Women's Legacy Fund
2010 Luncheon Speaker:
Mary Catherine Swanson
Mary Catherine Swanson has a BA in English and journalism and an MA in education. She taught high school English for 20 years and then founded an international not-for-profit program AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination). AVID prepares low income students for college entry and has a 94% success rate. AVID’s annual budget is $36,000,000 and the program is in more than 4,000 schools across the U.S., Asia, Europe, and Canada.
Among other honors Mary Catherine has received is $50,000 from the Charles A. Dana Foundation for Pioneering Achievement in Education, the only public school teacher to have ever been so honored. She also received $25,000 for the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education and was named America’s best teacher by Time Magazine and CNN. Mary Catherine retired as CEO of AVID in 2006, leaving the organization with a $23,000,000 endowment. She currently serves on the AVID Board as well as the boards of several other not-for-profit organizations.
About the Women's Legacy Fund
Established in 2003, the Women’s Legacy Fund is a permanent endowment held at the San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation. It is the only endowment fund in the County which targets the needs of women and girls alone. Only the earnings will be spent each year, allowing the Legacy to contribute to the community over time.
In just a short amount of time, the Women’s Legacy Fund has been embraced by the community with support from more than 300 community members including more than 180 Legacy Leaders contributing more than $1,000 to the fund. Each Legacy Leader has a voice in determining the focus of grants that are distributed each year.
Why a Women's Legacy Fund?
In addition to compelling data both nationwide as well as in California, the need for a fund in San Luis Obispo County focusing on the needs of women is apparent. Funds raised locally address issues such as these:
- In 2008, 110 women in SLO County entered domestic violence shelters, bringing with them 159 children. Women’s Shelter Agencies in South and North County, 2008.
- There are over 23,159 children ages 0-13 in SLO County with parents in the labor force, and only an estimated 8,176 number of licensed child care slots. The California Child Care Portfolio, 2007.
- In 2008, 37% of homeless people in San Luis Obispo County were female and an additional 33% were children or teenagers under the age of 21. Homeless Enumeration Study, 2009.
- 91% of victims of rape and sexual assault are female. One in four women has been a victim of rape or attempted rape. Fast Facts, Sexual Assault Recovery & Prevention Center, 2008.
- During 2008, a total of 217 babies were born to teenagers ages 12-19 in San Luis Obispo County. San Luis Obispo County Public Health Dept. 2009.
- Of the teenagers who gave birth in 2008, 60% were Hispanic while 40% were Caucasian, with <1% being from other ethnicities. San Luis Obispo County Public Health Dept. 2009.
- Alcohol abuse among girls in our county is higher than the state average and higher than boys. 2006 ACTION for Healthy Communities Report.
- 37% of local pregnant women used alcohol in the first trimester of pregnancy. 23% continued to use alcohol after being advised to quit. Beginnings of SLO County, Martha’s Place Children’s Assessment Center, 2009.
