Legacy Club
Honoring remarkable individuals who have made a transgenerational gift to protect
women and children from domestic violence.
Richard & Maryan Schall
In 1986, Minnesota natives Richard and Maryan Schall joyfully embraced Santa Barbara's
temperate climate and ambiance as the perfect place to retire, enthusiastically
exclaiming, "If you have a choice, who wouldn't choose SB!" This exceptionally philanthropic
couple has generously funded multiple non-profits throughout Santa Barbara and beyond,
and are the most recent members of the DVS Legacy Club.
Longtime supporters of DVS, the Schalls were impressed by DVS's prudent attention
to limiting administrative costs while fulfilling its mission to provide critical
social services to women and children. DVS is proud to welcome them into the Legacy
Club, which provides transformative and sustainable support for the organization
through estate planning for charitable donations.
The Schalls philanthropic life has been a focus for them throughout their long marriage.
Together they organized a priority list, centered primarily on education in its
many forms, and on assistance to critical social service agencies. Maryan and Dick
act as a team, and must agree when assessing each organization before they commit.
Maryan laughs that "if one of us is active in an organization, that organization
essentially gets both of us!"
They insist that administrative budgets not exceed 10% to be considered for their
support and look for favorable endorsements from philanthropic rating surveys, such
as Charity Navigator, which analyze development growth and results.
A University of Minnesota graduate, Maryan was a devoted student who continued her
education at the University in her 40s, earning two masters degrees and a PhD in
Communication Studies. She was an early visionary in this field, focusing on women
in organizations, especially those moving into management.
Richard earned a degree in economics and business at Macalester College, a liberal
arts school in St. Paul, Minnesota. And as a former CAO and Board Vice-Chair of
Dayton Hudson (forerunner of today's Target) he served on many corporate boards
after retirement. He and Maryan have served on numerous local boards, including
the Foundation for Santa Barbara City College, Planned Parenthood of Santa Barbara
Ventura and San Luis Obispo, the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara, Sansum
Clinic, UCSB Affiliates, SEE International, the Arts Fund, Direct Relief International,
and CALM.
The Schalls have four children and eight grandchildren who live in Minneapolis and
Boston, resulting in many family trips to and from those locales. Richard is a dedicated
bridge player, who also enjoys golf (most of the time!). Maryan loves to do difficult
crossword puzzles, and also plays bridge, though not in Dick's league, and can be
spotted most days walking around the nearly three-mile perimeter of Ennisbrook,
where they live.
The community of Santa Barbara has benefited greatly from the Schalls' generosity
and that generosity has been honored in multiple ways: they were named Philanthropists
of the Year in 2005 by the Association of Professional Fundraisers; in 2008, were
given the Pierre Claeyssens Award for Distinguished Service by Emmaus of Santa Barbara;
and in 2011, were awarded CALM's Claire Miles award for dedicated volunteerism.
In 2008, Maryan was named Woman of the Year by the Santa Barbara Foundation, honoring
civic-minded volunteer leaders and was honored as 2011 Mother of the Year by Visiting
Nurse and Hospice Care. At the Mother's Day event presenting that award, the Schall
children, David, Caryn, Janny, and Dawn gave tribute to their special mother, highlighting
her as their role model for her lifelong dedication to volunteerism.
By joining the DVS Legacy Club, the Schalls' tradition of volunteerism will continue
in the future throughout the Santa Barbara community.
Chris Casebeer
Chris Casebeer joined the DVS Board of Directors in 2000 and has served industriously
for the last six years. He speaks tirelessly on behalf of the organization and its
work, was instrumental in involving his church (the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara)
in our activities, and most importantly, "fathered" Men Against Domestic
Violence—a group of men committed to challenging the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors
that contribute to violence against women.
Chris also has made a gift to DVS in his will.
"If I don't do these things now, they won't get done," Chris says, explaining
why he has made his estate plans now, although he is a long way from retirement
age, with two children in college and one on his way.
"DVS is a very important organization in my life, and when I'm not around,
I want to make sure the organization is cared for," he continues. "I believe
men and women need peace in their relationships and their lives, and DVS helps people
to achieve peace—equitably.
