Annual Report 2025
Mission: We create sustainable solutions to end generational poverty by educating girls to become empowered young women and inspiring the international community to join the global movement.
Vision: To create a model that can be adapted around the world for a holistic girls’ education and empowerment program to end generational poverty.
Letter from the Executive director
Dear friends and supporters,
Traditional education often focuses on preventing children from falling through the cracks. But many of the girls whom we serve were born in the cracks–in structural poverty, instability, and generational inequity that existed long before they took their first steps. Being born in the cracks means starting life without access to safety, opportunity, or a clear pathway forward. It means that resilience is not optional, it is required.
At Mariposa, we are not just catching girls before they fall, we are building solid ground where it didn’t exist before. After 16 years, we know that educating and empowering girls goes much farther than the classroom. We ensure that every girl, no matter where she begins, has real access to education, leadership, health, and global opportunity. For us, this means providing physical and mental health and wellness resources, mentorship opportunities with women in an array of fields around the world, athletic programs that build strength and confidence and world class environmental education that empowers girls to fight climate change.
In 2025, we took a bold leap forward and purchased the land next door to the Mariposa Center for Girls in Cabarete to double the size of our campus. More space means more possibilities, more voices amplified and more futures reimagined.
Together, we are expanding what is possible.
With gratitude,
Founder & Executive Director
Our Team
FUll-Time Staff
Patricia Thorndike Suriel
Founder & Executive Director
Alexander de la Cruz
Swim and Sports Instructor
Alexandra Millian
Psychologist
Altagracia De La Rosa
Community Social Worker
Alvaro Jimenez
Director of Transportation
Andrea Suriel
Programs Assistant
Angela Mejia Diaz
Bookkeeper & Accounting Assistant
Antarah Chopra
Executive Assistant
Edisleba Garcia
Elementary and Middle School Teacher
Elena Bueno
Kitchen Personnel
Erin Backhaus
Swim Instructor and English Teacher
Eva Torres
Grounds Maintenance
Fabiola Veraz Joazcar
Swimming Instructor
Fernanda Garcia
Program Coordinator
Gabriela De León
Kitchen Personnel
Jose Agustin Ulloa Ulloa
Agronomist (La Finca Altagracia)
Kathy Martinez
Kitchen Personnel
Ketline Charles
Cleaning
Lisa Crow
Volunteer and High School Administrator
Melissa Mora
Educator (Mariposa Mountain School)
Miguel Soriano
Buildings & Grounds Maintenance
Rafael Meja Almonte
Transportation
Rosa Emilia Reyes
Programs Assistant
Sujeidy Oxiis Jules
Swim, Surf, and Sports Instructor
Yany Almonte
Kitchen Manager
Yaritza Terrero
Administrative Assistant
Consultants & Part-Time Staff
Jessica Lawson
Co-Founder & Consultant
Mariela Mesen
Psychologist & Yoga Teacher
Natalija Trumpej
Music Teacher
Sara Bruins
Education Specialist
Tania Badia
Consultant (Mariposa Mountain School)
Nina Suzanne Nd Jemba Elemva
Dance Instructor
Cabarete Coffee Company
Erika Ventura Manager
Fifi Richard
Head Cook
Fatima Alvarez
Barista & Server
Yamaly Pascual Cook
Maria Angelica Bonilla
Kitchen Steward
Freddy Suriel
Tour Guide & Head of Food Procurement
Yanibel Humer
Server
Honorary Chairwomen
Julia Alvarez - Honorary Chairwoman
World Renowned Author, National Medal of Arts Recipient
Dr. Shirley M. Collado - Honorary Chairwoman
President + CEO, College Track & President, Emerita of Ithaca College
Board Members US & DR
Executive Board of Directors
Tesha McCord Poe - Board President
Founder, Joy Raising
Raymond Jay Dunn - Board Treasurer
President, Dunn Family Charitable Foundation
Teri Epting - Board Secretary
Retired Educator
Lee Ann Evans
Senior Vice President, Capital Markets
Bernadette Rodriguez
Director of Strategy and Product Innovation, Kaiser Permanente
Patricia Thorndike Suriel
Founder & Executive Director, Mariposa DR Foundation
Advisory Board
Deborah Harmon Bouknight
Retired Educator
Kevin Clunis
Senior Vice President, Legal at Ross Stores, Inc.
Radmilla Cody
Miss Navajo Nation ‘97-’98, Grammy-Nominated
Artist
Dr. Eva Cruz
Founder, Cruz Morel Foundation; Consultant
Jenna Dailey
Software Engineering Manager, Liberty Mutual
Insurance
Todd Dailey
President & Chief Operating Officer, Insurance
Management Group
Dr. Bill Eichner
Founder, Alta Gracia
Holly Gordon
Campaign Founder & Executive Producer, Girl Rising
Judy Greenberg
Licensed Psychologist
Sara Lulu
Executive Director, International Senior Lawyers
Project
Nell Newman
Environmentalist, Founder of Newman’s Own Organics, and President of the Nell Newman Foundation
Yaneris Rosa
Vice President of Legal and Business Affairs, World
Wrestling Entertainment
Jadihel Taveras
Head of School, Esperanza Academy
Dr. Elizabeth Thorndike
Environmentalist
Dominican Board
Milagros De La Cruz
Alvaro Jimenez
Yajaira López
Pedro Paniagua
Paulina Perez
Patricia Thorndike Suriel
Mariposa Graduate ‘21 and Teacher, Rosa Emilia, leading technology and coding classes
Marienne, Mariposa’s 8 year volunteer ballet teacher in the studio preparing for our Global Studies performance
Fernanda, Mariposa Program Coordinator, leading daily morning circle at the Mariposa Center
Mariposa’s summer staff – surfing, mountain biking, water sport, security, and transportation experts who mentor the Mariposa girls with positive and respectful male role models
Mariposa’s Music Teacher, Natalija, one on one piano lessons with a high school student
International
Interns, Fellows & Volunteers
Many thanks to our international interns, fellows, and volunteers who helped regular programming and Summer Camp phenomenal in 2025!
