Stanford Settlement Facing Critical Cutbacks

North Sacramento’s oldest non-profit organization experiencing the pinch of economic downturn

The Stanford Settlement opened its doors 72 years ago with a mission to serve those who need help most in our communities—at-risk youth, senior citizens, and families.

Due to a difficult economic climate spurred by decreasing private donations and severe cuts in funding from local government entities, Stanford Settlement currently serves only half the needy individuals that it did at this time last year.

Without immediate aid and generosity from regional business leaders, private philanthropists, and civic-minded individuals from the public at-large, Stanford Settlement will reluctantly be forced to cut vital elderly and youth-oriented services to critically low levels.

Founded in 1936 by the Sisters of Social Service, the Stanford Settlement is the longest operating non-profit, non-denominational organization in the North Sacramento region, and is unique in offering the only centers designed to care for seniors and at-risk teens.

Located at 450 West El Camino Ave. in the Gardenland/Northgate neighborhood, the Settlement provides a host of enriching services, including social skills development and summer day camps for elementary school students, teen delinquency prevention programs, emergency food assistance and crisis intervention, and programs tailored for frail elderly experiencing isolation and poverty or who are in danger of becoming dependent on governmental services.

“It is heart wrenching to think about our youth and seniors losing their lifeline,” explains Sister Jeanne Felion, the Stanford Settlement’s executive director for the last 35 years. “Our programs give them hope, give them life, for today and for the future. I have faith that our Sacramento community will aid us in our time of need.”

For underprivileged youth living in North Sacramento, Stanford Settlement’s impact on their lives is immeasurable.

“I’ve attended the Settlement for the past seven years, participating in after school groups, summer camps, and worked as a counselor-in-training,” says 18-year-old Claudia. “Thanks to the help and support from the staff at Stanford, I’ve learned to believe in myself all the time.”

Fourteen-year-old Javier describes Stanford Settlement as a place for healthy alternatives: “I’ve been attending the teen center for two years, meeting new people and staying out of trouble,” he said. “If I didn’t come to the Settlement, I’d probably be outside of my house doing stupid stuff—things other kids are getting arrested for. Even though I live in a rough neighborhood, I know Stanford Settlement is a good place.”

The staff and volunteers at the Stanford Settlement vow to continue serving its neighbors with the compassion and commitment that represent the hallmarks of its three-quarter century mission of improving the lives of residents whose opportunities are limited by personal, social, or economic circumstances.

For more information or to make a contribution to the Stanford Settlement, visit the organization online.