Rita R. Semel Endowment Fund for Interfaith Work
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The Rita R. Semel Endowment Fund for Interfaith Work is a permanent endowment fund at The San Francisco Foundation ensuring that the critical work of the San Francisco Interfaith Council endures into the future. Named in honor of Rita R. Semel, one of the Council’s founding members and a tireless advocate for interfaith understanding, the Endowment Fund will provide a steady and dependable source of support for interfaith education, cooperation, and service for years to come. You can help secure the future of interfaith understanding and peace through your gift.
If you would like to arrange for a private, confidential conversation about making a gift, or if you simply wish to learn more about our work, please contact Betsy Dodd at (415) 563-9891 / betsydodd@mac.com. A member of the Endowment Committee will be happy to discuss with you various ways to give, either during your lifetime or by bequest: cash / IRAs / securities / insurance.
- Honoring the Memory of Rita Semel by The Rt. Rev. William E. Swing (5/15/2026)
- Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi Pays Tribute to Trailblazer Rita Semel on House Floor (5/14/2026)
- Governor, First Partner Statement on the Passing of Rita Semel (5/14/2026)
- Rita Semel, interfaith activist and S.F. Jewish leader, dies at 104 (5/14/2026)
- SF: Rita Semel, Beloved Civic And Interfaith Leader, Passes Away At 104 (5/13/2026)
- SFIC Shares in the Loss of Beloved Founder & Past Chair Rita R. Semel (5/13/2026)
- At 104, Rita Semel is proud of a life spent ‘making the world a better place’ (11/26/2025)
- Unsung Heroes Working Tirelessly for San Francisco (11/6/2024)
- At 100 Years Old, Local Jewish Legend Rita Semel Gets a Young Adult Biography (8/15/2022)
- Rita Semel: The Service-Minded Centenarian (11/2021)
- Rita Semel: A 100th Birthday Celebration by URI Founder and President Emeritus The Rt. Rev. William E. Swing (11/25/2021)
- SF Faith and Political Leaders Honor Rita Semel, Centenarian 'Still Leading by Example,' at Interfaith Thanksgiving Service (11/24/2021)
- "A Thanksgiving to Remember" Honoring the 100th Birthday of SFIC Founder and Past Chair Rita R. Semel Interfaith Service Video (11/23/2021)
- "A Thanksgiving to Remember" Program Book (11/23/2021)
- Rita Roher Semel: Fixing a Broken World (2020)
- JCRC Behind the Scenes Gala 2020 Honors Rita Semel Video (5/7/2020)
- Rita Semel, 98, Is a Tireless Leader and 'Interfaith Bridge' in J Weekly (4/2/2020)
- "Repairing the World" in the Nob Hill Gazette (12/2017)
- Interfaith Groups Take Action Against Anti-Semitism (3/21/2017)
- Rita Semel Celebrates Bat Mitzvah - Leah Garchik, SF Chronicle (10/5/2016)
- "Passion for Advocacy" with Rita and Elisabeth Semel at Grace Cathedral's Forum Video and Podcast (5/8/2016)
- Rita Semel StoryCorps Audio Interview by Michael Pappas (8/6/2015)
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- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Interfaith Service (Photo: Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle)
- For Rita Semel, Uniting Religious Groups To Do Good Never Ends (3/26/2015)
- Rita Semel Honored with The San Francisco Foundation 2012 Leadership Award Video (10/10/2012)
- Rita Semel's 90th Birthday: Standing on These Shoulders (12/11/2011)
- The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Remarks at 14th Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Prayer Breakfast Honoring Rita Semel (Video) (11/22/2011)
- Mayor Edwin Lee Remarks at 14th Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Prayer Breakfast Honoring Rita Semel (Video) (11/22/2011)
- SFIC Executive Director Michael G. Pappas Remarks at 14th Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Prayer Breakfast Honoring Rita Semel (Video) (11/22/2011)
- SFIC Founder Rita R. Semel Remarks at 14th Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Prayer Breakfast (Video) (11/22/2011)
- Rita Semel: At 90, a Tireless Advocate for Interfaith Understanding (11/17/2011)