New Excelsior Family Connections center opens on Mission Street in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN/KTVU) - Excelsior Family Connections, which for more than 25 years has been helping San Francisco residents get connected to needed family services, celebrated its new home Thursday with a gathering of top city officials, tours and a gala celebration.

The nonprofit has worked to provide working and immigrant families in San Francisco's Portola and Excelsior neighborhoods with services including preschool and early childhood education, afterschool programs, parenting classes, financial literacy programs, English as a Second Language (ESL), and more.

Since its inception, Family Connections' programming has impacted more than 40,000 residents of the southeast sector of San Francisco.

The new home of Excelsior Family Connections is 5016 Mission St., about four blocks from its former home on Ocean Avenue.

"We are so fortunate that here in the Excelsior we have Family Connections to take care of this community and the families that are an important part of what makes San Francisco a great place," Mayor London Breed said at Thursday's event.

Major funding for the new facility was provided by San Francisco's Office of Economic and Workforce Development, the Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development and the Office of Early Child Care and Education, working with Northern California Community Loan Fund and the Low Income Investment Fund.

Associate Director Yensing Sihapanya, Excelsior's associate director, said her agency has worked over the years to strengthen families and build community in an underserved area of San Francisco.

"The demand for our services continues to increase each year, and I am so proud of this organization for investing in the community and constructing such a terrific facility for children and family members," Sihapanya said. "It's truly an occasion to celebrate."