News Releases

Coming Together in Mariposa

When the Telegraph Fire swept through Mariposa County in 2008, a group of concerned neighbors sprang into action. The Mariposa Community Foundation (MCF) collected more than $50,000 for victims of the blaze that destroyed 30 homes.

These concerned citizens witnessed good-hearted generosity and felt called to continue organized charitable giving in Mariposa. In the summer of 2010, Kris Casto, President of MCF, invited Dan DeSantis to talk to them about what it takes to operate a philanthropic foundation. The group began to envision what it could do to enrich the life of Mariposa, and they wrote a grant proposal asking FRF for funds.

FRF awarded MCF a grant for capacity building. “The Fresno Regional Foundation has been a wealth of support for us,” Casto said. The relationship illustrates FRF's commitment to improving the quality of life through philanthropy by investing in other organizations.
The MCF Board of Directors is comprised of people who live and work in the community. Their Board has undertaken different activities over the years including serving as a fiscal agent for local charitable groups and helping establish the Foothills Community Mediation Center, the first in the area.

The Fresno Regional Foundation sees untapped philanthropy in this small, cohesive community. The Mariposa Community Foundation will never forget the support and encouragement of the Fresno Regional Foundation.

---