News and Media

Friends of San Damiano Enters New Era with Support from Madison Community Foundation MONONA, Wisc. (April 7, 2025) – Friends of San Damiano (FoSD) is honored to announce it has received a $50,000 Community Impact Grant from the Madison Community Foundation (MCF) to support a major capacity-building initiative, including the hiring of the organization’s first executive director. With this investment—and matching contributions from additional grantors and donors—FoSD is actively recruiting for the new leadership role to begin in 2025. This announcement follows a key milestone in San Damiano’s future. On March 17, 2025, the City of Monona and FoSD formalized their…

PRESS RELEASE New Agreement Paves the Way for San Damiano’s Future MONONA, Wisc. (March 18, 2025) – The City of Monona and Friends of San Damiano (FoSD) have solidified their relationship with a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), marking a major step forward for San Damiano’s future. This agreement establishes a public-private relationship, enabling vital fundraising, leadership expansion, and phased implementation of the San Damiano Master Plan. Under the MOU, the City retains ownership of the property, while FoSD takes the lead on operations, programming, and fundraising to bring the community-driven vision to life. “The approval of this agreement is…

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At Friends of San Damiano (FoSD), we are united by a shared vision: transforming San Damiano into a vibrant, welcoming space that enriches lives for generations to come. Through collaboration and community action, we are shaping a future that reflects our values, history, culture, and commitment to the environment. The impact of our efforts will ripple far beyond today. Future visitors will walk the lakeside paths we made accessible, gather in spaces we’ve cultivated, and experience a deep sense of belonging fostered by this community. Together, we are creating a legacy that will stand the test of time. Caring for…

‍ Explore our 2024 Annual Report to see the impact we have made together. ‍Please email us if you would like a digital PDF copy.

Heidi Jane Fischer was a gentle, wise, and steadfast spirit, deeply devoted to the people and places she loved. She lived with conviction, never seeking the spotlight but always making a difference. Whether tending her beloved garden, traveling, volunteering and advocating, or simply showing up for friends and family, Heidi’s presence was deeply felt. On February 14, 2023, Heidi passed away peacefully at the age of 63 after a courageous battle with cancer. In her final years, she found immense joy in San Damiano—her sanctuary. Just a short walk from her home in Madison’s Lake Edge neighborhood, it became a…

Liz Dannenbaum has been volunteering with the Friends of San Damiano since 2022. Liz lives in the Lake Edge neighborhood in Madison and she has always felt that San Damiano is Lake Edge’s unofficial “front yard.” As an avid nature lover, Liz was an early supporter of keeping the gorgeous grounds of San Damiano free from private development.   Her volunteer responsibilities began with data entry—a task she would be happy to continue with if ever needed. She initially joined the Community Engagement Committee and was later invited to serve on the Communications Committee. She now acts as a liaison…

Impactful 2025 Sponsorships Available Now: Join Us in Creating a Legacy At San Damiano, life unfolds in simple yet profound ways. Visitors enjoy peaceful strolls along winding trails, birdwatchers marvel at herons gliding above the water, neighbors share quiet moments with their dogs, and photographers and Dane County residents gather to capture and savor breathtaking sunsets over Lake Monona. Community events and programs further unite people in celebrating the beauty of nature, the richness of culture, and the power of connection. This is the heart of what San Damiano offers—and the magic your sponsorship helps sustain. In 2025, your support…

Volunteers are truly the life blood of San Damiano: they help plan events, assist with fundraising, and pitch in on essential jobs such as ground cleans up and serving on committees. Lynne Chase is one of these much valued San Damiano (SD) volunteers and she is someone whose motivation to pitch in derives, in part, from perceiving San Damiano as a “sacred space.” Lynne devotes a lot of time to San Damiano, but she also treasures time hiking along Lake Superior, doing yoga, and cooking. She moved to Monona in 2020 and “discovered San Damiano” on her “daily dog walks.”…

This Giving Tuesday, December 3, 2024, join a global movement of generosity by making a difference for San Damiano and the Dane County community. Giving Tuesday unites people around the world to give back through acts of kindness, advocacy, and support. Whether you contribute your time, talent, or resources, every act of generosity counts—and we’re excited to offer you several meaningful ways to get involved. How You Can Make a Difference: Advocate Help spread the word about San Damiano! Invite someone to visit San Damiano with you. Share our mission with your friends and family, or post about San Damiano…

As a non-profit organization, Friends of San Damiano (FoSD) wouldn’t be where it is today without the hard work and dedication of our volunteers. Our Communications Committee and Community Engagement Committee member Liz Dannenbaum recently interviewed Jim Cerro about his service to and passion for FoSD. What Jim appreciates most about the San Damiano property is its location as it’s “one of the last, undeveloped pieces of property on Lake Monona and has provided the East Side residents of Madison and Monona years of wonder.” He adds that his choice to devote his time to FoSD is because “we all…

As Friends of San Damiano (FoSD) looks to the future, we are excited to unite our community around a shared vision: transforming San Damiano into a vibrant space that enriches lives for generations to come. Together, we are building a lasting legacy, one rooted in shared efforts, collaboration, and a deep love for this place. Our collective actions will leave a lasting impact, shaping the future of this space to reflect our community’s values, history, culture, and commitment to the environment.  What we do today will create ripple effects for generations to come, impacting future visitors in ways we can’t…

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