Betty Elings Wells Donates $1 Million to Advance Student Wellness at San Marcos High School

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, San Marcos High School is reaffirming a commitment that extends far beyond the month of May: meeting the ongoing mental health and wellness needs of its students, families, and broader community.

In response to that urgent and enduring need, the Royal Pride Foundation proudly announces a transformational $1 million gift from philanthropist Betty Elings Wells to support the school’s Building Community Wellness Project. This landmark investment will help create a comprehensive, state-of-the-art Wellness Center alongside the newly established Cottage Health Careers Academy and expanded mini-campus. The contribution is believed to be the third largest donation in San Marcos High School history.

In recognition of this landmark gift, the Wellness Center will be named the Elings Wells Family Wellness Center. Betty Elings Wells is a proud past parent of San Marcos High School graduates Jeff and Mike Elings, and her family’s legacy of generous community investment continues to shape opportunities for future generations of students.

The Elings Wells Family Wellness Center will serve as a centralized, purpose-built hub for physical, emotional, and mental health services for students and families. Designed to be welcoming, private, and accessible, the center represents a significant step forward in addressing the growing wellness needs of the school community while reducing stigma around seeking care—an especially timely investment during Mental Health Awareness Month. The facility is envisioned as part of a comprehensive, whole-school wellness model and is designed for long-term sustainability and impact.

“The San Marcos community is deeply grateful to Betty Elings Wells and her family for their extraordinary generosity and belief in our students,” said Principal Dare Holdren. “This gift allows us to respond more effectively to the mental health needs of our school community and to create a space where students feel safe, supported, and empowered to seek help when they need it. Just as importantly, it strengthens our ability to build meaningful community partnerships that support a proactive, whole-school approach to wellness.”

“I care deeply about supporting students and their well-being,” said Betty Elings Wells. “Today’s high school students are navigating extraordinary academic, social, and emotional pressures, and they deserve access to comprehensive mental health services in an environment where seeking help is normal and encouraged. My hope for the Elings Wells Family Wellness Center at San Marcos High School is for it to be a place where every student feels seen, supported, and empowered to thrive.”

The new Elings Wells Family Wellness Center will include multiple therapy rooms, flexible space for group counseling, and dedicated areas for wellness education and programming. By relocating mental and emotional health services away from the school’s front office and into a thoughtfully designed environment, the project aims to normalize care and make support more approachable for students and families alike—as well as staff and members of the broader Santa Barbara community.

A key component of the Elings Wells Family Wellness Center’s vision is collaboration with local organizations to develop a comprehensive, prevention-focused mental health framework for the entire school community. San Marcos High School is working with community partners including YouthWell, Cottage Health, the Towbes Foundation, and other regional leaders to expand access to services, strengthen referral networks, and deliver coordinated wellness programming centered on prevention and early intervention.

The project is further strengthened by the recently announced partnership with Cottage Health to establish the Cottage Health Careers Academy at San Marcos High School. This innovative collaboration will expand student pathways into high-demand healthcare and behavioral health careers, providing hands-on learning opportunities, mentorship, and real-world experience aligned with the services and programming of the Wellness Center.

The wellness center is a cornerstone of the Building Community Wellness Project, which also includes new facilities supporting the Cottage Health Careers Academy. The adjacent mini-campus will provide modern classroom space and enhanced programming, and students interested in pursuing psychology, counseling, nursing, and related professions will have opportunities for hands-on learning and internships connected to the wellness center and its community partners. This integration creates a real-world learning environment—a living laboratory for future health and behavioral health professionals—and a unique bridge between student well-being and workforce development.

The overall Building Community Wellness Project has an estimated cost of $11 million, with approximately half funded through state bond resources designated for facility improvements. San Marcos High School has been working for the past several years to raise the remaining $5.5 million through community philanthropic support. With this lead gift from Betty Elings Wells, more than $5 million has now been secured toward the campaign goal.

The Royal Pride Foundation, the nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting San Marcos High School, serves as the project’s nonprofit steward and fiscal sponsor. Construction of the Elings  Wells Family Wellness Center is projected to begin in June 2026.