"I'm not in a position to make large gifts from my income now, but when I'm
no longer here I will be able to care for DVS by leaving a portion of my assets
to the organization and the people it serves."
Thank you for your generosity and your commitment, Chris.
Jean Schuyler
Jean Schuyler was asked to join the board of Domestic Violence
Solutions because of her legendary expertise in nonprofit management
and fundraising. She stayed on, she says, "Because it is such a worthwhile
organization, serving such an important purpose— the protection of women and children
in need."
Jean has devoted much of her life to the support of many charitable organizations
and causes, but she chose to remember Domestic Violence Solutions
in her will because, "It's an organization that is essential to women's continuing
health and safety. I know that the organization provides good services. I felt that
if there was anything I could do to ensure its future, I wanted to make sure I did
so."
Jean not only included DVS in her will, she signed a letter to all of her friends
and colleagues encouraging them to do so, as well.
On behalf of all the women and children who will benefit as a result of your generosity,
Jean, a very heartfelt thank you!
Leesa Wilson-Goldmuntz
Leesa has served on the DVS Board of Directors for more than six years—four of them
as President. She and her husband David made one of the lead gifts that led to the
creation of Mariposa House, our transitional housing program in Santa Maria, and
she has supported us generously with her time and charitable contributions since
she moved to Santa Barbara in 1998. She has also remembered DVS in her will.
"Although my husband and I are relatively young," Leesa says, "we're
both planners and like to think long term so we've done a lot of our estate planning.
There are one or two organizations that we wanted to remember in our will, and DVS
is one of them—because, one, they will always need the money; and two, they will
use the money wisely."
Asked why she feels so strongly about the issue of domestic violence, Leesa says,
"I just find it impossible to tolerate the idea that it is socially acceptable,
in the 21st Century, to abuse someone because of their gender. Unfortunately, there
are still many men and women who subscribe to this belief—even if they do so unconsciously—because
that is the way they have been socialized.
"We still live in a society in which there is a fundamental imbalance of power
between men and women. It is important to me to do what I can to right that imbalance.
I tell my children that our goal is to leave the earth a better place than we found
it and this is one way that I have chosen to try and make that difference."
"Wouldn't it be great if we got to a place where we didn't need an agency like
Domestic Violence Solutions? My dream is to live to
see an end to domestic violence, but if it doesn't happen, then at the end of my
life, there will still be support for DVS and for women and children whom domestic
violence has rendered powerless."
Thank you, Leesa.
Lisa Campus
Lisa Campus came to the United States from Yugoslavia in search of a better life.
According to friends, she had a lifelong compassion for struggling people…particularly
women and children. She didn't talk much about her past, but spent her adult life
working to heal people from childhood and other wounds. Lisa was a deeply spiritual
person and wanted her life to serve a meaningful purpose. Part of that purpose was
caring for women and children that she herself would never know. In her will, she
left a gift that reached out to every domestic violence organization in southern
California, including Domestic Violence Solutions. We thank you, Lisa, for your
kindness that will benefit women and children for generations to come.
Anonymous
"Cathy" wished her planned gift to remain anonymous to protect other family
members. She grew up in a violent household, the youngest of three girls who constantly
witnessed their mother's abuse by their father, who was also a police officer. "That
made it worse," Cathy says, "because there was no one we could call. The
police were all his friends."
Cathy's mother eventually got out, when Cathy was 10 years old. "She had no
job, no way of supporting us, and there were no agencies to help people back then,"
Cathy says. "The only way you could get out was through friends or family members,
or maybe the church."
Although Cathy's mom "made it," Cathy holds the abuse responsible for
the loss of her closest sister eight years later.
"She had become a drug addict, and one night she saw something she shouldn't
have and was murdered. I don't hold my father responsible for her death, but I do
blame the abuse. I think she turned to drugs to avoid the pain she felt."
Her experience also has taught her the importance of organizations like Domestic
Violence Solutions. She is "happy to be in a position to help other women and
children who are in a position like my mom was in.
"No one should be forced to stay with an abuser. And women without financial
resources frequently are."
Thank you, Cathy, for ensuring that other little girls will be spared the pain of
your childhood.