Interns & Volunteers
• Abigail Panzica
• Alexa Grossman
• Benjamin Rodriguez Vazquez
• Marianne Santilli
• Margaret Coughlin
• Vivian Reyes
• Sherry Herdman
• Sofia Succhiarelli
• Zoe DeGarmo
2025-26 Princeton in Latin Amreica (PiLA) Fellows
This September, for the first time since 2019, we welcomed 8 PiLA Fellows to the Mariposa staff. They will be working with us through July 2026.
Our PiLA fellows are teaching English, math, environmental science, reading, coding, cooking, music, yoga, theatre, and dance, as well as helping with administrative tasks.
• Anette Diaz
• Anna Goldberg
• Ashley Danzig
• Cassia Schuler
• Eleanor Beyreis
• Jordan Roller
• Kaitlyn Brunner
• Sofia Morris
Welcome Lisa Crow, Academic Adiministrator and Volunteer Coordinator
In 2025 we welcomed Academic Administrator and Volunteer Coordinator, Lisa Crow, to our full time staff. Originally from New Orleans, Lisa first came to the Mariposa Center for Girls as a volunteer in our Global Studies program leading a unit on New Orleans culture. She created lessons for the girls about Mardi Gras which included mask making, taught them about the history of the celebration and did a cooking class where the girls made Bananas Foster. From the minute Lisa set foot on campus, the Mariposa girls loved her energy and they couldn’t wait to be in her class.
In her current role, much of Lisa’s work focuses on
identifying gaps in our girls’ learning and creating individualized learning plans for those most in need. After every semester, Lisa meets with each student to evaluate their classes, giving valuable feedback to our programming and how we can best meet their needs. As a seasoned teacher, Lisa provides support to our staff with curriculum development, lesson-planning, pre-tests, post-tests, evaluations, and with any issues that arise in the classroom.
We are thrilled to have her as part of our core team and the Cabarete community.
The Largest Safe Space for Girls
Opened in 2013, The Mariposa Center for Girls in Cabarete is the larest safe space for girls in all of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Why Girls?
On one side of the road in Cabarete you’ll find sandy beaches, beautiful hotels, condos, and bustling shops and restaurants. On the other side, there are thousands of people living in extreme poverty. Daily life for many children means overcrowded homes that flood when it rains, families struggling to put food on the table, and limited access to quality education and health care. Poverty is hard for everyone, but it’s hardest for girls – and they alone hold the unique power to change everything.
From a young age, girls are positioned as caretakers in their homes. Often with overburdened parents, girls take on the brunt of domestic responsibilities - cooking, cleaning, and caring for younger siblings - putting them at risk of dropping out of school and missing out on extracurricular activities offered within the community. More often than not, this leads to early marriage, early childbirth, and the cycle of poverty starting all over again.
But if a girl stays in school, has access to proper physical and mental health care, and has a safe space to learn and grow, she can lift her entire family out of generational poverty.
The Mariposa Center for Girls is a beautiful, safe sanctuary where the girls of Cabarete come to learn, grow, and play - and it’s changing everything.
Why is Having a Safe Space Important?
The Mariposa Center for Girls is a sprawling 5,000 square meter campus with lush gardens, a swimming pool, a teaching kitchen, and well-equipped indoor and outdoor classrooms. Girls come here daily to enjoy a safe environment where they can build support networks, access vital services and information, develop life and leadership skills, and feel emotionally and physically safe. At Mariposa, girls are given the space and freedom to grow into active, positive contributors to their communities. On campus, Mariposa serves nearly 200 girls ages 6–18, providing educational opportunities, healthy meals, sports, access to mental and physical health care, and much more.
The Results:
In a town where less than 35% of girls graduate from high school and more than 20% become mothers before the age of 18, 100% of Mariposa girls graduate from high school and celebrate their 18th birthday without falling victim to early marriage and motherhood.
More than 20 Mariposa alumni are pursuing higher education across the Dominican Republic and many others are attending universities around the world—including Macalester College, Middlebury College, Whitman College, and St. Olaf College in the U.S. and the United World College in Thailand, Singapore, and Costa Rica. Dozens are working in schools, businesses, and restaurants right here in Cabarete, some are pursuing vocational training, and 10 work right here on campus!
impact
These brilliant young women have smashed the glass ceiling and accomplished more than anyone ever imagined.
Dominican Republic – General Population Girls with Mariposa Intervention
36% of Dominican girls married by age 18
12% of Domincan girls are pregnant by the age of 15
40% Dominican girls pregnant by age 18
30% of Dominican children with parents under age 20 do not attend school
52% of the population lives with food insecurity
Sources: Girls Not Brides 2023 - UNICEF 2022 - IFAD 2022
Anerdis MabeL
0.05% married before age 18
0.05% pregnant before 15 (occurred during the pandemic)
100% make it past the age of their mother’s first pregnancy
100% exceed their mother’s highest level of education
91% of Mariposa girls live in poverty or extreme poverty; 85% rely on Mariposa as their primary source of daily nutrition
Mariposa ‘23 , UWC Singapore ‘25, Macalester College ‘29
“When I first said I wanted to study physics, many people told me it was too hard for a Dominican girl. They suggested I choose politics instead, believing physics was not for someone like me. But Mariposa believed in my potential and fought to make sure I could enroll in the physics class I dreamed of taking.
