South San Francisco has given so much to Genentech–and we are committed to giving back. Through our signature Genentech Goes to Town program, we’re proud to support the small businesses that serve the communities that we call home."
GENENTECH GOES TO TOWN
We’ve been a proud member of the South San Francisco community for nearly 50 years. Building strong relationships with our local communities and being a good neighbor has always been important to us, and we believe that we can have the greatest impact by forging meaningful and long-standing partnerships with our communities at the local level.
Genentech Goes to Town is a beloved annual tradition where employees are encouraged to “shop small” at local businesses near our larger sites across California and Oregon each fall, and provided a stipend of “GenenMoney”. The program is an opportunity for employees to connect with colleagues over meals and shopping excursions and discover new restaurants and stores that they can return to year-round. For local businesses, Genentech Goes to Town is an annual opportunity to boost their sales, expand their customer base and increase awareness of their products and services.
Our Impact
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31 years of supporting small businesses in the community
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$4.8M+ invested in local businesses
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300+ businesses supported
In 2024, we invested more than $210,000 in local restaurants, shops and other small businesses in South San Francisco and near our larger sites, contributing to the more than $4.8 million that we have given to 300+ small businesses throughout the program’s 31-year history. As an economic impact program, Genentech Goes to Town invests back into the communities that Genentech calls home, supporting the local economies and empowering our employees to help our neighbors thrive. Beyond Genentech Goes to Town, we also feature local small businesses in our onsite catering and at events, and encourage our employees to support them year-round.
See highlights from Genentech Goes to Town below.
Celebrating 31 Years of Genentech Goes to Town in South City
2024 marks the 31st year of Genentech Goes to Town in South San Francisco (known locally as South City), and we celebrated the milestone with various employee contests to raise awareness and increase local spending. These efforts engaged nearly 7,000 employees and have brought our total investment in South City small businesses to more than $3.8 million since the program began. Looking ahead, we plan to continue playing an active role in our local communities by engaging with local leaders on the issues that matter most to residents, such as child care and transportation infrastructure, for decades to come. Learn more about our long-standing commitment to South San Francisco, our impact to date and the ways that we are continuing to deepen our partnership here.
Watch the video below for highlights from Genentech Goes to Town 2024.
Click the tiles below to meet some of our employees and several local businesses who call South City home, and learn more about Genentech’s long history of partnering with SSF leaders and communities.
Tell us your favorite memory or impact from Gene Academy, Helix Cup, Science Garage, or Job Shadow Day.