inclusive and culturally appropriate that promotes community empowerment and economic prosperity. For more information, visit: www.mncsf.org.
