Real Options for City Kids (R.O.C.K.)

Stories that R.O.C.K. — Celebrating 25 years with stories of impact

Take a look at some of our inspiring featured stories.

Real Options for City Kids (R.O.C.K.)

Our mission is to nurture the healthy development of children by listening attentively to their needs and by providing opportunities to those who might not otherwise have access.

Our Story

Real Options for City Kids Mission, Purpose and History

Signature Programs

High-Quality Active and Academic Programming

R.O.C.K. Has Become Fundamental in Visitacion Valley

Our Impact

R.O.C.K. Has Become Fundamental in Our Community

Featured News

You Get a Backpack!
You Get a Backpack! By Sarah Meike, Special Projects Coordinator The week before school started, the Visitacion Valley community came together to make sure that our kids were ready...
William Blair Spreads Philanthropic Mission to the Bay Area by Partnering with Real Options for City Kids of San Francisco
William Blair Spreads Philanthropic Mission to the Bay Area by Partnering with Real Options for City Kids of San Francisco By Jenna Watanabe, Marketing & Development Coordinato...
We LOVE our Volunteers. Here’s One of Many Reasons Why.
We LOVE our Volunteers. Here’s One of Many Reasons Why. By Jenna Watanabe, Marketing & Development Coordinator This video was recorded at one of our most popular volunteer even...

VIEW NEWS

R.O.C.K.
@RealOptionsKids

Earlier this week, we introduced you to Giang—a R.O.C.K. Board Member who is passionate about soccer and helping yo… https://t.co/xczvP8fGu0
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Posted: Yesterday
R.O.C.K.
@RealOptionsKids

RT @gojrgiants: We are proud to join @MLB on #SpiritDay in taking a stand against bullying!

Junior Giants, we ask that today you are remin…
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Posted: 2 days ago
R.O.C.K.
@RealOptionsKids

Did you know that we hosted a staff vs. alumni #kickball game at our 25th Anniversary #PlayDay? All we can say is t… https://t.co/pAFFeCrYlA
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Posted: 2 days ago
R.O.C.K.
@RealOptionsKids

Giang experienced poverty during his childhood in Vietnam, and he recognizes the important role that his support sy… https://t.co/5j7Ga80NlV
1 1

Posted: 3 days ago
R.O.C.K.
@RealOptionsKids

Is Throwback Tuesday a thing? It is now! We're throwing it back to our 25th Anniversary Play Day! Families and comm… https://t.co/ZGQALZ8KVP
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Posted: 4 days ago
R.O.C.K.
@RealOptionsKids

RT @UltimateImpact: Some of our 4th and 5th graders getting to play in our weekly Friday scrimmage at one of our middle schools. Thank you…
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Posted: 6 days ago
R.O.C.K.
@RealOptionsKids

Did you know that today is #NationalChessDay? Some of our middle school students are chess pros, and that's no easy… https://t.co/m9WPMC24kV
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Posted: Last week
R.O.C.K.
@RealOptionsKids

For those who missed it, we shared Babbette's #StoriesThatROCK video this week. Babbette is a R.O.C.K. alum who now… https://t.co/D8UoMljw6K
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Posted: Last week
R.O.C.K.
@RealOptionsKids

On Saturday, this awesome group of R.O.C.K. staff came together to put on a fabulous 25th Anniversary #PlayDay even… https://t.co/PbpU5C7q7u
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Posted: Last week
R.O.C.K.
@RealOptionsKids

Babbette, now 24, grew up in Visitacion Valley and attended R.O.C.K. programs throughout her youth. After graduatin… https://t.co/furA13Z7Se
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Posted: Last week
R.O.C.K.
@RealOptionsKids

We're going through Monday wishing it were a Friday afternoon at a R.O.C.K.-ing dance! We recently hosted the VVMS… https://t.co/GavwFmEJuA
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Posted: Last week
R.O.C.K.
@RealOptionsKids

Come join us at Visitacion Valley Middle School for Play Day! 10am-2pm https://t.co/U7z8obpmsM
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Posted: 2 weeks ago
R.O.C.K.
@RealOptionsKids

This week, we introduced you to Kenneth, a R.O.C.K. alumni who participated in our programs all the way through hig… https://t.co/XzzME0tyho
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Posted: 2 weeks ago
R.O.C.K.
@RealOptionsKids

