Foothills Forever haku k-ič’ -ičantik’ - Hello - Hola
On behalf of the Foothills Forever Team, we want to express our deep appreciation to the State of California and our locally elected officials who helped secure this funding, particularly Senator Monique Limon and Assemblymember Steve Bennett – Steve has spent much of his career working to preserve precious open space. Thank you to Supervisor Gregg Hart, who represents this area on the County Board of Supervisors and has supported us this entire journey.
For many decades, people have recognized that these Foothills are special, and our successful campaign would not have been possible without the work of numerous people for many years. Sixteen years ago, 200 acres were preserved as public open space, and this year - the Foothills Forever Campaign came together as a coalition between the amazing grassroots Save San Marcos Foothills, the šumwič Chumash, and the non-profit Channel Islands Restoration – which oversees the habitat restoration work on the adjacent County preserve. With fiscal sponsorship from the Santa Barbara Foundation, support from Montecito Bank & Trust, our local community bank and led by a dedicated volunteer Leadership Team – many of whom are standing behind me - we succeeded in preserving this remaining 100 acres for the community.
Thank you to you and your colleagues in the Legislature and to the Governor who answered the call of over 5,500 community contributors, businesses, volunteers, and Land Defenders. These funds from the people of the State of California will help us retire our outstanding loans.
Thank you!
Peter Schuyler
Foothills Leadership Council
We have reached our initial $18.6 milestone to fund the purchase of the 101 acre West Mesa of the San Marcos Foothills! Foothills Forever would like to thank everyone again for your generous donations. All donations, small and large, from individuals, foundations and businesses, played an important role and we are working hard to thank each of our over 5,500 donors. The purchase is the first step in our goal to create 300 acres of contiguous wildlife habitat, honor Chumash heritage, maintain open space, provide environmental education opportunities, and have this land serve as buffer and defensible space in the event of a wildfire threatening Santa Barbara. We have also been working with a well-respected Chumash Elder who serves as a spiritual leader. We have also incorporated others in the Chumash community with the goal of using Chumash Protocol appropriately. Foothills Forever is dedicated to respectfully adhering to Chumash Tribal Sovereignty.
a’ho no’no k-aq inal -iyuw - Thank you - Gracias
Includes $18 million for land purchase and $600,000 for preliminary campaign/escrow closing costs
MAKE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTION TO PHASE 2
Donation by Credit Card
Contribute by Mail
If you would like to make a tax deductible contribution by check, please make it payable to “Santa Barbara Foundation,” include “Foothills Forever Fund” in the memo line and send to:
Santa Barbara Foundation
1111 Chapala St, Ste. 200
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
FOR MORE INFORMATION: info@foothillsforever.org
Stock/Securities Gifts
To make a gift of stock/securities, please contact the Santa Barbara Foundation staff:
Andrea Light, Interim Investment Manager, (805) 880-9355, alight@sbfoundation.org
Jessica Sanchez, Director of Donor Relations, (805) 8809366, jsanchez@sbfoundation.org
Become A Foothills Forever Volunteer
If you would like to volunteer on the San Marcos Foothills including but not limited to, becoming a sheep docent, site steward, or weed warrior, please join our volunteer email list here.
Get Information On The Stewardship Process For The Foothills
The West Mesa is being preserved by a community led effort to maintain this grassland open space for future generations to enjoy. We are working on a plan for long-term stewardship and want this process to be public, open, and transparent. If you would like to know more about this aspect of the project, please sign up here indicating your interest in participating and we will keep you informed.
About Foothills Forever
Foothills Forever is a coalition between Save San Marcos Foothills, the šumwič Chumash, Channel Islands Restoration, and a Leadership Team with expertise in fundraising and organization including the Law Office of Marc Chytilo, Legacy Works, and Mary Rose & Associates. Together, the group raised $18.6 million in 90 days from over 5,500 donors and loans from individuals and institutions including Montecito Bank & Trust. The Santa Barbara Foundation serves as our fiscal sponsor. We have been quietly working to retire our outstanding loans, and we are currently waiting to hear on some significant contributions, which will inform us of the final amount we need to raise to retire all short and long-term loans, create an endowment, pay any final costs, and help to restore and manage the land into the future. The property is currently managed by Channel Islands Restoration in cooperation with Foothills Forever and the Allemall Foundation.
Donations are gratefully being accepted for Phase 2 of the overall $20M campaign.