Through Mariposa’s support, I later earned the opportunity to attend United World College (UWC) in Singapore. For months, I was the only girl in my physics class at UWC Singapore, let alone the only woman of Afro-Carribean descent. Leaving my community and entering a new one was not easy, but Mariposa prepared me academically and emotionally for that challenge.
Mariposa stood by me through every step of the process and helped make this dream possible. Today, I am studying at Macalester College as a woman in STEM. Every class I take is proof that girls from places like La Cienaga belong in science, technology, and higher education. I carry my grandmother, my father, and my community with me in everything I do.
Mariposa did not only help me go to school, they changed the direction of my life. They showed me that poverty does not determine my interests and that girls deserve access to the hardest classes, the biggest dreams, and the highest opportunities.”
Erika Ventura
Mariposa ‘19 , Manager of Cabarete Coffee Company
“When I was sixteen, I joined the internship program at Cabarete Coffee Company, Mariposa’s social enterprise. There, I developed skills that changed my life: English, math, responsibility, teamwork, and pro fessional training. Most importantly, it gave me the opportunity to challenge myself, discover my independence, and realize that I was capable of far more than I had ever imagined.
Today, I am proud to serve as the manager of Cabarete Coffee Company. Nearly everyone who works with me is a Mariposa alumna, a mother of a Mariposa student, or part of the Mariposa community, just as I once was. For me, Cabarete Coffee Company is more than a café. It is a place where women grow, learn, and create opportunities to support their families.
I am now 24 years old and the mother of a young son who attends pre-school with the support of Mariposa at 3 Mariposa Montessori. Being able to give my son an education is one of my greatest joys and proudest accomplishments.”
Kenia Dorcelus
Mariposa ‘23, UWC Thailand ‘25, St. Olaf College ‘29
“Through Mariposa, I was able to attend United World College (UWC) in Thailand, an opportunity I had only dreamed was possible. Leaving my country and my family was not easy, and the process of obtaining residency and travel documents was complicated and overwhelming. Mariposa worked tirelessly with me through every step of this journey. They never gave up on me, even when things became difficult. Without this support I would not have been able to study in Thailand, make lifelong friendships, and earn my international baccalaureate.
Growing up translating for my mother in hospitals and clinics inspired me to become a nurse. I want to care for people who feel lost or unheard the way my mother once did. Today, I am trilingual in Spanish, English, and Haitian Creole, and am continuing my studies toward a career in healthcare.
Mariposa did not only prepare me academically from the teach ing staff to field trips, friends, and holistic programs, Mariposa pre pared me for life. They taught me confidence, responsibility, and service. Their investment in me proves that when you support a girl, you support an entire family and create change that reaches far beyond one community.”
One Generation, Infinite Change
A single generation can rewrite the story of an entire family and transform a community. When we invest in girls, entire societies shift—families grow healthier, economies strengthen, and new leaders rise where silence once stood. The power of educating and empowering girls isn’t just about classrooms or textbooks; it’s about unlocking potential that ripples outward forever. In one generation, education can turn barriers into bridges and hope into lasting change.
Rosa was an original Mariposa girl when we began the program in 2009. She was 11 years old and came from an extremely poor family. Rosa attended programs just a few days a week for about three years, and that was enough for her to become the cycle-breaker.
Rosa now owns one of the most successful beauty salons on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic, Rosa Trenza. Her daughter, Rosbelly, began her Mariposa journey in 2024.
Rosbelly was absolutely thrilled to become a Mariposa, just like her mom. She actively gets involved in everything she can and quickly became one of the more advanced swimmers in her group. She absolutely loves tennis, reading, and playing with her friends.
It’s incredible to see second-generation Mariposa girls entering the program, proudly following in their mothers’ footsteps. Ending poverty isn’t a distant dream. It’s happening right here, and we’re witnessing the transformation right before our eyes.
“Mariposa helped my family with education, food, clothing, and shoes. We didn’t have anything before. I feel nostalgic saying this because now I have a business, and thanks to the Mariposa DR Foundation, I learned languages. I speak English, which helped me with my clients in my business...I spent a lot of time in Mariposa and feel proud that my daughter and nieces are also here, learning a lot.”
Social Businesses
In 2009, Patricia Suriel had the idea to open up a coffee shop
The concept was to create a place that would bring people together to drink coffee that tastes good, is good for the earth, and good for the people who grow it. This simple idea evolved into so much more.
2009 was also the year the Mariposa DR Foundation began. While running a nonprofit and a business at the same time, and with Mariposa having no physical space, Suriel offered her small family business as a gathering place for volunteers, donors, families, and anyone wanting to learn more about how to help. In this small, unassuming coffee shop, people from all over the world began to visit – to drink good coffee and solve hard problems.
In January 2010, a massive earthquake devastated our neighbors and friends in Haiti. With nearly half of Cab-
arete’s local population being of Haitian descent, many made plans to travel home and rescue their family members. Cabarete Coffee Company and The Mariposa DR Foundation sprang into action.
