25 Years of Service, A Legacy of Leadership: The Board of Directors Reflect on North Beach Citizens.

For 25 years, North Beach Citizens has served our community with consistency, dignity, and resolve.

That kind of longevity doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because people choose to lead, not for recognition, but for responsibility.

This month, we brought together members of our Advisory Board-past leaders who helped build the foundation of North Beach Citizens. The systems, credibility, and governance we rely on today were shaped by their stewardship.

Here, in their own words, is why they stepped in and why they stayed.

Gussie Stewart

“From the very beginning, I believed this work required one-on-one connection. People aren’t outside the network of life - they just need someone to guide them back. What struck me most was how powerful that model was. I thought this should be replicated across the city. It really is transformative.”

Dick Grosboll

“Anne Halsted and Jeanne Milligan persuaded many of us to join and they led by example. Anne would literally go down to the food bank herself. That level of commitment set the tone. Serving as president, I had the privilege of working closely with Kristie. Strong leadership and strong governance together - that’s what sustains an organization.”

Jeanne Milligan

“In the earliest days, Francis Ford Coppola was walking through Washington Square Park asking, ‘These are our neighbors. What are we doing for them?’ It started with dinners, conversations, and a belief that we could do more. We found leaders, we found supporters  and we built something lasting.”

J. Timothy Falvey

“I first encountered North Beach Citizens through conversations about homelessness in Union Square. The dialogue at the time wasn’t healthy. Kristie reframed it  from ‘How do we get rid of people?’ to ‘How do we work with them?’ That shift changed everything. That’s when I knew I wanted to be involved.”

Gail Gilman

“North Beach Citizens is unique. It is fully philanthropically supported. That’s both a blessing and a responsibility. It means the organization can remain nimble-meeting people where they are, without being constrained by bureaucracy. That independence is powerful, and it’s something we should be proud to talk about.”

The Foundation They Built

The Advisory Board gathering wasn’t just a celebration. It was a reminder.

North Beach Citizens began with bold ideas: a food truck delivering food before food trucks were common. Dinners that brought the community together. Volunteers stirring huge pots of spaghetti alongside Francis, imagining what could be possible.

From those early days came structure. Governance. A building on Kearny Street. Strategic leadership. Financial discipline. And a lasting impact on the community we serve. 

Twenty-five years later, that foundation still holds.

To our past board members: thank you for building with intention.
To our current board: thank you for carrying the mission forward.
To our community: thank you for trusting us to do the work responsibly.

Credibility matters. Governance matters. Personal commitment matters.

And because of leaders like these, North Beach Citizens is positioned for a successful next 25 years.