On March 25, 2025, PRC’s Chief Executive Office Chuan Teng received a Commendation from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
In honor of Women’s History Month, the Board recognized and celebrated Chuan and other honorees representing districts across the city, ranging from 16 years old to 86 years old. Each honoree’s contributions were unique, but united by high impact, powerful leadership and commitment to serving San Francisco’s communities.
Delivering Chuan’s Commendation, Supervisor Rafael Mandelman spoke to the dedication, skill and heart that Chuan is highly regarded for:
“Chuan has combined her remarkable hard and soft skills with an extraordinary heart for service. Whether she was conducting legal consultations, launching innovative programs, connecting people to health care, or saving one of San Francisco’s most essential HIV and behavioral health service providers, her focus has always been on lifting up the most vulnerable members of our community.” –Supervisor Rafael Mandelman
Chuan’s family and members of PRC’s leadership team attended the celebratory event at San Francisco City Hall.
This past Wednesday, PRC hosted its 3rd Annual Open House at our Integrated Services Center at 170 9th Street, and the evening of community connection was a tremendous success. More than 90 attendees joined us to explore PRC’s services, meet the dedicated staff behind them, and hear directly from clients whose lives have been transformed through our programs.
Three PRC clients courageously shared their personal journeys, highlighting how our services have helped them feel seen, gain confidence, and develop the computer skills necessary to excel in today’s digital world. Their stories were a powerful testament to the impact of PRC’s mission.
The event space itself was deeply moving, with all three floors of our stairwell showcasing the artwork of PRC client David Russell. David’s pieces reflect his personal journey through addiction, growth, and life experiences—demonstrating that art can create an outlet for healing and expression.
A special moment of the evening was honoring PRC’s CEO, Chuan Teng, who is nearing the end of her tenure. Chuan has been an integral part of PRC’s mission for many years, guiding the organization with dedication and vision. To express our gratitude, the community came together to present her with a book filled with heartfelt messages of appreciation, along with a beautiful Japanese maple bonsai tree. Community stalwarts Gary Virginia and Donna Sachet presented Chuan with a bouquet of flowers, thanking her for her service and expressing what a joy it has been to work with her during the years they have supported PRC. Additional tributes were given by Supervisor Matt Dorsey and PRC staff members, and Chuan was even presented with a congressional certificate of achievement from Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi!
Adding to the excitement, attendees took part in a raffle that helped us reach our fundraising goal of nearly $10,000. Participants won prizes including tickets to Club Fugazi, SF Playhouse, PRC’s Mighty Real fundraiser, Songs of the Season, and even a haircut generously donated by Philip Soliz at Marzia salon.
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our Open House board champion Darren Smith, and to our generous sponsors: Board Members Colin Hartke, Ahmad Henry, and Brian Schneider, and Quest Diagnostics.
If you weren’t able to join us this year, we look forward to welcoming you next year and bringing you further into the PRC community. Thank you to everyone who attended, contributed, and helped make the evening so memorable.
It’s not too late to support the PRC’s Open house.
Last week, Mayor Daniel Lurie, President Rafael Mandelman, and Supervisor Jackie Fielder visited our Hummingbird Valencia respite center in the Mission to learn more about the value our services bring to the community. Our Hummingbird respite centers, also known as “The Birds,” are a low-barrier entry point to the homelessness response system. By day, the Hummingbirds provide a chance for people experiencing homelessness, substance use disorder or mental illness, to rest and get connected to services. By night, the Hummingbirds host nearly 60 critical beds, providing short term housing for people in our community who need it most.
We were proud to show the model to elected officials, as well as new City health and housing officials Daniel Tsai, Director of Public Health and Kunal Modi, Chief of Health, Homelessness, and Family Services, because the Birds provide a much-needed point of entry into our continuum of care. By getting people into the homelessness response system, we’re much more likely to help them address their long-term goals and wellness. Just as important, we save the city money: an overnight stay at a Hummingbird is a small fraction of the cost of a trip to the Emergency Room.
Orlando Vargas (left), Hummingbird Valencia Program Director and Jessica Winterrowd (right), Chief Clinical Officer, explained the model of Hummingbird and psychiatric respite and the pivotal role they play in addressing the behavioral health needs of our community.CEO Chuan Teng talks with city leaders about what’s working at Hummingbird and how PRC imagines the continuum of care evolving to meet the changing needs of neighbors.
“[Hummingbird] is an example of what can work when community works together… The most important thing is we have to have spots like this to get people off the street who are suffering with addiction issues and mental health issues. Places like Hummingbird, we need to replicate [them] and get more of them online.”
– Mayor Daniel Lurie
“I strongly advocated for the Valencia Hummingbird back when I represented that part of the Mission. The need for more facilities able to meet the particular needs of unhoused people with mental illnesses is clear, and Valencia Hummingbird is helping San Francisco meet that need every day.”
