Photos: The five-acre campus for Marjaree Mason Center means an expansion of services for victims of domestic violence. Photo by Edward Smith.

The Marjaree Mason Center has been selected to receive $850,000 in funding towards its Isnardi Foundation Community Resource Center thanks to support from District 21 Rep. Jim Costa and Community Project Funding (CPF).

CPF, an initiative started in 2022, allows members of Congress to request direct funding for projects that will benefit communities they represent. Featuring a wide variety of public projects and activities, the initiative helps fund construction and renovation of existing facilities, as well as the expansion of existing programs and planning and design of future initiatives.

“Bringing back federal funding to the San Joaquin Valley is one of my top priorities,” Costa said. “These projects will support underserved communities and foster economic development while providing more opportunities for folks to get ahead. I am proud to have fought for this funding to build stronger, more resilient communities.”

Last year, Costa requested U.S. House Appropriation Committee support for a number of local projects. After receiving approval from both the House and Senate, President Biden signed the bill, approving the funding.

Including this support, the Marjaree Mason Center has raised $16.5 million of the $21 million goal for the new center.

“This major gift through the support of Congressman Costa is nothing short of incredible and gets us so much closer to our fundraising goal,” said Nicole Linder, CEO of the Marjaree Mason Center. “This investment in the Marjaree Mason Center and our new Community Resource Center will allow us to provide healing centered care in a space that matches the compassionate service that we’ve long provided.”

The future home of the Isnardi Foundation Community Resource Center has served as home to various education centers in the past, acting as home for Queen of the Valley Catholic Girls School, New Life Christian School, Heald College and Milan Institute.

The Marjaree Mason Center has needed to fund significant modernization to the building, however, in order to serve its purposes. 

Once open, the 37,680 square foot building will double the current capacity for all non-residential services, and will feature a 24/7 crisis hotline and drop-in center, mental health services for adults and children, a dedicated children’s enrichment room and art therapy room, as well as space for housing and job support, legal advocacy, various behavioral therapy rooms, a health clinic and a group therapy space.

The center hopes to open its doors in December 2024.

“I can’t thank Congressman Costa and the federal government enough for supporting domestic violence survivors in our community through this project,” Linder said.

Naming opportunities are still available in honor of donations and pledges ranging from $50,000 to $10 million. A permanent donor wall inside the building will feature all donors of $10,000 or more.