CEO Letter
Dear Safe & Sound Community
As we reflect on the past year, I am filled with hope for the future. Our work at Safe & Sound has always been rooted in a profound belief in the potential for change and the possibility of a world where every child and family can grow and thrive.
To the families who inspire us with their strengths, stories and struggles, thank you for your resilience and your courage. To the partners that surround and support these families, your unwavering commitment to creating safe environments for children is the bedrock upon which we build our programs and services.
I am incredibly proud of the extraordinary team at Safe & Sound. Each one of you goes above and beyond to serve our clients, showing compassion, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. From the three-decade team member who uses her deep connections to find housing for a family facing eviction, to the person who joined last month with fire in your belly to help some of San Francisco’s most vulnerable youth, your hard work and passion are the heart of our organization, and I am grateful for everything you do.
Our hope for a better tomorrow is turned into reality by the families we’ve served and the funding that we’ve been able to secure. In 2023, Safe & Sound was able to reach 16,925 families and caregivers through our services, including everything from our TALK Line to Holiday Toy Store to parent education. That is made possible by the resources and volunteer hours generously donated to fund our impactful work.
The core of our work is people. People are complicated, each of us comes to the job with our own circumstances—I am a mother, an immigrant, and many other things besides. Understanding and celebrating those differences is something that I recognized early on that we needed to focus on in order to better serve our community.
Because of this, I am particularly proud of our work to foster Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. I am aware that in this political environment, some do not see the value in DEI work, but to me, it is a fundamental necessity that guides our approach to serving our diverse community. We recognize that in order to effectively support the families we work with, we must first be willing to engage in difficult conversations and challenge our own assumptions. By fostering an inclusive environment within our organization, we can better understand and meet the needs of those we serve and create a more inclusive community overall.
As a daughter, sister, wife, and mother, I'm reminded every day how important families are and that families belong together. I'm grateful for my family for the endless love and support that gives me the strength to pursue this important work and for being my anchor and source of joy.
As we move forward, let us carry this hope with us. Hope for the families who rely on us, hope for the communities we serve, and hope for a world where all children and families are safe and sound. Together, we will continue to make a difference.
With heartfelt thanks,
Dr. Pegah Faed
CEO, Safe & Sound
