"From Many One"

for ACLU & Women's League of Voters

Join us! Make a donation and 

secure a raffle ticket for this one-of-a-kind quilt:

$20 → 1 ticket

$100 → 6 tickets

$200 → 13 tickets

PayPal: @cyoungling

Venmo: @Cathy-Youngling (5899)

Zelle: cyoungling@realmaringal.com

Welcome, keeper

This quilt will benefit the ACLU and Women's League of Voters. We all need to do what we can to support our Democracy and safeguard our freedoms. Read below for some of my thoughts on the importance of these times and how this quilt can help.

There are symbols of America featured on this quilt. One of them is the American flag.

The story goes that Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia upholsterer, received a visit from George Washington, Robert Morris, and George Ross in 1776. They asked her to design a flag to represent the newly formed country. Betsy suggested five-pointed stars, noting that six-pointed stars would be harder to sew. Together they envisioned a flag featuring stars and stripes. Thirteen stars were placed in a circle on a blue background — the circle symbolizing equality among the original colonies. The 13 red and white stripes represented the colonies that had declared independence from Great Britain. According to the story, the flag first flew in 1776.

Over time, however, the story of the first flag has been questioned. There is no documentary proof, and some consider it more legend than history.

I remember as a little girl proudly standing with my hand over my heart, reciting the words of the Pledge of Allegiance. There were times in my life when I did so with tears in my eyes. I have always meant every word of that pledge, especially its final words: "with liberty and justice for all." They seemed a perfect echo of the opening of the Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

These times may have some people thinking that the idea of America is itself a legend — one they are ready to consign to the dustbin of history. We have never, in all our history, reached the moment when the promise of America has been fully realized. But we have never stopped reaching for that ideal. And I hope you will be among those who never do.

Buying a raffle ticket gives you the chance to win a lovely quilt — one you can cherish as a symbol of America's promise at 250 years. But even if you don't win, you'll know you are someone who still believes in our founding ideals. The proceeds will benefit the League of Women Voters, working to protect voting rights, and the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union), which is on the front lines of defending the individual rights and freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution.

The Care of a Quilt - Keeping the seams of our Democracy Strong

A quilt combines different textures, colors, and shapes into something entirely unique. No two quilts are exactly alike. When a maker dreams up a new creation, they join all these elements— often with great skill. But perhaps they looked up for just an instant, and a seam ended up a little too scant, barely securing the two pieces in its grasp.

Those slight imperfections become evident with time. Seams may begin to fray, or perhaps a fabric was weak to start and grows threadbare. Two hundred and fifty years ago, quilts in America were mostly made with homespun fabrics. In one-room homes, cloth was spun to be strong and served important purposes. Some of that fabric clothed soldiers in war, and when the war ended, those uniforms no longer served their original purpose — but quilts continued to warm their keepers for many years after they were made.

As a keeper of a quilt, there is a responsibility to notice where flaws develop and to conceive a plan to return strength where there is weakness. Add fabric where it has worn bare. A keeper can ammend the quilt to prolong its life and function.

We as a democracy were formed when our makers conceived a vision of a country that was strong and united. Over our 250 years, in the keeping of our Union, there have been times when we were frayed dangerously close to the edge of destruction. But the keepers stepped forward — and we amended the Constitution, making us all stronger in the process.

Today we are at a pivotal point. At 250 years, there are forces that seem to want our Union divided. There are other forces intent on reinforcing our seams of unity and protecting this democracy of ours.

I hope you will be a keeper who does everything you can to strengthen our country. I hope you will reach for those pieces that seem to be pulling away and gather them back, rejoined. Among the many organizations doing this hard work, the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) and the LWV (League of Women Voters) are acting as thread and needle — helping us strengthen democracy at a crucial time.

As I sew this quilt, my mind often wanders to my relatives 250 years ago. I picture those who fought for this country, and those who supported the effort in every way they could. They were spinning dreams into things of beauty and strength. Those makers believed that what they created would be cared for.

I hope we are all worthy of their trust.

Join us! Make a donation and secure a raffle ticket for this one-of-a-kind quilt:

$20 → 1 ticket

$100 → 6 tickets

$200 → 13 tickets

And until we reach $500 in total donations, every gift will be matched — doubling your tickets!

PayPal: @cyoungling

Venmo: @Cathy-Youngling (5899)

Zelle: cyoungling@realmaringal.com

Welcome, keeper. 

Previous Quilt winners

Finding HOME - For HOMEWARD BOUND

Part of Marin Realtors successful fundraiser in 2025!

RECENT RAFFLE - CONGRATULATIONS JUDY!

GARDEN OF HOPE for SusaN G KOMEN!

30 years ago I got the diagnosis of Breast Cancer. It took me 14 years to really do something powerful about it. I started raising funds for Susan G Komen. Since then I have raised nearly $150,000. I am at it again! Introducing Garden of Hope. All proceeds from this raffle will benefit SF Komen and support people facing a disease that almost took my life. I am asking you to consider buying a raffle tickets. Bright and full of life, this quilt is perfect for a special someone or YOU!

(You can also join our team Are WE There Yet to walk at the SF Zoo. 

Oct. 6 - all are welcome!!)