Working together with a dedicated group of volunteers and organizers from the community, we helped families reach their loved ones by providing food, water, and transportation. As community members returned from Haiti with relatives affected by the earthquake, Cabarete Coffee Company and Mariposa worked together to provide meals, medical care, housing, and education placements for children. Our community was deeply affected as thousands of earthquake refugees found their way to Cabarete for relief.
It was during this most challenging time that it became clear how much a little hole-in-the-wall coffee shop could really be a hub for transforming our community. It wasn’t a big place. It wasn’t aesthetic. But it was filled
with hope, love, good food and great coffee.
People would walk into the coffee shop for a sandwich and a latte and leave as a champion for girls’ education. As both organizations grew, Suriel saw how important the coffee shop was in building awareness of Mariposa’s mission. With her family, she made the decision to donate the Cabarete Coffee Company, so it could become a social business of The Mariposa DR Foundation.
Dozens of Mariposa program participants have re-
ceived job training and internships at Cabarete Coffee, equipping them with the skills to land jobs at some of the town’s most popular restaurants. As of 2017, 100% of the proceeds, totaling over $1M, from the shop have gone to support education programs for girls.
Whether you’re in town, planning a visit, or live here and have not yet paid us a visit, we invite you to join us for a cup of some of the best coffee on the island and to support girls in the community.
“Come join us in the coffee world. You can do a lot of good there.”
AUTHOR & HONORARY CHAIRWOMAN, JULIA ALVAREZ
Social Businesses
In 2027, we will be opening our second Cabarete Coffee Company on site at the Mariposa Center for Girls, expanding our menu and retail selection so that more funds can be earned. We believe the true success of the Mariposa DR Foundation lies in our ability to steer our own ship. In an effort to bolster the donations and grants we receive, we work hard to generate our own sustainable funding through the coffee shop. Don’t leave town without visiting Cabarete’s first and only social business, where 100% of the proceeds support educational programs for local children.
In January, we published the 2026-2027 Cabarete Sustainble Tourism and Investment Guide. As this is the 15th edition of the guide, we would like to extend our appreciation to all of the local buisnesses that have supported the guide since the first issue: Andari Spa, The Beach Club, Bliss, Blue Moon, Cabarete Beach Houses (Nanny Estates), Gorditos Fresh Mex, Millenium Resort & Spa, Natura Cabana, Seguros Universales/EPS, Villa Taina, and Yamazato.
We are filed with gratitude for the buisnesses that have been with us since the very beginning. Thank you for believing in our vision, for showing up in every issue, and for helping us tell the story of this incredible community. Your continued support is a true reflection of the vibrant, creatice, and connected place we call home.
Find a copy of the guide at your favorite local business in town, or online on the Mariposa DR Foundation website.
La Finca Alta Gracia
& The Mariposa Mountain School
In 2019, acclaimed Dominican author and Mariposa Honorary Chairwoman, Julia Alvarez and her partner, Bill Eichner generously donated their large organic coffee and macadamia nut farm, Finca Alta Gracia, to The Mariposa DR Foundation. Julia and Bill’s vision in handing over the farm to the organization was to continue their dream of creating a sustainable farm-literacy center in a rural community of Los Marranitos in the high mountains of the Dominican Republic.
This year, our staff and students from Cabarete visited La Finca Alta Gracia and the Mariposa Mountain Campus through the Navigating Her Future program to learn about different ecosystems, sustainable farming, and life in rural areas of the Dominican Republic. We had the special opportunity to host the girls from the Mariposa Mountain Campus in Cabarete and celebrate the International Day of the Girl together. For many of the girls from Los Marranitos, it was their first time at the beach!
Mariposa’s Community Engaged Learning also hosted groups at La Finca, including a group of undergraduate students from Middlebury College and student researchers from DePaul University. The Middlebury students focused on community engagement, helped bring
new energy programs at the Mariposa Mountain School, and studied the farm’s agricultural diversity. After years of working with Mariposa, the DePaul students finalized their land and property surveys of La Finca and published an interactive story map, bringing our property to life through images and history.
Rural communities in the Dominican Republic are dwindling as the tourism industry expands. Yet at the Mariposa Mountain Campus, our girls continue to rise and thrive. Two of our students, Erika and Maria Liz, are pursuing degrees in dentistry and bioanalysis, with financial support from the Mariposa DR Foundation. They serve as role models for the younger Mountain School girls, showing them that all of their dreams are within reach.
As an organization, we remain incredibly grateful to the supporters who have allowed us to make our work of educating and empowering girls possible in this rural mountain community. This year, donors such as Nell Newman and the Dyer Family significantly invested not only in the continuation of the Mariposa Mountain School, but also in our ongoing efforts to protect and restore the land.
Legacy Founders’ Circle
• 11th Hour Racing
• 84Vikings4Good
• Alison and Amanda
• Anonymous
• Clunis Family Foundation
• Dunn Family Charitable Foundation
• Dyer Family
• Gallegos Family
• Glenn and Sherry Herdman
• Girls First Fund
• In Honor of Juliana Mendez
• Julia Alvarez and Bill Eichner
• Lon and Deborah Bouknight
• Miranda Family Fund
• Nell Newman in honor of “Pop,” Paul Newman
The Legacy Founders’ Circle is a remarkable group of individuals and foundations that have contributed $150,000 or more since Mariposa’s inception. Their generosity and belief in our mission has helped turn Mariposa’s boldest dreams into reality.
