Mariposa Center For Girls

Dear Friends,

Our 4th annual Girls Summer Leadership Program has just ended and we had an amazing few weeks. Our first summer on our very own land! In our last update in May, we were raising funds to get our pool open for swimming lessons in time for the summer. Well, we have great news! We were able to fund the project and our pool opened in time for camp!

This summer all the Mariposa girls were able to have swimming lessons and enjoy their very own pool every day. Swimming is an important life skill that builds confidence. Our community is a beach town where learning to swim is critical to ensuring that every child is safe.

We'd like to tell you an amazing story about 15 year old Carola. Carola was one of the original 15 Mariposa girls when we began the group almost four years ago. When we first started our swimming program, Carola was terrified of the water. Over the past three years, thanks to donor support and hours of volunteer dedication, she has conquered her fear and become a great swimmer.

On the first day of camp this year, Carola passed out from post-traumatic stress. The stress was brought on because she was worried about her younger sister who had almost drowned the day before at a local hotel pool, and had to be rushed to the hospital. It was 15 year old Carola who saw her sister sinking to the bottom, pulled her out and saved her life, using the skills she learned from the Mariposa swimming program. You'll be happy to know that Carola's sister is okay and was able to join our program this summer and begin learning to swim.

The next few weeks we will be focused on getting our center ready for fall. We're hoping to finish the electrical wiring and windows and doors. It will be our first full academic year in our very own space and we have so many exciting things planned. None of this would be possible without you and we thank you again for your support.

More updates soon!

With gratitude,

The Mariposas