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From Our Founder: A New Blog Celebrating the Heart of Sunday Friends
We’re thrilled to share a brand new blog series, Founder’s Blog, from Janis Baron, the Founder of Sunday Friends!
Since the very beginning, Janis has been a guiding force behind our mission. Though she’s spent recent years cheering us on from afar, her connection to Sunday Friends—and the families who make it special—remains as strong as ever. Now, she’s offering a heartfelt look into the people, programs, and values that continue to shape our work and impact.
In Janis’ words:
“Everyone I speak with from Sunday Friends inspires me and fills my heart with gratitude for our beautiful community. I hope you’ll cherish these stories like I do.”
In this series, Janis will shine a light on long-time volunteers who continue to give back, former participants who are now staff, and families launching businesses through the Dream. Build. Mentor. Lab. She’ll also explore our core programs—from Community Days and Holiday Giving to financial literacy, health education, and the many meaningful ways families Earn and Learn together at Sunday Friends.
The Nakazawas
Marilee
Lidia
Janis Baron: A Powerful Force for Change
For over 30 years, Janis Baron has inspired transformative action through her unwavering compassion. In 1997, she answered a “Call to Action,” conceptualizing the Sunday Friends model—a program built on self-respect, where pride stems from work and community service, not handouts.
Janis, with her extensive experience leading projects at Intel and Apple, turned her focus to community service, from suicide prevention to inner-city programs. She transitioned from Silicon Valley boardrooms to addressing the stark realities of struggling families.
Janis, her children, and friends began by visiting a local family shelter. This wasn’t a one-off act of charity. Janis and her dedicated team of volunteers spent years listening to the shelter families’ needs, building relationships based on trust, and a genuine desire to uplift.
Sunday Friends grew slowly and organically, fueled by a shared vision. The program fosters self-respect and pride, allowing families to contribute and learn, with thank you letters as bridges for giving back. Literacy and computer skills programs, fresh produce distribution, and the “Sunday Friends Bank” for financial literacy empower families to break the cycle of poverty.
This initiative is about more than survival—it’s about empowerment. Janis’ dedication saw young mothers land jobs and families rise from despair, fueling her passion for years. Even after her retirement in 2019, Sunday Friends thrives as a vibrant community, a testament to her vision, and the countless volunteers who found purpose within its walls.
Janis’ legacy is a reminder that we are all connected, and that small acts of kindness can blossom into extraordinary change. Sunday Friends continues to be a “Call to Action,” helping families break the generational cycle of poverty and inspiring hope for a more equitable community.
