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San Francisco Youth Host Frisco Youth First with Mayoral Candidates

Sponsored by the San Francisco Beacon Initiative and Salesforce.com/Foundation, this forum brings together youth from an array of San Francisco neighborhoods to raise issues of particular relevance to their generation

October 1, 2003

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – October 1, 2003 – Youth from across the city will be the panelists at a mayoral forum today sponsored by the San Francisco Beacon Initiative, a public-private partnership, and salesforce.com/foundation, a nonprofit organization that harnesses the energy of the salesforce.com community to make a positive difference in people's lives through service and technology-related projects for youth. Planned by a diverse group of youth who participate in neighborhood Beacon Centers of San Francisco, Frisco Youth First will provide the opportunity for San Francisco’s top mayoral candidates to respond to issues raised by youth. Confirmed participants include all major candidates: Angela Alioto, Tom Ammiano, Matt Gonzalez, Susan Leal, Gavin Newsom and Tony Ribera. Phil Bond, Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology, United States Department of Commerce, will also attend the event.

Frisco Youth First is open to the public and will be held today from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. PST at Everett Middle School in the Mission District of San Francisco, with a reception to follow from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. PST.

This forum, hosted by Community Bridges Beacon, showcases the civic engagement of San Francisco’s young people in researching issues, gathering information about community concerns, and planning and shaping the forum event. A youth panel and youth emcee will moderate a question and answer session that incorporates audience concerns. Anticipated topics to be addressed include school policies, youth jobs, MUNI transportation, recreation and parks activities, and youth curfews. Over 300 youth and adults are expected to attend this free event and exploration of community issues.

“We partner with the San Francisco Beacon Initiative to help bring rich and diverse after-school programming to youth,” said Marc Benioff, chairman and founder of salesforce.com and salesforce.com/foundation. “As a result of these programs, we have witnessed first-hand the demonstration of youth engagement in and passion for civic affairs. These youth lend a valuable perspective to our community that needs to be heard.” “This event is a prime example of the Beacon philosophy of youth leadership,” said Virginia Witt, San Francisco Beacon Initiative Executive Director.

The San Francisco Beacon Initiative, San Francisco's flagship youth development program, has founded eight youth and family centers in San Francisco public schools. The Centers include: Bayview-Hunter’s Point Community Beacon Center, Chinatown Beacon Center, Community Bridges Beacon, OMI/Excelsior Neighborhood Beacon Center, Richmond Village Beacon, Sunset Neighborhood Beacon Center, Visitacion Valley Community Beacon and Western Addition Beacon Center. Nearly 7,000 youth and adults in San Francisco participate each year in free, productive and educational activities at Beacon Centers citywide, and demand for the Beacon program is rising dramatically this year. Beacon Centers focus on key youth development areas including education, leadership, career development, health, and arts and recreation.

If you are interested in attending this free event or for more information, please contact the
salesforce.com/foundation at youthforum@salesforcefoundation.org.

About salesforce.com/foundation

Salesforce.com/foundation is the leader in integrating philanthropy and business. Through its model of donating 1% of profits to the community annually, 1% of salesforce.com equity to its programs and 1% of employee working hours to community service, the Foundation is building a new model for corporations to better serve the communities in which they operate. The Foundation also strives to better the lives of youth by providing relevant access to technology for youth in underserved communities both domestically and abroad. The Foundation works with other corporations, youth development agencies, and NGOs to create a society in which children, regardless of socio-economic background, ethnicity or learning level, have access to technology and understand how to use it to enhance their lives. Since July 2000, the Foundation has opened over 40 Community Technology Centers across the globe serving nearly 30,000 youth and other community members; has provided close to 5,000 hours of service to the community through salesforce.com's 400 employee volunteers; and offers the salesforce.com award winning online customer relationship management application to more than 100 qualified nonprofits globally saving them hundreds of thousands of dollars every year. More information is available at www.salesforce.com/foundation.

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