For David Costas, working with children is a fulfi lling experience. Brother of fourth grader Anastasia, David works in California at Raphael House, the fi rst homeless shelter in San Francisco. “I basically get paid to play around and have fun times with all these great kids,” said the 24-year-old.

After completing his high school education in Richmond, David moved to San Francisco, where he began working as a Child Outreach Coordinator at Raphael House. His job is to get families into programs after they have stayed at the House and have moved into a home of their own. “We fi nancially assist our families to provide their children with nurturing experiences that will allow them to grow and develop as young people,” he said.

Since the end of his high school career, David has known that his heart lies in community work and serving others. He is dedicated to providing a secure environment for the parents and children. “I want to just be with the families in the same way that one would be with cousins and aunts and uncles; just growing as a large community and helping out where we can. I gain so much myself by knowing them,” he said.

David is grateful for the wonderful educational experience he had in his years at St. Andrew’s School. From playing at the rotary (which he and his friends referred to as the “doodery”) to starring in the school play “David and Goliath,” he has fond memories of attending St. Andrew’s School. Most of all, he remembers the close-knit community among the parents, students, and staff that made it feel like one big family. Growing up together, the kids would walk to each other’s houses or their parents’ cars together. “I can’t think of those years without a smile on my face,” said David.