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The Divided Sky Foundation has launched a new Women’s Scholarship Fund to break down barriers and expand access to addiction recovery for women. The initiative aims to raise $500,000 by the end of the year, with donations supporting women regardless of income so they can pursue a dignified and empowering path to sobriety.
Founded by Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio and his former drug court officer Melanie Gulde, the Vermont-based Divided Sky Foundation provides an affordable alternative for addiction recovery through its 46-bed residential program. Since opening in 2023, the facility has seen hundreds of guests complete treatment, with more than 95% saying they would recommend the program to a friend or loved one.
The new Women’s Scholarship Fund addresses the unique challenges women face in seeking treatment. “Women recover differently and face unique barriers that often leave them overwhelmed and discouraged,” Gulde explained. “Stigma, cost, and childcare responsibilities can all stand in the way of seeking help. The Women’s Scholarship Fund is our response: more than financial aid, it’s a statement that every woman is worthy of a sober life — and we are here to support them.”
Attorney and women’s rights advocate Tamara Holder, who covered the cost of the first female guest at Divided Sky in 2023, made a major gift to formally establish the fund. “Women are the fastest-growing demographic affected by addiction,” Holder said. “The statistics are stark: more than 75% of women struggling with addiction have experienced sexual abuse, over 70% are mothers, and women face a higher risk of fatal overdose.”
Data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) underscores the urgency. Women account for just one-third of admissions to residential recovery facilities, but only one in ten women with substance use disorder receives treatment. They have found women are more likely than men to experience traumatic life events, including child abuse, intimate partner violence, and sexual assault, which may increase vulnerability to addiction.
Anastasio praised the new initiative, noting its importance in Divided Sky’s mission. “I’m so grateful that Melanie and Tamara are leading this next stage of Divided Sky with a dedicated women’s scholarship program,” he said. “With a women-led team that deeply understands the trauma that so often precedes addiction, and scholarships that remove the financial barriers to care, this program can give more women the chance to heal and start fresh.”
The announcement arrives during National Recovery Month and ahead of the five-year anniversary of Divided Sky’s founding, first unveiled during Anastasio’s Beacon Jams livestream series in 2020. Several Phish fan groups are also planning grassroots fundraising initiatives tied to the scholarship, with more announcements expected before this fall’s Beacon Jams anniversary concerts.
Supporters can contribute directly to the Women’s Scholarship Fund here.
A post shared by Divided Sky Foundation (@dividedskyfoundation)
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