$5MILLION Raised For Gwendolyn's Playground!!!

Huge News! We hit $5MILLION raised for Gwendolyn’s Playground!!!

Our second Butterfly Ball was a major success! Guests arrived decked out in playful butterfly attire at the stunning Dos Pueblos Ranch, the Queen of the Central Coast, generously donated by the Dos Pueblos Institute. From beautiful decor with lots of butterfly flourishes created by Cristina Bentley of Bella Vista Designs and warm natural tablescapes by Kim Curtis of Toast, guests were treated to dancing butterflies, specialty craft cocktails, and incredible auction items in the greenhouse gardens. Guests then meandered to the Estate Lawn and enjoyed a delicious dinner by Duo Events, wine by Artiste Winery, and heartfelt speeches given by Analise Maggio and moi, Victoria Strong, under giant Morton Bay fig trees. Our dear friend Andrew Firestone wowed the crowd as our MC with his humor, auctioneering skills, and belief in this mission!

WATCH THE HIGHLIGHT VIDEO

Three hundred guests listened, learned, laughed, bid vigorously on butterfly swings and a unique art auction, and gave generously — raising an astounding $815,000 for Gwendolyn’s Playground!!! Remarkably, several donors actually increased their gifts the next morning — raising our total overnight. And then we received word that we were awarded grants from several Santa Barbara companies and foundations… which brings Gwendolyn’s Playground to $5Million and —

ONLY $1MILLION LEFT TO CROSS THE FINISH LINE!!!

I am so very humbled by the work I get to do because of Gwendolyn and I am once again encouraged by the many kind humans determined to make the world a more loving, accepting, and joyful place. I know, with our collective efforts, we will raise the final funding to build this life-changing community space where EVERYONE BELONGS!

WAYS TO HELP:

Spread the word about Gwendolyn Strong Foundation this Giving Tuesday
Order NEVER GIVE UP. this Holiday Season (see our NEW Gift Boxes) — 100% of profit donated
Buy a Commemorative Paver for entry plaza at Gwendolyn’s Playground
End-of-Year Giving – get your company or organization involved
Host a Gathering in the New Year and Victoria will come to speak

“Playgrounds are our first community, our common ground, where the simple purpose is reveling in the freedom of play,” said Analise Maggio, Advisory Board. “But if we’re not all there together, if we’re not sharing that magical space with children of all abilities and disabilities, then we’re limiting our life skills to only understanding those who are just like us. And the world is much bigger than that.”

An enormous thank you to the team of remarkable women involved in making this event such a success:

Co-Chairs: Karie Ide and Analise Maggio
Decor Chair: Cristina Bentley
Event Coordinator: Alia Glasgow, Efficient Events
Development Coordinator: Tess Council; Community Outreach: Emily Gardner
Event Committee: Cristina Bentley, Tess Council, Ivana Firestone, Emily Gardner, Robin Himovitz, Karie Ide, Analise Maggio, Beth Magid, Sylvie Rich

Huge gratitude to our sponsors and vendors for their support and generosity in making the Butterfly Ball a success:

TABLE SPONSORS
MONARCH TABLE
Kelly & Kevin Almeroth
Dionne & Carlo Brignardello
Bristol-Emmett Family
Robin & Roger Himovitz
Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation
Analise Maggio & Ben Sprague
The Paskin Family Foundation
Marianne Sprague

SWALLOWTAIL TABLE Aubrey & Nick Bartolo
Below Magid Construction
Virginia Benson Wigle
Bungalow 805
Katie & Erick Crocker
Tim & Jenny Deakyne
Katrina Sprague & Justin Fantl
Andrew & Ivana Firestone
Genentech
Angie & Christian McGrath
Nye, Stirling, Hale & Miller LLP
Riviera Ridge School
Leanne Schlinger
Rudi Schulte Family Foundation, Paul & Shelley Schulte
Leonard Unander Associate, Inc.

BLUE MORPHO TABLE
Jessica Barker Medical Aesthetics
Bright Event Rentals
Citizens Business Bank
Grace Fisher Foundation
Nikki & Larame Greene, Boyd Bailey & Dr. David McFadden
Jenny & Alex Parraga
Randy Solakian Estates Group

ART AUCTION DONORS
Baret Boisson
Blumera, Mehera Blum
Fred Calleri
Pedro de la Cruz
Justin Fantl
Amber & Andrew O’Neill
Punk Me Tender
Sylvie Rich

LEARN MORE ABOUT GWENDOLYN’S PLAYGROUND AND SEE ALL DONORS INVOLVED

Never Give Up

$5MILLION Raised For Gwendolyn’s Playground!!!

$5MILLION Raised For Gwendolyn’s Playground!!!