GearUp Needs Cash donations to support small but urgent needs of recreation centers throughout the City

Through the GearUp Fund, SFPT raised money and purchased supplies and equipment for five newly-renovated recreation centers. Hamilton Recreation Center, with its gorgeous pool, water slides, gym, and fitness room, lacked pool safety equipment, exercise equipment, sports equipment, and tables and chairs for community meeting rooms. Harvey Milk Center for Recreational Arts, a city-wide facility that serves all ages, lacked music recording equipment and digital photography equipment for its state-of-the-art studios. SFPT raised the funds and purchased the equipment so that these facilities could fully serve the community.

Through this effort, SFPT learned that nearly all rec centers have a need for small-but-crucial items to keep their programs running: it’s hard to have Midnight Basketball without the balls and nets; Tiny Tot finger paints and tumbling mats wear out fast; table tennis equipment has a short life span.

We think it is important to avoid the case of “for want of a nail”: that small deficiencies result in large negative consequences – in delivering programs that help thousands of San Franciscans of all ages attain and maintain healthy lifestyles, discover and develop talents, build constructive relationships, overcome learning disabilities, and improve academic achievement, among many other benefits.

Therefore, SFPT initiated the GearUp “Instant FUNd” in August 2010 – to ensure that the lack of relatively small items does not impede the delivery of rec programs in Tiny Tots Development, School Year Latchkey, After-school Homework Workshop, Family Arts, Senior Social Club, and age-appropriate Sports, Fitness, Music, Dance, and Art.

Requests for support are submitted by RPD line staff, reviewed and approved by SFPT and RPD managers, and implemented (purchased) by SFPT. The process is simple, timely, and efficient – so that children, youth, and adults can keep playing!