Sarita Groisser

Sarita Groisser moved to San Francisco from Massachusetts after college in 1982, with a duffel bag and a sense of adventure. She has called San Francisco home ever since.

Groisser became involved with Project Open Hand in its earlier years, doing volunteer meal delivery beginning in 1991. She was moved, challenged, and inspired by doing delivery to SROs, witnessing firsthand the impact medically tailored meals and personal interaction had with mostly men suffering the ravages of HIV/AIDS. Later, she became a regular “grocery center” volunteer for many years.

“I have such wonderful memories of the people I met through volunteering with Project Open Hand: other volunteers, staff, and the clients,” Groisser said. “It made such an impact on me. I felt compelled to give back and to help where I could.”

Giving back comes as second nature to Groisser. She has been working in the San Francisco public schools for her entire career, starting as a classroom teacher of recently arrived Spanish-speaking immigrants, before specializing in assessing students with learning differences. For the past 25 years, Groisser has collaborated with School Psychologists in helping to evaluate and make recommendations for children of all ages, skills, and backgrounds.

“I am in such a lucky position to be able to help others. And, it’s so important to recognize and address the inequalities in our society,” Groisser said.

Groisser’s financial commitment to Project Open Hand was cemented in June 2015, when a close friend of hers helped to draft her will. It was then that she designated Project Open Hand as a beneficiary of her estate, thereby joining our Ruth Brinker Legacy Society and ensuring the longevity of our organization.

“What I want people to remember about me is that I cared about others. So, how do you show that?” Groisser said of her decision to make a planned gift to Project Open Hand. “All I have are my ethics and how to best carry them forward, and it was important to me to give to organizations that represent my values. What matters most to me is that I’m contributing to organizations working to make the world a better and more just place, both while I am here, and once I’m gone.”

We at Project Open Hand are incredibly grateful to Sarita for her lifetime of support and for making us a beneficiary of her estate. If you would like to learn more about our legacy giving options, please reach out to Barbara Camacho at (415) 477-2419 or bcamacho@openhand.org.