Founding 100 Legacy Leaders
- AAUW – San Luis Obispo County Branches
- AAUW of San Luis Obispo in honor of women and girls
- Anonymous (4)
- Georgie & Dave Arnold in memory of Chlora Mary Rust
- Catherine Baker
- Lyn Baker
- Sharon Beko
- Barbara Bell
- William C. & Shirley Bianchi in memory of Martha Mendoza Johnston
- Linda J. Booker Family Trust
- Bonnie & Mac Brinton in honor of our daughters Nikki Brinton Jakins and Traci Hobbs Brinton
- Wendy Brown
- Nancy Bruno in memory of Antonina Meli
- Karen Burish in memory of Rosella Burish
- Barbie Butz
- Patricia W. Cairns
- Vicki Carroll in memory of Anna Paiarola
- Christine Cary & Joel McCormick
- Mary Alice Chisholm in honor of Julia O’Grady Pollard
- Carlyn Christianson in memory of Marjorie Blaha
- Lucia Vanderheyden Cleveland
- Barbara Clutter & Betty Hesters
- Claudia Collier in memory of Harold & Jeanne Collier
- Carol Conway
- Donna & Julian Crocker in honor of our daughters Kelly & Karen, and in memory of our mothers Mary & Mary Alene
- Frances W. Davidson in memory of Ethel Simmons
- Virginia deLaval
- Alison & John Denlinger in memory of Aldena Madruga Silva
- Nancy & Christina DePue
- Pamela Dunlap in memory of Mary Fitch
- Sandy & John Dunn in honor of our granddaughters: Olivia and Sophia Taylor & Jayme and Maya Dunn
- Denise Uhles el-Effendi
- Valerie Endres
- Kathy T. & Bud Evans
- Karen Flagg
- Vanessa & Warren Fujimoto in honor of our daughters: Colette & Wendi Fujimoto & Stephenie Bivens
- Stacy Gardiner in memory of Martha K. Smith
- Beverly & Bryan Gingg
- Patricia Gomez
- In memory of Eleanor Bell Gottesman
- Christina Hatch
- Lisa A. Hogarty, Attorney at Law
- Elizabeth Lamont Johnson in memory of Frances & Barstow Johnson
- Gail Johnson
- Grigger Jones in honor of my wife Alice I. Jones and daughters Carolyn A. Jones and Nancy S. Jones
- Anne Keller in honor of Gene Keller & in memory of Milton Lampe
- Lisa Kilburn
- Dee Lacey
- Liz Lee Sportswear
- Linda Lewis
- Noreen Martin
- Liz Maruska in memory of her godmother
- Coleen Mattison
- Diane & Pat McKeague
- Linda Powell-McMillan
- Carol & Leo Michaud
- In memory of Vivien C. Milburn
- Mission Community Bank
- No. Co. Women’s Power Lunch
- Pacific Gas & Electric
- Nanci Lynn Parker in honor of Royce Eldridge Parker
- Barbara Partridge
- Mike & DD Patrick in honor of their daughters Allison, Michelle and Elise, and in memory of Elaine Sloane
- Peggy Peterson
- M. Ilda Pruneda in memory of Donald W. Haynes
- Leigh Ramirez
- Linda & Barney Reitner
- Kate Riggins
- Michel Cam & Ann Robb
- Ann Robinson
- Dr. Marie E. Rosenwasser in memory of Diane Epstein
- Rotary Club of Arroyo Grande
- Celeste Royer
- Betty Schetzer
- Anne Sinsheimer
- Carol Sinsheimer
- Jane Sinton
- Jim & Norma Sinton
- Julie Sinton
- Steve Sinton in honor of Norma Sinton
- Elizabeth “Biz” Steinberg
- Barbara & Alan Stevens
- Pat & Steve Stevens
- Toni Sullivan
- Liz Wagner Summer in memory of my mom, Marie Wagner
- Mary L. Talbot
- Johnine Talley
- Paula Topley in memory of Goldie Bensilhe
- Su Tsao
- Natalie Wall, Esq.
