Divided Sky Foundation Launches Women’s Scholarship Fund

The Divided Sky Foundation announced a new Women’s Scholarship Fund. The organization co-founded by Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio set a goal of raising $500,000 for the Fund by the end of 2025.

Anastasio teamed with his former drug court officer, Melanie Gulde, to establish the Divided Sky Foundation as a resource for affordable alternative addiction recovery services. The Divided Sky Foundation’s Residential Recovery Program in Ludlow, Vermont has provided support to hundreds of people since opening in November 2023.

“Women recover differently and face unique barriers that often leave them overwhelmed and discouraged,” said Gulde. “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.”

The Women’s Scholarship Fund will provide women with greater access to The Divided Sky Foundation’s services.

“We established the Women’s Scholarship Fund to help all women heal, regardless of their ability to pay for recovery — and it is clear our Fund is already working,” said women’s rights advocate and attorney Tamara Holder, who paid for the first female guest at Divided Sky in 2023 and donated significantly to help establish the Fund. “Women are the fastest-growing demographic affected by addiction. 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.”

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), statistics regarding women’s access to recovery resources show:

• Women account for just one-third of admissions to residential or inpatient recovery facilities.
• Only one in ten women with substance use disorder receive treatment.
• Women are more likely than men to encounter traumatic life experiences, including child abuse, intimate partner violence, and sexual assault, which may increase their vulnerability to developing a substance use disorder.

“I’m so grateful that Melanie and Tamara are leading this next stage of Divided Sky with a dedicated women’s scholarship program,” said Anastasio. “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.”

Visit The Divided Sky Foundation’s website to donate directly to the Women’s Scholarship Fund and learn about other fundraising options.