– President Rafael Mandelman (D8)
“There’s a lot of work to be done to build out our system of care, making sure there are places for people to go and get the support that they need. Respite centers like Hummingbird Valencia are much needed in SF and critical to providing a place for people in distress to stabilize and make the first step towards recovery. “
Hummingbird Respite Centers provide a first step into receiving services. To the unhoused, making a big change can be daunting, even if it’s in the right direction. Our Hummingbird sites remove all barriers. Individuals can drop in as they are, with their pets, partner, and belongings. With their basic needs met, we can begin to build trust and help them get comfortable with the idea of being linked to services at their own pace.
More than 7,500 people used Hummingbird’s day drop-in services each year, including laundry, meals, showers, storage, linkage to other services, and help with getting an ID.
PRC’s mission is to help people affected by HIV/AIDS, substance use, or mental health issues better realize opportunities by providing services that address the broad range of social factors impacting wellness and potential. To fulfill our mission, PRC is committed to bringing together advocates, staff, our members, and policy makers for dialogue, education, and partnership on the most challenging issues facing our communities. We’re grateful to each of these leaders for taking the time to learn more about PRC and our valuable services. We know that our collaborative and trusting partnership with the City can continue to do more good for our communities.
Like you, I was dismayed last month as news about the federal funding freeze sent shockwaves throughout the country. Just as soon as the memo that ordered the freeze was released, it was rescinded, whiplashing every federal contractor including PRC. While the freeze is temporarily on hold, we know more disruption, uncertainty, and scrutiny is on the horizon.
What did the funding freeze order say?
The order directed each federal agency to review all their financial assistance programs to identify programs, projects, and activities consistent with the President’s policies as outlined by executive orders signed during the initial days of his administration. In the interim, federal agencies were required to temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all financial assistance, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal.
What’s at stake for PRC and our San Francisco community?
Emergency financial assistance (formerly AIDS Emergency Fund), HIV testing, healthcare advocacy, HIV housing services, critical services for our LGBTQIA+ community, and our important work on diversity, equity, and inclusion are all at risk of disruption. It remains to be seen if Medicaid or Medicare benefits will be impacted by the funding freeze or by a federal budget deal that contemplates cuts for healthcare and food assistance. If so, mental health treatment, case management, and housing programs may be affected too.
All told, PRC’s variety of programs help thousands of people every year. Our clients are stabilizing their lives, managing disability or healthcare, starting new jobs, and securing housing. Breaks or reductions in funding with no contingency plans or alternatives set our community back, increasing the risk of homelessness, illness, and impoverishment.
What are we doing?
With so much at stake, we are activating and organizing. Our team has already developed plans to manage various funding scenarios that may impact services, including taking precautionary measures to preserve cash and available resources. We continue to implement efficiencies and streamline operations to become stronger, more agile, and even more resilient to confront challenges ahead. We are also reaching out to members in our philanthropic community to find out what resources may be available to support services in the case of temporary federal funding disruptions, and we are committed to supporting our staff so that they can continue to effectively serve clients.
Most importantly, we are continuing our work with love for our community and pride in diversity and inclusion. Our clients deserve our undivided attention because they continue to experience poverty, the wealth gap continues to widen, and people still need mental health recovery and treatment. So, we’re here to help and we’re here to stay.
This is a time when division breeds weakness, and it is more important now than ever to stick together. If you are interested in activating, let us know, spread the word about how PRC has changed your life or the life of someone you know, or make your opinion known by writing to your legislators. You can also join us at our upcoming Open House or consider supporting PRC and other organizations you care deeply about with a financial contribution. Whatever you can do is important and is enough. Thank you for supporting PRC and for sticking with us.
For over four decades, the Bare Chest Calendar (BCC) has been more than just a fundraiser, it’s been a community, a movement, and a lifeline for PRC and our clients. As PRC’s oldest community fundraiser, the Bare Chest Calendar holds a special place in our hearts, and we are forever grateful for their unwavering support.
On Thursday, February 13th, at the Powerhouse Bar during the third preliminary competition, the 2025 Bare Chest Calendar Men proudly presented a check for an incredible $249,641 from the 2025 calendar sales. This marks the second-highest single-year total in the BCC’s 41-year history! PRC CEO Chuan Teng, Chief Development Officer Randi Paul, and Development Communications Manager Seth Abrahamson joined the men on stage to express their heartfelt appreciation for their dedication and unwavering support.
The BCC has raised over $2 million since its founding, and in just the last three years, has raised over $290,000 to support PRC’s life-changing services. But their impact goes far beyond fundraising.
More Than a Calendar
Each year, the men featured in the BCC do much more than pose shirtless. From June through December, they dedicate countless hours to local and statewide fundraising events, educating the community about the organizations they support, and representing a cause that changes lives.
The BCC is more than a fundraiser—it’s a Brotherhood. Guided by Den Daddies, these men form deep connections, support one another, and return year after year to continue the tradition. Some of them have even been recipients of PRC’s services, and their participation is a way of giving back to the organizations that have helped them.
A Transformational Experience
For many Calendar Men, the experience is life-changing. They’ve shared stories of how it has: ✔ Helped them integrate into a new city ✔ Built their confidence in public speaking ✔ Made them feel more comfortable in their skin ✔ Connected them with incredible people and lasting friendships
The Bare Chest Calendar is about courage, camaraderie, and community, and we couldn’t be more proud of the men who step up every year to support PRC and other vital organizations.