A remarkable group of visionaries—mothers and fathers, teachers, nurses, librarians, investors, artists, lawyers, environmental champions, doctors, global innovators, and even a princess—the Legacy Founders’ Circle has stood at the heart of the Mariposa DR Foundation since the very beginning. These leaders recognized early on the transformative power of investing in girls and believed deeply in Mariposa’s mission. Their commitment has helped transform the lives of hundreds of at-risk Dominican and
Each member of the Legacy Founders’ Circle brings a unique story, and together they reflect a rich diversity of experiences, perspectives, and passions. Their collective leadership affirms that the movement to educate and empower girls transcends industries, borders, and backgrounds.
The leadership investments of the Legacy Founders’ Circle make Mariposa’s work possible every day. Many members are among our very first supporters, with contributions spanning nearly two decades. From daily programming to summer camp, theater, sports, and nutrition—and through the development of the Mariposa Mountain Campus in Los Marranitos—their financial support and trusted counsel have remained steadfast.
Your belief, generosity, and enduring partnership continue to shape Mariposa’s future and expand what is possible for every girl we serve.
Haitian girls, strengthening families and uplifting the entire Cabarete community.
Honoring THOSE WE haVE LOST IN 2025
While this year was filled with excitement and enthusiasm for all that is to come at the Mariposa Center, our hearts grieved the losses of two of our extraordinary Legacy Founders’ Circle Members: Drew Epting and Glenn Herdman. We are proud to honor these incredible donors and to celebrate their lives and legacies.
Drew Epting
Drew and Teri Epting were long-time visitors to the Dominican Republic and connected with Mariposa in 2016. They immediately jumped in and became cherished members of our community. Year after year, they made leadership gifts, Teri joined Mariposa’s Executive Board and Drew remained a fierce, passionate advocate and advisor for our mission. We are incredibly grateful for the joy that Drew brought to our community. Drew’s contributions undoubtedly changed
the lives of hundreds of Mariposa girls. His legacy will forever be celebrated at Mariposa.
Glenn Herdman
Glenn and Sherry Herdman have been part of Mariposa since the beginning in 2010. Immediately, they both offered their unwavering support, guidance and belief in our Mission. Glenn played a vital role in Mariposa’s success as one of the first large investors in our campus, helping to bring electricity to the center. Working alongside his wife, Sherry, they helped provide a decade of programs such as sewing classes, health initiatives, and mentorship for the girls and families we serve. We are deeply grateful for Glenn’s generosity, compassion, and vision.
New Supporters Mariposa joins Michelle Obama’s Girls Opportunity Alliance
With support from the Obama Foundation, Mariposa launched Mapping Her Future in the 21st Century - an experiential learning program that gets girls out into their community to learn firsthand about higher education, entrepreneurship and career opportunities. This grant funded field trips across the country and allowed us to organize, catalog and refine this ongoing work into a clear, replicable model that can be adapted by girl-led organizations across the world. Together, we are working to empower the next generation of girls as they map out a future that is not only ambitious and possible, but also entirely their own.
As an expansion to our longstanding partnership with Girls First Fund, Mariposa is honored to have been especially selected for the United Kingdom’s Foreign & Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) pilot grant program. The FCDO, also known as the ministry of foreign affairs, is a leader in diplomatic and consular relations around the world. The FCDO’s pilot grant program has contributed to the acceleration of Mariposa’s quality of education and individual mentorship programs and increased the amount of resources available to the Mariposa girls.
We are also thrilled to have support from the Stone Family Foundation’s Girls’ Education and Empowerment Grant Program. This grant has provided Mariposa girls with opportunities to gain exposure to professional environments through our Navigating Her Future initiative, exposing them to a variety of career paths and igniting their ability to envision themselves in a new way.
The Largest safe space is about to get larger
In 2025, we closed on the purchase of the adjoining property to the Mariposa Center for Girls, embarking on our journey to double the size of our campus.
In what feels like the blink of an eye, Mariposa has grown from its grassroots beginnings in 2009 with a small group of passionate educators gathering and a handful of girls in borrowed spaces to an internationally endorsed organization and the largest safe space for girls in all of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Behind this incredible milestone was an extraordinary amount of groundwork - hundreds of hours of interviews, research, site visits, and planning with architects, advisors, and community members across the United States, Dominican Republic as well as Colombia, Austria, and Germany.
2025 was a true architectural adventure. Founder & Executive Director, Patricia Suriel, attended the Living Building Challenge Conference in Portland, Oregon; the Lord Aeck Sargent team behind the Kendeda Building in Atlanta, Georgia visited our campus in Cabarete; leading experts in sustainable and bamboo construction joined our growing team from Germany to Colombia on
the ground in Cabarete. From this collective “10,000 hours+” of preparation, we have built an exceptional team of international architects, consultants, and design leaders.
This expansion will transform our campus through two major additions: the Anacaona Sports and Cultural Complex and the Endowment Building. Together, these buildings will create space, opportunity, and long-term sustainability for the girls we serve. On a broader scale, this expansion allows us to bring our mission to life in new and ambitious ways–serving as a replicable model for girls’ education and positioning Mariposa as a hub for the Global Girl Movement in this region.
On a day-to-day level, it means something even more powerful: more hours for each girl to learn, to be mentored, and to grow in a safe, beautiful space created just for them.
The Capital Campaign officially launches in 2026 to raise the remaining funds to fully realize this vision. We are excited to have you on this journey with us and look forward to working together.
