Our History
1895
Founded as San Francisco Presbyterian Orphanage & Farm when a young widow died, leaving behind three young children. The orphanage initially opened in a small rented house in San Rafael.
1899
Captain Robert Dollar, a philanthropist and global shipping/lumber magnate, donated the money to acquire 20 acres in San Anselmo. The new home was designed and completed on January 8, 1900 and ultimately housed just over 100 boys and girls between the ages of 3 and 16.
1899
Kent Estate hosted the first Grape Festival, a beloved annual fundraiser that would continue for 105 years, supported first by community members and then the Guilds of Sunny Hills (in their heyday numbering 38 active guilds and 1,500 volunteers).
1920
Captain Robert Dollar donated an additional 42.6 acres of pasture land to enlarge the farm.
1930
Organization became informally known as “Sunny Hills.”
1950
Bargain Box thrift shop founded by the Junior Auxiliary guild to support Sunny Hills.
1955
The expansion of foster care and government aid after WWII changed the needs for institutional care. In response, the Child Welfare League of America requested that Sunny Hills begin a program to provide highly-individualized care for troubled adolescents.
1965
Residential cottages for up to 40 adolescents and the administration buildings built on San Anselmo campus.
1967
Name legally changed to Sunny Hills Children’s Services.
1989
The Bargain Box moved to a permanent home on Irwin Street in San Rafael in 1989. James R. Sylla School opened on the Sunny Hills campus to provide special education to the adolescent residents.
1995
Bank of Marin Golf Tournament established by J. Patrick Hunt (founder of Bank of Marin).
1999
Merged with Children’s Garden of California and name changed to Sunny Hills Children’s Garden Family & Children’s Services. Added the Marin Academic Center to the agency's program offerings.
2005
Name legally changed to Sunny Hills Services.
2006
The 105th and final Grape Festival held at Larkspur Landing (the festival skipped a year during WWII).
2007
After 100 years of serving Sonoma County youth, offices established in Santa Rosa and expanded services to include YouThrive.
2008
Merged with Bay Area Youth Centers (BAYC) in Alameda County and expanded services to include Real Alternatives.
2012
Irene M. Hunt School (formerly Marin Academic Center) dedicated.
2014
TAY Space opened in San Rafael.
2016
Earned The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval for Behavioral Health Care Accreditation. Re-accredited in 2019.
2018
Rebranded as Side by Side to better capture the essence of our relationship with the youth that we serve across a diverse array of programs.
2020
Virtual services launched across agency to contend with COVID-19 pandemic and innovative outreach tactics including online FIFA soccer tournaments and art contests started to keep youth engaged.
2022
Side By Side was re-accredited by Joint Commission.
TODAY
Side By Side now serves more than 2,500 youth and their families in six programs across Alameda, Marin, Napa, and Sonoma Counties.
