The San Francisco Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund has been selected to receive a 2008 National Philanthropy Day Award. The annual awards, given by Northern California Grantmakers and the Golden Gate Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, will be given in a ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero on Nov. 19. Receiving the 2008 award for Outstanding Corporate Grantmaker: the San Francisco Chronicle.

In the twenty-plus years since the Chronicle launched the annual holiday fundraising drive – with leadership from the late Walter Haas, Jr. and Fund President Ira Hirschfield – Season of Sharing has distributed more than $62 million to families and food banks throughout the nine Bay Area counties. In the last year alone, more than 5000 families were assisted when they needed it most.

“San Francisco is a city of dreamers and a city of doers, and the San Francisco Chronicle has proven it is a corporate citizen that can do both through its 22-year commitment to the Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund,” wrote Mayor Gavin Newsom in a letter supporting the fund’s nomination. “In 1986 the Chronicle had a vision that it could tap into the caring and compassion of San Francisco Bay Area residents to provide a helping hand to people in need. Since then, the [fund] has provided more than $62 million in emergency assistance to those who might otherwise fall through our social safety net.”

Grants are given for basic needs such as move-in costs and housing, and sometimes to pay for necessities such as transportation to work, wheelchair ramps and even essential furniture for family reunification. Grants are always paid directly to the supplier of services, such as a landlord.

The fund also provides 400,000 meals each year for low-income families.

“For the past 5 years, the Season of Sharing Fund has been the largest corporate supporter of our Food Bank,” writes Suzan Bateson of the Alameda County Community Food Bank in her support letter. “In addition to generous annual cash donations, the Chronicle helps to raise awareness about the problem of hunger and invites active participation to help solve poverty and homelessness.”

The Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund is making exemplary contributions to philanthropy every year, helping the neediest in our community. The Chronicle’s commitment, effectiveness and longevity deserve to be recognized and applauded.