- Susan & Helen Waterbury in memory of Brian Waterbury
- Cindy Wittstrom
- Cindy Wittstrom in memory of Grace E. Wittstrom
- Loretta Wofford in honor of my mother, sister, daughter, daughter-in-law, granddaughters, great granddaughters and those women who will follow
- Janice Fong Wolf
- The Women Lawyers Association of San Luis Obispo County
- Mrs. Penny H. Woods
- Hilda Zacarias & family in memory of Jacob Zacarias
Legacy Leaders
- Anonymous (2)
- Libbie Agran
- Elie Axelroth
- Melissa Bachmann
- Christina & Phil Bailey
- Erika Bell in honor of Nlema Prevots-Wallen
- Nanci Bell
- Lucinda Borchard in honor of Willadean Borchard
- Deborah Bowers
- Sandra Boxer
- Central Coast Roller Derby
- Central Coast Women’s League
- Central Coast Women’s Tennis League
- Marty Claus in memory of my mother, Virginia Freudenberger Claus, and my grandmother, Daisy Briscoe Freudenberger
- Katrin Colamarino in honor of my mother Selma Belenky, my grandmother Rose Burusasser, and my granddaughter Sara Schanzer
- Sandy Copeland
- Kathy & Joseph Cortez
- Kathy Coull in memory of Tom Coull
- Jean DeCosta in honor of my mother, Mary A. Gray
- Jeanette Efird
- Mary Kay Eltzroth
- Grenda & Bill Ernst in memory of Sarah Gronstrand and Catherine Ernst
- Marge Ernst in memory of my mother Pearl King
- Nancy Fairchild in memory of Eleanor Dunn
- Lee Anne Fisher
- Candace & Bert Forbes
- Phyllis & Robert Frank
- Ann Freeman Endowment Fund
- Charles & Jennifer Fulbeck
- Gaye Galvan
- Jim & Elaine Gardiner
- Michelle Gaudette
- Marian Gautier in memory of her three sisters-in-law, Yvonne and Lavonne Martin and Mickey Gautier
- Barbara H. George
- Jane Harker-Gersten
- Amy Gilman
- Nella Girolo
- Elizabeth Scott-Graham in honor of my daughter Laura Kate Webre
- Estelle Romano Guarini
- Kathy Hannemann in honor of my daughters Erika and Jessica
- Terri L. Ikeda
- Kaleidoscope Kids Preschool in memory of Kathrine Kirby
- Carol A. Kiessig
- Ruthe Kinnamon
- Bette Kulp
- Russ & Tina Levitan in honor of our daughters, Hannah and Lindsey
- Loose Leaves Book Club
- Lynn W. Lyon Foundation
- Jeannie V. MacDougall in honor of Mary B. Vaughn
- Elna Malzhan in memory of her mother, Lois K. Asada
- Anne McMahon
- Christina & Jonathan Mielziner
- Lou & Dean Miller in honor of their daughters, Carrie and Amy Miller
- Betsey Nash & Marci Powers in honor of Lois Barber & Sweet Donita Ray
- PG&E’s Women’s Network Employees Association
- Jeanne A. Potter in memory of my mother Rossye Wiles
- Dena R. Price in honor of Rita Cagliero “Noni”
- Joan Pruett
- Rawlings Family Fund
- Missy Reitner-Cameron
- Anita Robinson Myracle in honor of Cipriana Pacheco
- Susan Rodriguez
- Rob and Laurie Rossi
- Joan Sargen
- Anneka M. Scranton, Ph.D
- Beverley Sessa
- Anita Shower in memory of Manferd J. Shower
- Amy Sinsheimer
- Carol & Warren Sinsheimer in memory of Marion Sinsheimer
- Laurie Sinton in memory of Ruth Bryan
- Pat Soulliere-Ochylski in memory of Bernice C. Soulliere
- Pat Soulliere-Ochylski in honor of Grace Jean Ochylski
- Susan Stenovec
- Sioux Strebin & Annis Strebin in honor of Dilia, Yesica, Elizabeth and Yenifer Valenzuela
- Rosemary & Don Talley in memory of Hazel Talley
- Gail Tannehill in honor of her daughter Kimberly Dickson
- Tenet HealthSystems and Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center
- Darcie Thille
- Kathy Hoelle-Tompkins in memory of Pam Fleming
- Cheryl and Benjamin Trosky
- Mary Verdin in memory of Susan B. Gamlin
- Debbie Wacker
- Minke WinklerPrins
- Elaine K. Yin in memory of Sandra Yin
- Andrea Zeller in honor of my daughters Brenda & Amanda Zeller
For more information about the Women's Legacy Fund, please contact Janice Fong Wolf at (805) 543-2323 or jwolf@sloccf.org.