Dear Friends of Mariposa and Austin City Lutherans,
As we enter this season of gratitude and generosity, we are reflecting on how far Mariposa Family Learning Center has come—and how your support has made this possible. This year marks our 5th anniversary, and in just half a decade, Mariposa has grown from a dream into a beacon of high-quality, inclusive early childhood education for the Montopolis community.
Thanks to partners like you, we continue to remove barriers for families who otherwise could not afford care. The true monthly cost of providing our program is over $2,200 per child—this on par with the current average full-time cost for high-quality childcare in Austin. With a Montopolis community average family income of less than $35,000.00 a year, the cost of high-quality care is out of reach for most of the families in our community. Your generosity bridges the gap and ensures that children in our community have the strong, healthy start they deserve.
Winter for Wonder — Our Year-End Campaign
This holiday season, we invite you to join us for our Winter for Wonder campaign.
Help Us Raise $100,000 by December 31.
These funds will:
- Sustain affordable access for families
- Support daily program operations and expanded services
- Strengthen our financial foundation as we move toward the construction of our new facility
- Enable us to provide wraparound support for families facing financial hardship during the holidays
Every gift—large or small—helps us meet the true cost of care while continuing to serve families who need us most.
Donation link here.
Critical Infrastructure Improvements Completed
We are pleased to share that we have just completed major electrical upgrades on our campus—repairs that were incredibly costly but absolutely essential to maintaining a safe and reliable learning environment. We are deeply grateful to Austin City Lutherans for helping fund this urgent work.
Even with this major investment, we remain committed to our long-term vision:
The children we serve need our vital services every day. We’re at capacity and will begin the work of a Capital Campaign this summer!
Expanding Access to Early Interventions
This year, we brought therapy and intervention services directly onto campus, allowing children to receive critical support during the most formative years of development. Early interventions ensure that children enter school ready to learn, on level with their peers.
These services are costly—but life-changing. They require facility space, staffing, and added teacher attention to our students, their needs, and the ways we can work to help lift up each student. They are possible because donors like you believe in investing early in children.
New This Year: Breakfast for Every Student
We have launched our first-ever breakfast program this week, ensuring that every child begins the day nourished and ready to learn. Something as small as a meal can remove a major barrier for working families, and your support makes that possible.
Kendra Scott Fundraiser— Friday, Dec. 5th, 5–7 PM
We are hosting our very first Kendra Scott fundraiser at the South Congress store.
Or shop online using our code (below) —20% of sales come back to Mariposa.
This is the beginning of an exciting new partnership, and your participation directly supports our $100,000 goal. The Mariposa fundraiser starts at 5pm and ends at 7pm—in-store or online!
Your Support Is the Heart of Mariposa
We are grateful every day for the donors and partners who believe in the power of early childhood education to transform lives. As Mariposa celebrates five years of growth, impact, and learning, we invite you to stand with us as we step into the future—stronger, more stable, and filled with wonder. Thank you for considering a year-end gift. Together, we can continue building a place where every child has the chance to grow, learn, and thrive.
Warmly,
Barb Dunnam, Executive Director, Mariposa Family Learning Center
Rev. Tim Anderson, Director, Austin City Lutherans