The Endowment Building will serve as a social enterprise and visitor hub, generating revenue to help sustain Mariposa’s programs. The building will house a second location of Cabarete Coffee Company, along with a gift shop, teaching kitchen, offices, and resources for international volunteers. This space will allow us to host visiting groups, educators, and artists-in-residence, deepening Mariposa’s global connections.
The Anacaona Sports and Cultural Complex will be a dynamic, multipurpose space for physical education, the arts, and leadership programming. The Complex will include a swimming pool, locker rooms with showers, and a flexible hardscape area for tennis, basketball, dance, theater, music, and community events.
Donors
In 2025, Mariposa’s mission thrived because of you. The belief in our young people and in the power of education made every program, mentorship opportunity, and success story possible.
We know that your support reflects a deeper belief: that every young girl deserves an opportunity to thrive. Thank you for investing in that vision alongside us. Together, we are transforming individual lives and building a stronger future for our community
$ 100,000 and above
• 84Vikings4Good
• Gina & John Dyer Family
• Girl’s First Fund
$ 50,000 - $ 99,999
• The Obama Foundation (Girls Opportunity Alliance)
$ 25,000 - $ 49,999
• Anonymous
• Daniel Hassan - In honor of Juliana Mendez
• Dunn Family Charitable Foundation
• JetBlue Foundation
• The Gallegos Family
• The Clunis Family
• Miranda Family Fund (Hispanic Federation)
• Sherry and Glen Herdman
• Teri & Drew Epting - In Memory of Drew Epting
• The Stone Family Foundation
$ 10,000 - $ 24,999
• Deborah and Lon Bouknight
• Honnold Foundation
• James and Claire Slazas
• JP Charity Fund
• Julia Alvarez & Bill Eichner
• Lee Ann Evans & Matt Vodola
• Oh Family Foundation
$ 5,000 - $ 9,999
• Be the Spark Foundation
• Community Foundation Boulder County (Grammy’s Fund / Pat Nielsen)
• Cruz Morel Foundation
• Shirley M. Collado, Ph.D. and A. Van Jordan
• The Deidre M. Giblin and David B. DuBard Charitable Foundation
$ 1,000 - $ 4,999
• Aaron Danzig
• Adam Grossman
• Alicia Henriquez
• Anne Lagan
• Benjamin Draper
• Bill Cuff
• Chris Backhaus
• Clint Brady
• Corazoncitos Binghamton University
• Cynthia Worsham - in memory of Drew Epting
• Dara Mitchell
• Donald M Leneski
• Dorene Gustitus
• Edward and Janet Ahlstrand Family Fund
• Elizabeth Pesce - in honor of Lenora James Wheeler
• First Congregational Church Christian Sojourners
• Fred & Mary Schindler
• Glenda B Kelman
• Global Giving Foundation
• Ingmar R Prucha - in honor of Vanessa Nadal
• Jane and Tony Scognamillo
• Julia (Leena) Dalal
• Julia & Pepe Coronado
• Karen Silverman
• Marsha and Phil Aaronson
• Michael & Christine Doyle
• Nathan Kelman
• Our Change Foundation
• Reilly Charitable Foundation
• Richard and Helen Walsh
• Robert Hurd
• Sara Taylor
• Tesha McCord Poe - in memory of Keith Poe
• Todd & Jenna Dailey
• Tripp and Nancy Amick
• Unlimited Possibilites
• Urs Witzig
• Victoria and Glen Keller
$ 500 - $ 999
• Allegra Lawrence - in honor of Ashley Danzig
• Amit Chopra - in honor of Roberta Chopra
• Andrew Hudson
• Anna Worley - in honor of Drew Epting
• Arlenin Dushku
• Barbara Wynne - in memory of Glenn Herdman
• Brenda & David Goldberg
• Candace Shadley
• Celia Judge
• Diemut Nadal
• Don Husby
• Donna Heskett - in memory of Glenn Herdmann
• Elizabeth Acord - in honor of Jessica Lawson
• Elizabeth Reed - in memory of Drew Epting
• Flamingo Fund of the Community Foundation of Tompkins County
• George Walker - in memory of Drew Epting
• Jennifer Kelly - in honor of Hattie Paul
• Joanne and John Leddy - in memory of Padre Luis Quinn
• Karen Steven Pierce - in honor of Allison Pierce
• Ken Barber
• Lisa Breitmayer
• Marcos Duran
• Michael Danzig
• Mr. & Mrs. Michael E Goldberg
• Phillip Matthew - in memory of Drew Epting
• Rebecca Ginzburg
• Rob & Laura Moore Family Fund
• Sandra King
• Sean Malone
• Stella Grob
• Stephen Ferguson
• The Steven Hinds Charitable Foundation
• Valerie Wheeler
$ 100 - $ 499
• Abraham Waziri
• AG Solomon - in memory of Drew Epting
• Alex Rogow
• Allison Tiller
• Amarvir Ghuman
• Amy Berner
• Ann Buchanan - in memory of Drew Epting
• Ann Truesdale - in memory of Drew Epting
• Anna Westbrook
• Anonymous
• Anonymous
• Anthony Dwyer
• Ashley Dos Santos
• Berit Gordon
• Bernadette Rodriguez
• Bernice Larson - in memory of Andrew Epting
• Bobby and Dena Clair - in memory of Drew Epting
• Brian Glaspy
• Bridget Svenson
• Brook Ceko
• Carly Scales
• Caroline Stauffer
• Caroll Dahyana Lema
• Catherine Herbert Messersmith
• Catherine Levy
• Cathleen Trail
• Charleston Parker Poe Office - in memory of Drew Epting
• Chelsea Kirkland - in memory of Drew Epting
• Chihkong Yang
• Chris Dalhuisen
• Chris Doyle - in honor of Aislinn Doyle
• Christina Marte
• Christine Campany
• Clayton Backhaus
• Colin Backhaus
• Colleen Katz
• Courntey Wheeler
• Craig Carlson
• Darlene Knoz-Riley
• David and Elissa Schuler
• David Norville - in memory of Drew Epting
• Dawes Cook - in memory of
Drew Epting
• Diana Urbanski
• Don Dotson
• Ed Thorndike
• Edward Thorndike
• Eileen Polanco
• Eliza Brooks
• Elizabeth Schlossberg
• Elsa Martin
• Emily Roller
• Erin Crow
• Giselle Vasquez
• Grace Settoon
• Harold Lucie
• Humaira Ghilzai
• Iliana Ruiz
• Jacklyn Taveras
• Jacob Hartlage
• Jacqueline Long
• Jake Cosmo - in honor of Ruth Hobart
• Jane Lin
• Jane VanHatten
• Janet Welz-Kavanagh
• Janice deGarmo - in honor of Zoe deGarmo
• Janice Jorgensen
• Janice Pearce - in memory of Drew Epting
• Jill Galanter
• Jill Jackson Ledford - in memory of Drew Epting
• Joan Arches
• Joanna Giasafakis - in honor of Zoe DeGarmo and Alexa Grossman
• Jonas Hünten
• Jonathan Klein
• Jones Family Charitable Foundation, Inc.
