As we celebrate and commemorate our 50 years of service, we also look forward to continuing to serve individuals with developmental disabilities for another 50 innovative and exemplary years. Starting with just eight students in 1966, St. Madeleine’s has grown exponentially over the decades and now serves over 400 individuals with developmental disabilities each and every day, on a year-round basis.

We are proud that 39 of our 400+ current students have shared their lives with St. Madeleine’s for over 20 years. Eight of these St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center students have been featured in the attached brochure, many of whom were here when St. Madeleine’s first opened. These students are just a small sample of those whose lives are directly touched by your caring contributions.

But just like the general population, people with disabilities are living longer and requiring support services for a longer period of time, especially as they move into their senior years. The prevalence of intellectual and developmental disabilities has increased over the last decade and programs like those at St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center are needed now more than ever!

Program expenses have gone up while state funding has not increased since 2002. We recognize that it is important for St. Madeleine’s to grow and change with the times and needs of the people we serve. And we are excited to be raising funds for future innovations such as a new Aquatics Complex, a new Senior Center, renovations to the Ghio Building and a campus-wide Solar Energy System. These future innovations will help St. Madeleine’s save money on expenses, conserve environmental resources and improve the lives of our students by maintaining high program quality.

This year, a generous anonymous donor will match all donations (large and small) received by December 31st up to $100,000!

These funds will be used toward the installation of our new solar energy system which costs approximately $400,000. Installing solar panels will help St. Madeleine’s saveapproximately $10,000 each month in electricity bills. These savings will be used for program needs and it’s great for the environment, too!

Your gift of $100 or more can “LIGHT UP” St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center for a lifetime for adults with developmental disabilities. And through December 31st, YOUR gift will be matched $1 for $1.

Let’s POWER UP, LIGHT UP, HEAT & COOL and ENERGIZE St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center with the installation of a campus-wide solar energy system at our El Cajon campus. Help us save money, conserve environmental resources and improve the lives of our students by donating TODAY.

Our goal this year is to raise $100,000 so that we can get the matching $100,000 grant!

P.S. Will you please consider a gift of $100 or more? Donations received by December 31, 2015 will be matched $1 for $1 and qualify for a tax deduction. Our Tax ID number is: 95-1957332.

P.P.S. Looking for another way to support the Center? Consider listing St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center as a beneficiary in your estate plan, retirement account or insurance policy. Contact Kellye Buchanan, Donor Relations Officer, at (619) 442-5129 ext. 332 for more information, or visit us online at www.smscLegacy.org. If you’ve already put us in your estate plan, please let us know so we can recognize your caring generosity as a member of our Legacy Circle.