#ATTENTION! Our 25th Anniversary Play Day is this Saturday! That's only 2️⃣ days from now. Be sure to join us for g… https://t.co/E0vG8U6dpK
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Posted: 2 weeks ago
R.O.C.K.
@RealOptionsKids

Fall #SkillDrills will take place every Saturday from 10/12 through 11/9! Come #volunteer with us as we help our ki… https://t.co/vKj7wSJrsn
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Posted: 2 weeks ago
R.O.C.K.
@RealOptionsKids

RT @shamannwalton: At the Grand Opening of Mission Blue (https://t.co/clRctkxa4p) on Leland Street in Vis Valley. This is more than a coffe…
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Posted: 2 weeks ago
R.O.C.K.
@RealOptionsKids

Kenneth attended R.O.C.K. programs from elementary school through high school, and he believes that R.O.C.K. enable… https://t.co/8T1ZFmI6wS
1 2

Posted: 2 weeks ago
R.O.C.K.
@RealOptionsKids

We L💙VE our #volunteers! Last week, our partners at @GMRMarketing helped with our after-school program. They provid… https://t.co/BDbo1CKWmb
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Posted: 2 weeks ago
R.O.C.K.
@RealOptionsKids

#ICYMI: This week we shared Kania's video for #StoriesThatROCK. Kania makes it a priority to be a positive role mod… https://t.co/jvutXqsdQM
1 1

Posted: 3 weeks ago
R.O.C.K.
@RealOptionsKids

It's time for our fall #PlayDay, and we're doing it bigger & better than ever to celebrate 25 years of R.O.C.K.! Jo… https://t.co/HXUjvIF4IF
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Posted: 3 weeks ago
R.O.C.K.
@RealOptionsKids

How is everyone handling this hot weather? 😓 We decided to deal with it by throwing it back to cooler times—at the… https://t.co/QsVlrARdHJ
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Posted: 3 weeks ago
R.O.C.K.
@RealOptionsKids

Kania, our Middle School Coordinator, spent part of her childhood in the Sunnydale housing projects, where many of… https://t.co/Nk3QvoC34G
1 1

Posted: 3 weeks ago
R.O.C.K.
@RealOptionsKids

@SCdowning @CommunityGrows @FriendsSFPL @SFUrbanForester @LittleBrosSF @PHCSF @ProjectOpenHand @reftrans… https://t.co/frSdBb1Zhj
1 7

Posted: 3 weeks ago
R.O.C.K.
@RealOptionsKids

RT @SCdowning: Looking for a nonprofit to volunteer with in #SanFrancisco? Consider one (or all 10) of these places:

@CommunityGrows @Frie…
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Posted: 3 weeks ago
R.O.C.K.
@RealOptionsKids

You've seen some of the #stories, and maybe you recognize some of the alumni in these photos, but have you wondered… https://t.co/uq2Q8GjcGE
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Posted: 3 weeks ago
R.O.C.K.
@RealOptionsKids

Want to win a pair of round-trip flight vouchers? Thanks to our friends at @AlaskaAir, if you make a donation of $2… https://t.co/PXMtRGh1bp
1 3

Posted: 3 weeks ago
R.O.C.K.
@RealOptionsKids

#ICYMI: Our Stories that R.O.C.K. video this week featured Tina, a R.O.C.K. alumni and current student at UC Davis.… https://t.co/rsSBmRZ5Zi
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Posted: Last month
R.O.C.K.
@RealOptionsKids

#DidYouKnow that R.O.C.K. was founded in 1994 (25 years ago!) by Michelle Groe? Take a moment to read our interview… https://t.co/QPAuuWTgvb
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Posted: Last month

EXPLORE SOCIAL

Want to see a better tomorrow for Visitacion Valley?

Let’s start with our kids.

BE A VOLUNTEER

I can honestly say from experience that R.O.C.K. consists of people who genuinely care for the kids. I started attending R.O.C.K. as an eight year old at “Skill Drills” on Saturdays and as I got older, R.O.C.K. continued to be a part of my life.

– Monique Garrett, Past Participant
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Trusted by various organizations, schools and people in the community

High-quality Active and Academic Programming

By giving kids the chance to participate in our fun and nurturing programs, R.O.C.K. ensures every kid has the opportunity to develop, grow and thrive in a safe environment.

Stories that R.O.C.K. — Celebrating 25 years with stories of impact