• Judith Greenberg
• Judy McMaster
• Julia Majors
• Katherine Hudson - in memory of Drew Epting
• Kathryn Forbes-Fisher
• Kevin Wood
• Kim Graham - in honor of Jalexie Urena
• Kim, Sammy, Noella and Pearl
• Leah Huibregtse
• Leonard Lawson
• Lora and Perry Sigesmund
• Louise Cochran & F. James Levinson
• Low Country Case & Millwork team - in memory of Drew Epting
• Makaila Lyons
• Margaret Fitzpatrick
• Mark Beyreis
• Marla Thompson
• Marley Beach
• Megan Spitz
• Michelle Joubran - in honor of Zoe deGarmo
• Michelle Wachsmann
• Mr. and Mrs. Barry Dana Gumbin memory of Drew Epting
• Nabila Ghilzai
• Nancy Delaney
• Naomi Eskenazi
• Nehemiah Lopez
• New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
• Noreen Morris
• Patricia Slothower
• Patricia Suriel - in memory of Josephine Wenger
• Paul Bozzello - in memory of Dr. Amanda Posner
• Paul Delaney
• Paula Eargle - in memory of Drew Epting Jr
• Peter and Ann Flynn - in memory of Drew Epting Jr
• Peter Evans - in memory of Drew Epting
• Pinnacle Financial Partners - in memory of Drew Epting
• Rebecca Hayes - in memory of Drew Epting
• Rhonda McCraw
• Richard and Mary Bernstein - in honor of Antarah Chopra
• Richard Roller
• Richard Walsh
• Richelle Voelker
• Risa Needleman
• Robert Brunner
• Robert Frank
• Robert Hamilton III - in honor of Peter Skogg & Liz Ackley
• Robert Solomons - in memory of Drew Epting
• Robyn McDonnell
• Ryan Getchis
• Sabrina Diaz
• Shari Shakun
• Stephanie Alves
• Steven Shadley
• Susan Green
• Susan Lacy - in honor of Patricia Suriel
• Susan Slowinski
• Tatianna Suriel
• The American Online Giving Foundation
• The Beyreis Family
• The Gale Ketcham Donor Advised Fund
• The Kortbus Family
• Thomas Snowman
• Tricia Darschewski
• Tyler McMaster
• Vicki Weeks - in honor of Paloma Borreguero
• Victoria Cross
• Victoria Garcia
• Victoria Rosenberg
• W. Crayton Walters III - in memory of Drew Epting
• Walter Shook - in memory of Drew Epting
• Wayne and Madeline Cafiero
• Wendie Plautz
• Yun Bo
• Zohra Ghilzai
$ 1 – $ 99
• Abby Melick
• Adele Thomas
• Alvaro Jimenez
• Amy Martin
• Amy VanDerBosch
• Angela Pittard - in memory of Drew Epting
• Anmita Hoque
• Ann Guay
• Ann Vanamburgh - in memory of Drew Epting
• Anne Durant - in memory of Drew Epting
• Anne Waring
• Anne-Marie Claessens
• Anonymous
• Anonymous
• Anonymous
• Antarah Chopra - in memory of Roberta Chopra
• Arthur Blank
• Arushi Gupta
• Cailey Mastrangelo
• Caitlin Embrey
• Carene Lopez
• Catherine Cardenas
• Celeste Simcox
• Cheryl Myers
• Chloe Brenner
• Christy Jones
• David Hults
• David Moore
• Diana Adair
• Dianne Duckworth
• Donald Benson
• Donna Sherman - in honor of Julia Alvarez
• Eddie Scott
• Edward Thorndike
• Eileen Smith
• Elizabeth Duchanaud
• Elizabeth Harrison - in memory of Cynthia Dudley Case
• Elizabeth Spiewak
• Emily Berger - in honor of Judy Greenberg
• Emperatriz Rodriguez
• Engaging Networks
• Erica & Hunter Stone
• Esmé Kayim-Yanko
• Evelyn Montan
• Evelyn Wu
• Haley Truglia
• Hannah Currie
• Hiuyu Cao
• Ian Glejzer
• Isabella Palmer
• Isabella Sofio
• Ishtar Keshara Geraldino Rosa
• Izabella Hintzman
• Jane Renshaw
• Jeannette Wilson - in memory of Drew Epting
• Jennifer Warren - in memory of Drew Epting
• Jessica Kaplan
• Jessika Bland
• John & Roseann Seryak
• Jose CLautier
• Josh Millspaugh
• Karen Bravo
• Karen Lara
• Karen Polascik
• Karen Rudolph
• Karen Vodola
• Kathleen Lentijo - in memory of Drew Epting
• Kathryn Estabrook
• Katie Lee
• Kay Brunner
• Keith Adams Jr.
