Levi Strauss left a lasting legacy of commitment to community, a legacy we’re proud to honor both in San Francisco, our birthplace and global headquarters, as well as in other communities where we do business.
Here are a few of our favorite Bay Area landmarks – places our employees are proud to visit, in part because they are places that make the Bay Area a wonderful place to live, work and play, and also because LS&Co. has provided support to make them the what they are today.
Crissy Field
The late Walter Haas Jr., who was an avid outdoorsman, saw the potential for a great park amid the chain-link fences, torn-up asphalt, and scraps of tires in the area that would become Crissy Field.
Before there was Crissy Field, there was an unused military airfield perched on some of the most valuable oceanfront land in the area. Now, this land is a beautifully conserved park perfect for soaking up the sunshine, taking a stroll or riding your bike along the Bay. For the past 14 years, teams of LS&Co. employees have spent a day of service removing invasive species and performing trail maintenance in an effort to keep the park clean and accessible for all to enjoy.
Local Parks
National AIDS Memorial Grove, located in Golden Gate Park, is a living tribute to the lives that have been claimed by AIDS.
San Francisco has more than 220 parks, bringing acres of green space to our city’s landscape. LS&Co.’s long-standing support has helped local parks go waterless by providing grants to put systems and practices into place that save water (just like our Water<Less™ jeans!). Throughout the year, LS&Co. employees also help to beautify these special places, with the AIDS Memorial Grove being an employee favorite.
Stern Grove Festival Association
The Stern Grove Festival is the oldest admission-free summer performing arts festival of its kind in America.
In 1931, Rosalie Stern purchased the Trocadero Inn, a popular recreation spot in the late 1800s, along with 12 acres of land. Less than a year later, she donated this “Grove” to the city in memory of her husband, Sigmund (Levi Strauss’ nephew), as a place for the public to enjoy free musical and theatrical performances. With ongoing support from the Levi Strauss Foundation and employees on Community Day, the Stern Grove Festival Association is now entering its 77th season. (That’s a lot of free concerts!)
SFMOMA
SFMOMA was the first museum on the West Coast devoted solely to 20th century art.
Jackson Pollock was photographed in a pair of Levi’s® jeans, and his work can be found at SFMOMA, the city’s world-renowned modern art museum. Annual funding from LS&Co. goes to support exhibitions and provide general operating support.
Commonwealth Club
LS&Co.’s ongoing support of the Commonwealth Club, which welcomes public figures for forums on topics ranging from politics and the economy to sustainability and culture. And, when the club relocates to a new home on the Embarcadero, there will be 7,800 pairs of blue jeans insulating the walls thanks to a partnership with LS&Co.
Photo credit: David Jones via Flickr CC
Photo credit: Chris Lee via Flickr CC
Photo credit: Ting Chen via Flickr CC
Photo credit: kennejima via Flickr CC
Photo credit: Meg Chang via Flickr CC
