Take the Mariposa House challenge!

Our $1.65 million Mariposa House campaign is drawing to a successful conclusion.  Help put us over the top by accepting the Mariposa House challenge! 

An anonymous donor, working through the Santa Barbara Foundation, has offered to donate $50,000 to Mariposa House, if we can raise an additional $10,000 from donors who live in Santa Maria.  That means that any gift Santa Maria donors make to Mariposa House between now and December 31, 2005, is actually worth FIVE TIMES its face value.  By raising $10,000 from Santa Maria donors, DVS will receive $60,000!  ($10,000 plus $50,000). 

If you're a Santa Maria supporter who would like to participate, please mark your donation envelope accordingly, and mail it to us at PO Box 1536, Santa Barbara, CA, 93102. You can also submit an online donation here, but be sure to mention the Mariposa Challenge in the message box!

As of March 1, 2005, we’re at 93% of our Mariposa House campaign goal¾or $1,534,500 in gifts and pledges.    We have grant applications pending that, if funded, will carry us to 97% of goal!  A successful challenge grant campaign will put us over the top!

We are very grateful to all the generous people throughout Santa Barbara County who helped to make our Mariposa House campaign a success¾with special thanks to Peggy Blough, our campaign chairwoman; Cathy Buchert, Noreen Freitas, Mike Gibson, Susan Moats, Beth Ortega, and Franziska Shepard, our campaign committee; and Jeff Cotter, our campaign consultant. 

Thanks to a gift from Michael Towbes, we recently began construction on the Michael Towbes Playground at Mariposa House¾a development that has residents thrilled!

The women and children living in Mariposa House are all doing exceptionally well¾ working, saving money, supplementing their education, and helping each other heal from the trauma they have experienced.  They, and countless women and children who will benefit from Mariposa House in the years ahead, owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to all of you.