• Kendra Rickerby
• Kenneth J. Hughes Jr
• Kim Garlock
• Kimmy Wall
• Kristen Bendich
• Laine Lazar
• Lisa Menzies
• Liz Cozart - in memory of Drew Epting
• Lois Gutierrez
• Lucy Darmody
• Luka Tomic
• Mackenzie Kilcrease
• Madeleine Roy
• Makenna May - in honor of Catherine Baker
• Mari-Lynn Poskin
• Mariana Martinez
• Marie Macdonald
• Mary Schmidt
• Mayer Danzig
• Meg Lewis
• Melissa Trammell
• Michaela Galarza
• Mikaela Perry
• Nicole Crenshaw
• Ocean Park
• Patricia Gold
• Paula Unrau - in memory of Drew Epting
• Paypal Giving Fund
• Philip Lawrence
• Rachel K Bronson - in memory of Drew Epting
• Rachel Zang
• Rebecca Lopez
• Rebecca Morris
• Renee Husdal - in honor of Sophie Sibbbald, Banff Community High School
• Rita Morris
• Robert Berezdivin
• Robert Scowcroft
• Rosanna Batista - in memory of Brigida Susana
• Sabrina Grille
• Sarah Allen
• Sarah Broan - in honor of Jason Brown
• Savohna Brown
• Shea Purcell
• Sindia Castillo - in honor of Novah-Bella Castillo
• Stephen Powell
• Steven DiPrizio
• Sydney Kronfle
• Tai Duncan
• Tehka Bowen
• Thomas Reyer
• TIffany Kay Ramzy
• Tim Duffy
• Tori Thomas
• Vinod Chandran
• Whitney Hall
• William Goldstein
• Yve Novotny
Community-Engaged Learning Groups
• EF
• Lawrence Academy
• ILAC
• Together Women Rise
• Whole Spirit Excursions
GLOBAL GIVING
$1,000 – $1,500
• Elizabeth Thorndike
$100–$999
• Amanda
• Anonymous
• Carol A Riker
• Cheri Hanes
• Ginetta E. B. Candelario
• Lynn Chasson
• Nathaniel Cabot
• Sydney Lawson
• Susan Lacy
$1 – $99
• Anonymous (VI)
• Grace Friedman
• Ketlina Laveniece
• Victoria Mier Jones
In-Kind
Individual
• Alexa Grossman
• Amit and Antarah Chopra
• Anna Goldberg
• Deborah Danzig
• Elisa Feroldi
• Gabriela Velásquez
• Gina Dyer
• Gwendolyn Cooper
• Hanna and Richard Janzen
• Jana Helbig
• Jill Johnson
• Joshua Gassman & Quynh Pham
• Justin Mendell
• Kevin Clunis
• Mai Ngo
• Marc and Barbara Freuchtel
• Nadia and Reed Halstead
• Peter Schatzmann
• Stacy Goldberg
• Yun Bo
• Zoe DeGarmo
Organization
• Cariño Pediatrics
• Falcon High School
• Lawrence Academy
• RealtorDR
Higher education
• Macalester College
• Middlebury College
• St. Olaf College
• UWC Costa Rica
• UWC Singapore
• UWC Thailand
• Whitman College
Pro-Bono
Individual
• Abigal Panzica
• Alexa Grossman
• Anette Diaz
• Anna Goldberg
• Ashley Danzig
• Benjamin Rodriguez
• Cassia Schuler
• Eleanor Beyreis
• Fran Afonso
• Guzman & Aritza
• Iliana Ruiz
• Jordan Roller
• Julia Alvarez
• Kaitlyn Brunner
• Kristen Bendich
• Lord Aeck Sargent: Joshua Gassman, Quynh Pham, Chandana Palika
• Margaret McCoughlin
• Marianne Santilli
• Nancy Tinnean
• Sabrina Giucio
• Sherry Herdman
• Silke Sedegi
• Sofia Succhiarelli
• Sofia Morris
• Todd Dailey
• Vivian Rodriguez
• Zoe DeGarmo Groups
• Education First (EF)
• ILAC
• Lawrence Academy
• Dentists at Monkey Jungle
• Whole Spirit Excursions
Funds raised in the DR
$1,211,257 $146,200
Funds raised in the US
$242,691 $358,818
Use of funds
How can I get involved?
Make a contribution
You can either make a financial contribution or donate supplies from our curated Wish List.
Volunteer or intern with us!
Participating firsthand in our work at Mariposa helps elevate the quality of our programs and raises awareness of our work around the world. Apply to become an international volunteer for our summer program and year-long stays, or reserve a Community Engaged Learning Trip.