Join the Legacy
Do you have what it takes to be a Bare Chest Calendar Man? Now is your chance to compete for a spot in the next calendar and become part of this incredible brotherhood.
Everyone at PRC would like to thank the Bare Chest Calendar for their dedication, passion, and heart. Your work fuels PRC’s mission, and we are forever grateful.
PRC’s Mighty Real Fundraiser is a chance to believe in something bigger. Named after the iconic song You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) by Sylvester, the larger-than-life Queen of Disco and PRC’s greatest benefactor, Mighty Real pays homage to the star who benefitted from PRC’s services and in turn gifted his future music royalties to PRC. In gratitude, we honor Sylvester, his legacy, and the community he continues to uplift, through the namesake of our signature fundraising event of the year.
This past Saturday, an incredible group of volunteers, board members, and staff came together to revitalize the garage space at our 90-day residential treatment site, Robertson Place, transforming it from a dusty storage space into a vibrant gathering and recreational space for our clients and team. In just three short hours, we accomplished what could have taken an entire day, proving once again, that when people come together with purpose, the impact is extraordinary.
This project was the final step in a three-part transformation of Robertson Place, a treatment care home supporting individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. The garage, once a blank slate, is now a vibrant gathering and recreational space—a place where healing and growth can flourish.
But the transformation wasn’t just about the fresh coat of paint. Thanks to the generosity of our community, the space is now fully furnished with everything needed to make it comfortable and inviting. Three sofas, three lift-top coffee tables, end tables, rugs, and even an air hockey/ping pong table were all donated by community members. These contributions turned a simple space into a welcoming environment where clients and staff can connect, relax, and heal.
And perhaps most importantly, this event was a powerful reminder that kindness is alive and well. Volunteers showed up to prove that unity, generosity, and human connection are strong and thriving. Each of them brought not just their time and effort but also their heart—and this will leave a lasting impact on everyone who walks into this space.
To our amazing volunteers and generous donors—thank you! Your dedication and teamwork remind us that small actions, when combined, create lasting change.
Want to be part of our next volunteer event? We’d love to have you! Stay connected with us to learn about upcoming opportunities to give back and make a difference.
Meet the dedicated frontline workers who deliver PRC’s life-elevating services.
Learn firsthand about the transformative programs that are effecting real change in San Francisco.
Explore PRC’s Integrated Services Center, where over 5,000 individuals receive behavioral health and social services each year.
Enjoy refreshments and some surprises as we celebrate the work we do together as a community and recognize the leadership that makes it all possible. We’ll be honoring CEO Chuan Teng’s contributions to PRC in steering the organization through challenging times to its current strong position as she prepares to transition to her next chapter.
Join us to learn, get inspired, celebrate successes, and be a part of the PRC family. We look forward to seeing you!
As we launch into 2025, I write to share some personal news. After 14 years at PRC and the last two years as CEO, I am transitioning onto my next professional chapter. Right now, my plan is to work on a number of projects and creative endeavors that I have been thinking about for a long time. As PRC teaches us, we are each the chief architects of our own lives, and now, it’s time for me to create the next chapter of my life.
Over the years, I have had the joy of working closely with many partners, funders, and supporters, including you. Your passion, kindness, and commitment to PRC’s mission enable PRC to make a profound impact on the lives of countless clients and community members in San Francisco. Thank you for your loyal and unwavering partnership.
While this announcement may be surprising for some, it comes at just the right time. PRC has overcome a dynamic and challenging period, and the organization is stronger than ever. I am incredibly proud of our progress. As the organization embarks on its 2025-2030 strategic plan, PRC’s next CEO, Board, and stakeholders will have the opportunity to chart the path forward upon the steady foundation we have created together.
These are not my departing words. I will remain in my role through April 30, 2025. During this time, I will work with PRC’s Board of Directors to recruit a new CEO and ensure a smooth transition. After that date, I look forward to cheering PRC on as an advocate and ally for this incredible organization.
This holiday season, join us in supporting healing journeys at PRC’s Hummingbird Valencia Respite Center.
For many, walking through our doors marks a first step toward hope. Orlando, our dedicated Project Director, knows this firsthand. Nineteen years ago, he turned his life around, he entered a one-year treatment program leaving behind a cycle of incarceration and substance use to embark on a path of helping others. Today, he and his team welcome those at their lowest offering essentials like food, showers, clothing, and a warm place to heal.
Orlando shares, “Seeing someone come in disheveled with a sad expression and sometimes without shoes, is heartbreaking. We connect them to services and when they leave, they go with a smile. That’s a beautiful thing to be a part of. We meet people where they’re at and provide support that restores dignity and hope.”
Each person who walks through our doors carries a story of loss, hardship, and resilience. From escaping homelessness and addiction to veterans battling mental health challenges, the transformations we witness are profound. Your generosity provides more than the essentials by adding the compassion and care that restore faith and humanity.
With your support, we can ensure that more individuals experience these transformative moments. You can help bridge the gap to housing, healthcare, and stability for San Franciscans in need.
Please make your year-end gift today and be an integral part of these remarkable healing journeys.
415-777-0333 
