Annual Dinner & Silent Auction
Build Community
One of the most important benefits of Opening the World is how the program effectively builds community—between participants and within our local and global communities.
At the foundation of the program, lies the concept of reciprocity. We believe deeply that in helping others, we help and grow ourselves. We also believe learning about new people and cultures broadens our perspective on life and allows us to see beyond our own suffering. All of our activities, events, and trips are designed with that in mind.
OTW bridges racial, cultural, and socio-economic divides by exposing populations that may not have otherwise interacted, due to isolation and/or marginalization, to one another.
OTW youth are exposed to:
Communities and individuals that are less fortunate locally, nationally, and internationally
Younger at-risk youth in the County
Other 'helping' organizations (local nonprofits)
Professionals from varying ethnic, racial, and socio-economic backgrounds who help educate, mentor, and support participants
We are grateful to the volunteers and professionals who share their time and knowledge with our youth and to all of the organizations in our local community who help make OTW possible through donations, grants, or by providing significant discounts to our non-profit program.
Peer Bonding Activities
Many of our young adults experienced turbulent childhoods, and as a result, were not able to create a stable community of peers. Opening the World provides a safe environment, separate from work and school, where our participants and alumni can learn more about themselves and bond with each other.
Throughout the year, we have bi-monthly program meetings and schedule special events to expose our youth (and sometimes their families) to new and fun experiences. Examples of previous activities include barbeques in Marin County parks, bowling tournaments, pool tournaments, cultural events (i.e., Ballet Hispanico, plays, musicals, Cirque du Soleil), athletic games (i.e., baseball, basketball, hockey), annual camping trips, game days/nights, and movie nights.
Stafford Lake - Activities Funded By Marin County Parks
Sanzuma Volunteer Day
Local Community Service & Events
We assist our local community by volunteering where needed (i.e., feeding the homeless, assisting seniors, helping end hunger). We also host events for our community to raise awareness about important issues including mental health, human trafficking, poverty and hunger in Marin, the global refugee crisis, and how to effectively work with at risk young adults.
We have specifically helped Marin County Parks, Cedars of Marin, Homeward Bound, Marin Audubon Society, Glide Memorial, Mill Street Center, St. Vincent de Paul’s, Youth Service Team (YST), Canal Alliance, San Francisco Food Bank, Marin Hunger Walk, Sanzuma. We have also delivered turkeys annually to families in need with Marin County Probation, created care packages for the homeless, and have supported Adopt-a-Family during the holidays.
Global Community Service & Travel
We travel to communities that have experienced natural disasters (i.e., earthquakes, fires, and floods) or less fortunate communities that need assistance (i.e., refugee camps, remote communities with little infrastructure) to deliver our collected donations and help them rebuild.
OTW participants have traveled to Nepal, India, Greece, Cuba, Costa Rica, Italy, Turkey, Canada, and across the United States.
These optional volunteer and education trips are made possible through our annual group fundraising events and participant contributions towards their travel expenses.
Nepal