Creating learning opportunities for exceptional local youth
Learning opportunities that help students unlock their full potential are the way up for many motivated young people, and the way forward for our entire community. We believe that every effort should be made to ensure the availability of those options to high-achieving youth throughout Santa Barbara’s diverse neighborhoods. We support innovative educational programs that assist exceptional K-12 students in low-income families pursue their goals to reach their full potential and become catalysts for change in their communities.
Far-Reaching Impacts on Animal Welfare
A trip to our treasured Santa Barbara Zoo provides an inspiring connection to more than 500 magnificent animals in a breathtaking oceanfront setting. But the positive impacts of the Zoo go well beyond an enjoyable day at a five-star venue. Our Zoo is a major player in local and global wildlife conservation efforts and is committed to educating visitors and the community about the importance of protecting wild animals.
The Mosher Foundation has been part of the Zoo family and integral to its evolution since the Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens opened to the public in 1963. Over the years, Samuel and Margaret Mosher supported the Zoo in many ways, including gifting exquisite animals from the personal sanctuary located on their estate. In 1968, they donated “Dandylion,” the Zoo’s first lion.
Today, the Zoo participates in many initiatives to preserve and protect animals and their habitats, including the California Condor Recovery Program, Island Fox Recovery, Gorillas on the Line, Frogwatch USA, and through a collaboration with California State University Channel Islands. (Visit sbzoo.org to learn more.)
The Zoo also provides a host of structured wildlife learning opportunities for children ages 3 - 15, including Outdoor Education, Zoo Camp, Preschool, After School Program, a Safari Sleepover, and tremendous teaching resources for local teachers. With one of its key areas of focus on education, the Mosher Foundation has played an integral role in curricula development for many of these youth-focused offerings.
The Foundation has also supported many Zoo innovations over the years, including the Koala exhibit, the Discovery Pavilion, and most recently, the interactive Australian Walkabout, a 15,000-square-foot walkable habit that invites guests alongside free-roaming kangaroos, wallabies, and emus.
“The Mosher Foundation has played a meaningful, behind-the-scenes role in ensuring all of this is available to the more than 15,000 member households and nearly half a million guest visitors each year. You would be hard pressed to identify a single Zoo exhibit or educational program that has not benefitted from their support over many years. As a result, we can focus on our responsibility to wildlife conservation, and a rich Zoo experience that includes important education about the role of wildlife in our lives and our responsibility to protect their future.” sbzoo.org
-Rich Block, SB Zoo President & CEO
Paving a Path to College
Mission Scholars helps deserving scholars apply to, get into, pay for, and succeed in college and post-graduation. The program was developed by co-founders Cassie Lancaster, Kim Phillips, and Katie Kinsella, who recognized how many truly extraordinary students were being left behind.
“Our program helps bright students select the right college and get accepted, and then we work with them the entire time to ensure they thrive academically and socially,” said Cassie. “We are exceptionally grateful to the Mosher Foundation for joining us in believing that every student in our community who works hard in school deserves an opportunity to succeed in college and beyond.” missionscholars.org
Unlocking a Child’s World Through Reading
Faced with online learning in 2020, local schools found it challenging to teach some children how to read. United Way stepped up with the United Learning Center, a free, in-person literacy tutoring program for K-6th grade students. In partnership with the Housing Authority and Santa Barbara Unified School District, ULC offers small group and 1:1 twice-weekly instruction. Children are individually assessed and work under custom learning plans at three ULC locations housed at Harding University Partnership Elementary School, Franklin Elementary School, and the Housing Authority’s Family Opportunity Center. Since launching, ULC has helped 240 children and their families embrace reading, and demand for the successful program continues to grow.
“Most students drag their feet to the first day of class. By day 30, they are skipping with a big smile into a place where reading is fun,” said Melinda Cabrera, Vice President of United Way of Santa Barbara County. “And the results speak volumes—on average, ULC graduates demonstrate a two-grade level gain in literacy skills.” unitedway.org