In May, Chris Larsen, Executive Chair of Ripple, principal investor at Clean Break Fund, and SF Bay Area native, visited the Farm. He arrived with two members of his security team, both veterans whose own journeys with psychedelic medicine had deeply shaped their lives. Chris had heard about the Farm, and wanted to learn more about the history, the property, and most importantly, Ann & Sasha.
Together, we spent the afternoon walking the property, sharing the story of Ann and Sasha, and talking about what this place has meant to so many people over the years.
Chris immediately understood what we are working to preserve. He saw not only the home and laboratory where Ann and Sasha’s remarkable work unfolded, but our vision for the Farm to become a lasting place of learning, inquiry, and connection.
Something you may not know about Chris is that he truly cares about the well-being of the Bay Area. He quietly supports projects that make a difference – psychedelic research, artists, start ups, safety initiatives, and more. In this case, he quickly understood that preserving the Shulgin Farm is not just about the legacy of two people – it’s a place where people can put their feet on the ground and experience the history of an entire international field of study, and be in touch with our elders and psychedelic ancestors.
The day after his visit with us, Chris wrote:
“What a treasure to have [the Farm] maintained as a celebration of these world-changing medicines. Let me know how I can help with your vision.”
Today, that offer was answered with an extraordinary act of generosity.
Today, we are the recipient of a grant for $800,000 – fully 30% of our capital campaign initiative – toward the acquisition and renovation of the Shulgin Farm property, fueling the creation of the Shulgin Farm Education Center.
We are deeply grateful to Chris and his family for this extraordinary vote of confidence, and we are honored to welcome them into the Shulgin Foundation family of friends and supporters.
What Comes Next?
Over the past nine months, the Foundation team has been working methodically toward the acquisition and renovation of the Farm, and fully articulating the vision of how the Farm will inhabit the legacy of Ann and Sasha. We have been busy in the nitty gritty of solidifying business systems, codifying our results, and now we are in the midst of a major developmental sprint series. Working closely with our advisors and stakeholders, we are finalizing our five year roadmap, and we’ll be sharing this with our community in a major launch this fall.
For those who are curious, you can expect to hear more about:
- Our five-year strategic and financial plan
- Property development plans and conceptual renderings
- The next evolution of our public education programs
- New job postings (like this one for a Development Manager!)
And thank you for being on this journey with us!
This project is being made possible in part by a grant from Chris Larsen Fund, an advised fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation.