Giving List Santa Barbara 2024/25

Santa Barbara

Welcome to The Giving List Santa Barbara, 2024/25

Iam thrilled to present to you The Giving List Santa Barbara, 2024/2025 edition.

When my family moved to Santa Barbara 15 years ago, it was immediately obvious that this place was different from anywhere I’d ever lived. And a huge distinguishing factor was this community’s vital philanthropic and nonprofit ecosystem. But five years of publishing The Giving List Santa Barbara book has given me an even deeper appreciation for the passion and indefatigable spirit of the people on the frontlines of Santa Barbara’s vast nonprofit community. The privilege of having a front-row seat to the work being done on the ground in diverse local communities, and the unrelenting dedication on the part of Santa Barbara’s institutional and family foundations and donor community to make that work possible, provides a worldclass lesson in caring, compassion, and community.

But even with such a devoted nonprofit and philanthropic community, Santa Barbara, like communities across the nation, is facing some of the greatest challenges in its history – challenges posing a disproportionate threat to the county’s most vulnerable populations. So we are more grateful than ever for the vital work being done by Santa Barbara’s local nonprofits on the front lines of a cataclysmic housing crisis, massive environmental challenges, assaults on the reproductive and other rights of women and girls, and the still-growing need for greater racial and gender equity. In many cases these organizations are what stand between Santa Barbara’s most vulnerable residents and what lies beneath the safety net they provide.

We think it’s important to state the obvious, which

is that the organizations written about in this book are not the only ones that are doing great work in Santa Barbara. They are, however, organizations doing vital work at a critical moment in this community’s history, and we believe they are among the best of Santa Barbara’s nonprofit organizations and are worthy of your strong support.

Finally, just a few words about the physical Giving List book itself. We think it’s important you know that all our Giving List books are now printed with pulp from responsibly managed forests (they have the FSC-certified label), which means they are made from partially recycled material, verified responsible sources, and committed to reversing deforestation. Also, we use U.S.-made soy ink. Soy ink, which compared to traditional petroleum-based ink, is more environmentally friendly. Soy ink also helps make The Giving List easier to recycle… when you’re done using it to give, of course.

And, finally, to make giving as easy as possible for everyone who picks up our book, we have enclosed an easy-to-tear-out envelope because every donation, no matter how big or how small, makes a difference to the diligent, hardworking nonprofits that are featured in these pages.

We hope that you will use and enjoy this lovingly produced book.

With Gratitude,

Gwyn Lurie CEO, The Montecito Journal Media Group

the giving list

Are you interested in having your nonprofit appear in The Giving List? We are, too! We understand that there are thousands and thousands of vital nonprofits doing critical work in the community. While we rely on our years of work in the philanthropic community along with consultation with leaders in the philanthropic sector to select organizations to appear in our program, there are bound to be some very worthy organizations we will invariably miss.

Your nonprofit organization can apply directly to be in The Giving List by scanning the QR code below. It will direct you to an online form to fill out the required information. Once you’ve completed the form, you will immediately land on our radar for consideration in the next available Giving List book. Please note, we do independent vetting before extending invitations to nonprofits to appear in The Giving List.

Giving Back

We launched The Giving List to help the nonprofit organizations featured in this book spend less time fundraising and more time doing the critical work demanded of them.

Confronting the myriad and mounting challenges facing communities, the nation, and globe requires the ingenuity and dedication exhibited by the nonprofits that fill our pages. We have assembled their stories with the hope that you will see their value and invest in them.

A large proportion of the nonprofits we feature are smaller and more grassroots. This means that while they may have the ideas and leadership to forge change, they don’t necessarily have the diversified revenue streams to reach their fullest impact. We are hoping you will change that by donating and helping them secure the predictable, unrestricted revenue they need to focus on what’s most important: the work. With you, we have the chance to invest in organizations with the potential to take on some of our most pressing challenges.

Please join us by supporting your local nonprofits on the front lines of justice, whether that be fighting racism; using the arts to change culture; helping children, youth, and families in need; or striving to preserve our environment.

We will all be better for it.

How to DAF?

An increasingly popular and efficient tool to manage your giving is a donoradvised fund, or DAF.

A DAF is like a charitable banking account, managed by a community foundation or by some of the world’s largest investment banking firms, where you can make a donation today and direct grants to worthy nonprofits later.

A key advantage with a DAF is that it allows you, the donor, to take a tax deduction in the year you donate money or complex assets, while not compelling you to distribute the money immediately. This can mean time to make more thoughtful decisions about how you want to direct your charitable contributions.

Many financial institutions and community foundations have low to zero start-up fees, making it possible for donors at any level to DAF.

doing good is living well

How To Read This Book

The Giving List was created to make it easier for you to navigate the dizzying array of worthwhile causes and nonprofit organizations. To that end, we have distributed The Giving List to people like you: individual donors, staff within the region’s small and large private foundations, and to philanthropic advisors, wealth managers, and estate planners.

As you dive into this book, we want to point out some of its unique features, and of The Giving List program as a whole.

Ongoing Support

Our partnerships with the nonprofits in these pages do not end with the printing of this book. Each profile will live on TheGivingList.com through 2025, where we will be updating each profile once a month so that you can continue to track the important ongoing work of each and every Giving List organization.

We hope that you will use the website as a guide not only for yourselves, but as an easy way to share the work of our partners – whether they be nonprofits, community foundations, or funder affinity groups – with your friends, family, and colleagues.

Staying Connected

We are building a community of people who care deeply about philanthropy and understand the vital role it plays in our world, and we want you to join.

Since launching January of 2022, our bi-weekly newsletter, The Giving List Newsletter, has become a venue for updates from our nonprofit partners and stories from the frontlines of philanthropy.

We would love for you to join The Giving List Newsletter; please visit www.TheGivingList.com and follow the prompts.

You can also join our newsletter...

... by waving your phone’s camera over this QR code.

Editorial –

The Shortest Distance to Making a Difference, P. 16

40 Animals

24

Advocacy

Conversations –Angel Martinez: From the Bronx to the Boardroom, P. 26

Greener Pastures Farm Sanctuary rescues, rehabilitates, and provides lifelong care for dozens of animals saved from neglect, kill pens, and factory farms.......................................................... P. 42

National Disaster Search Dog Foundation rescues and recruits dogs and partners them with firefighters and other first responders to find people buried alive in the wreckage of disasters ............ P. 44

ACCESS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE removes barriers to sexual and reproductive health care and builds the power of Californians to demand health, justice, and dignity P. 32

Freedom to Choose Project helps men and

The Horse Project rehabilitates, re-trains, and re-homes rescued horses who have been abandoned, abused, and neglected ................... P. 46

48

The

Arts

Conversations –Amada Cruz: The Connection Between Art and Life, P. 50

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum interprets the rich and diverse maritime history of the Santa Barbara Channel................................................... P. 54

Santa Barbara Museum of Art integrates art into the lives of people .........................................

Santa Barbara Symphony enriches the lives of Santa Barbara residents by producing

and presenting the highest quality musical experiences performed with artistic excellence, which is accessible to the entire community; and inspires a passion for symphonic music in the next generation of audience members, musicians, and funders P. 58

UCSB Arts & Lectures provides a comprehensive liberal arts learning experience as it draws inspiration from the beauty and resources of its extraordinary location at the edge of the Pacific Ocean .................. P. 60

62 For the Children Conversations –

Kenny Slaught: Building a Legacy of Compassion, P. 64

Faith of a Child Foundation rescues more than 445 babies from severe malnutrition, illness, and abandonment. They help local people in Uganda and Latin America save babies .......................... P. 68

Scouting America, Los Padres Council prepares young people in all Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo communities to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law .............. P. 70

Storyteller provides high-quality early childhood education for children facing adverse challenges in Santa Barbara County and comprehensive support services for their families ............................................................. P. 72

74 Community Resilience Conversations –

Susan Rose: Working Together to Solve Pressing Issues, P. 76

Direct Relief equips health professionals in resource-poor communities to meet the challenges of diagnosing and caring for people in need ............................................................. P. 80

Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue provides vital emergency search and rescue services for Santa Barbara County and surrounding areas to those in need ................... P. 82

84

Education

Matriculate connects high-achieving, lowincome juniors and seniors to highly-trained undergraduate advisors – completely virtually – empowering students to attend colleges where they will thrive ....................................................... P. 86

Sweet Wheel Farms/Santa Barbara Agriculture & Farm Education Foundation educates and promotes awareness of how food is grown and distributed in Santa Barbara County and beyond. They also teach organic farming techniques and provide expert agricultural knowledge. Additionally, the SBAFE Foundation donates to those in need and supports other charitable organizations with natural and organic farmed products.....................................P. 88

90 Environment

Conversations –Stacy Pulice: Cultivating Generosity, P. 92

Community Environmental Council builds on-the-ground momentum to reverse the threat of the climate crisis ................................................... P. 96

NatureTrack fosters lifelong fascination with nature through outdoor field trips .................... P. 98

Nuclear Age Peace Foundation educates and advocates for a just and peaceful world, one that is free of nuclear weapons.....................................P. 100

White Buffalo Land Trust practices, promotes, and develops systems of regenerative agriculture for local, regional, and global impact ............. P. 102

104

Family Well-being

Family Service Agency of Santa Barbara County (FSA) strengthens and advocates for families and individuals of all ages and diversities, helping to create and preserve a healthy community .......P. 106

YouthWell empowers youth and families with tools to manage their mental wellness and support to navigate their journey ................................... P. 108

110 Healthcare

Cottage Health provides superior healthcare for and improves the health of its communities through a commitment to the values of excellence, integrity, and compassion .................................. P. 112

Lompoc Valley Community Healthcare Organization (LVCHO) ensures equal access to a coordinated, local system of health promotion, disease prevention, and high-quality treatment service .................................................................... P. 114

Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics provides high-quality, affordable healthcare to all people, regardless of their ability to pay, in an environment that fosters respect, compassion, and dignity ..P. 116

Savie Health advances diversity and inclusion by helping ensure that all people across the community feel valued and have equal access to resources, services, and opportunities ............ P. 118

120 Specialty Compassion Care

Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse (CADA) delivers programs and services focused on the education, prevention, and treatment of substance abuse and co-occurring mental health conditions affecting youth, adults, and families throughout Santa Barbara ............................. P. 122

Future Smiles/Children and Family

Resource Services provides high-quality, family-focused, strength-based services to build resilient communities throughout Santa Barbara County ............................................ P. 124

Jodi House empowers brain injury survivors to not merely survive, but thrive .......................... P. 126

Parkinson Association of Santa Barbara offers education, motivation, friendship, and support to people with Parkinson’s and their caregivers, family members, and friends, striving to help people maintain a positive quality of life ....... P. 128

California Scottish Rite Foundation - RiteCare Childhood Language Center Santa Barbara supports and assists children in California by providing childhood speech-language, literacy, and education programs for a lifetime of improved communication and confidence P. 130

142 Youth Development

Conversations –Wendy Eley Jackson: Writing a New Story for Philanthropy and Social Change, P. 144

Future for Lompoc fosters connections in an innovative environment for Lompoc Valley Youth

About the Artist: Beatrice Tolan

Beatrice Tolan’s work for The Giving List reflects her belief that art should invite empathy. “While creating the graphics,” she explains, “I decided to keep the subjects as silhouettes so anyone could identify with them. Instead, I made the backgrounds more detailed to capture the energetic spirit behind each nonprofit category.” This thoughtful approach highlights her ability to evoke emotion through simplicity, allowing the message to resonate universally.

A Los Angeles-based graphic designer and animator, Tolan grew up in Montecito and graduated cum laude from Northeastern University with a degree in Media Arts. Her creative pursuits go beyond digital art, encompassing abstract painting, songwriting, and writing.

Nonprofit by Category Index

To

CEO & Founder Gwyn Lurie gwyn@montecitojournal.net

President & Founder Tim Buckley tim@montecitojournal.net

Executive Editor Vicki Horwits vicki@thegivinglist.com

Director of Partnerships & Operations Jessikah Fechner jmoran@montecitojournal.net

Art Director Trent Watanabe

Deputy Art Director Stevie Acuña

Copy Editor Lily Buckley Harbin

Administration & Billing: Kassidy Craner frontdesk@montecitojournal.net

Contributors:

Jeff Wing, Steven Libowitz, Dipti Vaidya, Tiana Molony, Brian Rinker, Sophia Kercher, Chris Connor, Gary Marks, Anna Dimond, Kevin Lavelle, Stella Pierce, Dan Schifrin, Zachary Bernstein, Bea Tolan

For

The Shortest Distance to Making a Difference

By Dan Schifrin

In 2000, Judy Koch learned something surprising about many of the workers in her sheet metal factory in Fremont, California: They didn’t read books with their kids. As a former junior high English teacher now on a second career as a manufacturing CEO, Koch wanted to instill a love of reading in her employees. Her idea? Give away high-quality storybooks for free.

This simple act created a tidal wave of expanded family literacy among the mostly Latino men who worked on the factory floor.

Sterling Speirn, who was looking for innovative ideas as executive director of the Peninsula Community Foundation (now the Silicon Valley Community Foundation), was alerted to this experiment and quickly adopted it as part of the Foundation’s Center for Venture Philanthropy. A trial program with the San Mateo County library system was very successful, and the program continued to grow.

Twenty-five years later, this project – Raising a Reader – has changed the literacy and reading culture of more than a million families in 33 states. With its low-cost method for preparing children for kindergarten, Raising a Reader demonstrated that “reading time” fostered parent-child bonding as well as critical cognitive development.

“Judy used to tell me that when her employees went home at night, their children would run to the front door and say, ‘What book did you bring me, Daddy?’” Speirn recounts. By equipping them with books and bags, “she had made them heroes in their own homes.”

The success of this program reminded Speirn, who had also been a teacher before entering philanthropy, that the small step of exposing kids to reading early created long-lasting, permanent changes far beyond literacy.

“If you want to do anti-poverty and racial justice work,” he adds, “a program like this is the most costeffective way.”

Theory of Change

We live in a moment of radically expanding complexity. The volume of information (and misinformation) comes at us like a firehose from every screen, even as we try to adjust to accelerating social, political, environmental, and technological change. The question then becomes: How do we make sense of our philanthropic choices as we seek to make meaningful change?

The success of Raising a Reader offers at least one major insight: No philanthropic step is too small, or too soon. And as Judy Koch demonstrated, starting with what is right in front of you is often the shortest distance to making a difference.

“Philanthropy is so personal. I always want to encourage donors to start where they are at, with the issues they are most passionate about,” says Tammy Sims Johnson, Vice President of Philanthropic Services at the Santa Barbara Foundation. By leaning into one’s passion, curiosity, and professional expertise, continues Johnson, donors “will find the niche where they can make a significant, meaningful difference, whether it’s small-scale or large-scale.”

Johnson points to the work of Carrie Towbes, Ph.D., a licensed clinical psychologist with expertise in children and youth. Her background as a special education teacher and her clinical experience in a wide array of settings including schools, hospitals, community clinics, and private practice, enhanced her awareness that local mental health professionals were burning out at an alarming rate, imperiling the entire system of support.

Trusting her experience, Towbes saw an opportunity for study and innovation that led to the creation of

Raising a Reader supports families to build, practice, and grow reading routines at home.

the 4R Fund, in partnership with the Santa Barbara Foundation, dedicated to the long-term, holistic support of mental health professionals. The 4R’s stand for recruit, retain, rest, and recuperation.

Towbes is also president of the Towbes Foundation, a multi-generational family foundation that has generously supported many nonprofits in the Santa Barbara area. While the Towbes Foundation has historically funded many nonprofit sectors, they currently target Towbes’ areas of expertise. Towbes emphasizes that it was “my clinical experience that informed the direction of my philanthropy.”

Yes, and…

The social and political developments of the last few years might prompt a contradictory response: How might we acknowledge the systemic, large-scale, often multi-generational nature of our problems, without losing sight of the tangible, concrete issues right in front of us?

Extraordinary gifts that can change the game are necessary contributions. Two recent examples, just in the healthcare field, include $1 billion donation donations from Dr. Ruth Gottesman to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, and from Mike Bloomberg to the Johns Hopkins Medical School. These gifts will make it possible to educate a more economically diverse class of future physicians, which will in turn support more community clinics and improve the healthcare of communities of color.

At the same time, more modest gifts can have an incredible influence on smaller organizations. Sneha Dave is the 26-year-old founder and CEO of Generation Patient, an advocacy and support nonprofit serving young adults with chronic illnesses. In a recent essay in the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Dave makes the case that nonprofits with budgets under $1 million are often ineligible for certain kinds of grants. Dave points to MacKenzie Scott’s extremely generous funding of hundreds of

One of Jewish Family & Community Services East Bay’s (JFCS) dedicated volunteers delivering nourishing meals to community members in need. JFCS is a community-based, direct social and human services organization that serves and supports Alameda and Contra Costa County residents of all ages, races, and religions. Their vision is a community where everyone can flourish with dignity.

“The first step towards a big goal needs to be significant and worthwhile. It had better make a dent in the problem. But physics tells us that we just need to find a really really really small thing that gets us started and gets the chain reaction going.”

– Daniel Stillman, Conversation Factory

Bloomberg Philanthropies announced a transformative $1 billion gift to Johns Hopkins University, making medical school tuition-free for most students and expanding financial aid for students in nursing, public health, and other graduate programs.

nonprofits with grants of up to $2 million, which excluded lean organizations like hers, with a staff of three and an annual budget of $450,000.

In an interview, Dave said that most smaller organizations like hers depended on smaller donations, “which could make a huge impact on our work.” She encouraged donors to consider supporting less well-known organizations by helping with immediate needs that could lead to longer-term impact. In her Chronicle essay, Dave expressed gratitude for a foundation “which paid for a leadership transition consultant and executive coach for me. I’d never managed a staff nor had a manager myself, which made the additional coaching transformational.”

Or as organizational guru Daniel Stillman puts it in a recent blog post on his Conversation Factory website, we often think that “the first step towards a big goal needs to be significant and worthwhile. It had better make a dent in the problem. But physics tells us that we just need to find a really really really

small thing that gets us started and gets the chain reaction going.”

How big a reaction? “It’s hard to imagine, but starting with a domino just five millimeters tall, it would take just 29 progressively larger dominoes to knock over a domino the size of the Empire State Building.”

Efficacy of Giving Smaller: Visibly, Tangibly, Ongoing

Robin Mencher, CEO of Jewish Family and Community Services East Bay, is eager to see largescale change that will be more supportive of those in need. That future, she believes, is likelier to take place “not through sudden, radical shifts, but through the accumulation of thousands of micro-changes.”

The reason? “Stability is a building block for bold change,” says Mencher, who notes that stability can seem counterintuitive in nearby Silicon Valley, where “there is a culture of disrupting things and seeing

Supermarkets across the country now offer customers the option to round up their purchase total to the nearest dollar for donations — small contributions that quickly add up to make a big impact.

what happens… But for charities and nonprofits to take ‘good’ risks, there needs to be stability. And nonprofits get stability by not having to worry about making payroll.”

In other parts of the charity ecosystem, huge impacts are being made by the accumulation of thousands of micro-donations. A recent NPR story highlights the incredible gains for nonprofits when customers “round up” a purchase as a gift. The Taco Bell Foundation, which funds nonprofits like the Boys & Girls Clubs, noticed huge increases in donations when people had the opportunity to give

less than a dollar. In 2019, the first year they tried this approach with the 7,500 U.S. restaurants, they doubled their contributions.

Bart Burstein and Leslie White created the Pace Able Foundation in Palo Alto to focus their support of nonprofits (and a few for-profits) in health, education, and capacity-building, mostly in the developing world. Burstein had a successful career in tech, and White worked in both education and tech before they retired to focus on philanthropy.

One of their advisors at the time was Judi Powell, founder and principal of Seven Hills Philanthropy,

In other parts of the charity ecosystem, huge impacts are being made by the accumulation of thousands of micro-donations. A recent NPR story highlights the incredible gains for nonprofits when customers “round up” a purchase as a gift.

and previously a senior leader at Silicon Valley Community Foundation and Pacific Foundation Services. When they asked her for strategic advice, “Judi told us to give unrestrictedly. Try not to put too many impediments in the way of grantees.”

As they learned more about the organizations they wanted to support, they took this advice to heart, funding a targeted group of nonprofits, and creating an ongoing partnership based on trust.

“With all the problems we saw, we asked ourselves, ‘How can you bear to focus on just one thing, when there are 100 problems confronting you,’” Burstein says. An answer, he adds, came from philanthropist (and former President) Bill Clinton: “Do what you care about.”

In a recent essay in eJewish Philanthropy, Barry Finestone, president and CEO of the San Francisco-

based Jim Joseph Foundation, acknowledges these hundreds of problems at a moment of VUCA –volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. This term, originally used in the military, was introduced into leadership studies 40 years ago by University of Southern California professors William Bennis and Burt Nanus. Their argument was that effective leaders needed to avoid coveting simplicity at the expense of patience and self-reflection.

In his article, Finestone encourages philanthropy’s critical work of engaging complexity, which includes “strategic planning, and remaining focused on longterm goals and outcomes.” But he cautions that the perfect can be the enemy of the good, and that simply acting was sometimes the higher calling. “We need to train ourselves,” he writes, “to strengthen our adaptive ‘muscles’ so we are ready to quickly

Models of tiny homes stationed during a press conference in Sacramento, Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced plans to set tiny homes across the state for unhoused residents. (Photo by Rahul Lal/Sipa USA)

and effectively react to issues and unanticipated developments in as close to real-time as possible.”

Small Steps, Small Houses…

Across town from where Bennis and Nanus taught, on the Great Lawn of the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center at San Vicente and Wilshire, hundreds of struggling veterans have been waiting, sometimes for many years, for adequate housing within which they can heal and receive the care they need. Their experiences are the epitome of VUCA.

The visual overwhelm of so many unhoused neighbors evokes a hopelessness with the scope and scale of America’s social problems, and radical uncertainty as to what we can do, even as we motor to work in our air-conditioned cars.

In 2021, as part of a movement toward quickly offering “tiny homes,” the agency decided to replace tents with small but functional home-lets, moving past the immense complications and delays of wellmeaning environmental and financial requirements.

The results were striking, if still small-scale, leading to improved physical and mental health, and more positive social engagement. John Kuhn, Deputy Medical Center Director for the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (VAGLAHS), acknowledges that “while this resource by itself does not solve homelessness… it is a critical tool to ensure safety.” By moving the process forward in a simple, meaningful way toward permanent housing, the VA “will offer Veterans a path to that destination.”

First Connect, Then Correct

Many of our social problems, research shows, are a result of a simple lack of connection. COVID made clear, and in many cases accelerated, an epidemic of American loneliness that directly correlates with mental illness, frayed social bonds, and even obesity. Social media, despite including the word “social,” has compounded that effect.

Funders, especially new ones, often see positive results when they simply get together to talk about giving – and then go ahead and give. Among the most effective social vehicles for funders, philanthropic advisor Judi Powell says, is the giving circle.

“For funders, especially first-time funders who might still be anxious about doing this ‘right,’ these relationships are really important,” she says. Among other things, these relationships “help build confidence and are an invaluable source of information about how to give and where to give. And of course they amplify the impact of a single funder by pooling the funds of many.”

The San Francisco based Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund (JCF), which raises and distributes funds for a variety of Bay Area and Israel-connected organizations, has leaned into the value of “social giving,” especially among younger donors.

“Our giving circles, which empower people of all ages, backgrounds, and incomes to actively participate in philanthropy, support individuals in coming together to pool their charitable funds, discuss shared values, learn about inspirational organizations, and make collective decisions about which organizations to fund,” said Rebecca Randall, Chief Philanthropy Officer of the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund.

A young adult giving circle called The Bay Area Tribe, co-chaired by Moriah Jacobs, found that the simplest way to move from anxiety and uncertainty to productive action was coming together. The giving circle, she says, was “a safe and open space for people to be vulnerable and honest, which contributed to a really productive and engaged group.”

There is no one-size-fits-all philanthropy. Some people and institutions like to spread their bets, while others prefer to go deeply into one issue or community. Some look to explicitly change the game, while their peers seek to amplify what’s already working. In the end, the best and simplest solution is just to get to work.

Advocacy

Advocacy is about standing up for people in need and speaking up for those without a voice. Whether global or local, we are thankful for the brave advocates you will read about in the following pages.

Conversations: Angel Martinez

as told to Gwyn Lurie

From the Bronx to the Boardroom: Opportunity, Inclusion, and Giving Back

Born in Cuba and adopted at three months old, Angel Martinez immigrated at the age of three to the United States. His journey, from working-class immigrant to successful business leader is described by Angel as something of a Horatio Alger story; one that exemplifies the power of opportunity and belief.

A talented runner in high school, Martinez’s passion for athletics led him to the footwear industry where he played key roles in building iconic brands such as Reebok, where he spent 21 years, and Keen, a company he later founded. As CEO of Deckers Brands from 2005 until his retirement in 2016, Martinez grew the company from $200 million in revenue with 140 employees

to $1.8 billion with 4,000 employees worldwide.

I was eager to speak with Martinez as a shining example of a successful leader who combined his corporate leadership with a passionate advocacy for corporate philanthropy, human rights, and creating opportunities for others. Among other things, Martinez was an executive producer of the Human Rights Now! World Tour in 1988 and has engaged with organizations like the Boys and Girls Club. Even in his limited (by choice) service on corporate boards like that of Korn Ferry, he continues to champion diversity, equity, and inclusion in the corporate world. His story is one of resilience, hard work, and a deep-seated belief in the power of collective genius and giving back to the community.

1976. Far Western Conference Cross Country Champion.

“And if you create opportunity, and if you’re successful, part of your

“What is perceived about philanthropy is that you’ve got to be able to write the big checks in order for it to really be philanthropy, which is nonsense, actually. Look at what’s happening in the elections with people writing $50 checks times 20 million. If we want to solve a problem, let’s understand that it’s a collective issue and that the small checks matter as much as the big checks.”

So, in my opinion, Deckers needed to be an important part of the community because it needed to demonstrate to other companies that it’s good for business to give back. The right kind of employees want to work for a company that wants to give back. Selfishness has no place there.

A company succeeds because people pull together. They pull together on one idea, they commit to it and they make it happen. And then, you create what I call a collective genius. And you actually learn to throttle that and encourage that. And suddenly unbelievable ideas start popping up all over the place.

Q: What causes are the closest to your heart?

A: Kids, opportunities for kids. What my teacher did for me in buying me a wardrobe, a couple pairs of jeans, a few shirts, and some sneakers. That’s why I’m involved with the Boys and Girls Club. When I was at Deckers, we made sure we were focused on that. When I was at Reebok, we were focused on human rights. That was a big issue. I was executive producer of the Human Rights Now! World Tour in 1988 with Amnesty International. That was Sting, Peter Gabriel, Bruce Springsteen, Tracy Chapman. Seventeen concerts on five continents over a month and a half period. Crazy, crazy thing. But we did it in conjunction with Amnesty International to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And that’s when I discovered that most countries violate everything they signed up for when they signed the Declaration of Human Rights, including the United States.

Human rights violations exist everywhere in the world. And until we all learn that we’re all in the same boat here, we’re going to keep confronting these problems. The selfishness at the core of the political argument is incredibly destructive. And people don’t seem to understand that it’s just a path to failure. Everything is a zero-sum game. I can’t see you have something because it takes something away from me, instead of, why don’t we all just create something we can all benefit from? That’s the only way we’ve ever moved forward as humans.

Q: Can you elaborate on what inclusion looks like to you?

A: Well, first of all, if you close your eyes, say you were blind and you couldn’t see what the biases are out there, you couldn’t see a person’s skin color, you couldn’t see whether they had a handicap, you couldn’t see anything. All you could do was hear them. Your worldview would be totally different, wouldn’t it? The core of inclusion is this idea that you judge a person by who they are, the things that are important to them, what they value, that’s the important thing.

Inclusion is also the understanding that collective genius is a very powerful thing. Why would I, as a CEO of a company, restrict the quality of ideas that can come into this company? Why would I ever do that? I don’t care where the ideas come from. Best idea wins. And the people who want to work hard to make it happen.

Inclusion is, beyond inclusion of race, it’s inclusion of ethical standards. It’s inclusion of world views grounded on sets of ethical principles. As long as we’re all focused on the greater good, we succeed. I think

in the end, when companies or societies do that, they win, and when they don’t, they struggle.

Q: Can you talk about the importance of small contributions in philanthropy?

A: It’s funny because when I was a kid, and I mentioned my teacher, Mr. Quilici. But in the Bronx, there was an organization that came into the neighborhood and they were recruiting kids to go to a camp, a camp called Camp Brookhaven. The cost was $2.50 for a week of camp. It was to pay for the gasoline to get the kids to and from the camp.

And I’d never been in an environment where there was a lake or there were trees or any of that stuff. I’d never eaten pancakes. I’d never done any of that stuff. Never really seen fireflies like that. The Bronx has trees, but they’re sequestered. And that was this organization, and we had Bible study every day for half an hour and learned all the gospel songs. But that really wasn’t what it was about. It was actual, true Christian charity. So, I was able to go twice to that camp. And that was a huge thing for me.

In the end, I guess a very small amount of money made a big difference to a lot of kids. What is perceived about philanthropy is that you’ve got to be able to write the big checks in order for it to really be philanthropy, which is nonsense, actually. Look at what’s happening in the elections with people writing $50 checks times 20 million. If we want to solve a problem, let’s understand that it’s a collective issue and that the small checks matter as much as the big checks.

Deckers was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2014. It had previously been listed on the Nasdaq since 1983.

A: In a sense, the perception of wealth and all of the things that it brings with it is intended to really be a barrier in so many ways. It’s intended to keep you from doing things. It’s intended to keep you from aspiring

Making Abortion Care Access a Reality

“Iam honored to support ACCESS RJ because they do the critical work of making abortion available to those who have the hardest time accessing it, and they continually advocate to make abortion a ordable and accessible for everyone who needs one, no matter their reason. ACCESS RJ has long been a model for the rest of the country in how to incorporate the principles of reproductive justice into practical support and abortion care. I have the deepest trust and confidence that ACCESS RJ will continue to serve as a model as we navigate the current chaotic and heartbreaking reality of unequal abortion access in our country.”

– Zoe Mercer-Golden Women’s Donor Network

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check:

ACCESS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE

P.O. BOX 3609

Oakland, CA 94609

*Donation Memo: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer: Tax ID# EIN: 51-0163201

By Credit Card: accessrj.org/take-action/donate/

Contact: Jessica Pinckney Gil Executive Director

Phone: (510) 456-0947 jessica.pinckney@accessrj.org

ACCESS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE

accessrj.org

P.O. BOX 3609

Oakland, CA 94609

Phone: (510) 923-0739

ACCESS REPRODUCTIVE

JUSTICE has been helping people gain access to abortion and reproductive care for 30 years. As the only stand-alone abortion fund in the state of California, one that primarily serves historically marginalized communities, its sta helps clients with empathy and expertise.

When a caller phones the ACCESS RJ Healthline, they often require a range of vital services: A bus ticket from a rural area, a plane ticket from another state, a hotel room or childcare, logistical support, or emotional support. Or the caller may need financial help with the cost of an abortion or medication. Whatever the need, ACCESS RJ meets them where they are.

“It was so encouraging. I felt well cared for and listened to, didn’t feel like I needed to over-explain myself or why I needed help,” says a California caller, who received logistical support and financial assistance. “This was already a high-stress situation, and it was a huge relief to feel supported.”

Since the Dobbs Supreme Court decision in 2022 that overturned Roe v. Wade, the organization’s work has grown in volume and complexity. ACCESS RJ helped 1,865 callers in 2023 alone, a 160% increase from the prior year, with 20% of their callers originating from out of state. Most of their callers are people of color, young, single, childless, and without an income. But while ACCESS RJ can fund most logistical needs, it currently can only partially fund the cost of important, necessary medical care.

“We operate under the Reproductive Justice framework, which is the human right to determine if, when, and how you become a parent,” says Jessica Pinckney Gil, executive director. People of color, low-income, and other marginalized communities are the least likely to have that right.

Prior to 2022, the organization had made only a handful of airfare bookings, but now with many states’ restrictive abortion laws, out-of-state callers, who

In 2023, ACCESS RJ celebrated 30 years of funding abortion and reproductive healthcare in California.

Help Make Abortion Accessible for All

The time is critical to protect access to abortion and reproductive health care. ACCESS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE is seeking $500,000 to $1 million to fully cover the cost of medical care for its healthline callers. Currently, it provides logistical support for its clients – travel, accommodation, childcare, and other costs – but it can only partially cover the cost of crucial medical care.

The majority of clients are people of color, from low-income or marginalized communities – people least likely to have access to care. With half of the states now banning or partially banning abortion since 2022, the volume and complexity of calls has grown and will continue to grow in the coming year. As the only abortion fund of its kind in the state, in operation for 30 years, ACCESS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE is positioned to ensure that all people have the right to make choices about their bodies and future.

are in need but have few options, rely on ACCESS RJ for not just airfare bookings but lodging assistance and transportation as well. The cases now take on ever more complexity.

“This is a critical time. We all saw what happened with the Dobbs decision and it didn’t end there,” says Daisy Prado, development and communications manager. “There is still a charge to try to erode reproductive justice and reproductive rights. Over half the states now have either a complete ban or a partial ban on abortion. That impacts us here as Californians.”

Beyond the direct services it funds,

We supported more than 1,800 individuals across the state and country to access abortion care and other reproductive healthcare services — an increase of over 160% since the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

ACCESS RJ conducts regular policy and outreach work that educates policymakers in California and advocates for change.

“It’s really a marathon. It’s not a sprint in terms of rebuilding reproductive health care access in this country,” says Pinckney Gil. “Just as it took anti-abortion extremists decades to dismantle and pick away at Roe v. Wade, it will really take just as much time, if not more, to really rebuild it –and rebuild it in a way that ensures that abortion is accessible for all individuals who need it. For ACCESS RJ, we’re in it for the long haul.”

This is a critical time to protect access to abortion and reproductive health care; to fully cover the cost of reproductive health care for our callers

ACCESS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE would need $500,000 to $1 million.

KEY SUPPORTERS

Women's Donor Network

The Women's Foundation of California

Argosy Foundation

Levi Strauss Foundation

National Institute for Reproductive Health

Planned Parenthood Federation of America

ACCESS RJ volunteers assembling abortion comfort kits.

Changing Lives From the Inside

“Without Freedom to Choose, I wouldn’t be free today. I now work at a law o ce for one of the attorneys who represented me, train for the Modesto School District, and consult for the Modesto Police Department on race relations. I also secured a contract with Life Moves in San Jose to help reintegrate homeless individuals into their families, and I’ve just started my own LLC. The education, love, and self-esteem I gained from Freedom to Choose transformed my life and future. If you have the opportunity to support, do it, because many of us will make it back to the community, and how we show up may be in your control.”

– Michael Baldwin Program Alumni, Returning Citizen and Freedom to Choose Board Member

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check:

The Freedom to Choose Project

315 Meigs Road Ste. A295 Santa Barbara, CA 93109

*Donation Memo: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer: Tax ID# 27-2521943

By Credit Card: www.freedomtochooseproject.org

Contact: Forrest Leichtberg Executive Director (805) 895-8311 forrest@freedomtochooseproject.org

The Freedom to Choose Project www.freedomtochooseproject.org 315 Meigs Road Ste. A295 Santa Barbara, CA 93109 (805) 323-6543

Just 26 years old and the mother of three young children, Rhonda Leland found herself behind bars serving a life sentence at Valley State Prison in Chowchilla. It would be 32 years before she was even eligible for a parole hearing. Staring into the abyss of endless days in a prison cell, she realized that whatever she had been doing wasn’t working, and she needed a new strategy for just living life. She knew she had to start with her own self-esteem and anger, and as she looked around her, she understood that her fellow convicts faced the same dark shadows.

She found the names of psychologists in self-help books from the prison library, and she began writing to people she thought might be able to help.

One of those letters landed on the desk of Dr. David Paul, who along with his wife, Bonnie Paul, were graduate faculty in Psychology. The duo ventured to Chowchilla and gave their first workshop on communication skills, understanding oneself, and boosting self-esteem. “Many of the women had never felt truly heard or valued before,” Leland remembers. “The simple act of having a conversation where someone

listened to them made a significant difference in their lives.”

The Pauls started to make regular visits to Chowchilla. Eventually, in 2010, the Freedom to Choose Project was born, an organization whose mission, “transforming lives from the inside,” is not only literal and metaphorical, but effective, impactful, and statistically successful. Over the years, the program evolved to include every state prison in the State of California, and the Santa Barbara County jails. .

The name of the organization was developed from the work of Viktor Frankl, much of it codified during his imprisonment in a concentration camp. “It focuses on the ability to choose one’s response regardless of

Three incarcerated women work in a Trio at Valley State Prison for Women. (photo by David Sand)

Ms. Rhonda Leland (photo by David Sand)

Support the Power of Second Chances

Since 2004, the Freedom to Choose Project has o ered workshops, groups, and correspondence programs that focus on behavioral growth, trauma healing, and leadership, while developing emotional intelligence and communication skills. These programs have reached nearly 10,000 participants, providing over 220,000 hours of education across all California state prisons and the Santa Barbara County Jail.

• $250 – helps 2 students for 3 months

• $500 – helps 5 students for 3 months

• $1,000 – helps 10 students for 3 months

• $2,500 – helps 5 students for 6 months

• $5,000 – helps 10 students for 6 months

• $10,000 – helps 20 students for 6 months

• $25,000 – helps 60 students for 6 months

circumstances,” state Drs. Paul, drawing the connection between a concentration camp and a prison.

“If you’d asked me if I wanted to do service work in a prison, I would have said, ‘Forget it, not me. I cannot do that. I’m not qualified. I’m too scared,’” Dr. Bonnie Paul recalls. “I overcame all of that. It’s taught us that in order to do the skills we teach, we have to use them.”

A pilot study further highlighted the Freedom to Choose Project’s impact, revealing that women who completed five or more workshops experienced a recidivism rate of under 5%. This stands in stark contrast to the average recidivism rate of 49% for women in

California during that period.

But the anecdotal successes are perhaps the most convincing, and none more so than Rhonda Leland, whose initial impulse to break the cycle and free herself sparked the entire endeavor. Hers is one of thousands of stories of healing, redemption, and transformation. After 28 years of working on herself through the Freedom to Choose workshops and curriculum, she was granted a parole hearing before her initially scheduled time. She is now not only living a life of freedom on the outside, but is working as the Education and Project Coordinator for the organization she helped found, the Freedom to Choose Project.

The need for rehabilitation programs is at an all-time high, making funding essential to expand our programs.

KEY SUPPORTERS

Santa Barbara County Sheri 's O ce

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Santa Barbara Foundation

Learning by Giving Foundation

Williams-Corbett Foundation

Berkshire Hathaway's Charitable Foundation

Pond Foundation

Roddick Foundation

Colorado Longevity Institute

Chami Family Foundation

St. Bernardine of Siena Church

Center for Hope and Healing

The Eberhard Foundation

Centers for Spiritual Living

University of Santa Monica

Argyros Family Foundation

Sale Family Foundation

Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown

Charitable Foundation

Salesforce.com

Agape International Spiritual Center

Central Valley

Community Foundation

Scha Foundation

The Lia Fund

Drs. Bonnie and David Paul (photo by David Sand)

A Passion for Caring for Those Living with Disabilities

I n May 2022, Dr. Kirk Gilbert was appointed to Hillside’s Board of Directors. His wife, Pamela, currently chairs Hillside’s Event Committee. They both support Hillside’s mission to ensure residents have all that they need in order to maximize their abilities and independence. Pamela commented, “We love Hillside! The staff are incredibly committed to the well-being of the residents who have made their home at Hillside.”

– Dr. Kirk and Pamela Gilbert Board Member and Event Committee Chair

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check: Hillside House

1235 Veronica Springs Road Santa Barbara, CA 93105 *Donation Memo: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer: Tax ID# 95-1816019

By Credit Card: hillsidesb.org/donate

In the early 1940s, Hollywood director George Cukor brought his ailing nephew over from England, along with a nurse. His nephew had been suffering from cerebral palsy. Cukor got an up close look at what it was like to care for someone with a disability. He soon realized that there would be value to having a dedicated facility equipped to provide the best care for people with varying abilities.

In 1945, with the help of Cukor, the nonprofit Hillside was created, a residential facility for children with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD). Over time, the organization transitioned into serving individuals over the age of 18. Presently, diagnoses range from moderate to severe and commonly include: cerebral palsy, autism, Down syndrome, and epilepsy. In 2025, Hillside will celebrate their 80 th anniversary. Eighty years of providing exemplary medical support and empathetic caregiving to help those with I/DD extend and enrich their lives.

Hillside www.hillsidesb.org

1235 Veronica Springs Road

Santa Barbara, CA 93105 (805) 687-0788 Contact: Cheryl Sweeney Chief Development Officer (805) 687-0788 x123 csweeney@hillsidesb.org

Since Hillside opened its doors, the organization has played a huge role in the community, standing as a beacon of hope and help for families no longer able to care for their loved ones at home. Over the years, Hillside has become a leading advocate for the rights of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Hillside provides a residence and fully integrated community that includes 24hour nursing care and a range of therapeutic programs in a loving, nurturing environment. Their programs range from sensory motor training to independent living skills training to occupational therapy. So, whether it’s beach wheelchairs for those who may have never been near the water or felt the sand, or speech or aquatic therapy that allows for personal growth and independence, Hillside is on the cutting edge of every kind of innovation and advancement that allows their residents, family members, and community the chance to reach for their goals and dreams.

Hillside resident, Brad P., showcases his musical ability by performing an acoustic set at Hillside's 20th Annual Emerald Soirée fundraising gala.

Making it Easier for You to Give…

Hillside

residents live far below the poverty level. In order to help them live their fullest lives, Hillside needs to raise in excess of $800,000 a year to provide them with a variety of critically important therapies, programs, and services. Here are some of the ways you can help:

• Become a “Hillside Hero” – By donating a specific amount monthly to Hillside through an “auto pay” transfer from your bank account or credit card, or by sending in a check or cash, you can provide steady support for the ongoing work of Hillside.

• Will or Trust – Hillside has partnered with FreeWill, an online estate planning tool that makes it easy to create your own plan, at no cost to you! Please consider designating a percentage or fixed amount from your estate to Hillside.

• Donor Advised Funds – Talk to your financial advisor or accountant to create a DAF.

• Qualified Charitable Distributions – This is a taxadvantaged way for those 70.5 years or older to contribute funds to Hillside directly from their IRA. These donations help you meet your annual Required Minimum Distributions (RMD’s), and can be excluded from your taxable income!

“One of the most exciting things about Hillside is how it continues to evolve,” says Michael Rassler, president and CEO. One of Hillside’s newer partnerships is with Move Santa Barbara (Cycling Without Age), another local nonprofit. Move SB has bicycles equipped to transport people in wheelchairs, which allows not only for beach access, but provides outdoor time that residents thoroughly enjoy.

Hillside has plans to transform their model of care by creating a new, integrated, mixed-abilities neighborhood on their Hidden Valley property. A key component of this new model will feature building residences for seniors and the general public alongside new, adaptive homes for Hillside residents, which will encourage greater community integration and increased independence.

With your support, Hillside can continue to foster abilities, create community, and provide enriching care for another 80 years.

SCAN TO MAKE A DONATION...

...AND LEARN MORE ABOUT HILSIDE

KEY SUPPORTERS

Adams Legacy Society

Ann Jackson Family Foundation

Assistance League of Santa Barbara

David and Louise Borgatello

Henry W. Bull Foundation

Chumash Foundation

City of SB Human Services

Susan and Raymond Dingman

Stephan and Terri Frenkel

Hutton Parker Foundation

Latkin Charitable Foundation

June G. Outhwaite Foundation

Nancy Read

Theresa and Phil Salzwedel

Santa Barbara Foundation

Marie Williams Shipman

Gary Simpson/SB Home

Improvement Center

Jerry and Carol Smith

Jim and Robin Steedman

St. Francis Foundation

Thomson Charitable Foundation

Towbes Foundation

Williams-Corbett Foundation

Julie Willig

Jim and Marcia Wolfe

Santa Barbara Women's Fund

Hillside’s 1953 groundbreaking ceremony for their current facility.

Re-Balancing the Scales of Justice

“I am thankful for the good, professional services of Legal Aid.”

“T hank you for being here for the community. You are SO needed.”

– Anonymous Clients

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check:

Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County

301 E Canon Perdido Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101

*Donation Memo: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer: Tax ID# 95-2112634

By Credit Card: lafsbc.org/donate

Contact:

Jennifer Smith

Executive Director (805) 963-06754 x103 jsmith@lafsbc.org

Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County www.lafsbc.org

301 E Canon Perdido Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (805) 963-6754

Anybody who has seen a police procedural or legal drama on TV knows that criminal suspects not only have the right to be represented by an attorney, but that one will be appointed for them if they can’t afford their own lawyer. But that doesn’t apply for civil litigation, which includes such situations as facing eviction or securing a civil domestic violence restraining order – issues that could end up being more threatening than being charged with a simple misdemeanor such as shoplifting.

“It can be hard to wrap your head around it, especially what it means in real life,” says Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County’s Executive Director Jennifer Smith. “These types of events have an extremely hard impact on people, and there’s a real justice gap for the poor who can’t afford an attorney.”

That’s where the Legal Aid Foundation comes in. The nonprofit, which is headquartered in a small building in downtown Santa Barbara, provides high quality civil legal services

to hundreds of the less fortunate among us every year throughout the county. Their highly-trained staff of attorneys, aides, and volunteers provide legal information and advice, expert assistance with legal documents, and representation in court.

Its services cover a wide swath of civil law, from elder abuse to consumer protection to COVID-19 impact to immigration assistance. But housing is a full 50 percent of Legal Aid Foundation’s work, as the issue directly impacts issues of homelessness. “Getting evicted in our county can absolutely result in falling into homelessness,” Smith says. “We want to help prevent that.”

One of the organization’s newer programs focuses on disability advocacy, where Legal Aid helps people who are currently without stable shelter apply for Social Security disability benefits. “The data shows that having a lawyer help to prepare and review those applications greatly increases the likelihood of success,” Smith explains. “We also

Legal Aid staff, board members, and supporters attend a celebration marking the completion of maintenance work on its historic building in downtown Santa Barbara.

Help Keep Civil Legal Assistance Free

to the Vulnerable

“There’s no government guarantee to have counsel for civil legal services,” says Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County’s Executive Director Jennifer Smith. That’s why the Legal Aid Foundation makes it their mission.

“While we receive some support from the State Bar, we really rely on contributions from our community to be able to provide representation for the poor and indigent among us.”

$3,000 covers one full legal case – getting someone an attorney to help close that civil justice gap.

But every dollar donated helps Legal Aid Foundation continue to provide its often life-saving services.

partner with another nonprofit to help people secure housing and provide case management and other support.”

Another 25 percent of Legal Aid Foundation’s work is in the area of intimate partner violence protections that the criminal justice system can’t adequately address, including restraining orders, child custody, or child support.

“It’s absolutely critical,” Smith says. “I can only imagine what it must feel like to face an abuser in court, and to have to do that by yourself without an advocate would be particularly intimidating and scary. You might be afraid to even show up if you’re alone.”

To make sure it has as much direct outreach as possible, Legal Aid

Foundation maintains self-service stations at the county courthouses that are staffed by attorneys to offer immediate guidance with filling out forms and other paperwork, researching the law, or help with navigating the often complicated legal process and jargon.

It’s important to stress that Legal Aid doesn’t get involved in such issues as wrongful death or personal injury, areas that are outside the organization’s bailiwick.

“We’re not competing with the private bar,” Smith says. “We’re helping people and low-income families with civil issues that impact shelter safety and economic well-being for the most vulnerable in our community.”

The State Bar of

California's Justice

Gap report notes that indigent Californians received no or inadequate legal help for 86% of civil legal needs. A conservative estimate is that an additional 9,000 legal aid attorneys across the state would be needed to meet this justice gap.

Bar of California

U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Violence Against Women

Animals

Animals help us physically and mentally. They offer professional support, they offer love and companionship, they rescue us from dire situations. And we can offer something back by supporting the organizations that care for these creatures who in turn care for us.

Rescuing Abused Farm Animals and Teaching Kindness

Children learn that even though we all look di erent on the outside, on the inside we are all the same. This gives them the opportunity to expand their empathy for all living beings. Kids take these lessons and experiences home to their families and friends and help create a kinder community.

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check:

Greener Pastures

Farm Sanctuary 2148 S. Halcyon Rd. Arroyo Grande, CA 93420

*Donation Memo: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer: Tax ID# 81-4222022

By Credit Card: www.GreenerPasturesSanctuary.org

Contact: Diane Dieterich Executive Director (805) 704-7327

GreenerPasturesSanctuary@gmail.com

Greener Pastures Farm Sanctuary www.GreenerPasturesSanctuary.org 2148 S. Halcyon Rd. Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 (805) 704-7327

If you like stories with humble beginnings told straight from the horse’s mouth, then look no further than the story of the nonprofit Greener Pastures Farm Sanctuary. It’s a heartwarming tale featuring all sorts of tails, that started with one woman’s dream to save neglected and abused factory farm animals.

Diane Dieterich, executive director of Greener Pastures, first embarked on her mission in 2014 because she could not stand idly by knowing that there were endless farm animals enduring unthinkable abuse.

“I literally started in my backyard in San Luis Obispo rescuing animals. I had 14 animals in my house. More and more, I was realizing the need for a farm animal sanctuary so we started one in Santa Ynez,” says Dieterich.

Now, Dieterich is in charge of a farm sanctuary that houses rescued horses, goats, pigs, donkeys, sheep, and fowl. Plus, there’s Joe Kennedy – a retired tax accountant from Santa Barbara turned co-owner and ranch hand – as well as a group of steady, dedicated volunteers.

Greener Pastures’ mission is simple: save animals from factory farms and neglectful living situations where they eventually will be sent to slaughter. Instead, Greener Pastures provides them unwavering love, dedicated medical care, rehabilitation, and the

chance for these animals to live their lives in a safe, peaceful setting.

Each animal has a compelling story. Dinkey is a potbelly pig, whose lack of care left her severely sunburned and so morbidly obese, her folds of fat made her totally blind. Greener Pastures rescued her and, with the care they provided, she lost 160 pounds and was able to regain her sight after surgery. Starlit and her sixweek-old colt, Wildfire, were scheduled to be sent to a slaughterhouse for their meat. Rescued by Greener Pastures, it was discovered that Starlit was pregnant. Little Felicity became the first horse to be born on the farm.

The compassion shown at Greener Pastures extends far beyond the animals they save. The Sanctuary is opened up to visitors by appointment (often to schoolchildren) who visit with the animals. The visits with the animals impart empathy and teach kindness. It’s simple but transformative. These interactions teach reverence for all life and promote a loving kindness (towards animals and humans) for a more peaceful community and planet.

Dieterich sees the impact especially with young children. “We share [the animals] with kids to teach them…why treating an animal with kindness is

Once rehabilitated, the rescued residents are shared with others to teach about kindness.

Greener Pastures Farm Sanctuary shares the history of each animal, their resilience, and why it's important to show kindness to others.

Sponsor an Animal

Since 2014, Greener Pastures Farm Sanctuary has rescued 81 abused, neglected farm animals. The Sanctuary also welcomes 1,800 visitors a year to teach them important life lessons about compassion, respect, and kindness.

The Sanctuary relies fully on donors and volunteers to achieve its mission. Sponsor a group of animals for one year and you will receive updates and photos.

Sponsorship covers expenses for food, hay, supplements, dental and hoof care, vaccines, and worming. It does not cover costly medical/rescue expenses, housing, or the cost of incoming rescue.

• $2,300: Funds 3 sheep

• $2,400: Funds 3 goats

• $2,500: Funds 20 fowl

• $2,700: Funds 2 miniature donkeys

• $3,300: Funds 2 pigs

• $7,500: Funds a new shed to allow for more rescues

• $8,500: Funds 3 horses

• $10,000: Funds a new horse trailer

important. If they can feel empathy for the animal, then they’ll care.”

It’s no surprise that Greener Pastures is often contacted by students who are part of the Future Farmers of America program. Rather than send their animals o to slaughter, students in this program have increasingly come to Greener Pastures for a more humane solution.

The farm is fully supported by donors

and volunteers, who range from students to seniors and veterans who not only want to help animals, but who are also searching for a fulfilling community. They find it at the Sanctuary.

Greener Pastures Farm Sanctuary is a place of hope, recovery, and second chances. Its work shows the best of people’s compassion and grace towards those who can’t help themselves.

97% of the 10 billion animals tortured and killed each year are farm animals. There are very few grants available for nonprofit farm animal sanctuaries so Greener Pastures Farm Sanctuary relies solely on donations. 100% of all donations received go directly towards rescuing animals and caring for its 40 rescued residents. The organization is currently fundraising $17,500 for a new horse trailer and shed to allow it to more e ciently rescue and house animals whose lives are in danger.

KEY SUPPORTERS

Olivia Newton-John and John Easterling

Dr. John and Teri Keating

Joseph P. Kennedy

Kennedy Accounting Systems

Felicia and Jack Cashin

Jean Splinter

Frederick "Woody" Woods

Visitors are invited to spend hands-on time with the animals and experience the unconditional acceptance and healing that animals give naturally.

Canines at Home in the Ruins

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check:

National Disaster Search Dog Foundation

6800 Wheeler Canyon Road Santa Paula, CA 93060

*Donation Memo: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer: Tax ID# 77-0412509

By Credit Card: searchdogfoundation.org/donate

Contact: Rhett Mauck Chief Executive Officer (805) 646-1015 Rhett@SearchDogFoundation.org

National Disaster Search Dog Foundation

www.SearchDogFoundation.org

6800 Wheeler Canyon Road Santa Paula, CA 93060 (888) 4K9-HERO

How many times has a family stared in slack-jawed wonder as the adorable new family dog tears around and around the yard like a caffeinated dervish, joyously destroying absolutely everything in sight? They may be looking at a future Disaster Search Dog in waiting. As National Disaster Search Dog Foundation’s (SDF) Wilma Melville has said (with her usual economy of language) – “These dogs need to work. When left alone in a suburban backyard, they destroy the place.” Melville knew that dogs in shelters were often remanded there by families for having exhibited the very character traits that will make them successful rescuers – if not calming, slipper-fetching companions.

In 1996, FEMA-Certified Canine Search Specialist Wilma Melville launched SDF to address once and for all the shortfall of rescue canines in the United States. The year before, she and her partner – a black Lab named Murphy – had spent a week poring over the smoldering rubble of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing site. She was struck by how few rescue canines there were to search the site for survivors. In fact, only 15 such certified ca-

nine-human teams existed in the country at that time, all volunteers like herself.

Melville had an epiphany. Why not formalize and optimize canine recruitment and training, partner the dogs with working rescue personnel already well-versed in disaster response? She envisioned a positive feedback loop of rescue: the unwanted dogs rescued from shelters would themselves become trained rescuers. The idea had legs; four legs.

The National Disaster Search Dog Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Santa Paula, California, which is also the location of the National Training Center – 145 sprawling acres of collapsed structures, large-area rubble searches, train and vehicle wrecks, and wilderness ravines; scenarios that can be reconfigured to keep the dogs’ rescue acuity sharp.

Melville’s brainstorm has changed the dynamic for canine-assisted rescue in disaster areas, domestically and globally. Do all recruited (rescued) dogs pass the training? Most do, not all. But SDF’s dogs are not a “rescue commodity.” They are the spirit of the place. Denise Sanders – Senior Director of Communications & Search

From rescued to rescuer: Disaster search dogs are trained to find the strongest scent source of their target odor, barking to alert their handler that a missing person is buried beneath the surface of the rubble.

Sponsor the Canine Heroes

The frequency and strength of recent disasters are stark reminders that they can strike at the heart of any community. In the search for victims, a search dog’s remarkable nose and hard-earned skills mean the difference between days versus minutes, lost versus found, uncertainty versus hope. The National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) works diligently to ensure canine search teams across America can deploy at a moment’s notice when needed, which includes preparing the next generation of canine heroes.

From the day they arrive on campus to the day they are paired with first responders, SDF spends approximately $60,000 to train a search dog over 10 to 12 months.

SDF is raising $900,000 to train the next search dog graduates. Donors at $20,000 and above can become sponsors of a search dog in training, receiving updates on their progress and milestones throughout their career. Sponsor one or even a pack of canine heroes to be Part of the Search!

Team Operations at SDF – explains.

“It’s not just about the disaster search program,” Sanders says. “Once rescued, these dogs will never have to be rescued again. That is our lifetime care promise to any dog that enters our program.” As they move through the training process, the dogs need to navigate tight spaces, squeeze through small openings, walk backwards up a massive mound of rubble. Some dogs opt out, others can’t get enough.

“Some truly love it, and they just

dance across the rubble! And then there are others that seem to say, ‘Well, if you really want me to … and we’re not going to make them do it at all.” SDF is a rescue dog’s university, family, and best friend. Forever.

“We’ve significantly grown our network of career change options and adoptions,” Sanders says. “It’s about helping each and every dog. We want them to enjoy it. So we say, thank you for being willing, but maybe let’s try something you’ll actually love.”

“Watching the Search Dog Foundation grow from a small group of ardent volunteers into the nationally recognized organization it is today has been an inspiration and an honor.

As a longtime philanthropist and volunteer for many organizations through the years, the sense of passion and perseverance and collective drive toward reaching a goal is one of the hallmarks of a great group of people united for a cause. The Search Dog Foundation’s staff, Board of Directors, volunteers, and many supporters across the country have an insatiable need to keep growing and improving their work and the services provided.

As a team, we know we will continue to strengthen disaster response in this country. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of so many – both human and canine.”

– George Leis Chair, Board of Directors, National Disaster Search Dog Foundation; President & Chief Operating Officer, Montecito Bank & Trust

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

George Leis – Board Chair

President and COO, Montecito Bank & Trust

Richard Butt – Board Vice Chair

Retired EVP, Executive Creative Director, VMLY&R

Mike J. Diani – Secretary President, Diani Building Corp.

Christine DeVries Management Consultant

Robert Harris, Battalion Chief, Los Angeles County Fire Dept.

Rhett Mauck, CEO, National Disaster Search Dog Foundation

Sydne Rennie, Attorney, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck

Deborah Whiteley, Communications Consultant

Crystal Wyatt, Leadership in Board Governance and Creative & Sustainable Philanthropy

Search dogs and their handlers train together weekly to stay ready in case of deployment. The Search Dog Foundation campus contains disaster training props that help prepare them for any disaster scenario they may face during a real deployment.

People Helping Horses, Horses Helping People

Horses do not need to be taught about trauma. Savannah, used for breeding, chained to a stake, starving, recognizes people like her and is kinder and gentler with them. She reminds us every day what compassion, caring, and generous supporters can accomplish for horses and people.

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check:

Players Philanthropy Fund 1122 Kenilworth Dr. Ste. 201 Towson, MD 21204

*Donation Memo: The Horse Project, S.B.: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer: Tax ID# 27-6601178

By Credit Card: thehorseprojectsantabarbara.com

Contact: Linda Kiefer Project Leader (805) 680-6498 thehorseprojectsb@gmail.com

The Horse Project, Inc. thehorseprojectsantabarbara.com 1401 21st St. Ste. 10367 Sacramento, CA 95811

"The beautiful Horse Project is making my life very different. I am enthusiastic now, confident and try. It's not easy with vision loss to do new things, but here with my horse I tried and asked, please do this and this. He did it all. It was a good example for my life. Thank you." – Patricia A.

For 10 years, The Horse Project has rehomed and rehabilitated rescued horses. Today, with the hard work of passionate volunteers, the horses pay it forward by helping people with physical, emotional, and mental health distress get their lives back on track.

Building on deep study and experience of how horses react and respond to human caring, The Horse Project’s Better With Horses program collaborates with other nonprofits, groups, and businesses to help their clients, members, and employees find confidence and trust in themselves, like those from Blind Fitness who were once sighted and are now legally blind.

Participants learn self-regulating and self-coaching tools and skills through Better With Horses to deal with anxiety, depression, grief, loneliness, and stress, empowering them to make healthier life choices. “I’ve done years of therapy and AA and all kinds of things and this was more impactful than anything I can remember,” says a program participant.

Better With Horses is preparing to welcome women veterans, some in wheelchairs with a healthy dose of equine love and healing, as The Horse Project partners with the Barbara Giordano Foundation, Inc. – a “wellness resource that addresses the unique emotional, physical, and personal needs of women veterans throughout the U.S.,” and the Paralyzed Veterans of America California Chapter.

“Our rescued horses are master teachers,” says Project Leader Linda Kiefer. “They don’t need to be taught about trauma, stress, and anxiety, they have experienced it and know it in others.”

Kiefer, a retired corporate CEO, trained as a PATH certified (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) riding instructor which gave her an innate understanding of the good these emotionally attuned animals can nurture and provide healing for people with physical and mental disabilities. She is also a certified Therapeutic Coach using multi-disciplinary, psychological, and life-coaching modalities. This training brings an

Support the Ongoing Efforts of Healing Horses and People

TheHorse Project is constrained by resources and space. “$3,000 sponsors a Better With Horses participant. $7,500 is a year’s basic cost to rescue a horse,” explains Linda Kiefer, Project Leader. “For space we have even temporarily used someone’s backyard to keep a horse alive.”

Every donation goes directly to rescuing horses that, in turn, rescue people.

The overarching goal is a place to call home. “There is a suitable property with potential to be a community gem, preserving open space. To enter negotiations we need one million dollars,” says Kiefer. “We trust donors recognize the value of a safe, healing place for people, horses, and nature.”

added dimension to The Horse Project’s mission, drawing on the well-documented empathetic bond between people and horses. “Having gone through and experienced the therapeutic aspect, I blended years of horse work, coaching, and my life experiences leading a team in international business to build the outcome-driven Better With Horses program,” she says.

Since 2014, The Horse Project has helped abused, abandoned, and neglected horses, sometimes owned by heartbroken owners who could no longer care for them because of their own illness or hard times. “We rescue horses that would otherwise be euthanized,” Kiefer says. “Horses considered to have outlived their usefulness or

value, seniors aged out of their sport, young horses who have been injured and need time to heal, horses we believe we can rehab and rehome.”

If ultimately no home can be found, they stay with The Horse Project. “Our sanctuary horses take part in our Better With Horses program,” Kiefer explains. It is a second chance to lead a purposeful life.

So it is that horses are both rescued and rescuers in The Horse Project. “It was life-changing for me,” one Better With Horses participant says. “I have hope. I feel happy again after a very long time and that makes everything better.” Kiefer smiles. “The horses inform us. Everyone deserves a chance to thrive.”

“V olunteering at the Horse Project is a deeply fulfilling experience for me. It allows me to contribute to the well-being of these magnificent animals, each with their own story of resilience. Diego, my favorite horse, has a special place in my heart due to his gentle yet playful nature and the incredible bond we’ve formed. Donations are crucial to ensure that these rescued horses receive the care they need, from proper nutrition to medical attention, which is why I also give a monthly gift. Your support helps provide a safe haven for them, allowing them to heal and thrive. Every contribution makes a significant difference in their lives.”

– Kerstin Caujolle Development Coordinator Lead at the American Heart Association, Volunteer since 2021, Saturday Crew Leader, and Diego Sponsor

KEY SUPPORTERS

May and Bill Allison Foundation

Mission Wealth

Montecito Bank & Trust Anniversary Grant Award 2023

Colleen Parent Beall

Sarah McLelland

Gian Cataudella

Susan Dalton

The Arts

The arts, and aligned artistic pursuits, breathe imagination and inspiration into communities. From the design of our open spaces to giving young people an avenue of expression, the arts are far more than additive; they are essential to the human experience.

Conversations: Amada Cruz

as told to Zachary Bernstein

The Connection Between Art and Life

Amada Cruz is still fairly new in her role as director of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art (SBMA), having started in November of 2023, but she’s already making her stamp and bringing her credible sensibilities to maintaining SBMA as a world-class destination for art lovers, young people, academics, and especially the Santa Barbara community.

Born in Cuba, her family moved to the United States when she was only nine months old, with home ties to Chicago, New York, and Miami. While studying art history at NYU, she secured an internship at the Guggenheim Museum leading to an assistant curatorial role there that set things in motion for a career as a champi-

on of contemporary art. She specialized in working as a curator of younger artists for nearly 20 years before graduating to managerial roles.

Prior to coming to SBMA, Cruz served as director of both the Phoenix Art Museum and then the Seattle Art Museum (beginning the latter position just months before the COVID pandemic struck). She brings her lifelong devotion to art to her new role, happy to be an ambassador for artists and for Santa Barbara’s art community.

She loves SBMA’s simple and profound mission to integrate art into the lives of people and how it’s not just an academic institution, but it’s also a meaningful place to the public.

a desirable thing. You’re making something that is special to people that people are finding meaning in.

Are we producing meaning? That’s hard to measure, but feedback from the public and that can be very useful.

Think about the competition for attention out there! For someone to be motivated to respond to you, that’s a powerful thing.

Q: You’ve had leadership roles at art museums in bigger cities. Are there any challenges or benefits to leading a museum in a smaller city?

A: When I first moved, people told me Santa Barbara is a small city and everyone knows each other. I thought that was really interesting and there is some truth to that, although it is a city that’s growing and many people are moving in from out of town.

Because it’s a more manageable city with a local audience, I think it’s probably easier to maintain your relevance to a local community. It’s just a smaller community. But it can be very meaningful.

We should be able to identify what the various communities of Santa Barbara are more efficiently, let’s say, than if we were in New York City. You can get to know the communities of a smaller place more easily. Building community should be easier.

The trick for Santa Barbara Museum of Art, which has a world-class collection, is to maintain local relevance and make it feel like it’s their museum, their home. But we also want to be globally ambitious, so you’re bringing in and featuring the best art from around the world to a local community.

Q: Is there a balance between the drive to discover new talent (or fostering up-and-coming talent) alongside popular taste? Do you ultimately want patrons to follow your lead and trust where you’re taking them? Or is there also some amount of giving the people what they want? (Perhaps they overlap.)

A: I think it overlaps. I certainly want to develop that level of trust that no matter what we show, people will want to come and see it because they trust us to make decisions that will be relevant to them, but I also believe it’s fine and fair to show people what you think they want. For example, we happen to have a really fantastic collection of French 19th-century paintings, including four paintings by Claude Monet. Santa Barbara is not

a big city, but we have four Monets! That’s the same amount of Monets, by the way, as the Getty or LACMA. It’s an extraordinary visual resource for many people and most people love Monet, so I am happy to show our four Monets. And we will be showing, in the future, an exhibition on French Impressionism, which will be from another museum which is giving the people what they want, but we want it, too.

We offer a vast array of experiences, from historical works to contemporary art. We have lots of different media, we have fantastic Asian art collections, we always want to show that. So I feel like this kind of museum with a large, eclectic, and global collection offers a lot to many different types of people.

I’d also like to think that if you go to see the Asian art collection, you might serendipitously run into something you weren’t expecting and realize you like that as well.

It’s a balance and a really important thing, introducing people to something new, but honoring what they want to see as well.

Q: Are there any duties that come with museum leadership that are less obvious? How many roles do you play?

A: What’s interesting about being a museum director is that you have to be involved in so many different things. Every day is different.

I lead the artistic vision, but I’m not the only one who picks the art because we have a curatorial team. I am a major fundraiser, though we have a development department. I also have certain management responsibilities that people maybe don’t think about, like managing a staff of 100 people and working with the board of directors. I’m also the main ambassador for the museum. Because I’m new here – though I’d do this anyway – in my ambassadorial role, I go out and see a lot of people, meet a lot of folks, and I try to be supportive of the other nonprofits in the area. I’m making connections because all of this is based on making relationships.

It’s all about relationships. And that’s the part of the job I really enjoy. I think it’s fun to meet people and have a vast network of people supporting the museum –in various ways. What’s important to me is that people are seeing what we are doing. I want people to come. That’s what I want. That’s the most important thing.

“What we offer to people is a viewing experience that’s an authentic experience of looking at art. It’s not mediated by a screen, or goggles. It’s authentic. It is you in a space looking at a work of art.”

Q: Can you talk about a time when you partnered with other people, institutions to create something for the community?

A: We have a phenomenal education department. They are the ones who partner the most. They have incredible community outreach. We looked at what we were doing in that area and realized that last year we served 26,000 people in the education programs, including 17,000 students. That’s students going to our museum and us going to them. We also work with 500 teachers, 131 volunteers, and 40 community partners

One of my favorite Instagram accounts is for the archeological dig at Pompeii. They’ve unearthed so much from Pompeii and it makes me want to go there. In that case, it’s a magnet for interest.

I don’t think it’s a competition. The more artistic images out there in the world, the better.

Q: Is there anything else you feel people should know about SBMA?

A: Every second Sunday of the month we are open free of charge to locals, that is residents of the tri-coun

Removing Historic Barriers to Coastal Access

young child

at

First Order Fresnel Lens,

was originally lo-

Point Conception Lighthouse.

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check:

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum 113 Harbor Way #190 Santa Barbara, CA 93109

*Donation Memo: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer: Tax ID# 77-0392953

By Credit Card: sbmm.org/make-a-donation

Contact: Greg Gorga Executive Director (805) 456-8742 ggorga@sbmm.org

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum sbmm.org 113 Harbor Way, Suite 190 Santa Barbara, CA 93109 (805) 962-8404

Acool breeze blows as a group of students walk through the Carpinteria salt marsh and down to the beach. It is a sunny day – perfect for exploring the shore. The group has just come from the seal rookery and will now dig in the sand to see what they can find. A young girl is delighted to find crabs in her sand, giggling at the surprise. For youth participating in the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum’s (SBMM) national award-winning Maritime on the Move program, this is a typical experience – and one that is remembered for a lifetime. “We had a young person participating in a program, and she had never seen the ocean. At one point, she turned to one of our sta members and asked, ‘Can I touch the water?’” says SBMM Executive Director Greg Gorga. “We know less about the deep sea than we do the surface of the moon, and the ocean’s capacity to awe can produce an epiphany in an individual.”

On any given day at SBMM, conversation can be heard by guests of all ages enjoying their experience at the museum. Visitors embark on a journey of discovery, interacting with nearly 8,000 square feet of immersive and interactive exhibits. Serving as a hub for Santa Barbara’s coastal heritage, the museum highlights 13,000 years of local maritime history – from Chumash culture to today’s surfing and environmental movements – in addition to featuring two docked historic vessels, and a theater hosting films ranging from the earliest history of the Santa Barbara Channel Islands to shipwrecks and underwater adventures.

With more than 40,000 visitors yearly, the museum is the perfect place to spend a few hours learning more about local maritime history and viewing exhibitions often featuring local artists and photographers. Additionally, SBMM goes beyond walls with its diverse, experiential, and

An SBMM education team member leads a youth tour in the museum. Education programs have a special emphasis on California’s maritime history and human interactions with the sea. (Photo courtesy of Ralph Clevenger)

A

looks up

SBMM’s

which

cated at the

The lens is considered one of the most important maritime artifacts at the museum. (Photo courtesy of Dennis Schuett)

Help Kids Take a Deep Dive into Ocean Education

TheSanta Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) reaches broadly into the community to deliver many educational opportunities. Just last year, SBMM provided 183 programs to 4,801 students in 14 cities. Through scholarships and discounts, SBMM programming brings equity and access to locally underserved students, creating social change by reducing historic barriers to coastal access and experiences. “SBMM goes beyond walls to provide youth with experiences they would not otherwise receive in the classroom,” says SBMM Executive Director Greg Gorga. “We work with naturalists, artists, and educators, and have amazing community partnerships. None of these opportunities would be possible without donor support.”

project-based education programs available to the community all yearlong. SBMM’s programs such as Maritime on the Move, Tall Ship, Girls in Ocean Science Conference, Science Nights, and Marine Science provide students with a sense of adventure as they think about maritime connections in the natural environment.

“The outstanding Tall Ship program reinforces what is being taught in a way no other program could do so successfully,” says Ron Maderas, a fourth-grade teacher at Pine Grove Elementary School. “I see the children getting excited about being part of a crew, being on a ship, and that all-too-rare opportunity to actually sail out to sea. I simply love what the

program has done for my hundreds of students over the years, for the lifelong memories it has provided them (and me), and for how it has made them ‘grow up to be salts’ right in front of my eyes.”

For young people in particular, the museum and its carefully designed educational mission offer a glimpse of the larger world – and of previously unrevealed possibilities. “For many students in our community, life is defined by their immediate neighborhood,” says SBMM Deputy Director Jessica Tade. “For some, an SBMM program is the first time they’ve been in a museum, and for others, it is the first time they have seen the ocean.”

“S BMM has been an invaluable member of the community in a variety of di erent ways. The programs are forward thinking, proactive, and engaging. Marine Science, Maritime on the Move, and the Girls in Ocean Science programs to name a few, are programs that are meeting the needs of the students and opening students’ minds and hearts to our wonderful maritime culture.”

– Marcus Lopez

Family Engagement Liaison

Santa Barbara Junior High School

KEY SUPPORTERS

John and Ann Brinker

John and Tracie Doordan

Hutton Parker Foundation

Ann Jackson Family Foundation

Mimi Michaelis

Marie L Morrisroe

William and Marian Nasgovitz

June G. Outhwaite Charitable Trust

Robyn and Jess Parker

Santa Barbara Foundation

Suzi Schomer

Linda and Clark Stirling

Peter Schuyler and Lisa Stratton

Sigrid and Bud Toye

Charlotte Tyler

Alex Weinstein and Betty Helton

Chuck and Mary Wilson

The Whimsie Fund

Thanks to donors Roger and Sarah Chrisman, SBMM’s Tall Ship Program teaches students what life was like for merchant sailors of the 1800s, providing them with a unique experience that cannot be matched in any classroom. (Photo courtesy of Ralph Clevenger)

When you walk through the doors of the museum, you embark on a journey of discovery, interacting with engaging exhibits. SBMM highlights 13,000 years of maritime history – from Chumash culture to today’s surfing and environmental movements. (Photo courtesy of Dennis Schuett)

Uniting Art Lovers of All Ages

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art has a long-standing tradition of uniting people of all ages through a diverse range of art experiences. Located in the vibrant State Street Arts District, the Museum offers an array of exhibitions, tours, lectures, concerts, and films. It stands as a dynamic social hub and a key educational resource, fostering community connections and personal growth through captivating displays of art from the permanent collection, innovative exhibitions, site-specific commissioned works, and unique programs. The knowledgeable and passionate staff are dedicated to providing an enriching and informative experience for every visitor.

Founded in 1941, the Museum has cultivated a distinctive identity reflective of its particular heritage and shaped by both the broader community and significant individual collectors. Highlights include a noteworthy collection of 20th-century Latin American art and a distinguished range of Greco Roman, African, and pre-Columbian antiquities. The Museum’s Asian collection showcases the rich diversity of the region’s aesthetics, featuring art from South and Southeast Asia, China, Japan, and Korea. Galleries dedicated to contemporary art, photography, and new media display a rotating display of works from the Museum’s extensive 25,000-object permanent collection.

BECOME A MEMBER!

Join Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s community of art lovers and enjoy numerous benefits, including free admission, discounts on programs, lectures, workshops, and Museum Store purchases, as well as exclusive access to events celebrating art and art-making. For those who want to make a deeper connection, a Museum Circles Patron membership provides special opportunities to meet with artists, educators, curators, and fellow supporters.

Art is a common ground on which we enrich and nurture an energetic, caring, and diverse community. Our education programs — accessible to everyone — offer a variety of programs with a clear set of ideals: give individuals access to the Museum’s collections and resources, ignite imagination and spur learning through careful instruction, and build community connections through empathetic growth and cultural exchange. Through these efforts, Santa Barbara Museum of Art hopes to touch people’s lives, offer a path to learning about our local community and larger world, and help people learn more about themselves. Please visit sbma.net/learn for an extensive listing of in-person and online opportunities available for all.

“W e believe that incorporating art into students’ lives plays a crucial role in social and emotional learning. Engaging with art, whether in a group or alone, helps us understand and connect with one another. Art stirs curiosity about the unfamiliar and encourages us to accept and appreciate differences and new perspectives. By integrating art, we can enhance curriculum connections, explore diverse narratives, provoke questions, and inspire meaningful discussions.”

– Patsy Hicks Director of Education

Program Support

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art provides in-person and online resources for art makers, art educators, and art enthusiasts. Your donation supports free educational programs and engagement opportunities including classroom and after-school activities, in-person and virtual school field trips, and adult studio classes and workshops. The Museum is committed to engaging the community in new and substantial ways, through a varied series of lectures and programs, including mission-enhancing literary, musical, and theatrical events. Please visit sbma.net/support or call (805) 963-4364 to speak to one of their friendly staff for information on how you can participate.

The Many Ways to Give...

Contact:

Susan M. Bradley

External Affairs Deputy Director (805) 884-6427

sbradley@sbma.net

Santa Barbara Museum of Art sbma.net/support 1130 State Street

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

501C(3) Charity # 95-1664122 (805) 963-4364

Michael C. Linn, Chair

Lynn Cunningham Brown, Vice Chair

Christian McGrath, Secretary

Marta Holsman Babson

Susan Drymalski Bowey

Karen Lombardo Brill

Robert Castle

Joan Davidson

Richard De Schutter

Martha Gabbert

Mitchell Green

Christine Vanderbilt Holland

Rachel Kaganoff

Jacquelyn Klein-Brown

Norman A. Kurland

J. Paul Longanbach

Kandy Luria-Budgor

Janet Feldstein McKillop

Nicholas Mutton

Betsy Newman

Doug Norberg

Stephen Schaible

Jeanne Towles

Martha Townsend

Barry Winick

Beth Wood

Bruce Worster

Laura Selwyn Wyatt

Your Seats Await – Experience Another Season of Symphony Magic

“We are so grateful to you, Nir and The Symphony, for your great efforts in helping children have music in their lives. With music education disappearing from most schools, it warms my heart when we see the great strides you are making in keeping music education alive! Brava!”

– Anne Akiko Meyers

Internationally esteemed violinist and Santa Barbara Symphony supporter

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check or DAF:

Santa Barbara Symphony 1330 State Street, Unit 102 Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Tax ID# 95-2104089

*Donation Memo: SB Symphony: The Giving List

By Credit Card: www.TheSymphony.org/Support

By ACH or Stock Transfer: Call (805) 898-9386

Contact: Kathryn R. Martin President & CEO kmartin@TheSymphony.org (805) 898-9386

Santa Barbara Symphony www.TheSymphony.org

1330 State Street, Unit 102 Santa Barbara, CA 93101

It was just a year ago last November that the Santa Barbara Symphony first took the stage with a rock band in a collaboration with the local Doublewide Kings for a rousing tribute to Van Morrison. The sold-out concert seems to have been a catalyst for The Symphony’s expanded role in the local music scene. Beyond its regular season programming, the local creative community is seeking out The Symphony for collaborations that include a tribute to The Band with the Doublewide Kings and the Granada, and a collaboration with the legendary Little River Band in June. The Symphony’s most high-profile

performance to date was backing rock legends Alan Parsons, Kenny Loggins, and others at the massive One805LIVE! annual benefit concert benefiting local first responders at Kevin Costner’s Summerland estate in September.

“The versatility of our professional musicians opens up endless possibilities for collaboration,” says The Symphony’s visionary President and CEO Kathryn R. Martin. “It would have been so easy for us to say rock and roll doesn’t fit within our box. But Maestro Nir Kabaretti continually demonstrates how expansive symphonic music can be in evoking emotion and creating moments of transcendence. Something is building and percolating here in Santa Barbara, and we’re fanning the flames as an artistic resource to help fuel even more artistic collaborations.”

This expansion into new opportunities and connections in the community doesn’t mean that The Symphony is devoting less attention to its subscription season of classical orchestral concerts at the glorious Granada Theatre. In fact, it is because of the community’s investment in artistic quality and the season of monthly weekend concerts of classic repertoire that makes it possible for the regional orchestra to be a resource for other creative forces here in Santa Barbara.

“It’s a real win-win-win,” Martin says. “Symphony fans hear their beloved

Local youth develop their musical skills in The Symphony’s Youth Ensembles program.

Invest in a Local Creator of Only-in-Santa Barbara Programming

The Santa Barbara Symphony is inviting visionary community members to join their growing Crescendo program by making a multi-year funding commitment at a minimum of $2,500 annually to create long-lasting impact for its ever-expanding programs.

For those interested in its Music Education program, a $2,750 gift will provide a Youth Ensembles student with an all-inclusive needs-based scholarship covering tuition, private lessons, and an instrument plus unique experiences with The Symphony during guest artist residencies that connect and inspire.

A donation of $500 helps to subsidize student attendance at The Symphony concerts October through May. Of course, contributions of any amount are always welcome and appreciated.

music, the musicians have more opportunities to play, and people who love all kinds of music get to hear The Symphony’s power and beauty in different settings.”

The current 2024-25 season includes an exciting Mozart Marathon featuring eight of the composer’s masterworks performed over a weekend. There’s also a two-concert residency with legendary violinist Gil Shaham, who will perform three different concertos over two days, including a world premiere featuring his wife, fellow violinist Adele Anthony. Beloved works by Dvořák and Tchaikovsky will also be heard, while 18-year veteran Music & Artistic Director Nir Kabaretti also conducts Brahms’ Requiem showcasing the vibrancy of the local choral community. The Symphony’s annual nod to Hollywood films boasts a centennial cinematic classic in Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush screening, while the ensemble performs Chaplin’s score live.

The organization continues to be devoted to local youth as the only music education program tied to a professional symphony orchestra in

the region, one that serves more than 2,000 students annually throughout Santa Barbara County.

“We believe The Symphony is for everyone as we grow the next generation of musicians and music lovers,” Martin says. “Our concerts and youth education programs aim to touch hearts, and lift up everyone on stage, and in the audience.”

KEY SUPPORTERS

Todd & Allyson Aldrich (B)(C)

Dan & Meg Burnham (B)(C)

Sarah & Roger Chrisman (B)(C)

Granada Theatre/Santa Barbara Center for the Performing Arts

Samuel M. & Alene S. Hedgpeth (B)(C)

Michael & Christine Holland

Hutton Parker Foundation

The Ann Jackson

Family Foundation (B)(C)

Palmer & Susan Jackson, Palmer & Joan Jackson

Jason Subotky & Anne Akiko Meyers

Mithun Family Foundation/ John C. Mithun Foundation

Montecito Bank & Trust/ Janet A. Garufis (B)(C)

Mosher Foundation

Joan Rutkowski

Judy A. Shea

The Gainey Foundation

Rachel Kagano (B)(C)

Marilynn L. Sullivan

The Walter J. & Holly O. Thomson Foundation

Dr. Bob Weinman (B)(C)

Zegar Family Foundation(C)

*(B) Board of Directors

*(C) Crescendo

Kathryn Martin with Symphony supporter Mercedes Millington and Maestro Nir Kabaretti.

A student in the Youth Ensembles program.

Revel in a New Season of Sensational Programming

Local children dance onstage during a ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Barbara! performance.

(Photo by Isaac Hernandez de Lipa)

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check: UC Regents

University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5030

*Donation Memo: Arts & Lectures - The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer:

Tax ID# 95-6006145

By Credit Card: artsandlectures.ucsb.edu/donate

Contact: Stacy Cullison Sr. Director of Development & Special Initiatives (805) 893-3755

Stacy.Cullison@ArtsandLectures. UCSB.edu

UCSB Arts & Lectures

University of California, Santa Barbara artsandlectures.ucsb.edu

Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5030 (805) 893-2080

UCSB Arts & Lectures turns denizens of the local community into citizens of the world. “We bring the world to Santa Barbara,” says Celesta Billeci, executive director of Arts & Lectures, who is celebrating her 25th year in that position. At a time when arts budgets are being slashed everywhere and in an increasingly divisive cultural and political climate, UCSB Arts & Lectures is proud to be entering its 65th year of programming that educates, entertains, and inspires. And typical of the organization’s acclaimed offerings, it is a season replete with an array of diverse and visionary choices from all over the globe.

The new season includes exciting familiar faces like Yo-Yo Ma, Wynton Marsalis, Itzhak Perlman, and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, as well as bright, new discoveries like Fight Night by Ontroerend Goed, a revolutionarily innovative Belgian theater company, and Owls, a fresh and original new string ensemble featuring some of chamber music’s most creative voices. Events take place in a variety of venues throughout the Santa Barbara area, including Hahn Hall, Lobero Theatre, Arlington

Theatre, Granada Theatre, County Courthouse, and Campbell Hall, to name just a few.

Consistent with its mission, Billeci says that Arts & Lectures goes beyond presenting a wide-reaching season of artistic performances. Its distinguished lecture series enlightens and engages audiences. This season, educational visionary Salman Khan will address AI’s integration in the educational process; world-renowned chef Yotam Ottolenghi will demonstrate recipes and tell stories from his latest cookbook; Dr. Jennifer Doudna, a Nobel prize winner in chemistry, will discuss genome engineering’s possibilities in agriculture, the environment, and medical science; and humorist Fran Lebowitz will bring her critically-acclaimed evening of anecdotes to Campbell Hall. Additionally, the “Speaking with Pico” series will feature authors Yung Pueblo, Pulitzer-winner Richard Powers, and art world icon Marina Abramović talking with author and scholar Pico Iyer, who is known for his insightful interviews.

Beyond bringing its stellar programming to Santa Barbara, UCSB Arts & Lectures also brings its offerings to those members of the community

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, April 15-16, 2025. (Photo by Dario Calmese)

Help UCSB Arts & Lectures

Educate, Entertain, and Inspire Onstage and Off

With over 30,000 students and lifelong learners engaged in educational opportunities in the past year, UCSB Arts & Lectures brings arts, ideas, and stimulating conversations to every corner of Santa Barbara County annually. This year, it looks to do even more.

When you join the Arts & Lectures Producers Circle with a contribution of $2,500 or more, you signal that you wish to become a leader in the effort to create a better, more thoughtful and creative community for all. Your gift will not only have an impact on the young people and families who benefit from Arts & Lectures’ education program, it will also propel the organization to even greater heights of achievement in bringing the world’s greatest artists and thinkers to Santa Barbara.

who simply may not have access. iViva el arte de Santa Bárbara! is its free program that brings high-quality touring artists to schools, neighborhood spaces, and community centers for youth and families in Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, Goleta, Lompoc, Santa Maria, and New Cuyama to share the rich cultural heritage of Latin America.

With such a comprehensive and expansive program, Billeci finds the task of putting the program together a pressure cooker, “because we have to do better every year,” she says.

The 65th anniversary season has

done just that. Charles Donelan, the organization’s senior writer and publicist, who spent many years as the executive arts editor for the Santa Barbara Independent, considers UCSB’s Arts & Lectures programs and offerings on par with cultural meccas like New York and Chicago. “I feel like I’ve won the arts lottery,” he enthuses when discussing his current position at Arts & Lectures.

Every year UCSB finds a way to bring the most creative and captivating programming to Santa Barbara. Don’t miss its upcoming 65th anniversary season.

“Arts & Lectures brings our community, the University, and its students an incredible array of artistic offerings that are unequaled in any other community of our size in this country. A&L always manages to present the kind of material that appeals to thousands – I don’t know how they do it! Their robust education outreach, presented to both English and Spanish-speaking audiences, enriches younger students immeasurably. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a varied and stellar program right here on our doorsteps!”

– Sara Miller McCune

A&L Advisory Council Member & former co-chair, pictured with Tony-winning soprano Audra McDonald

KEY SUPPORTERS

Advisory Council members and leaders who have helped make A&L a vibrant part of Santa Barbara:

John & Jody Arnhold

Paul & Patricia Bragg Foundation

Marcy Carsey

Audrey & Timothy O. Fisher

G.A. Fowler Family Foundation

Connie Frank & Evan Thompson

Martha Gabbert

Eva & Yoel Haller

Luci & Rich Janssen

Dorothy Largay & Wayne Rosing

Kath Lavidge & Ed McKinley

Patty & John MacFarlane

Manitou Fund

Sara Miller McCune

Jillian & Pete Muller

Natalie Orfalea & Lou Buglioli

Maxine Prisyon

Sage Publishing

Heather & Tom Sturgess

Anne Smith Towbes

Sherry Villanueva

Lynda Weinman & Bruce Heavin

Merryl Snow Zegar & Chuck Zegar

Dick Wolf

Wynton Marsalis, May 17, 2025

For the Children

Children are precious, sensitive, and impressionable. And they are the future. What they need more than anything are adults that will fight for them no matter how hard that fight may be.

Conversations: Kenny Slaught

as told to Steven Libowitz

Building a Legacy of Compassion: From Real Estate Success to Lifelong Philanthropy

Kenny Slaught boasts more than four decades of professional experience in Santa Barbara’s real estate industry. The founder and president of Investec, which now employs 40 people, Slaught and his company oversee a $1 billion-plus portfolio in real estate assets and manage more than three million square feet of retail, office, and self-storage properties. He also continues to direct investment strategy, policies, and business development for the company. Over the years, Investec has grown into one of Santa Barbara’s leading comprehensive real estate firms whose holdings stretch from San Luis Obispo County to San Diego.

Slaught, who studied at St. Philip and La Salle High School in Pasadena before enrolling at UCSB on an athletic scholarship, majored in business and economics, earning both his diploma and California Real Estate Broker License in 1979. Slaught later added a California Contractors State License to his credits to further integrate the business.

Beyond business, Slaught is heavily involved in the Santa Barbara community through working with and supporting a variety of nonprofit groups, educational institutions and other charities. In support of his alma mater, he has served on the UCSB Foundation Board of Trustees since 1996. He’s been an officer and member of the board of directors of the Storyteller Children’s Center for 35 years, heavily supporting the nonprofit that provides free early childhood education to homeless, disadvantaged, and at-risk youth in Santa Barbara. He has also been a member of the national board of directors of Dream Foundation, a Santa Barbara-based charity that fulfills wishes for adults with terminal illnesses, and previously served on the board of directors for Hospice of Santa Barbara, which provides a range of compassionate services for individuals approaching the end of life.

Slaught has also contributed to several other nonprofits, including the Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation, Music Academy, Santa Barbara Zoo, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Lotusland, Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara, CADA Mentor Program, and the Santa Barbara Foresters, as well as four local high schools.

Q: Can you share about your early years, what growing up was like, perhaps in relation to what you ended up doing?

Kenny Slaught: I grew up in Pasadena, California. I was one of eight children, seven boys and one girl, all born within 10 years. I went to Catholic school for

my first 12 years. I was a choir boy and an altar boy, and my dad was a proctor. I did that whole Catholic thing. I had a great childhood. My parents were awesome. It was a happy, active upbringing. I’d say the way it really influenced who I am is that it did create a fair amount of compassion because the church is all about everybody being equal, and helping the poor and those in need.

Q: How did you end up at UCSB for college?

A: I was a basketball player in high school, and I got recruited to play at UCSB. I’d never been here before, and when I came up to visit it was, “Oh my God, this is incredible!” They showed me a dorm that looked out at Goleta Beach and said, “This is where you’re going to live and we’re going to pay your tuition.” It was like being on vacation. I didn’t take long to accept.

I was the second oldest kid in my family but the first to go to college. I just loaded up my Volkswagen Bug and drove to Santa Barbara. It was almost 50 years ago, but I still remember that I got pulled over for a speeding ticket on the 101. I didn’t even know a Volkswagen Bug could break the speed limit. I get out

“It was just this visceral shock in my brain that there were kids the same age as mine who were sleeping on the floor of the shelter. It got to me, and it still has me, 35 years later.”

Q: Can you share about the early days of Investec?

A: What drove my business strategy was my children, because we had our first child just two years in, and another in 1988. I wanted to be near my family, not out on the road. I’ve always loved kids. Even as a teenager, I did nothing but babysit my siblings, and for some reason I just loved it, whatever we were do-

again to put it away. I went down there and saw all these three-year-old kids running around out there all day with no moms on-site, because they had to be out looking for a job.

That was the lightbulb, blow-me-away moment. I had a three-year-old at home who had everything he needed. It had never occurred to me that there were homeless kids in Santa Barbara. So three of us [volunteers] got together and decided to get these kids out of the shelter because it wasn’t safe. We rented a place down by the train station and we hired a teacher, and the kids would get dropped off in the morning. That’s how Storyteller preschool started. It was just this visceral shock in my brain that there were kids the same age as mine who were sleeping on the floor of the shelter. It got to me, and it still has me, 35 years later.

Q: You’ve been with Dream Foundation for a long time, too, the opposite end of the age spectrum in a sense. What was the connection for you?

A: It’s actually a terrible story. My wife got breast cancer at 32. She went through the whole treatment –

chemo, radiation, mastectomy, and they told her she wouldn’t be able to have any more children. She gets through it and about nine months later, she discovers she’s pregnant. At first there was no reason to abort because the doctor said the estrogen wasn’t feeding the cancer, and we decided to not even check again. She gave birth, we find out her cancer has come back and seven weeks later she’s dead.

A few months later, a mutual friend got me together with Tom Rollerson, who had lost his partner to AIDS two months after my wife died. We were spending time together, commiserating and supporting each other, when he said he wanted to form an organization to grant final dreams to dying adults because Make-A-Wish said no to his partner. There wasn’t anything for people over 18. He decided to start the Dream Foundation and asked me to help. We had the first three or four fundraisers at my house to launch it and get it going, and I’m still involved 28 years later. It has a lot of meaning for me.

Q: I believe you’re also on the board of the UCSB Foundation.

A New Hospital Will Change Everything

“If an African mom is saved, a whole home is saved…”

“F aith of a Child Foundation funded the construction of the Phoenix House in 2021. Our Baby Home needed a special place, where severely malnourished and sick babies can be monitored and cared for 24 hours every day. Over the past three years, the Phoenix House has enabled us to save the lives of more than 40 babies. Faith of a Child has been the answer to our prayers.”

– Damali Mirembe Director, Sonrise Baby Home

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check:

Faith of a Child Foundation

3235 Calle Bonita Santa Ynez, CA 93460

*Donation Memo: The Giving List

By Credit Card: faithofachildfoundation.org

Contact: Joe Madden Director, Faith of a Child Foundation (408) 335-4042 jmadden@faithofachildfoundation.org

Faith of a Child Foundation www.faithofachildfoundation.org

3235 Calle Bonita Santa Ynez, CA 93460 (408) 335-4042

Over the past 12 years, the Sonrise Baby Home has saved the lives of more than 450 malnourished, sick, and abandoned babies. One example is a six-year old spitfire named Gabi, who was found abandoned in a bush in 2019. She was several months old, but was so weak and skinny that she was unable to cry. Today, Gabi is a thriving young kindergarten student that runs fast enough to take the soccer ball away from the boys.

The Sonrise orphanage group in Uganda is an amazing story. Starting in 2012, three former orphans (who had been raised themselves by an American missionary) decided to launch three orphanage homes, to care for babies, children, and rescued ‘street girls.’ The need is overwhelming, with babies abandoned or starved when their mothers die in childbirth. This happens often, especially in the rural Kayunga District where as many as six of every thousand mothers die in childbirth.

Damali Mirembe, the human dynamo that leads the Sonrise Baby Home, decided to attack the root cause of the problem by building a well-equipped maternity and baby hospital. Mirembe has an excellent

track record: on her own she has built an organization that routinely saves the sickest children in the country and the Ugandan government will drive past the filthy government hospital to give the sickest cases to her.

The Sonrise organization is also unique in their approach: They aim for a self-sustaining model. Each orphanage home has its own farm to grow beans, corn, sweet potatoes, and raise goats, pigs, and cows. They fed themselves when funds dried up during the COVID pandemic. It’s a local Ugandan organization, led by the former Ugandan orphans, so they know what these children need to succeed.

Faith of a Child Foundation is a USA-based nonprofit organization that has latched onto Sonrise to

The Baby Home in Uganda has saved more than 450 severely ill babies. Baby Jordan's family was unable to feed him. He was given kerosene to drink, in hopes that he would die.

The completed hospital will be a three-story modern building with a well-equipped laboratory.

Help Literally Build the Foundation for Saving

Mothers and Babies

Faith

of a Child Foundation is seeking specific funding for the building of the maternity/ neonatal hospital in Uganda.

“Right now we have the foundation and ground floor built, and we’ve started the water well,” Director Joe Madden says. “My hope is that we raise $250,000 by year’s end. That would pay for the walls, and the second and third story superstructure. Let me also add that an anonymous donor has agreed to match the first $100,000 we receive, dollar for dollar, to help pay for the roof. In this way we could get the whole structure built by February.”

provide the money for major projects. Director Joe Madden comments that “By working directly with the construction team in Uganda, we can verify that every penny we send goes directly into bricks, concrete, or other building materials at the site. This is so refreshing compared with working with large NGOs that siphon away money for overhead costs and salaries. The Foundation’s role is simply to raise the money and audit its spending… we rely on our local partners at Sonrise to make decisions about what is best for these mothers and babies. We don’t want to be the arrogant Americans

that go over there and tell them what services to provide or what support an African orphan needs.”

“Uganda has good universities that train doctors and nurses fairly well, but the government hospitals have very poor facilities and no gloves, no bandages, and dirty conditions,” continues Madden. “Our aim is to kickstart this hospital and based on the local statistics, we believe that we can save multiple lives every week.”

Hospital construction has already begun, and with the current fundraising campaign the building will hopefully be constructed by February 2025.

• 24% of teenage girls become pregnant in Uganda. • 6 mothers die for every 1,000 births.

• 29 babies die for every 1,000 births.

• The nearest highquality hospital is 126 km away.

The Aunties at the Baby Home nurse the sick babies back to health and return them to their families if possible.

So far, Faith of a Child Foundation has built the foundation and the ground floor of the hospital.

Baby Jordan is a happy, well adjusted boy today.

Creating Unforgettable Experiences as Young Scouts

The Outdoor School's goal is to facilitate the development of community and environmental stewardship in students through a direct experience with nature. We broaden students’ horizons by inspiring a sense of wonder and curiosity about our diverse and interdependent local and global environments.

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check:

Los Padres Council Boy Scouts of America

4000 Modoc Road Ste. 4

Santa Barbara, CA, 93110

*Donation Memo: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer: Tax ID# 95-1696725

By Credit Card: lpcbsa.org

Contact: Carlos Cortez CEO/Scout Executive (805) 967-0105 Carlos.Cortez@scouting.org

Scouting America, Los Padres Council www.lpcbsa.org

4000 Modoc Road Ste. 4

Santa Barbara, CA, 93110 (805) 967-0105

Images of Boy Scouts and kids Scouting are as American as apple pie. But beyond those iconic, timeless images is a longstanding and serious commitment to service and personal development for the young members of our community.

Scouting America, Los Padres Council (LPC) is a nonprofit dedicated to providing children and young people in the Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties the basic life skills and tools to succeed in life. Carlos Cortez, Scout Executive & CEO of Los Padres Council, understands the importance of giving kids at an early age the resources that will allow them to excel.

“Our programs are very important to young people because they’re teaching them things that they otherwise wouldn’t get through our education system: basic life skills, how to be an effective leader, how to be the best

versions of themselves,” says Cortez. LPC’s programs include the opportunity to be a Scout, exposing children from all different backgrounds to a larger world outside of their home, where they can learn self-confidence, leadership skills, service to others, how to make ethical choices, and explore the outdoors. Guided by life-changing mentors, the lessons and skill sets children learn with LPC have the potential to ripple well into adulthood.

Aaron Espinoza knows firsthand how the core tenets of Scouting can provide success and fulfillment later on in life. He started at an early age as a Cub Scout, and spent most of his life thriving in the program, and now works as the nonprofit’s Associate Development Director.

“I’m just so grateful for what it’s done for me as far as my personal growth and development. Just things that are as

Earn Your Merit Badge by Supporting Scouting

Los Padres Council is working to ensure that every child – regardless of their financial situation – can experience the life-changing opportunities of Scouting. Your donation provides scholarships for low-income boys and girls, allowing them to join at a reduced cost.

But that’s not all. They also need your help to restore Rancho Alegre, their beloved camp that was severely damaged by the Whittier Fire. While the camp is open, many buildings and key activity areas are still under reconstruction, and their programs are being impacted.

With your support, they can rebuild Rancho Alegre into the sanctuary it once was – a place where students can experience the outdoors and transform their lives.

For those able to make a significant gift, naming rights for buildings at Rancho Alegre are available, offering a lasting way to leave your mark on this historic site.

Join Los Padres Council in this vital work – donate today!

simple as how to talk to an adult, or how to treat other people,” Espinoza says.

Another point of pride is LPC’s Outdoor School. Working closely with local school districts, LPC gives fifth and sixth graders an unforgettable outdoor experience at Rancho Alegre, where students disconnect from the day to day and connect with the environment, learning more about themselves, and bonding with their peers in a unique setting free from the constraints of modern technology.

In addition to being immersed in hands-on environmental and STEM activities, students also hike, explore nature, and forge friendships that last a lifetime.

Scouting America also serves young people after high school, in their Exploring program, a career identification experience where young people work with professionals to develop their interests, helping guide them to

a potential career path.

Throughout their time as Scouts, kids learn the importance of civic duty and giving back to their community. Starting as young as the age of five, kids partake in community service, from collecting and delivering meals to people in need to cleaning up beaches.

Los Padres Council takes the adage “Scout’s Honor” to heart. Their promise and commitment is to provide the most fulfilling, valuable experiences for their Scouts now to lay the groundwork for a successful future.

Over the last decade our revenue has decreased 18% while program costs have risen 15%.

KEY SUPPORTERS

Berti Family

Jurkowitz Family Foundation

Raintree Foundation

Trek Bicycle Corporation

Adams Legacy Foundation

Steve Golis

The Walter J. & Holly O. Thomson Foundation

Santa Barbara Foundation

The Ann Jackson

Family Foundation

Bob A. Burtness

George Ben Page Foundation

Peter and Becky Adams

Catherine Epperson

Santa Ynez Band Of Chumash Indians Foundation

Schlinger Chrisman Foundation

The Gretler Foundation

Volentine Family Foundation

Pinner Family

James and Beverly Zaleski

Lester and Sharon TerBorch

Investing in Children Now to Secure a Better Future for All

“Since 2014, it has been an honor to be a member of the Storyteller Board of Trustees and to witness the growth and the impact of this important organization. In my 10 years of involvement, Storyteller has supported 905 children and their families in our community, all of whom face many challenges and adverse experiences. Thanks to the dedication and commitment of the sta and Board, and the generosity of donors, Storyteller graduates are Kindergarten-ready and prepared to thrive.”

– Carrie Towbes Emeritus Board Member

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check:

Storyteller Children’s Center 2115 State Street Santa Barbara, CA 93105

*Donation Memo: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer: Tax ID# 770283072

By Credit Card: storytellercenter.org

Contact: Dr. Gabriella Garcia Executive Director (805) 730-0181 gabriella@storytellercenter.org

Storyteller Children’s Center storytellercenter.org

2020 Alameda Padre Serra, Ste. 223 Santa Barbara, CA, 93103 (805) 730-0181

Our goal is to break the cycle of poverty and trauma to stabilize families, increase parents’ capacity to support their children, and successfully prepare our students to enter kindergarten on par with their peers.

In the first five years of life, a child’s brain will develop to 90% of its capacity, according to the National Institutes of Health. The neural connections that begin from when a baby is born happen faster than it will ever happen again. The early years of a child’s life are crucial for setting them on a path to a fulfilling future.

That’s where Storyteller Children’s Center comes in, a nonprofit dedicated to making sure that young children have early healthy experiences that build a solid foundation to help them thrive and prosper in life.

Storyteller has been a part of the community since 1988, working as a therapeutic preschool providing high quality early education for children facing adverse challenges. Now they are embarking on their first formal rebrand to expand their work from focusing solely on children to serving entire families.

Executive Director Dr. Gabriella Garcia is at the head of Storyteller’s leadership team, and she’s uniquely

At Storyteller, we understand that true progress comes from nurturing the whole child and supporting their entire household, creating a ripple e ect of positive change throughout the community.

qualified for the role, having worked as a case manager and child development specialist at the beginning of her career, as well as dedicating 10 years to the Alzheimer’s Association. She’s seen the whole life continuum, and knows how important early intervention is for the successful social, emotional, and academic development of a child. She also knows how crucial it is to provide resources and comprehensive services for parents and guardians in order to ensure success for the family as a whole.

“Storyteller is a true social change organization. We give families the opportunity and the tools to help change the trajectory of their lives,” says Dr. Garcia.

They do this by providing a supportive, trauma-informed, educational environment for children ages six weeks to five years old and by providing thoughtful wraparound family support services (such as resources for housing insecurity and nutritional meals throughout the day for the children).

Support High-Quality Early Childhood Education for Children Facing Tough Challenges

Storyteller’s operational budget serves the therapeutic and trauma-informed curriculums, building the foundation of resiliency that these students will tap into for their entire lives.

It costs about $35,000 to support each student served in Storyteller’s year-round therapeutic program – and 60% needs to come from community contributions and donations. For each student served by Storyteller, they must raise at least $20,000. With the help of The Giving List, they’d like to raise $80,000 for four full scholarships for one year. This amount will help four children build a foundation of social-emotional resiliency, mitigate trauma, and support the family unit in being able to work or attend school.

“We provide two meals and a snack daily. And that’s often all a child gets to eat in a day. A lot of our families are living in hotels or shelters, and they don’t have kitchen space to cook. They know that while their children are with us, they are safe, cared for, and fed. While families are out looking for work or vocational school, [they] don’t have to worry. As a parent, that is probably the greatest gift,” says Dr. Garcia.

The early investment in children reaps huge rewards. Research by Nobel Prize-winning economist James Heckman showed that every $1 invested in quality early childhood programs can yield returns between $14 and $16.

The investment in children is an investment for everyone. The huge emphasis on the first five years of a child’s life highlights how important Storyteller is. With the first year of their rebrand approaching, donations and support from the community is more crucial than ever to help them achieve their expansion.

As Dr. Garcia realized in her work at the Alzheimer’s Association, it all comes full circle. Storyteller is making

a change today and for the future of our community.

Dr. Garcia sums it up perfectly: “We are helping families rewrite their stories.”

Picture the struggle of focusing in a long meeting on an empty stomach, feeling sluggish and irritable. For some Storyteller children, this is a daily reality. Storyteller ensures students receive nutritious meals, often their only food for the day, to support their well-being and ability to learn.

Santa Barbara County has a higher rate of child poverty than the national average with almost 17% of children living in poverty and over 28% of our population experiencing severe housing problems. 100% of our families are living under the poverty line.

KEY SUPPORTERS

Erinn Lynch, Board Co-Chair

Peggy Dodds, MD, Board Co-Chair

Michael C. Wasserman, Vice Chair

Craig Zimmerman, Treasurer

Rachael Stein, Secretary

Gretchen Horn, Governance

Jon Clark

Sharon Kayser

Anna Kokotovic, PhD

Diana Lytel

Patricia Madrigal, PhD

Danna McGrew

Ann Pieramici

Ken Radtkey

Kyra Rogers

Kenny Slaught

Community Resilience

Communities are built by the bonds that are forged among its members.

Nonprofits are often the connective fiber, giving communities the resilience they need in times of crisis and stress.

Conversations: Susan Rose

as told to Steven Libowitz

Working Together to Solve Pressing Issues: Government, Philanthropists, and Nonprofits

Susan Rose’s decades of experience in public administration, education, and community activism has seen her do everything from advocate to get her local school board to replace sexist textbooks in the elementary schools to create initiatives for affordable housing and ending homelessness during two four-year terms on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. Along the way, Rose was executive director of the City of Los Angeles Commission on the Status of Women; served on the Fair Employment and Housing Commission, California’s civil rights agency; held various positions in local government; and directed a nonprofit agency.

In 2004, she initiated the Safe Parking Program for homeless individuals and families, an unprecedented program that turned empty company and government parking lots into a safe place for people living in cars or RVs to park, creating stability that could lead to emerging from homelessness. The program has been widely duplicated across the state and the country.

Over the years, Rose has also focused much of her attention on critical issues such as the advancement of women, civil rights, child care, education, and the arts. She serves on the Board of Directors of the McCune Foundation, was a founding member of the Santa Barbara Women’s Political Committee, and was involved with Women’s Campaign International, an international leadership development program, and the Santa Barbara Advisory Board of the Anti-Defamation League. Since retiring from politics, Rose has expanded her distinguished record of community involvement in the region, with her civic involvement including service with Antioch University, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Human Rights Watch, The Fund for Santa Barbara, and many other local organizations including the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission.

Rose’s deep commitment to the community also runs to direct philanthropy. The list of nonprofits supported by the former supervisor and her late husband, Allan Ghitterman, runs to dozens, nearly all in the areas of social and economic justice.

Q: Can you share about where you grew up, your family background, and how those early influences affected the direction you took in your life?

Susan Rose: Oh, that’s a lot. It’s like a tree grows in Brooklyn. I grew up in what was then Italian and Jewish neighborhoods in Flatbush. My parents, like many young couples of their age, wanted to get out of the city. And so by the time I was 12 or 13, we

That’s why I learned that you could make a difference by being at the table.

Then my personal life took a very difficult turn and I got a divorce and five years later I met Allan Ghitterman, the man who turned out to be the love of my life. We were together for over 40 years. He was a wonderful man and an activist himself, a very successful workers’ comp attorney who was deeply involved with labor groups. He was my cheerleader, too, and encouraged me to do the things that I loved, which was politics.

Q: Skipping ahead, then, you eventually earned a seat at the ultimate table at the county level – Santa Barbara County Supervisor. Over those eight years, you focused quite a bit on homelessness, affordable housing, improving the quality of life for women and families, and protecting the environment as well as other areas of social justice.

A: For me, government is all about solving problems. You see these human issues not being resolved and you really want to make a difference. It’s about finding a way to do that. It’s always been the only goal… Politics is a place that can make a difference. And local politics are more rewarding because the higher up you go, say to the federal level, the more difficult it gets to get anything done.

Q: Can we talk about the nexus of government, philanthropy, and nonprofits in the ability to effect social change? You’ve done all three for long periods of time, so you’re uniquely qualified to have some insights. Can you share about how these groups can work together to make a difference?

A: Many years ago, when I worked for the City of L.A., childcare was a big issue. I invited Tom Parker from the Hutton Parker Foundation to come and sit in the audience, to take a look and see what we weren’t doing and where the local foundations or nonprofits could make a difference. I had this dream that we would figure out what our government agencies couldn’t fund and then the nonprofits would step to the plate. That didn’t happen then, but it’s happening more and more now where groups are collaborating. There’s a women’s foundation which is trying to make a difference for the women and children in the community and is doing a very good job funding pieces of their programs that they themselves can’t fund. So

you have to be willing to go outside the scope of what you’re doing and reach out to the community.

The point is that it’s rare that the government is able to singularly resolve an issue, or a series of issues. It takes many facets of the community coming together, and collaborating. To me, a leader really becomes a leader when they figure this out and become perhaps the facilitator.

When I look back at issues we worked on in Santa Barbara County – housing, homelessness, the COVID pandemic response – we made the most progress when we worked together. When COVID came, the community foundation and other foundations came together to generate funds and to grant monies to groups that needed help, which was a clear collaboration.

That’s also what happened with the Safe Parking program. I discovered when I was on the board that there were people with families living in cars and nobody would allow them to park in their lots at night. The City Council at that time had directed the Police Department to ticket people in vans and cars who couldn’t find a place to park. Eventually we found a site and began the program, which is now 20 years old and has been very successful. What most people don’t know is that it’s not meant to keep people in their cars forever. It is about creating some stability and providing services so they can eventually move into permanent homes. That happens for a couple of hundred people each year. It makes a big difference. It takes government, private businesses with parking lots, and property owners willing to house people, and of course a nonprofit (New Beginnings) and philanthropists to make this happen.

With the San Marcos Preserve, I started a conversation with the developer who decided he was willing to do a property exchange to save 200 acres in perpetuity in a land swap for far fewer houses in an adjacent area. Then 20 years later, the owner, community donors, foundations, and the Trust for Public Lands, nonprofit, were able to collaborate to save the rest.

The more we collaborate, the better off we’ll become.

Q: In addition to all your service, you are also a philanthropist yourself. How do you make your decisions on who to donate to?

A: I did not grow up in that environment. I didn’t learn about charity from my parents because they just

“The point is that it’s rare that the government is able to singularly resolve an issue, or a series of issues. It takes many facets of the community coming together, and collaborating. To me, a leader really becomes a leader when they figure this out and become the facilitator.”

didn’t have the means, the resources to do that. I didn’t learn anything about philanthropy until I met Allan, who taught me about tzedakah, the Hebrew word for charity and justice. Every year he contributed to community organizations, Jewish organizations, nonprofits that worked to bring about social justice. He taught me and our children how to be donors and givers.

So for me, it’s just like with government, it’s about solving problems. I have tried hard to be more creative and to think of ways that I can contribute my funds that’ll make a difference. Allan was very committed to Legal Aid so I continued that on his behalf. Recently, I made a donation, but I defined it to be used for interns to be salaried for working during the summer. It helps Legal Aid and makes a difference for the young person going forward.

Other organizations include, Safe Parking at New

need money for services, funds for childcare… I don’t know what else to say besides the obvious. But it doesn’t have to be money. I encourage involvement in whatever way you can.

Q: So-called small contributions in philanthropy.

A: Yes, volunteerism is really important. There’s a lot of work that affects the community directly such as securing an open park. There are many commissions that conduct studies and give away money. I would encourage people to get involved, gain experience in that field. There’s help available to demystify getting on boards and commissions.

Q: Do you have any final thoughts about wealth, opportunity, and giving back?

A: What I encourage people to do is think about

Delivering Life-Saving Medical Aid During the World’s Toughest Crises

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check:

Direct Relief

6100 Wallace Becknell Road Santa Barbara, CA 93117

*Donation Memo: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer:

Tax ID# 95-1831116

By Credit Card: directrelief.org/donate

Contact: Dean Axelrod

Vice President, Partnerships and Philanthropy (805) 879-4932 daxelrod@directrelief.org

Direct Relief www.directrelief.org

6100 Wallace Becknell Road

Santa Barbara, CA 93117

Direct Relief navigates the war zones in Ukraine to deliver cystic fibrosis medications, transports Mpox vaccines to clinics in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and works around shuttered ports in Haiti to supply insulin. Operating amid some of the world’s most complex crises, Direct Relief consistently provides targeted, life-saving aid where others cannot.

From international conflict zones to wildfire-ravaged communities in the U.S., the Santa Barbara-based nonprofit supplies essential medicines, medical supplies, and resources to those impacted by poverty and disaster, regardless of their ability to pay.

Direct Relief stands out for its ability to quickly and e ciently deliver specifically-requested aid with precision in challenging environments domestically and across the globe. Dean Axelrod, VP of Partnerships and Philanthropy, empha-

sizes that the organization’s success lies in listening to local healthcare providers and tailoring its support to their specific needs regarding medications, funding, mental health services, and even reliable power.

“Healthcare providers rooted in their communities know best what is needed and when,” says Axelrod. “Direct Relief’s ability to respond precisely –whether with routine over-the-counter products or complex, highly regulated rare disease therapies requiring specific temperature control – sets it apart.”

Direct Relief’s precision logistics also set it apart. Advanced tracking systems monitor shipments in real time, ensuring sensitive medications like insulin, cancer drugs, and vaccines remain viable throughout transit. This level of control is crucial in unstable regions, where power outages or transport delays can disrupt conventional supply chains. After Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, the organization committed to providing resilient power systems to health centers using solar panels and batteries, which most recently kept clinics running when Hurricane Ernesto hit.

While the organization is most visible during emergencies, its ongoing delivery of essential resources ensures it is always ready to respond effectively and immediately when crises occur.

Maximizing Your Impact: How Direct Relief Stretches Every Dollar

DirectRelief ensures 100% of every donation goes directly to delivering aid, honoring donor intent with full transparency. By leveraging billions in in-kind medical donations, the organization amplifies each dollar’s impact, delivering more aid than cash alone could achieve.

“Donors appreciate that their money is used e ciently to deliver aid where it’s needed most,” says Dean Axelrod, VP of Partnerships in Philanthropy.

Direct Relief’s commitment to accountability and transparency builds trust, giving donors confidence that their contributions directly support critical programs and those in need.

Since its founding in 1948, Direct Relief has greatly expanded and now operates in over 100 countries. But Direct Relief’s impact extends domestically as well, supporting U.S. communities during disasters and beyond. During hurricanes and tropical storms, their pre-positioned hurricane preparedness packs (stationed at 70 sites across the United States) are ready to assist. During wildfires (like the

Thomas Fire), Direct Relief supports safety-net providers and others with specialized wildfire kits, N95 masks, medications, first aid supplies, and emergency grants to help responding agencies increase community resilience.

Just this year the organization has dispensed over $1 billion in medical aid and delivered over four million pounds of medicine and supplies.

“W

hen Cholera hit Somaliland, many patients were unable to access early interventions and rehydration treatments due to lack of resources and transportation. Without Direct Relief’s Cholera Kit, particularly IV fluids and oral rehydration salts, 50% of our patients could have died. Direct Relief’s timely response gave us the tools and encouragement we needed to fight the outbreak.”

– Dr. Mustafe Mohamoud Hoori Hospital Director, Daryeel Maternity Hospital

KEY SUPPORTERS

Emma Carrasco

Adam Cooper and Melissa Fleisher

Mary M. Dwyer

Henrietta Holsman Fore and Richard Fore

Heitham Hassoun

Mark and Kim Linehan

Jay McGonigle

Harry and Jacqueline McMahon

Annalisa Pizzarello and Robert Conway

Marla Salmon

Mark and Lynda Schwartz

Perry Siatis

Laurie Siegel and Joseph Nosofsky

Tom Strickland

Thomas and Heather Sturgess

Elizabeth A. Toro and Mark Hauser

The Everyday Heroes Behind Santa Barbara’s Most Dangerous Wilderness Rescues

SBCSAR responds to over 110 "911" callouts per year!

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check:

Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue

66 South Antonio Road

Santa Barbara, CA 93110

*Donation Memo: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer: Tax ID# 95-6193608

By Credit Card: sbcsar.net/donate

Contact: Bruce Hickey Development Chair (805) 319-1399 sar70@sbcsar.net

Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue

www.sbcsar.net

66 South Antonio Road

Santa Barbara, CA 93110 (805) 478-1629

Ahiker in Santa Barbara’s wilderness hasn’t returned home, a biker crashes off the trail, a runner collapses from dehydration, or a brush fire traps a group. The 911 call can come at any time – during the dead of night, family BBQ, or while unloading groceries in the driveway.

When these emergencies unfold in Santa Barbara County’s backcountry, it’s the highly trained, dedicated volunteers from Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue (SBCSAR), that respond at any hour or condition.

“When someone’s lost or stranded, it’s us who answers the call – just us, nobody else. We’re volunteers, not paid professionals, but we have the experience and the equipment to get the job done,” says Jennifer Beyer, a member of the search and rescue team.

Operating entirely on donations, these volunteers – teachers, nurses, contractors, retirees, professionals, educators, engineers, and former law enforcement – fill an urgent need in the county’s emergency services.

Under the direction of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, SBCSAR handles specialized rescue missions and wildfire evacuations that require cliff or swiftwater rescues, avalanche responses, and medical aid. They are equipped with off-road vehicles, mountain bikes, rope systems, stretchers, and drones. The team also manages specialized vehicles and assists with helicopter operations.

Their capabilities extend beyond traditional search and rescue. They act as incident commanders, coordinating emergency responses across agencies. Additionally, they support Project Lifesaver, helping locate individuals with cognitive disorders who go missing.

To maintain this level of readiness, the team dedicates over 10,000 hours

Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue Team was established as an all-volunteer, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, serving law enforcement, fire rescue, and emergency services in Santa Barbara County and the surrounding county by mutual aid request.

annually to rigorous training. Volunteers master a wide range of technical skills, from complex rope systems to advanced medical response to wilderness tracking, ensuring they are fully prepared for any life-saving scenario.

“We’re like a specialized extension of the Sheri ’s Department – just not paid,” says a veteran team member. “We have the training, skills, and equipment to get the job done that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the county.”

In 2023, the team responded to 95 calls, dedicating over 2,000 hours to search and rescue efforts that aided 83 individuals. The team’s effectiveness stems from extensive training, specialized equipment, and a coordinated approach.

When a call comes in it initiates a well-organized operation, the team

Answering the Call: Support Santa Barbara’s Lifesaving Volunteers

Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue (SBCSAR) is the lifeline for those in need across our rugged backcountry.

They need to raise $250,000 annually to keep this critical, life-saving community service running.

Your donation will directly support their ability to respond quickly and e ectively:

• $7,500 funds essential rope rescue equipment for high-angle and cli rescues.

• $18,000 provides a drone for aerial search operations, expanding their ability to locate missing persons quickly.

• $33,000 supports comprehensive training for rescue members, ensuring they are prepared for any situation.

• $150,000 provides the team with a fully equipped “rescue” vehicle for emergency response.

• $16,000 provides insurance and medical resources for the team’s K9 responders.

• $22,000 for search management tools and communication equipment.

Your contribution helps ensure that SBCSAR remains ready to save and serve the community whenever the call comes in.

says. Rapid response units conduct initial searches, while other members plan more extensive actions,

considering various scenarios if initial efforts don’t succeed. The process relies on careful coordination among team members, resources, and partner organizations.

The volunteers have seen it all, from reviving a person found face down in a muddy field to guiding stranded hikers safely off precarious ledges. “We found the person face down in the mud and brought him to the ambulance,” Beyer says. “We saved this gentleman’s life, and that is extremely rewarding.”

It’s the quiet moments – reuniting a lost person with their family, hearing a simple “thank you” – that underlines the importance of their work. These moments remind the volunteers why they do what they do, bringing them back time and again, ready for whatever comes next.

“Direct Relief is a support organization to organizations nationally and globally, but it is a particular privilege for Direct Relief to support the critical work of Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue and the unpaid volunteer members who do that work in our organizations’ shared home. SBCSAR epitomizes the finest traditions of the concept of public service. The members’ qualifications result from hard work and constant training. They are on-call 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, and deploy whenever someone is hurt, lost, missing, or otherwise in need. They do whatever is necessary, wherever the location, to find and bring a person to safety. This type of selfless public service is rare, and it’s why any philanthropic support for SBCSAR is well spent.”

– Thomas Tighe President and CEO, Direct Relief

KEY SUPPORTERS

Wood Claeyssens Foundation

Direct Relief

One805

Blackbaud Giving Fund

Bragg Foundation

Santa Barbara Foundation

JM Lazarus Foundation

Hutton Parker Foundation

Rope rescue training at Lizards Mouth, Santa Barbara County.

Swiftwater rescue is a very important part of the team's training.

Education

No great society has existed that didn’t grow its children and youth in the fertile soil of education. For their contributions, we applaud the organizations that put their shoulders to this important task.

Closing the College Knowledge Gap for High School Students

Josiah Gouker joined Matriculate as a High School Fellow in 2017 from his hometown in Yucca Valley, California. He ultimately chose to enroll at Princeton, where he then served as an Advising Fellow and Matriculate intern. After graduation, he joined Matriculate as a full-time staff member!

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check: Matriculate

c/o Teach for America 25 Broadway, 12th Floor New York, NY 10004

*Donation Memo: Matriculate: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer:

Tax ID# 35-2531989

By Credit Card: matriculate.org/donate

Contact: Shikha Bhatnagar Vice President, External Affairs (646) 408-3561 sbhatnagar@matriculate.org

Matriculate Matriculate.org

c/o Teach for America

25 Broadway, 12th Floor New York, NY 10004

Imagine a high school student in the 90th percentile or higher of their class who is enthusiastic about learning and has a desire to pursue higher education but doesn’t have the resources or information to make their dreams a reality. Studies show that half of high-achieving, low-income students don’t apply to a single college or university that is an academic match. Welcome to the concept of “undermatching.” It can be life-changing for tens of thousands of students.

“Undermatching,” says Bryden Sweeney-Taylor, CEO and co-founder of Matriculate, “is when high school students who are more than qualified to be at top tier universities, are simply not applying or enrolling. They don’t even know where to begin.”

What factors might turn a high-achieving university candidate away from even applying? “A fair amount of students we serve are first-generation college goers,” Sweeney-Taylor says. “So it could be that they’re not in family units or communities where adults who have gone through this can help with the process. So, their resources are just limited. There is also an element of coming from a low-income community and just cul-

turally discounting yourself from certain opportunities for which you’re qualified.”

Matriculate – a national nonprofit – is solving the undermatching problem by connecting high-achieving, high school juniors and seniors from marginalized communities to highly-trained undergraduate advisors called Advising Fellows, who are themselves college students at top colleges and universities. These near-peer advisors provide personalized support to up to four high school students about the college selection, application, and enrollment process.

Near-peer advising is done virtually via text, video chat, and document sharing. “Technology is enabling that personal touch because our advisors can talk to these students wherever they are,” says Shikha Bhatnagar, Matriculate’s VP of external affairs. “So we’re blending that human element with that technology element. This is key to our model.”

“Technology also allows us to reach students in ‘recruitment deserts.’ Rural students,” Sweeney-Taylor adds, “are also high-achieving, but have far fewer resources than their urban counterparts.”

“Your high schooler might be coming

Matriculate has a campus presence at 18+ colleges across the country, including the University of California, Los Angeles; Stanford University; and the University of California, Berkeley.

Help Students Reach for Their Highest College Goals

Thanks to the generosity of several key donors across California, donations made through The Giving List will be matched up to $100,000!

• $100 recruits one high school student for our Fellow program

• $500 recruits and trains one college student for our Advising program

• $1,000 covers the full Matriculate experience for one high school student

• $2,500 provides a yearly stipend for low-income college students (Advising Fellows)

• $5,000 supports a Matriculate launch at a new college or university in California

• $10,000 recruits and trains 20 Advisors, supporting 60 high school students

• $15,000 funds the launch of a targeted marketing effort to reach more underrepresented and lowincome high school students across California

in from a really small community,” says former Advising Fellow Kristen Altman. “And you could be the first person to tell them: ‘Hey – this is possible!’”

Since its inception 10 years ago, Matriculate has served over 17,000 high school students across the country and has collaborated with over 4,000 undergraduate Advising Fellows who have delivered free advising to its High School Fellows (HSFs). California is the second most popular home state for Matriculate HSFs and the most popular home state for Ma -

triculate Advising Fellows.

Matriculate also partners with colleges and universities to support Advising Fellows on their campuses. Key partners include Stanford, Princeton, Notre Dame, and Johns Hopkins. Most of Matriculate’s Advising Fellows in California attend one of Matriculate’s three fellowship campuses in the state: Berkeley, UCLA, or Stanford. Not only do they serve as host sites for their college advisors, but college partners are also deeply involved in recruiting HSFs from underrepresented communities through webinars and resource guides. Matriculate is working with new college partners committed to meeting the full financial need of HSFs who enroll on their campuses. Unlike so many challenges facing our communities, undermatching is solvable. Through Matriculate’s nearpeer advising model, high achieving high school students from underrepresented communities are discovering new pathways to their future.

“As with many of our most dedicated supporters, my passion for Matriculate’s mission is deeply personal. I understand firsthand the challenges that many of our country’s brightest students face in navigating their way to top colleges. I am truly impressed by Matriculate’s ability to connect with over 3,000 high-achieving high school students each year, and I am proud of our impact. I look forward to expanding our reach, thanks to support from donors like you!”

– Gregory P. Spivy

Chair-Matriculate Board of Directors

Spivy Private Capital

KEY SUPPORTERS

Jonathan Ashtor, Esq.

Bank of America

Bloomberg Philanthropies

Jasanna Britton

Citadel

Matthew Cullinan

Emerson Collective

Miecha Forbes

Jed Hart

The Ichigo Foundation

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation

Jenesis Group

Madeline Kerner

Jim Larimore

Charley Moore

Jessica Ogilvie

Kim Collins Parizeau

Lynn Anderson Poole

Arthur Rock

Schusterman Foundation

Dane Skillrud

Gregory P. Spivy

Bryden Sweeney-Taylor

Lauran Tuck

Growing and Delivering Healthy Food to Tackle Santa Barbara’s Food Insecurity

KEY SUPPORTERS

Manitou Fund

Ann Jackson Family Foundation

Geraldine McCulley/Wadsworth Family Fund

Zegar Family Foundation

Santa Barbara

Permaculture Network

California Women in Agriculture

Santa Barbara Farmers Market

Santa Barbara Beekeepers Association

Ford Foundation

Nora McNeely Hurley and Michael Hurley

Battelle Memorial Institute

GA Fowler Family Foundation

James Bower Foundation

When asked why she saved the Santa Barbara Agriculture and Farm Education (SBAFE) Foundation’s farm from development, CEO Leslie Person Ryan replies: “Because there were actual fights over food in Summerland after the fire and debris flow cut the community off… That disaster brought front and center our Achilles’ heel. It is, without a doubt, food security. When you study food security in Santa Barbara County, one is struck with the lack of farms participating and you come to understand that in a crisis, unless you have a working farm nearby, you may experience food insecurity.”

In Summerland after the debris flow, the town’s unique geographical position made this area’s experience particularly isolating in the days following the catastrophic event.

The U.S. 101 closed down, and with it, the town’s only avenue for food. Summerland residents were trapped for over

a week, with no grocery store. Ryan recalls that when one woman told her story of being forced to fight over the last stale sandwich at the liquor store to feed her family with three children, “I knew we needed to do something about it.” A food desert is quantified as an area without access to healthy food. Summerland was such an area. The farm now solves it.

Ryan, a former farmer, community organizer, and CEO, recognized it was a community problem she had to solve. She started a green food cart and sold fresh organic produce. Then, when a young employee confided in her that her family was food insecure, she started Sweet Wheel Farm’s food program to the communities most fragile, delivering organic produce for free to those in need.

Known as Sweet Wheel Farms, Ryan led a campaign to save the Summerland farm from development. Since then, it has since expanded its scope to help more hundreds of residents weekly and

Sweet Wheel Farms being saved represents Santa Barbara at its best: Community coming together to solve food insecurity and to save urban farmland from development.

We Have to Do Much More Than Believe if We Want to

See the World Change

With determination, community and foundation support, the farm was saved from development. Now, funding is needed to build the farm while maintaining the vital community food programs. The farm needs to be secured for generations to come, and basic innovative farm infrastructure has to be put in, like energy and irrigation. Now more than ever, food insecurity in Santa Barbara needs your help. Each and every donation, no matter the size, enables Sweet Wheel Farms’ to enhance community health, food and farm education.

By supporting Sweet Wheel Farms and the Santa Barbara Agriculture and Farm Education Foundation, you are investing in a physically healthier and mentally stronger community. Farms are food. Local is best. Together, we can provide local food and seed stewardship. Sweet Wheels seeks to cultivate a thriving community farm.

is now delivering food to medically and financially food insecure from Carpinteria to Goleta. What’s more, some of these deliveries now happen on electric bikes as a part of the organization’s pledge to lower fuel emissions. “The mission is to grow chemical-free food, solve the food desert every day in Summerland, and feed our county’s most food insecure while educating our next generation and the community,” says Ryan.

Food is delivered anonymously, helping struggling and low-income wage earners, the medically infirm that cannot afford organic food, seniors without transportation and veterans who may be medically unstable.

Ryan recalls a father with cancer whose two young boys did not have access to enough food. Ryan interviewed the older boy. At 19 he was angry and upset. They had already been on a food program and he said that they didn’t eat the kind of food they were being given. “Our farm gives food that families would normally eat; and, it’s chemical-free grown in pure soil and free of charge,” she reflects.

Additionally, Sweet Wheel Farms is dedicated to farm education in the

community with hundreds visiting annually for regenerative practice techniques. “There is a lot of healing on the farm too” she adds. “It is a serene farm.”

Food should be a basic human right. Summerland Sweet Wheel Farms and the Santa Barbara Agriculture and Farm Education Foundation know this better than anybody. They are changing a food desert into a food oasis, but they rely on the help of donors like you to make this happen.

The farm's commitment to regenerative practices ensures sustainable food production. By avoiding artificial fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides, Sweet Wheel Farms helps maintain the health of the soil, reduce pollution, and provide safe, nutritious food for families.

“T hanks to Sweet Wheel Farms, I can start each day with a smoothie and eggs alongside my little brother and savor nutritious meals throughout the week, thanks to their outstanding delivery service that happens every week. Affording groceries has always been a challenge, but Sweet Wheel Farms has made a significant difference, supporting both our mental well-being and physical health.”

– Moises C. Food Fragile Recipient

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check:

Santa Barbara Agriculture and Farm Education Foundation, Inc.

P.O. Box 1033

Summerland, CA 93067

*Donation Memo: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer:

Tax ID# 85-3329449

By Credit Card: sbafefoundation.com/donate

Contact: Leslie Person Ryan CEO (805) 453-1465

Santa Barbara Agriculture and Farm Education Foundation

www.sbafefoundation.com P.O. Box 1033

Summerland, CA 93067 (805) 453-1465

Environment

Our global degradation is already, and will continue to be, humanity’s greatest challenge. These organizations are rising to the challenge with determination and bold solutions.

Conversations: Stacy Pulice

as told to Gwyn Lurie

Cultivating Generosity: Regenerative Mindsets and the Joy of Giving

It’s no surprise that longtime Santa Barbara resident, Stacy Pulice, whose monikers aptly include Ph.D psychologist, author, regenerative farmer, educator, podcaster, and philanthropist, describes her approach to philanthropy as “holistic.”

A self-described nature enthusiast and student of Eastern philosophy, Pulice brings to her life’s work a unique blend of academic rigor, spiritual insight, and practical experience.

We wanted to talk with Pulice about her philanthropy because her giving extends beyond the traditional writing of checks. Pulice’s journey, which took an unexpected turn following a near-death experience,

led her to healing through nature and a deepened commitment to regenerative practices. These include self-funded research, creating innovative programs like her regenerative farming internship initiative for university students and hosting a podcast called “Regenerative Mindset” in which Pulice explores the interconnectedness of human well-being, environmental sustainability, and social impact. Through education, one of Pulice’s top philanthropic and personal priorities, she seeks to inspire others to embrace a regenerative mindset and contribute positively to the world by cultivating, creating, and manifesting a living, thriving future.

Q: Can you tell us about your journey that has led you to where you are today in your philanthropic and other work?

Stacy Pulice: My journey really began with my passion for psychology. I was drawn to studying student well-being in schools, focusing on factors that lead to thriving learning environments, increased self-esteem, and self-motivation in public school students. This re-

“To me, philanthropy is about being creative in how you give – it’s not

That’s why I changed the name to “Regenerative Mindset.” I want to put out there that we can all shift our mindset, and everything is possible when we do. At first, I was aiming to reach people interested in regenerative farming or land practices. Now, I’m hoping to reach anyone who wants to think about things a little differently.

Ideally, I’d love to reach young people who often understand these messages intuitively, as well as those who have the power to make significant changes. I want to impact those who are sensing a paradigm shift and realize that everything they do, matters.

Q: Can you elaborate on how you’ve broadened your view from regenerative agriculture to a regenerative mindset?

A: Yes, this evolution came as I spoke with a greater variety of guests and I realized that it all starts with our own way of seeing the world – our lens, if you will. This is a key concept in Buddhism, which I’ve studied for 35 years. I decided to change the name to “Re-

“Giving can take many forms – it can be about service, offering opportunities, or sharing spaces. I believe it’s an essential part of being a fully balanced human being.”

generative Mindset” because it better reflects the idea that everything we do can be done with an eye toward being in alignment with nature’s cycles and contributing a positive life force. It’s about trying to change and rebalance things for the better of all.

This shift in focus allows me to reach people who want to think about things differently, not just those interested in regenerative farming. I want to help people understand that it’s all connected – our approach to education, farming, business, everything – and it’s all linked to being in alignment with nature’s cycles.

When we go against nature’s ways, we’re cultivating a slow death. When we go with it, we’re cultivating more life and thriving, whether it’s in education with students or in growing plants. I feel like I see the keys to the kingdom, and I want to share that understanding.

Q: What do you consider your “secret sauce” in all of this work?

A: What comes to mind first is the magic and enchantment I find in nature. This is more than apparent to me – I experience it deeply. Many people experience healing when they’re in a natural environment, but they might not know what to call it. In my personal life, it’s very explicit, and I feel challenged to make it more explicit in my public work.

This perspective borders on spirituality and aligns with philosophies like Buddhism or Taoism, which I’ve studied for 35 years. My father was a nature lover who taught me to sail and took me camping, always saying that nature was his church. That’s true for me as well.

Aligned with this is the way I’ve explicitly worked on developing my intuition. I believe our public education system often chases out subjective, intuitive knowing in favor of facts and external knowledge. While I love science, logic, and data, I truly believe that a well-developed sense of intuition and a connection with nature is essential to our health and well-being.

Q: You’ve talked about giving back because you feel lucky. Do you think there is value in giving for those at every financial level?

A: Absolutely. I grew up middle class, and I’ve always felt fortunate – it’s not about being rich, it’s about feeling grateful for what you have. Even as a young adult in L.A., when money was tight, I still found ways to give. It’s not about the size of your bank account at all. Giving can take many forms – it can be about service, offering opportunities, or sharing spaces. I believe it’s an essential part of being a fully balanced human being. Engaging in acts of giving, whether through volunteering or helping others, can be a cure for many psychological ills like depression or loneliness.

I’ve also self-funded research projects that help other groups of people. For example, we have a full intern program where we bring students from the University of California, Santa Barbara onto our property. We provide them with tools, land, seeds, and expert guidance. It’s super empowering for them, and they get to try new things.

I also consider my podcast a form of giving back. I fund it myself as a way to share knowledge and inspire others. To me, philanthropy is about being creative in how you give – it’s not just about writing checks, but about using your resources, whatever they may be, to make a positive impact.

Q: What advice would you give to nonprofit organizations trying to raise funds and get on donors’ radars?

A: First and foremost, awareness is key. I can only give to the things I’m aware of. That’s why initiatives like The Giving List books are so valuable – they put these organizations in front of people so they can learn about them.

Relationships are also crucial. In my experience, the best donations come through relationships. Creating a sense of belonging to something that feels good, as well as cultivating a community of donors that you regularly gather, can be a winning combination. It’s about creating an environment where people can have

Community-Led Solutions to Climate Change

“C

EC recognized early on that we need to move beyond fossil fuel dependence. Their solutions can open a robust pathway for the global climate resilience we so desperately need instead.”

– Sara Miller McCune

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check:

Community Environmental Council 1219 State Street, Ste. A Santa Barbara, CA 93101

*Donation Memo: CEC: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer:

Tax ID# 94-1728064

By Credit Card: cecsb.org/donate

Contact: Sigrid Wright CEO swright@cecmail.org

Community Environmental Council cecsb.org 1219 State Street, Ste. A Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (805) 963-0583

California’s goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2045 can feel daunting and somewhat elusive. The Community Environmental Council (CEC) believes we can get there, but it will take all of us, working together. That’s why the 50-plus-year-old Santa Barbara-based nonprofit focuses on community-led solutions that everyone can participate in:

Electrify Your Life

Switching to zero-emissions solutions in your home or business is a great way to take part in reducing our collective impact on the planet. Whether buying or leasing an electric vehicle (EV), installing an EV charging station, adding solar, or upgrading to energy-e cient appliances, these seemingly small actions help our region and the state transition to 100% clean, e cient energy. CEC’s free Electrify Your Life service provides information and guidance on electrification options and available incentives. cecsb.org/electrify-your-life

Become a CEC Climate Steward

CEC has certified more than 160 students, retirees, non-profit professionals, and community members as CEC Climate Stewards, equipped with the knowledge and resources to lead climate action in their communities, schools, churches, museums, businesses, homeowner associations, retirement centers, and wherever they have influence. Offered three times per year, the nine-week course is open to anyone interested in taking bold climate action that has farreaching impact. cecsb.org/climate-stewards

Help Develop a Community Resilience Hub

When we’re experiencing extreme heat, heavy smoke from a wildfire, or other climate stress, Community Resilience Hubs offer a trusted place for shelter and resources. CEC has built partnerships across communities to pilot community-led hubs in Carpinteria, Eastside Santa Barbara, and Cuyama, creating a template with toolkits so that future hubs can be launched faster and easier in our region and beyond. cecsb.org/resilience-hubs

CEC Climate Stewards attend a field trip at the UC Santa Barbara North Campus Open Space to learn about restoration and the protective barrier wetlands provide against sea level rise and other climate impacts. (Photo by Kristen Weiss)

Visit CEC’s Environmental Hub

Located in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, CEC’s Environmental Hub is a nexus for advocacy, innovation, and community empowerment. Home to CEC’s staff offices and local nonprofits like White Buffalo Land Trust and Human Rights Watch, the 10,000-square-foot space hosts dozens of events throughout the year — from lectures and film screenings to meetings and social gatherings — that catalyze collective action. envirohubsb.org

Plant Pollinator Habitat

Including pollinator habitat in your backyard, farm, or ranch helps stop erosion and water runo , recharges water storage, and protects crops. This climatesmart agricultural practice increases carbon sequestration, water infiltration, and biodiversity. That’s why CEC is working with land owners and stewards to plant pollinator habitat, share resources, and empower individuals to help our lands adapt to climate change. cecsb.org/climate-smart-agriculture

Not long ago, it was believed that climate action on a national level was the way to make an impact on climate change. Over the past five decades, CEC has seen firsthand how local actions pave the way to achieving state, national, and global climate goals. The organization has demonstrated that the California Central Coast is primed to act as a lighthouse community that incubates and pilots ideas and models them for other regions. And they hope you are willing to join them in this urgent work.

CEC's Electrify Your Life service has helped more than 1,000 individuals make the switch to electrification, including EVs and EV charging. (Photo by Maxx Hennard)

Training the Next Generation of Climate Activists

TheCommunity Environmental Council (CEC) builds on-the-ground momentum to reverse the threat of the climate crisis and ensure a vibrant and resilient future for California’s Central Coast.

Training the next generation of climate activists – young and old – is critical to achieving this mission. Funds are needed for CEC’s youth climate workshops, community advocacy training, and climate change education and outreach activities.

Every $300 donation supports training one certified CEC Climate Steward.

TO CHANGE EVERYTHING, WE NEED EVERYONE. ARE YOU WITH US?

KEY SUPPORTERS

2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jon Clark, President

Chandler Buie

Bill Cuttler

Christine DeVries

Nadra Ehrman

Geo Green

David Jackson

Dr. Barbara Lindemann

Elliott MacDougall

Pat McElroy

Dr. David Pellow

Ivette Peralta

Peter Schuyler

Tammy Sims Johnson

Michelle Weinman

KEY SUPPORTERS FOUNDATIONS

James S. Bower Foundation

Patricia and Paul Bragg Foundation

Hutton Parker Foundation

Natalie Orfalea Foundation

Ann Jackson Family Foundation

John C. Mithun Foundation

Errett Fisher Foundation

Kenneth Rainin Foundation

Living Peace Foundation

Santa Barbara Foundation

Weingart Foundation

El Gato Channel Foundation

McCune Foundation

Schlinger Family Foundation

Access to Nature for ALL Abilities

NatureTrack field trips take students on exciting adventures through diverse ecosystems, from coastal tide pools to inland chaparral. Students discover the wonders of nature right here in Santa Barbara County!

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check:

NatureTrack Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 953 Los Olivos, CA 93441

*Donation Memo: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer: Tax ID# 45-3040646

By Credit Card: naturetrack.org/donate

Contact: Sue Eisaguirre Founder & Executive Director (805) 886-2047 sue@naturetrack.org

NatureTrack Foundation, Inc. naturetrack.org 290 Valley Station Drive, Ste. 105 Buellton, CA 93427 (805) 886-2047

Students navigate the creek, building their confidence while experiencing the joy of being in nature. Learning outdoors is fun as they explore and connect with the natural world. For many, it’s their first time crossing a creek. NatureTrack volunteers often hear, “This is the best day ever!”

Nature Track Found ation, founded by Sue Eisaguirre in 2011, began with a clear vision: to bridge the gap between K-12 students and the natural world. Eisaguirre’s mission was simple yet profound – to give students access to nature beyond what they could learn in textbooks or classrooms. This vision has since grown into a thriving 501(c)(3) nonprofit, transforming the lives of thousands of young learners. Today, NatureTrack is a volunteer-driven initiative, with over 80 docents guiding more than 5,000 students annually on immersive field trips to over 20 biodiverse locations, from tidepools to mountain trails. NatureTrack shifts the paradigm of outdoor education.

Instead of reading about nature, students experience it firsthand, engaging all their senses in ways that spark curiosity, appreciation, and awe. These field trips on local beaches and trails – offered at no cost to students or schools – are designed to align with the students’ curriculum, ensuring that these immersive experiences reinforce and expand upon their classroom learning. This model not only fosters a lifelong connection with nature, but also helps create the next generation of environmental stewards. Eliminating barriers is key to NatureTrack’s mission. For nearly 70% of the students, access to nature would be impossible without these free trips. By covering all costs,

Residents from local senior living facilities at the beach, thanks to NatureTrack. With NatureTrack’s Freedom Trax, seniors can now enjoy the fresh air and beauty of the beach, providing an invigorating and much appreciated break from their usual routine.

Give Everyone Access to Nature

Transportation is NatureTrack’s largest cost, and it keeps rising. Your donations help fund field trips and provide more Freedom Trax.

• $7,500 funds a field trip for 100 K-12 students

• $6,500 buys a new Freedom Trax

Any donation amount is appreciated to support our mission. Field trips fill up quickly each year, highlighting our need for more volunteers. Docents play a crucial role with a 5-to-1 student-to-docent ratio. Your contribution, whether financial or as a volunteer has a meaningful impact. Please donate or volunteer today, or both!

including transportation, NatureTrack ensures that no student is excluded. However, the program faces resource limitations; last year, 1,834 students – representing 30 trips – were on a waiting list. With additional funding, more students could benefit from these transformative experiences. Inclusivity is central to NatureTrack’s mission, highlighted by the Freedom Trax program. Freedom Trax, a device that temporarily converts manual wheelchairs into batterypowered, all-terrain vehicles, revolutionizes access to nature for individuals with mobility challenges. These free excursions, paired with transportation support as needed,

allow participants to explore natural areas previously out of reach. With more funding, NatureTrack could expand its Freedom Trax lending program, provide more trips for residents of senior living facilities, and provide more opportunities for wheelchair users of all ages. NatureTrack’s programs are rooted in the belief that everyone deserves access to nature. As Eisaguirre says, “The benefits of being in nature are boundless.”Through its diverse inclusive program, NatureTrack is educating today’s youth and creating lasting transformative connections to the natural world for people of all ages and abilities.

“NatureTrack connects children with the wonders of the natural world. By exposing them to nature, engaging their curiosity, and inspiring a love for the outdoors, NatureTrack instills the land ethic essential for appreciating and conserving our environment. It’s a vital gateway to Santa Barbara County’s ‘great outdoors’ for our youth, many of whom don’t have the access my generation may have taken for granted. Supporting NatureTrack is about ensuring the future of everything we cherish about this place we call home.”

– Greg Parker

Principal, Investec and Board Member, Land Trust for Santa Barbara County

KEY SUPPORTERS

Adams Legacy Foundation

The Ann Jackson Family Foundation

Audacious Foundation

City of Goleta

City of Buellton

Edison International

Edwin and Jeanne Woods

Family Foundation

Henry Mayo Newhall Foundation

Hutton Parker Foundation

John S. Kiewit Memorial Foundation

Natalie Orfalea Foundation & Lou Buglioli

Raintree Foundation

Santa Ynez Valley Youth Recreation

Towbes Foundation

The Tranquila Foundation

UCSB Coastal Fund

Williams-Corbett Foundation

Thanks to NatureTrack’s Freedom Trax, Micah can now enjoy the beach under his own power for the first time. It was incredible to see him independently exploring the sand and the waves and enjoying the beach with his family in a way that wasn’t possible before.

Preventing Nuclear Annihilation

Just this

year,

as tensions mounted over the war in Ukraine, Russian

President Vladimir Putin

warned the West that Russia was “technically ready for nuclear war…”

The U.S. tested Baker, a tiny bomb by today’s standards, in the Marshall Islands in 1946. Today, we continue to test-launch — from Vandenberg military base near Santa Barbara — nuclear-capable missiles that land in the Marshall Islands.

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check:

Nuclear Age Peace Foundation

David Krieger House 1622 Anacapa Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101

*Donation Memo: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer: Tax ID# 95-3825265

By Credit Card: wagingpeace.org/donating/

Contact:

Ivana Nikolić Hughes President (805) 965-3443 ihughes@napf.org www.wagingpeace.org

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty conference side event organized by

Nine countries, including the United States, possess approximately 12,500 nuclear warheads and are currently spending vast amounts of money maintaining and modernizing their nuclear arsenals.

Just one of these weapons could kill millions within seconds and leave millions more without any aid. Experts suggest a full-scale nuclear war would last a little over an hour and the resulting nuclear winter could cause more than five billion deaths from starvation alone.

“It’s not weeks or months or even years… it’s 72 minutes and it’s the end of human civilization as we know it,” says Ivana Hughes, president of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. “The solution is the elimination of nuclear weapons,” says Hughes. “In 1961, John F. Kennedy at the United Nations said that we must abolish

Inaugural Women Waging Peace Luncheon in Santa Barbara. From left to right: Dr. Ivana Hughes, Cynthia Lazaro (board member and honoree), Kundai Chikowero (Santa Barbara Junior Poet Laureate), Senator Monique Limón (Honoree), and Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson. (Photo by Rick Carter, 2022)

nuclear weapons before they abolish us. And that is absolutely still true.”

The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation was founded in 1982 by a group of visionaries, four of whom had been soldiers whose brutal war experiences left them devoted to working towards peace e orts. Their goal was to establish an organization that could cross boundaries of activism, policy, education, and legal action to forge a path towards peace. Under the leadership of David Krieger, who passed away last December, the Foundation embarked on a wide-ranging and pioneering set of initiatives and actions to make the world a safer, nuclear weapons-free space. When Hughes took the helm in 2022, she vowed to continue this important work until the job of nuclear abolition is complete.

Dr. Ivana Hughes (left) and Christian Ciobanu (center), with Counsellor Zhangeldy Syrymbet of Kazakhstan, Ambassador Teburoro Tito of Kiribati, and Benetick Kabua Maddison (MEI) at the

NAPF in Vienna. (Photo by Marcina Langrine, 2023)

Join the Fight for a World Free of Nuclear Arms

Donations to the NAPF will help the fight for a more peaceful world, one free of nuclear weapons.

• $25,000 will fund TPNW universalization and implementation projects.

• $10,000 will fund the Foundation’s Women Waging Peace Initiative, recognizing the unique voices of women in the fight for nuclear abolition and nuclear justice through awards, interviews, and videos.

• $5,000 will fund the David Krieger Internship program to educate and train the next generation of activists.

• $2,500 will fund policy events at the United Nations.

• $1,000 will fund Washington, D.C. advocacy trips.

“I

support NAPF because I cannot in good conscience allow these demonic weapons to continue to exist as a mortal threat to our world.”

– Mary Becker Peace activist

The Foundation plays an instrumental role in the promotion and implementation of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Supported by over 100 countries in the United Nations, the Treaty entered into force in 2021, and aims to prohibit any possession and use of nuclear weapons and to remediate damages done to people and the environment from past use and testing.

Last December, working with the republics of Kazakhstan and Kiribati, the Foundation shepherded a pivotal resolution in the United Nations General Assembly to address the injustice and damage caused by

nuclear testing around the planet. The resolution marks a first major step for the world to recognize and address this damaging legacy.

In addition to its work in the United Nations, the Foundation regularly brings together world leaders and policymakers in dialogue with civil society, the general public, and youth to amplify the voices of those seeking peace.

The Foundation’s ultimate goal is to bring an end to the nuclear weapons age by 2045 – 100 years since they were created – with all states agreeing to total nuclear disarmament. Heeding Kennedy’s own presaging words to abolish nuclear weapons before they abolish us.

KEY SUPPORTERS

The Estate of Carl Slawski

Prospect Hill Foundation

Lush Cosmetics

Herbert and Elaine

Kendall Foundation

Ms. Sue Hawes

Laurie Ashton and Lynn Sarko

Diandra de Morell Douglas

Dr. and Mrs. Jimmy Hara

Joanne Dufour

Mary Becker

Cheryl Tomchin

Dr. and Mrs. Martin Hellman

Saga Foundation

Jill and Ron Dexter

Profs. Richard Falk and Hilal Elver

Dr. Ivana Hughes (center) laying a wreath in the Nagasaki Peace Park alongside (left to right) Prof. SangJung Kang, hibakusha Terumi Tanaka, hibakusha Shizuko Mitamura, and diplomat Batyrkhan Kurmanseit (Photo by Tsutomu Ishiai, 2024)

NAPF interns in Geneva, July 2024

Reimagining Agriculture: From Seed to Shelf

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check:

White Bu alo Land Trust

P.O. Box 5100

Santa Barbara, CA 93150

*Donation Memo: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer: Tax ID# 82-4562776

By Credit Card: whitebu alolandtrust.org/donate

Contact: Sam Franz Director of Development (818) 426-1398 development@whitebu alolandtrust.org

White Bu alo Land Trust www.whitebu alolandtrust.org P.O. Box 5100

Santa Barbara, CA 93150 Ana Smith Director of Programs & Engagement (805) 637-5497

White Bu alo Land Trust (WBLT) is focused on restoring our ecosystem through regenerative agriculture. Their methods represent a paradigm shift, as the nonprofit engages in developing regenerative systems while also promoting the widespread adoption of these proven methods across the entire food system, from farmer to customer.

White Bu alo Land Trust’s unique approach is cyclical, seamlessly integrating regenerative land stewardship with community education and the training of farmers and ranchers. Similarly, their innovative monitoring and extensive data collection informs their land management practices and supports scientific research and curriculum development that advances the field of regenerative agriculture. Perhaps most importantly, all of this work brings regenerative products into the marketplace.

“We’re re-imagining the systems from seed to shelf, so it’s critical that we have our feet on the ground and our hands in the soil actively tending to these di erent crops and innovating within these systems,” says Ana Smith, WBLT’s Director of Programs and Engagement.

Since acquiring the 1,000-acre Center for Regenerative Agriculture at

Jalama Canyon Ranch (JCR) in 2021, WBLT’s impact has extended beyond its “living laboratory.” Its management principles are now applied on more than 156,000 acres of land, thanks to its education and training programs, which reach hundreds of farmers and ranchers each year.

“Being able to share and teach and train what we’re doing is vitally important,” Smith says. “It’s how we move this work forward.”

White Bu alo Land Trust recognizes that demonstrating the success of regenerative practices both on the farm and in the marketplace is essential for catalyzing global change. In addition to their award-winning food brand, Figure Ate, which brings regeneratively sourced products to major retailers and restaurant menus, WBLT is actively collaborating with enterprise partners to develop innovative ventures. These ventures serve as replicable models for forward-thinking producers and entrepreneurs, showcasing the economic viability and scalability of regenerative agriculture.

“We have seen how commodity markets can drive environmental degradation,” Jesse Smith, Director of Land Stewardship, says. “But we believe that if that same tool is flipped and re-imagined, it has the power to restore our ecosystem.”

To achieve this, WBLT has intensified its collaborative efforts, fostering a unique gathering of diverse stakeholders – not only farmers, ranchers, researchers, and scientists, but also economists, processors, manufacturers, and food brands. By connecting these individuals through tangible, on-the-ground experiences, WBLT showcases how universally applicable regenerative principles can be successfully implemented within specific contexts and products.

“By fostering collaborative action, we can catalyze a shift in cultural

The Center for Regenerative Agriculture at Jalama Canyon Ranch

norms and create lasting systemic change,” remarks Smith.

WBLT has several major projects underway in Santa Barbara County and throughout California that bring together farmers, scientists, processors, and brands to make an impact on the ground and in the marketplace. Two of these projects include re-es-

tablishing the native Western Blue Elderberry as a keystone species for watershed restoration in Santa Barbara County, and the second, known as The Almond Project, is dedicated to identifying more regenerative almond farming practices in the Central Valley, paving the way for a more resilient future for this vital crop.

Help Build the ClimateAppropriate Plant Nursery

White Bu alo Land Trust (WBLT) is seeking $20,000 to expand its nursery of native and climateappropriate plants, a cornerstone of its mission to restore ecosystems, increase biodiversity, and foster community education. The nursery at Jalama Canyon Ranch supports key watershed restoration projects and enhances biodiversity in working landscapes.

“For too long, many people have assumed that agriculture cannot help address the biodiversity crisis. White Bu alo Land Trust is demonstrating that we can have our almonds and native pollinators as well as a model for a diverse farm that meets the needs of humans and the rest of nature. They are leading the way in showing how agriculture on the Central Coast needs to evolve so that all species can thrive,” says Steve Windhager, Ph.D., Executive Director, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.

“O ur law firm is proud to support White Bu alo Land Trust’s work to make our world a better place. White Bu alo’s leadership is shifting our local agricultural and food systems while furthering climate goals, increasing biodiversity, restoring the water cycle, and improving soil quality and human health. Few organizations are true innovators, creating knowledge and a demonstration project that’s brand new. White Buffalo Land Trust is one of them.”

– Beth Collins Shareholder, Brownstein Hyatt

KEY SUPPORTERS

Manitou Fund

Roberto Foundation

WOKA Foundation

Macdoch Foundation

James S. Bower Foundation

Patricia & Paul Bragg Foundation

G.A. Fowler Family Foundation

Natalie Orfalea Foundation

UGG

TomKat Education Foundation

Coyuchi Philanthropy Fund

Dancing Tides Foundation

Santa Barbara Foundation

Zegar Family Fund

Williams Corbett Foundation

Hutton Parker Foundation

Ann Jackson Family Foundation

Land Trust for Santa Barbara County Gaviota Coast Conservancy

CA Dept of Agriculture

U.S. Dept of Agriculture

Farmers and ranchers engaged in the Holistic Management Intensive training course

Farber Schreck

WBLT’s award-winning food brand Figure Ate in the market

Family Well-being

Families are the foundational pillar of a stable and compassionate society. But here in this country, the bonds that tie families together are frayed and in need of leaders willing to provide support and services – small and large – that can ensure their well-being.

Raising Children is Sacred Work

“F

SA has always found a way to help those in need, expanding the depth of its programs when necessary. It is truly an asset to our community.”

– Sybil Rosen Donor

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check:

Family Service Agency of Santa Barbara County

123 W. Gutierrez St. Santa Barbara, CA 93101

*Donation Memo: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer:

Tax ID# 95-1644031

By Credit Card: fsacares.org/supportus

Contact: Lisa Brabo CEO (805) 965-1001 ext. 1240 lbrabo@fsacares.org

Family Service Agency of Santa Barbara County fsacares.org

123 W. Gutierrez St. Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (805) 965-1001

Additional locations in: Santa Maria, Lompoc, Guadalupe, Carpinteria

In a world where the pressures of daily life can feel overwhelming, many families find themselves stretched thin – caring for aging parents while raising young children, navigating financial strain, and dealing with the lingering effects of a global pandemic. The U.S. Surgeon General recently emphasized that “raising children is sacred work,” acknowledging the immense stress that parents, especially those in the sandwich generation, experience daily. The Surgeon General deemed it an “urgent public health issue.”

Maria, a devoted mother of two young children and the primary caregiver for her elderly parents, is exactly who the Surgeon General is talking about. Between juggling her job, her children’s school activities, and her parents’ medical appointments, Maria felt isolated and exhausted. Economic stressors weighed heavily on her mental health. She didn’t know where to turn until she discovered Family Service Agency (FSA).

At FSA, Maria found a lifeline. The agency offers a holistic approach to multigenerational family support, directly addressing the issues highlighted in the Surgeon General’s advisory

titled “Parents Under Pressure.” Their expansive Family Support Services Program works with the adults in the household because “by helping the adults feel stronger, healthier, happier, the positive impacts trickle down to the rest of the family,” says Cynthia MacDuff, director of Family Support Services. The program offers three core services to the adults in the household: family advocacy, home visitation, and parenting education.

Maria joined the parenting classes, which not only equipped her with new skills but also connected her with other parents facing similar challenges. “I realized I wasn’t alone,” Maria says. “The classes became a source of strength and friendship.”

FSA’s home visitation program brings guidance directly into the household, fostering positive interactions between parents, grandparents, and children. This multigenerational approach helps families like Maria’s navigate the complexities of modern family life, bridging gaps between different parenting styles and cultural expectations. FSA also creates a network of support for families in need by connecting them to additional resources that address economic and

Last year, over 2,600 families located throughout Santa Barbara County received in-depth services, such as case management, parent education, and enrollment in programs like Medi-Cal and CalFresh.

Help Those Most in Need

With the recent release of the Surgeon General’s report highlighting the severe challenges and stress parents are facing now, the Family Service Agency’s programs are in need now more than ever. Flexible funding helps FSA provide holistic support to multigenerational families throughout Santa Barbara.

Here’s how you can help:

• $100 - Buys a week’s worth of groceries for a family of four.

• $250 - Helps a family enroll in health insurance and access other critical services as part of their Family Support Services Program.

• $500 - Provides support for Youth Mental Health First Aid, a program that provides tools for caregivers to recognize and address mental health issues early on with their children.

• $1,000 - Pays for three months of mental health counseling for a senior or caregiver.

social needs, such as food assistance, housing support and healthcare services.

Mental health is another cornerstone of FSA’s services. With a team of compassionate professionals, they offer free counseling and screening for mental health conditions, aligning with the Surgeon General’s recommendation for universal screenings. For parents concerned

about their children’s well-being, programs like their Youth Mental Health First Aid provide essential tools to recognize and address mental health issues early on.

“Caregivers can take this workshop to learn more about the signs of mental health concerns in their children and also how to address them,“ says Nancy Ranck, senior program director of FSA’s Behavioral Health Program.

Perhaps one of the most empowering aspects of FSA’s work is their commitment to giving parents a voice. Through initiatives like their Community Changers program, parents are encouraged and supported to engage with local school boards and community organizations. This not only benefits their own families but also drives positive change within the broader community.

In these times of unprecedented stress and isolation, Family Service Agency stands as a beacon of hope. Their comprehensive programs embody the support and guidance families need now more than ever. Their message is clear: You are not alone.

Parenting education programs, like Dedicated Dads, help families build bonds and strengthen their relationships.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CO-PRESIDENTS

Robert Janeway

Tricia Price

CO-VPS, PROGRAMS

Arianna Castellanos

Edward Tran

VP, DEVELOPMENT

Maria McCall

CO-TREASURERS

Blanca Mejia, J.D.

Linda Sessler

VP, GOVERNANCE

Teressa Johnes

SECRETARY

Patty Herrera

BOARD MEMBERS

Shawn Carey

Courtney Cazenave

Paul Cordeiro

Ed Galanski

Alex Murkison

Ward Rafferty

Nancy Saengjaeng

Paul Van Meel

From Crisis to Hope: Changing the Mental Health Landscape for Santa Barbara Youth

Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among adolescents.

Over

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check: Community Partners

1000 N. Alameda Street Suite 240 Los Angeles, CA 90012

*Donation Memo: Community Partners for YouthWell The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer: Tax ID# 95-4302067

By Credit Card: youthwell.org/donate

YouthWell youthwell.org 1528 Chapala St. Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (805) 770-1930 Contact: Rachael Steidl Executive Director (805) 448-2426 ceo@youthwell.org

When Rachael Steidl’s daughter started struggling with depression and anxiety in 9th grade, her good grades, sports, charm, and active social life masked the severity of her condition. Teachers overlooked her symptoms, and a therapist assured the parents she was “fine,” a typical teenager. Over the next two years, her mental health declined further.

“Our inability to find local services to support her was truly terrifying,” Steidl recalls. “I had a pit in my stomach every day and felt that if we didn’t get her help, we were going to lose our daughter.”

Steidl’s experience led her to create YouthWell, a Santa Barbara County nonprofit dedicated to closing gaps and removing barriers to services, and providing tools and education to empower youth and families. In 2016, Steidl began convening a Collaborative of community stakeholders, schools, and providers to focus on early intervention and work together to build stronger systems that connect students to services before they are in crisis.

“We need to listen to youth and parents and learn from their experiences,” Steidl says. “YouthWell works with 55 students, from high schools throughout our county, who serve on our Youth Advocacy Board. They share the challenges they see on their

campuses and in the community and advocate for change.”

The nonprofit launched the only online Youth and Family Mental Health and Wellness Resource Directory in English and Spanish that centralizes 200 organizations in Santa Barbara County, allowing families to search for a range of services for youth ages 5-25.

In addition, YouthWell provides free support groups so parents, teachers, and teens can learn healthy coping strategies for managing stress. They offer wellness workshops and a Mental Health First Aid certification course that teaches family and friends to recognize and respond to mental health and substance abuse challenges.

YouthWell recently added their Family Care Coordination center and Wellness Navigator Program, which connects families to mental health resources through “warm hando s” ensuring they access the services they need. Often when a child is struggling, it a ects siblings and parents which is why Navigators want to support each family’s unique situation.

“The feedback we hear most is, ‘Thank you for listening, taking the time to hear our story, and not minimizing our concerns,’” Steidl says.

Steidl knows firsthand what it’s like to feel helpless when you can’t find sup-

YouthWell’s 2024-25 Youth Advocacy Board - 55 students from 16 high schools across Santa Barbara County convene monthly to learn about mental health issues, gain leadership skills, and advocate for change on their campuses and in the community. They also host an annual Student Advocacy Summit.

70,000 resource cards and posters have been distributed to Santa Barbara County schools with helplines, resources, self care tips, and more.

“

Empower Families: Prioritize Early Intervention by

Funding Wellness Navigators

We want to build a village around the family so they feel supported,” says Rachael Steidl, founder of YouthWell. “Our Navigators recognize the unique challenges of each family and think outside the box to match them accordingly so that they can get the help they need and deserve in a timely manner.”

YouthWell is finding an increasing demand for its Wellness Navigator program that supports families on their mental health journey by addressing their individual needs, removing barriers, connecting them with services, and o ering hope. YouthWell aims to raise $175,000 to expand by hiring more navigators in order to serve more families from all backgrounds with youth through the age of 25 in Santa Barbara County.

“M y family is incredibly grateful for the support that we have received from YouthWell which has included guidance and access to resources at a time when we didn’t have the financial means. The groups have been life changing - providing tools, support and encouragement.”

– Santa Barbara Mom

Programs & Services

WORKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS TOWARDS SYSTEMS CHANGE

- Community Collaborative

- Youth Linkages Network

- Neurodivergent Network

RESOURCES & SERVICES

- SB County Resource Directory

- Community Calendar

- Family Care Coordination

- Wellness Navigators

- Resource Cards & Posters for schools

EDUCATION & CONNECTION

- Support Groups

- Wellness Workshops

- Mental Health First Aid training

YOUTH OUTREACH

- Youth Advocacy Board

- Student Wellness Summit

All services and programs are FREE. Most provided in English and Spanish

port locally. After two years of watching her daughter’s mental health decline, the family made the di cult decision to send her to a wilderness program and a therapeutic boarding school out of state, neither of which was covered by insurance.

These programs made a di erence. Today, at 25, after finishing high school and completing her master’s degree, her daughter is following her passion working for an international human

rights organization.

“It was a painful decision to make but I believe it saved her life,” Steidl says. “I want to change the narrative for other families by connecting them to support early. They should never be told their issue is not ‘bad enough.’ If we were able to get her services early, it would have reduced the emotional and financial toll on our family and we would not have missed out on almost a year of her life.”

“T he Towbes Foundation proudly supports YouthWell for their commitment to early intervention, destigmatizing mental health, educating the community on wellness, building a strong support network for families, and fostering a collaborative approach to creating a comprehensive system of care across Santa Barbara County. Their work in breaking down barriers to mental health services is vital to the well-being of our youth, and we’re honored to be part of this important mission.”

– Carrie Towbes President, The Towbes Foundation

YouthWell convenes the Youth Linkages Network monthly to educate those working with youth so they’re better equipped to support families and connect them to mental health services.

Healthcare

As navigating healthcare in the U.S. becomes ever more complicated, expensive, and vastly disparate in its access, these organizations are working tirelessly to provide the best in care and research to those who are most vulnerable.

133 Years of Providing Patient-Centered Care with Excellence, Integrity

Arlett, Cottage Children’s Medical Center Patient

The Many Ways to Give...

Online: cottagehealth.org/giving By Mail:

Make checks payable to one of the foundations listed below:

Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Foundation (includes gifts to Cottage Children’s Medical Center)

Foundation for Cottage Rehabilitation and Goleta Valley Cottage Hospitals

Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation

Mail Donation to:

Cottage Advancement P.O. Box 689

400 W. Pueblo St. Santa Barbara, CA 93102 By Phone: 805-879-8980

*Donation Memo: The Giving List

Contact: Andrew Brown Vice President for Advancement 805-569-7290 abrown1@sbch.org

and Compassion

Since 1891, Cottage Health has carried out its mission to serve the community by providing healthcare of the highest quality. From the very beginning, they have been here for you — growing from a 25-bed hospital to a nationally recognized healthcare provider.

They are proud to be your trusted healthcare partner and recognized as the destination for exceptional

Antonio, Cottage Heart Patient

patient-centered care. Their doors have always been open 24/7 and they never turn anyone away, regardless of ability to pay.

With their recent renovation of Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital’s Emergency Department (ED), they expanded capacity for care from 44,000 ED patient visits annually to more than 70,000 per year. Whether it’s their exclusive designation as the only cardiac STEMI receiving station on the South Coast or their commitment to stroke prevention and treatment, they move swiftly in emergencies when every minute counts.

It takes a community to ensure that the very best care is available to everyone on the Central Coast. As a not-for-profit health system, Cottage Health relies on the generosity of the community to help them provide exceptional care to every patient. Generous contributors allow them to treat critically ill patients, provide their caregivers with the state-of-the-art equipment and resources they need, and support the community’s health and well-being.

A Commitment to the Health of Our Community

Your gifts have a lasting and transformative impact on the health of our community.

• Patient Care – Promoting programs, services and clinical excellence in these and other specialties:

• Heart & Vascular Center

• Children’s Medical Center

• Neuroscience Institute

• Emergency Trauma Center

• Women’s Health

• Population Health

• Primary Care

• Education and Innovation – Empowering future nurses, physicians, and healthcare leaders who will save and improve lives in our community

• Facilities – Expanding and renovating to meet patients’ needs, including the Renew & Rebuild Campaign to move the Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital to the Cottage Goleta campus

“I knew I’d have the best chance of recovery being close to home where people cared about me. I was right; Cottage provided outstanding care, and my care team felt like family.”

– David Reynoso Grateful Patient

Generous donors help heal patients, inspire innovation, strengthen services, and advance the health of our community.

KEY SUPPORTERS

SANTA BARBARA COTTAGE HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

BOARD:

Steven C. Zola, Chair

Ginger Salazar, Vice Chair

Eric Seale, Vice Chair

Richard S. Ponce, MD, Secretary

Thomas J. Cusack

Susan Christol-Deacon

Pamela B. Gann

Roberta L. Griffin

Robin Malone, MD

Steve Ortiz

Ernesto Paredes

Gamble T. Parks

Wesley Schooler, MD

Mark P. Scott, MD

Bhupi Singh

Yulun Wang, PhD

FOUNDATION FOR COTTAGE REHABILITATION & GOLETA VALLEY COTTAGE HOSPITALS, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:

Katina Zaninovich, Chair

Rich Boyd, Vice Chair

Tony Vallejo, Treasurer

Tessa Kaplan, Secretary

Renée Nordstrand, Immediate Past Chair

SANTA YNEZ VALLEY COTTAGE HOSPITAL FOUNDATION, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:

Richard Nagler, President

Judith Dale, Vice President

Tresha Sell, Secretary

Michael Sgobba, Treasurer

Improving Health Outcomes in an Under-Resourced Community

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check:

Lompoc Valley Community Healthcare Organization, Inc. P.O. Box 368 Lompoc, CA 93438

*Donation Memo: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer: Tax ID# 77-0494140

By Credit Card: healthylompoc.org

Contact: Alex Murkison Development Manager (805) 430-3501 murkisona@lvcho.org

Lompoc Valley Community Healthcare Organization (LVCHO) healthylompoc.org 1593 E Chestnut Ave. Lompoc, CA 93436 (805) 430-3501

In Lompoc, California, where resources are scarce and needs are great, the Lompoc Valley Community Healthcare Organization (LVCHO) has quietly operated behind the scenes to dramatically improve health outcomes in this diverse and vibrant community for 25 years.

“We’re here to create lasting change, not just provide services,” says Executive Director Ashley Costa, a Lompoc native who has led the nonprofit for over a decade. “Our mission is to ensure that everyone in our community has the opportunity to live a healthy life.”

Founded in 1999 by local leaders, the organization was created to tackle the systemic issues driving poor health in Lompoc. With a focus on strategic, long-term solutions, the organization addresses the root causes of health disparities at the policy, systems, and environmental levels.

Costa emphasizes that their approach looks beyond immediate needs to understand why people require help in the first place. “We ask the question: Why does this person have these

needs? What policies or systems are failing them? What environmental factors are at play?” she explains. “Then we get to work addressing the root of the problem.”

The organization’s strategy addresses key areas: healthy eating, physical activity, mental wellness, healthcare access, and community resilience. It has tackled needs such as outpatient alcohol treatment, dental services, pediatric clinic improvements, access to pharmaceuticals, childhood obesity prevention, walkability and bike-ability, access to healthy produce, mental wellness programs, and family caregiver support.

Their initiatives have made a tangible impact. The “Healthy Happenings” newsletter keeps residents informed about health topics. The Vaccinate Lompoc campaign raised COVID-19 awareness, and the Lompoc Counts Census outreach ensured community representation. Physical activity programs like Healthy People Healthy Trails and the Lompoc Open Streets event have encouraged residents to get active.

The LVCHO Team, from left to right: Ashley Costa (Executive Director), Brenda Villa (Community Program Manager), Sonia Sandoval (Program Coordinator), Brianne White (BOP Healthcare Account Manager), and Alexander Murkison (Administration & Development Manager).

In May 2020, LVCHO co-founded the Route One Farmers Market. By the fall of 2022, the Mobile Market was launched to expand access to fresh, locally grown produce throughout Lompoc and its surrounding communities.

Double Your Impact, Double the Health Support

AsLompoc Valley Community Healthcare Organization celebrates 25 years of serving the community, they aim to raise $25,000 to continue their focused work. All donations will be matched, doubling the impact. Funds will go directly to support the Lompoc community by expanding mental health programs, increasing access to healthy food, and improving physical activity opportunities.

“With your support, we can leverage our 25 years of experience and deep community connections to create even greater change,” says Executive Director Ashley Costa.

Other significant projects include installing bicycle repair and water refill stations, launching the Route One Farmers Market to improve access to healthy food, and creating Creative Crosswalks to boost walkability.

One of LVCHO’s most significant achievements is the renovation of the Lompoc community track and field, a project that raised $1.7 million and brought together the city, school district, and residents.

“I was struggling to find a safe place to exercise,” says a community member who now uses the Lompoc Community Track & Field at Huyck Stadium, “but now I go to the track every day. It’s been life-changing.”

Despite having only 4.5 full-time equivalent staff, LVCHO plays a crucial role in connecting stakehold-

ers across sectors to address deeper health issues in the Latino population.

With 60% of residents identifying as Hispanic or Latino and a large population of monolingual Spanish speakers, Lompoc faces unique challenges requiring culturally competent health solutions.

In response, LVCHO recently hired its first two bilingual staff members. As a next step, the organization has launched Cafecito Comunitario, a program designed to create a space for listening, connection, and building trust within Lompoc’s Spanish-speaking community.

“We are deeply committed to supporting those who face the greatest inequities in our community, Costa says. “We’re not just addressing today’s challenges; we’re laying the groundwork for a healthier tomorrow.”

“The LVCHO plays a crucial role in optimizing good health for community members residing in the Lompoc Valley, and consequently, is a critical organization for Santa Barbara County. From acting as advisors and providing financial support to new health and wellness-focused nonprofits and e orts such as Savie Health, Route One Farmers Market, and the newer Lompoc Community Track and Field, to bringing nonprofit team members together for sessions focusing on preventing burnout and the power of collaboration, Lompoc is a better place to live and work because of the LVCHO’s existence.”

– Eryn Shugart, PhD

Former Executive Director, Savie Health (2021-2024)

KEY SUPPORTERS

Cottage Center for Population Health

Dr. Abishek Mehta

Dr. Andrew Frerking

Dr. Carl Schlosser

Dr. Christopher Taglia

Dr. Rollin Bailey

The Fund for Santa Barbara Hutton-Parker Foundation

Michael Towbes

Donor Advised Fund

Roger McConnell

Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness

Santa Barbara County Department of Public Health

Santa Barbara Foundation

Stephen Popkin

Susan Warnstrom

The Healthy Lompoc Coalition partners at the 2024 LVCHO Healthy Lompoc Coalition Retreat.

Little Clinics That Deliver Great Medicine

“Ilove the fact that they’re not just looking at a sore throat, but treating the patient as a whole person,” says Sybil Rosen, pictured second from left with Gerd Jordano, Sue Adams, and Katina Zaninovich, founders of the Good Neighbors giving circle.

SBNC relies on the generosity of many. The contributions of the Good Neighbors’ support gives the clinics room for growth. They provide the funds for those who might not be able to afford care. They also are Ambassadors for the clinics, sharing their knowledge of the clinic services with the larger community.

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check:

Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics

414 E. Cota St. Santa Barbara, CA 93101

*Donation Memo: SBNC: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer: Tax ID# 77-0496382

By Credit Card: www.sbclinics.org/donate

Contact: Maria W. Long Director of Development and Public Awareness (805) 452-5466 maria.long@sbclinics.org

Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics www.sbclinics.org

414 E. Cota St. Santa Barbara, CA 93101 805-452-5466

Isabella Valencia has always cared for others, working as a domestic worker and caregiver for 20 years while raising three children in Santa Barbara. When an aggressive cancer was found during a routine screening, it was Santa Barbara’s turn to care for her.

“Those are the words no one wants to hear,” says Valencia, remembering the call that she needed to be seen right away, “I was scared.”

But thankfully she was being treated by Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics, where they immediately brought together a team to coordinate treatment, assist with food and income loss,

and offer emotional support as she navigated her illness. After six months of treatment, with her cancer in remission, Valencia reflects on her experience.

“I was thinking, ‘Why God? Why did you pick me?’ I think God wanted me to meet those angels that were around me,” says Valencia of her stellar, compassionate care team. “You never know when you are going to need them.”

Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics (SBNC) has been providing outstanding care to the community for over 50 years, regardless of income or insurance. It has grown from a small free clinic founded in 1973, to a network of high-quality healthcare services: four medical clinics, two dental clinics, behavioral health clinics, health coordination services, a substance abuse bridge program, and two fully-equipped mobile clinics.

“We are little clinics that deliver great medicine,” says Maria W. Long, director of development and community relations. “I think that there’s a misconception that because we are clinics for the underinsured and uninsured that our medicine is subpar, and that’s simply not the case.”

The clinics attract top healthcare talent from all over the country, people dedicated to being “humanitarian

Westside Clinic expresses their appreciation to donors who make affordable healthcare for the most vulnerable possible.

Affordable, Quality Healthcare for All

Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics believes that quality medical care is a fundamental right for everyone. There is pressing community demand and a waitlist for many of its services.

• $500: Funds 5 patient medical treatments

• $1,000: Funds 5 patients behavioral health visits

• $2,000: Funds 10 medical patients who do not have the ability to pay

• $5,000: Funds 5 specialty dental treatments

• $150,000: Funds a 2nd Mobile Dental Clinic

Every dollar donated also gets Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics close to the $3 million it needs annually for care not covered by grants or reimbursements.

healers.” Their dental clinics have stateof-the-art equipment via a partnership and residency program through NYU Langone Health. Part of the secret sauce to their compassionate care is that they offer coordinated care that can range from behavioral health plus pharmacy services plus pain management or care that includes assistance with finding housing and food support.

The neighborhood clinics have become a trusted and integral part of Santa Barbara communities, serving over 19,000 people. Two in 10 people in the community are SBNC patients. They not only serve the uninsured or unemployed, they serve people whose health insurance just doesn’t cover enough or people working on the margins, who have some income but not enough to cover all their medical bills.

“Our patients daily have to make difficult decisions: Do they buy groceries, pay their rent or leave their healthcare untreated?” says Long.

While the clinics serve patients from all walks of life, their mobile clinics allow them to go to where the need is greatest. Last year, their mobile dental clinic served over 3,000 children at Ti -

tle I schools. And their mobile medical unit visits homebound seniors and those in low-income housing.

“As a community, we are only as healthy as the person next to us,” says Long. “And that’s where we come in. There shouldn’t be a boundary to good health. Everybody is deserving of good medicine.”

“We find resources for our patients such as signing them up for MediCal, getting them waitlisted for housing, guiding them to residential and/or cancer treatment, contributing greatly to the quality of their lives.” – Mahdi Ashrafian, MD, MBA, Chief Executive Officer

Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics doesn't turn patients away, which translates into an annual gap in funding of $3 million. As a result, the clinics lean on individual and family foundations to provide vital services that keep our beautiful community healthy.

KEY SUPPORTERS

Cottage Health

Direct Relief

Dorothy Largay

Anna and David Grotenhuis

John Mithun Family Foundation

G.A. Fowler Family Foundation

Anne Jackson Foundation

James A. Bower Foundation

St. Francis Foundation

Alice Tweed Tuohy Foundation

Sansum Sutter Health

Zegar Family Foundation

And many others

Everybody’s Well-Being Matters

“Because of Savie Health, I didn’t have to choose between my feminine health needs and putting food on the table for my children. If it wasn’t for the care I received at the clinic, I would have faced life-long complications. As a single working mother of three, often I am faced with making hard decisions between my health and the basic needs of my three kids. Thanks to the clinic, I had safe, quality medical care without the difficulty of many things getting in the way such as the burden of a co-pay, having to travel a long distance from the bus line, language barrier, or the fear of risking losing my job.”

– Alejandra G. Patient

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check:

Savie Health Corp 1111 E. Ocean Ave. Suite 2 Lompoc, CA 93436

*Donation Memo: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer: Tax ID# 86-1668790

By Credit Card: www.saviehealth.org

When Abe Lincoln, the executive director of the healthcare clinic Savie Health, gets stressed about running an organization, he sits in the back corner of the waiting room of the Savie Health office. He watches patients exit their appointments with tears in their eyes, experiencing a moment of

tremendous relief after receiving the healthcare they need and deserve. These moments pull Lincoln out of his stressed state as he is reminded of the organization’s impact and why he does what he does.

Savie Health is a free clinic in Santa Barbara County that provides healthcare services to those who do not have insurance. They often serve individuals who cannot afford privatized insurance, or do not qualify for government programs. “My goal is to provide the same level, same high quality, same compassionate care to people, regardless of their situation,” says Lincoln.

Savie Health www.saviehealth.org

1111 E. Ocean Ave. Suite 2

Lompoc, CA 93436 Contact: Jennifer Rosenbaum Director of Impact (831) 238-0636 jennifer@saviehealth.org

Savie Health serves the most vulnerable adult community members within our region. While our medical facility is located in Lompoc, California, our patient population is compromised of patients throughout the northern region of Santa Barbara County.

Nearly 10% of individuals in Santa Barbara County are uninsured, according to the Santa Barbara Foundation. Many times, it’s the undocumented population that fears going to the doctor’s office most, Lincoln says. Which is often why these individuals leave medical issues untreated until they become life-threatening. Savie Health wants to prevent that.

To ensure undocumented individuals feel comfortable seeking care, the clinic requests minimal personal information from patients. Their operating hours are

Dr. Michael Young, a devoted volunteer with our partner organization SEE International since 2017, passionately assures, "When patients leave Savie, they can be confident in receiving exceptional eye care and precise treatment."

Your Support Means High Quality Healthcare for Those Who Need it Most

Savie

Health Multiplier Effect: For every $100 you donate to Savie Health today, it can provide $10,000 worth of medical care. Volunteer doctors, low-cost labs and medication, and avoidance of billing insurance mean your impact is direct, significant, and impactful.

the same as a normal doctor’s office: 9 am to 4 pm, four days a week. The clinic also offers follow-up appointments and medication (no narcotics) for free or at a low cost. They also provide free vision care for those who need it most, which includes eye exams and glasses if required, through a partnership with SEE International.

Savie Health was started by Dr. Ahmad Nooristani, who saw a problem within the existing healthcare system – the underserved population wasn’t getting preventative, quality primary healthcare. Dr. Nooristani first created the SLO Noor Foundation, a clinic in San Luis Obispo that provides free dental, medical, and vision care to the uninsured. While subsequently working at Lompoc Valley Medical Clinic, he realized the need for a free health clinic in the Santa Barbara County area.

Savie Health continues the tradition of offering the uninsured proactive care that addresses potential problems early on, helping to prevent subsequent health crises and costly, stressful emergency room visits. Individuals with no healthcare can often neglect chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes, which can lead to severe complications.

“All those things that if you find sooner rather than later, you can make a huge amount of difference at a very small cost,” says Lincoln. “Before a heart attack happens, before a stroke happens, before cancer gets so, so, so far down the line.”

It’s often this fear around healthcare that can cause unnecessary stress. Lincoln recalls an incident when a panicked patient thought they had missed their appointment; they were angry, and Lincoln had to drive to the office to assess the situation. “He was so frightened,” recalls Lincoln of the patient. “He had things going on that he didn’t know what it was, he didn’t have any control. He was literally scared for his life.” After talking to the patient and calming him down, Lincoln got him his appointment. Once the man received the medical attention he needed, he hugged Lincoln and wouldn’t let go. “Because he was so grateful that finally, somebody was going to help him.”

Savie Health is there to help… Everybody. Because everybody’s wellbeing and health matters.

Abe Lincoln, with over 30 years of experience in business and healthcare management, is the executive director at Savie Health. He holds a business degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and has served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer at various companies.

KEY SUPPORTERS

Lawrence Li, MD

Gilbert Anderson, MD

Carl Schlosser, MD

Lee Silkman, MD

Elizabeth Toro, MD

Hafez Nasr, MD

James Trenttin, MD

Christopher Taglia, MD

Thomas Nguyen, MD

Brian Lonquich, MD

Justin Chang, MD

Chris Wentling, MD

Khawar Gul, MD

Jagadeesh Batana, MD

Michael Dixon, LCSW

Art Dossey, LCSW

Kelly Stone, Esq.

Alex Murkison

Oscar Diaz

Yasmin Dawson

Dr. Nooristani was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, and his family immigrated to California in 1991 to escape the First Afghan Civil War. He received his medical degree in 2008 and, a year later, founded his first nonprofit, which provides free medical care to uninsured individuals on the Central Coast.

Speciality Compassion Care

Mahatma Gandhi said, “The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.” These organizations are exemplary examples as they use compassion and innovation to protect the health of those most at risk.

No One Should Have to Wait to Get Well

"I

was in the grips of a destructive path of addiction and was afraid for my well-being. CADA's residential treatment center has given me a safe sanctuary to work on my sobriety and provide me with the tools I feel will help me stay sober after I transition from here."

– Residential Treatment Client

In the heart of Santa Barbara, the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (CADA) stands as a beacon of hope for individuals struggling with addiction. The nonprofit organization provides a broad spectrum of services designed to meet individuals where they are in their recovery journey, offering a continuum of care that supports both the immediate and long-term needs of those struggling with substance abuse. From inpatient detox and drug/alcohol treatment to extended outpatient support, CADA is committed to fostering recovery and rebuilding lives.

Since 2004, their Adult Residential Treatment Center, with a 12-bed capacity, has been a lifeline for many, providing critical support and a path to recovery. It offers short-term housing for individuals seeking sobriety, with up to 90 days of shelter and treatment. In recent years, the program has consistently maintained a waitlist of 40

people and the need for an expanded facility is critical in order to meet the growing demand. A delay in treatment can often mean the difference between recovery and relapse.

In order to meet this demand and offer their crucial services to as many struggling individuals as they possibly can, for the last two years CADA has been working towards a much needed expansion. Their mission to aquire an expanded drug/alcohol detox and treatment center would allow them to increase their bed capacity from 12 to 34 beds, upgrade their existing facilities to create a more comfortable and supportive environment conducive to recovery and healing, and provide a wider range of services including Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT), counseling, and aftercare support to ensure long-term success.

Founded in 1949 as the Santa Barbara Committee on Alcoholism with

the understanding that alcoholism is an illness and not a “moral failing,” today CADA is the county’s premier provider of education, prevention, and treatment of substance abuse and co-occuring mental health conditions affecting youth, adults, and families in Santa Barbara County. But, sadly, they simply cannot help everyone who needs their services.

With the support of compassionate community partners, CADA has begun to create the groundwork for their expansion so they can educate, support, and help more people struggling with addiction. CADA’s success depends on the generosity of the community and at this time, more than ever before, CADA is inviting the Santa Barbara community to join them in this critical mission of bringing into reality the dream of an expanded inpatient drug/alcohol detox and treatment center.

Your Support Can Save the Lives of Those Who Suffer From Addiction

The Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (CADA) is a catalyst for change for those challenged by addiction. But their successful inpatient treatment and recovery services are in high demand and there is a wait to receive their services. No one should have to wait to get well.

EVERY DOLLAR MAKES A DIFFERENCE. HERE IS HOW YOU CAN HELP:

• Direct Donations: Provide financial support to help CADA fund the purchase and renovation of an expanded facility.

• Fundraising Events: Participate in or host fundraising events to raise awareness and support for CADA’s cause.

• Corporate Sponsorship: Partner with CADA as a corporate sponsor to show your commitment to community health and wellness.

For more information on how to donate, or to learn more about CADA services, please visit their website at www.cadasb.org. Together, a brighter, healthier future for the Santa Barbara community is possible. With your help, CADA can continue to be a beacon of hope for those suffering with addiction.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dr. Michael Hullander

Gary Clancy

Dr. Bob Bryant

Gordon Auchincloss, JD

Catherine E. Lauber, CPA

Andria Kahmann

Stacey Borek

John Herzog

Dr. Sherif El-Asyouty

Carol Anne Lonson

Dana Mazzetti

DA John Savrnoch

Michael Tantleff

Terri Maus-Nisich

Kirsten Cavendish Weston Smith

Grant Borek

Diana Lytel

NON-VOTING MEMBER

Victoria Rightmire, Executive Director

This evocative statue titled "Rising Above" by renowned sculptor John Fisher at Elings Park captures a powerful moment of transformation depicting figures emerging from a shadowy, crumbling base, symbolizing the struggle and eventual triumph over addiction.

“T he Mosher Foundation is pleased to support CADA’s efforts to expand the number of residential treatment beds for individuals who are taking the first courageous steps to overcoming an alcohol or drug addiction. We believe this investment in the life saving treatment services that CADA provides is critical right now and will impact the health and wellness of the entire community.”

— Edward Birch Chair and CEO, Mosher

Foundation

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check:

Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse 232 E. Canon Perdido St. Santa Barbara, CA 93101

*Donation Memo: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer: Tax ID# 95-1878858 By Credit Card: cadasb.org

Contact: Victoria Rightmire Executive Director 805-722-1301 vrightmire@cadasb.org

Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse cadasb.org (805) 963-1433

Giving Low-Income Youth the Gift of a Healthy Smile

“Underserved students in our community have severe dental needs. Future Smiles is addressing this issue by providing students with braces. We believe a healthier smile can change a student’s trajectory in life.”

– Paul Orfalea Audacious Foundation

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check:

Children and Family Resource Services

3970 La Colina Rd., #2

Santa Barbara, CA 93110

*Donation Memo: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer: Tax ID# 82-4121880

By Credit Card: www.sbceo.org/futuresmiles

Contact: MaryEllen Rehse, MSW

Executive Director, Children and Family Resource Services Cell: (805) 450-5714 mrehse@sbceo.org

Children and Family Resource Services - Future Smiles

www.sbceo.org/futuresmiles

3970 La Colina Rd., #6

Santa Barbara, CA 93110 (805) 964-4710

Empowering kids with a confident smile and a healthier, brighter future.

Ahealthy smile not only provides obvious physical benefits but can boost self-esteem and have a positive life-long impact. On the other hand, orthodontic issues such as misaligned bites, severe crowding, or missing teeth have an unfair (and well-documented) correlation to getting bullied at school, missing out on career opportunities, and various health concerns. The damage to one’s confidence can be permanent. Future Smiles is all too familiar with these challenges. Working within the nonprofit Children & Family Resource Services (a partner of the Santa Barbara County Education Office), Future Smiles provides low-income Santa Barbara County area

youth, who have severe orthodontic needs, with a pathway to braces.

Jennyffer Rivera, the Oral Health & Future Smiles Program Manager, says the community has witnessed firsthand how life-altering a healthy smile can be. During the height of the pandemic, the staff learned that some students in their community were relieved that they could cover their teeth with face masks. Even when restrictions were lifted, several students continued wearing their masks. She points to one case in which one child was being bullied in school because of her orthodontia issues. “It was hindering her mental and physical health to the point where she attempted to take her own life,” Rivera says.

The Future Smiles Collaborative Dream Team.

Give a Child the Gift of a Confident and Healthy Smile

FutureSmiles is working on giving more low-income Santa Barbara County youth orthodontic care that can boost self-esteem, boost academic and job opportunities, and lead to overall better physical and mental health.

Historically, Future Smiles has been funded by Paul and Jane Wood Orfalea’s Audacious Foundation serving a limited number of schools in Santa Barbara and Lompoc. The organization recently issued a challenge to other donors so Future Smiles can expand their life-altering work throughout the community.

“This is a new endeavor for us,” Executive Director of Children and Family Resource Services at Santa Barbara County Education Office MaryEllen Rehse says. “Paul Orfalea’s dream is to be able to provide braces to even more children that need them.”

• $500,000 would allow Future Smiles to expand to other regions of the county not yet served.

• Every $5,000 raised this year will fund another child on the Future Smiles waitlist providing them full treatment for severe clinical needs.

Future Smiles was able to step in and offer the child braces – and hope.

“The parent wrote a letter to us that said, ‘Not only did you save my family, but you saved the life of my daughter, because by her being a recipient and knowing she’s going to look and feel better, her whole personality and her whole perspective on life changed,’” Rivera says. “That case was severe but it’s a reminder that our work at Future Smiles impacts the whole family.”

Future Smiles has served over 1,500 students who have received braces over the past 10 years. Families are case-managed to enroll in Medi-Cal and paired with local philanthropic-minded orthodontists who accept significantly reduced rates for treatment.

MaryEllen Rehse, the executive director of Children and Family Resource Services at Santa Barbara County Education Office, says that

Future Smiles students are part of a special screening process in which the families commit to two years of dental care. “We assess the severity of clinical need for orthodontic treatment, and that families meet low-income qualifications,” Rehse says. It’s worth noting that part of Future Smiles outreach is that every staff member speaks Spanish like much of the community it serves. That’s helped widen its reach to more people in need.

Rivera also notes that while students once thought braces were only for nerds, the very concept of straightening their teeth has now become much more popular. At Lompoc Valley Middle School, we have students eagerly asking, “When is the screening going to happen?”

Braces, Rehse has witnessed, are now officially cool.

Before and after pictures of a Future Smiles recipient.

KEY SUPPORTERS

Dr. Susan Salcido

Paul & Jane Wood Orfalea

Catherine Brozowski

Jim & Maggie Cote

Katina Zaninovich

Alfredo Plascencia

Georgene Lowe

Bridget Baublits

Dr. Florene Bednersh

Donna Barranco Fisher

Patty Herrera

Brianne O'Dell

Dr. Fran Malinoff

Saul Serrano

Dr. Ivan Alvarez

Dr. Karen Lin

Cathy Slaughter

Drs. Chad Wright & John Feusier

Drs. Stewart White & Brett Grube

Drs. Eric Edstrom & Adam Swenson

Dr. Scott Harper

Dr. Eric Castle

Dr. Dawn Thatcher

Drs. Drew Ferris & Rebecca Quinn

SCAN TO MAKE A

...AND LEARN MORE ABOUT FUTURE SMILES

Where Brain Injury Survivors Find Hope and Support

“Jodi House fills a critical gap in services that would otherwise exist for brain injury survivors as they reintegrate into our community after a life-changing injury.

I have proudly served on the Board for the past five years and have been so impressed by the difference that Jodi House’s comprehensive services make in the lives of survivors and their families. It’s been inspiring to see the organization continue to grow its reach under the direction of the Board, the executive leadership of Lindsey Black, and the launch of its online programming. Jodi House is truly a community treasure.”

– Adriana Mezic Board President

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check: Jodi House

625 Chapala Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101

*Donation Memo: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer: Tax ID# 95-3836137

By Credit Card: jodihouse.org/donate-now

Contact: Lindsey Black Executive Director (805) 845-2858 lindsey@jodihouse.org

Jodi House www.jodihouse.org 625 Chapala Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (805) 563-2882

Based in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, Jodi House provides a supportive day program and case management services for survivors of acquired brain injury and their caregivers, regardless of the ability to pay.

On November 12, 2005, Leo’s life changed forever. After he lost consciousness behind the wheel, the then 24-year-old college student’s car veered off a 120-foot cliff. The crash shattered his body and left him with a severe brain injury.

As Leo faced the daunting reality of living with a brain injury, he discovered Jodi House, a Santa Barbara nonprofit that helps survivors and their families rebuild.

“Recovering from a traumatic brain injury feels like being completely lost,” Leo recalls. “Jodi House was the guide that helped me find my way.”

Jodi House was founded in 1982 by the parents of Jodi Wustman, a local teenager who suffered a brain injury after being hit by a drunk driver. Today, the organization helps over 150 brain injury survivors each year learn essential skills, access care, and connect with a supportive community to rebuild their lives.

Jodi House offers a range of classes and services for brain injury survivors, including a day program, case

management, vocational assistance, and support groups, all on a sliding scale or free of charge for those who cannot afford it – no one is ever turned away from Jodi House because of the inability to pay.

“A brain injury can happen to any of us at any time,” says Lindsey Black, executive director. “Jodi House is here to help survivors and their families navigate the many changes and challenges after their injury.”

Black says that whether from an auto accident, stroke, sports injury, or countless other causes, the chances are high that you or someone you know has been affected by a brain injury.

Despite the frequency and reverberating impact a brain injury has on the individual, family, and community, Black adds that there are limited long-term social supports and resources available to those experiencing brain injuries.

“Once medical professionals have finished their lifesaving work, survivors and their families are often left to

It Could Happen to Anyone. Help Fill the Critical Void in Care for Brain Injury Survivors.

With nearly 80% of its members facing financial hardship, Jodi House ensures that no one is ever denied services due to inability to pay.

A $5,000 donation funds a full year of their services for one survivor, helping them regain independence and rebuild their lives.

A $500 donation provides vital caregiver support and education. Your gift ensures that Jodi House can continue to care for brain injury survivors and offer essential services so they can live their best lives possible.

cope with the emotional, behavioral, and social effects of the injury on their own,” says Black. “Jodi House provides access to ongoing support that is affordable or at no cost.”

Brain injury survivors can attend a day program tailored to their unique needs, join classes that move the body like yoga and dance, or strengthen cognition in memory and communication workshops. Art and music therapy classes provide opportunities for creative expression. Additionally, Jodi House offers virtual programs, allowing survivors to continue their rehabilitation from anywhere.

Among the many who have benefited from these programs is Leo. At Jodi House, he attended classes on communication skills, memory strategies, music therapy, and a peer support group.

Classes that were crucial in helping him adjust to his new life, he says.

“It’s the perfect practice for returning to the real world,” Leo says.

A key goal for Leo was to return to school, but his brain injury often left him feeling overwhelmed and short-tempered. Leo worked closely with a case manager who guided him through the process, including taking him to the campus and enrolling him in the disabled students program at Santa Barbara City College.

In December 2023, Leo became a certified personal trainer, a milestone he attributes to the work he did at Jodi House and the ongoing support of his case manager.

“Through it all, Jodi House has always been there for me,” Leo says.

“I’m not sure where I’d be today without it, but I’m blessed to be here with my beautiful family.”

An estimated 5.3 million Americans live with a brain injury-related disability.

KEY SUPPORTERS

Pete & Becky Adams

ElizaBeth Alexander

Chumash Foundation

Andrew & Ri Chung

Cottage Health

Brent & Eileen Dill

Barbara Flynn

Kerrilee & Martin Gore

Dr. Angela Hsu & Jordan Pinsker

Keith Family Foundation

Kerry & Mike Kelly

Donny & Kim Lieberman

Adriana & Igor Mezic

Tim & Kami Morton-Smith

Chip & Brenda Nichols

Dr. Timothy O'Connor

Aaron Poirier & Jessica Koval

Adam Pollock

Ryan & Jenna Rogers

Dorothy & Richard Salogga

Jason & Lynette Spievak

The Outhwaite Foundation

Steve & Suzanne Weintraub

Vincent & Judy Wood

Jodi House offers a wide range of classes and programming focused on supporting brain injury survivors in their cognitive, physical, and social and emotional rehabilitation.

Leo, Jodi House member

Joy and Community: Uplifting Those with Parkinson’s Disease

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check:

Parkinson Association of Santa Barbara P.O. Box 6254

Santa Barbara, CA 93160

*Donation Memo: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer: Tax ID# 95-3333378

By Credit Card: www.mypasb.org/donate

Contact: Cindy Faith Swain Administrator (805) 683-1326 mypasb@gmail.com

Parkinson Association of Santa Barbara mypasb.org

P. O. Box 6254

Santa Barbara, CA 93160-6254 (805) 683-1326

The word “Parkinson’s” invokes a certain image. If you are the Parkinson Association of Santa Barbara (PASB), the image is six amused guys on a sun-splashed fairway – each of them wearing the sort of mischievous grin that immediately precedes or follows a fit of laughter. Welcome to the Parkinson Association of Santa Barbara, where Parkinson’s Disease is an occasion for camaraderie, sharing, and enlightenment.

“About the golfing program,” says Jayne Brechwald, former PASB president and current support group moderator. “We just went ahead and started that program. Such responsiveness illustrates what I think of as the strength of our local organization. We’re grassroots and flexible.” That’s one way to put it.

Pointedly unaligned with a national organization and the “slow-as-molasses” committee model of decision-making, Parkinson Association of Santa Barbara has nimbly gone their own way for nearly half a century. “We have programs that really serve our locals,”

says Brechwald. “PASB gives people an opportunity to attend exercise classes, social events, educational programs, all organized locally. The ability for people with Parkinson’s to get together and socialize is everything.”

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) as an empowering rallying point? How did that idea get off the ground? Beverly Steward had been living with Parkinson’s since her mid-20s when, in 1978, she placed an ad in the Santa Barbara News-Press. Would anybody in town be interested in starting a Parkinson’s group? Forty-five people turned up, chatting delightedly with one another and comparing notes. A steering committee was formed and the org started rolling forward in earnest.

At that inaugural meeting, PASB drew up its raison d’être. The group would exist to serve individuals with PD, their families, friends, and caregivers. How? By providing upto-the-minute information on PD, by educating an interested general public on the nature of PD, and – you know –providing a little up-time with others on

Welcoming folks to the PASB Annual Symposium. (Photo credit: Marian Shapiro) Participating in PASB's exercise program.

Supporting Those with Parkinson’s Across the Community

AsParkinson Association of Santa Barbara’s Richard Graham says: “There are over 3,000 people in Santa Barbara that have Parkinson’s, but we only have 600 members.”

After nearly 50 years of membership building through tireless volunteers and word of mouth, Parkinson Association Santa Barbara is at an inflection point. Principally in need of a part-time Director of Outreach, PASB would benefit greatly from funding sufficient for a two-year appointment of that position, a figure of $60,000. Once true outreach begins “…we would hope,” says PASB’s board president, Barbara Levi, “that those marketing efforts and awareness campaigns would yield more than enough funds needed to pay that salary.”

the PD journey. It was further decided there would be no membership dues. Nobody desiring to join would be inhibited by finances. Thus PASB is wholly reliant on generous donations from participants and the public.

PASB offers an array of events and exercise sessions, including their Move to Music chair-based exercise program. “The more the doctors and researchers learn about Parkinson’s,” says PASB board president, Barbara Levi, “the more they focus on exercise as the one thing that’s really proven to delay the progression of symptoms.” Also on offer are the Chat Group, the Care Partners’ Support Group, Early Stage Parkinson’s Support Group, and the Transitions Group. There are monthly speaker meetings packed with information, an annual July picnic, and a holiday party.

Richard Graham – PASB treasurer and longtime board member – explains PASB’s yearly all-day symposium. “Parkinson’s is such a complicated disease. It’s 36 different symptoms, and so you just can’t get enough information about what we’re dealing with.” Since the 2024 symposium lectures were posted to the internet, they have garnered 34,000 views from around the world.

PASB has spent nearly five decades growing into the life-elevating nexus of friendship and empowerment it is today. “Every week I hear somebody say that this is their only real outing,” Jayne Brechwald says. “And you can imagine how much I look forward to just being here and enjoying everybody discussing and sharing their issues, whether they’re emotional or physical.”

“As a member of the Board of Directors since 2017, I have been honored to support this local, standalone organization. We serve hundreds of people each year through our Exercise programs, Support Groups, monthly Education programs and our Annual Symposium, most of which is provided FREE OF CHARGE. At every event, there’s a welcoming, supportive atmosphere. The striking feature of PASB is that it is a local organization with no corporate structure! This attracted me to join the Board, knowing that every dollar raised stays right in Santa Barbara to sustain and increase our local programs and services.”

– Jeanne M. West, RN, MHA Santa Barbara Senior Care Consultant/ Senior Activist

Enjoying PASB's annual picnic. (Photo credit: Marian Shapiro)

Attending PASB's annual all-day Symposium. Golfing with PASB friends.

Providing Struggling Children the Building Blocks for a Lifetime of Communication and Confidence

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check:

California Scottish Rite Foundation

303 W. Lincoln Ave. Ste 150 Anaheim, CA 92805

*Donation Memo: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer:

Tax ID# 94-6078728

By Credit Card: www.casrf.org/santabarbara

Contact: Arthur Salazar

Executive Vice President and Secretary (714) 547-7325

asalazar@casrf.org

California Scottish Rite Foundation

RiteCare Childhood Language Center of Santa Barbara www.casrf.org/santabarbara

16 E. Carrillo St. Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (805) 962-8469

It’s hard to overestimate the importance of communication skills for success in life. It’s something most of us take for granted, but for toddlers with speech and language delays, struggling with being able to express themselves can lead to frustration and behavior and social difficulties that only exacerbate as they get older.

The RiteCare Childhood Language Center of Santa Barbara was founded in 1984 to provide life-changing speech therapy, language skills, and literacy services at no cost to the families. Over the years, RiteCare has helped thousands of youngsters by providing weekly individual therapy services, a vital element for reaching communication goals. The center also provides parents with all the tools and essentials necessary for working with their child to practice the skills learned in therapy each week, with the therapist demonstrating specific strategies that are crucial to each child’s progress.

RiteCare’s speech therapy and language skills approach is much more comprehensive and focused on both the child’s and family’s specific needs than

what can be provided by public schools, if at all available. RiteCare is also able to work with children at a time when services are most effective to resolve articulation and motor speech disorders, issues with stuttering, and voice and cognitive-communicative disorder.

“Early intervention makes a huge difference,” says Julie DeAngelis, Speech-Language Pathologist and RiteCare director. “We’re helping these kids get to where they need to be before they even enter kindergarten so that they’re ready to go when they start school.”

RiteCare is able to support kids who may not be able to utter a simple phrase, tell mom or dad that they’re hungry, or even pronounce their own name. With up to two years of therapy, the children are able to make astonishing progress.

“There’s nothing like seeing a child who is completely withdrawn because they can barely talk turn into an excited chatterbox,” DeAngelis says.

The RiteCare Childhood Language Center of Santa Barbara is a program of the California Scottish Rite

Ranchers Week at Camp Chit Chat. Each week has a different theme. Children work on their communication goals in an engaging environment during camp.

Foundation and just one of 19 such Childhood Language Centers across the state. But the local center stands alone as the only one to offer Camp Chit Chat, an interactive summer camp for children ages 3 1/2 to 6 that offers a fun and socially interactive way for children to maintain essential communication skills during the summer when regular therapy services may not be available. The camp has a different theme each week, full of imaginative and playful activities to help kids with vocabulary words, expressions, and language skills.

“Parents tell me their child asks about it every single day,” DeAngelis says. “They jump out of bed all excited to go when it’s actually Chit Chat day.”

DeAngelis founded the camp in 2009, just two years after she joined RiteCare. Also, with her colleague

Summer Calvert, DeAngelis created Brain Lab, a literacy intervention program for children in grades 2-6 that recently incorporated the Science of Reading approach to aid students with dyslexia. Operating as a private nonprofit allows the Center to be creative and think outside the box to come up with ideas that make learning more fun and effective.

“Having the child want to come and see us is the biggest hurdle,” DeAngelis says. “When they’re excited and can’t wait to run in the doors, it’s easy for us to get the work done. We’ve created something that’s engaging and the kids love to attend. When they see their progress, they can’t wait to continue.”

Help Children Who Struggle with Communication Find Their Voice

The need never stops. At RiteCare Childhood Language Center of Santa Barbara there is always a waiting list of children who are falling further behind their peers in speech, language, and reading skills. Every dollar donated to RiteCare allows them to take on more children. It helps support their vital programs, their ongoing operations, and allows them to continue innovating and developing new programs, like Camp Chit Chat and Brain Lab, potentially leading to new solutions to help kids in even more exciting and effective ways.

“I

want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I don’t know what would have happened with the education of my children without RiteCare. My son couldn’t read in fourth grade. He attended Brain Lab, where he was diagnosed with dyslexia. When he left primary school, he was able to level out of support and he is now earning good grades. My youngest daughter was born with a speech problem, and she could not articulate a word in Spanish or English. The truth is, as a mother, I felt frustrated and desperate because I did not understand what my daughter was asking me or needed at that moment. My daughter improved with her speech at RiteCare but also needed help with reading. She continued with support and is now in fourth grade doing well.”

– Monica Gastélum Parent of two RiteCare graduates

KEY SUPPORTERS

Wood-Claeyssens Foundation

Sidney E. Frank Foundation

Chumash Foundation

Towbes Foundation

The Estate of Lois J Sorg

Children love attending the therapy programs at RiteCare, where work is disguised as play.

This young student is using her fingers to break down the sounds in words. Brain Lab uses a "science of reading approach" to help students learn to read.

Homelessness & Housing

The United States is riven by a crushing homelessness crisis. Many have tried and failed to make an impact, but these organizations are all – from different tacks –making a positive impact.

A Lifetime Commitment of Care

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check: Housing Works 121 N. Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90042

*Donation Memo: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer:

Tax ID# 03-0522656

By Credit Card: housingworksca.org/donatenow

Contact: Celina Alvarez Executive Director calvarez@housingworksca.org

Housing Works www.housingworksca.org 121 N. Avenue 59

Los Angeles, CA 90042

(323) 466-0042

Deborah Leigh Stevens, 68, was living on the streets of West Hollywood in 2014, within blocks of her former apartment. She had lived most of her life in the area, much of it with her elderly mother, and worked as a paralegal. But then her mother died, their apartment building was sold, rents soared, and she found herself a senior citizen with nowhere to go.

Celina Alvarez, now executive director of the nonprofit Housing Works, met her on a park bench and they forged a bond. Housing Works found Stevens housing, and while she hated to leave her beloved West Hollywood, she gratefully moved to Azusa to live safely inside. Two years later, she was diagnosed with cancer and after a five-year battle, Housing Works ensured she had hospice care. Alvarez sat by Stevens’ bed in her final days, letting her know how much she was loved and appreciated. It was Housing Works’ loving staff who attended her burial.

“One life, one relationship, one person at a time” is Housing Works’ motto. And it is the only way Alvarez knows how to do this work.

And the work Alvarez and her dedicated team at Housing Works do is nothing short of visionary and life-changing. Believing that “housing

At Housing Works, they believe that housing is only the first step. They strive to not only provide services that help members of our community find and retain supportive housing, but also to reignite their passions and goals. Through the arts, music, spoken word etc.; people can begin to heal.

is a right not a privilege,” they aim to end homelessness through housing, health, and community. For people experiencing homelessness, housing is just the first step. Housing Works and their programs go far beyond that – with employment and educational enrichment and support to enhance food security. With the idea being to keep that housing permanent and support the ability of those they work with to thrive in the community.

“You don’t show up to the people we are serving on a limited-time basis,”

HW team member Romina assists with the bi-monthly Food Distribution for HW residents and the local community. The people Housing Works serves often face food insecurity, and they strive to alleviate that burden by providing grocery bags filled with healthy and organic fruits, vegetables, and grains.

Housing Works is proud to partner with several Housing Developers to provide case management services onsite throughout 10 permanent supportive housing apartment buildings across Los Angeles County.

Help Get More of the Unhoused into Permanent Housing

Housing Works has a nationally recognized approach to guiding people off the streets and into permanent housing. They use hope, empowerment, and encouragement plus a resourceful base of proven programs that go beyond housing to include enrichment services that help those they work with maintain that housing.

With lack of housing at dire levels, Housing Works’ goal this coming year is to provide on-site services for 400 more clients and to add two building sites this coming year. They also plan to expand their reach by creating a framework to pass on their institutional knowledge and train a new generation of advocates.

All of this requires the support and generosity of the community. Housing Works’ goal is to raise $7 million to increase their reach as they tackle the humanitarian crisis of homelessness in California. Every dollar helps them reach this goal.

Alvarez says. “It’s got to be a lifetime commitment, in order to ensure that we can keep people off the streets.”

California accounts for 28% of the unhoused in the nation, with more than 181,000 people living without permanent shelter – 75,300 people in L.A. County alone. In Santa Barbara County the most recent Point in Time Count showed an 11% increase in homelessness.

This is Kelley. Kelley was homeless and resided in a sober living facility when she was referred to Housing Works. After assessing Kelley’s situation and considering some of her requests related to her housing needs, HW Housing Navigator Catrice found a duplex for her in Los Angeles.

“We really push to understand what’s happening in the person’s life and figure out: what do we need to do to overcome the barriers that are creating challenges for people to get inside,” says Alvarez. “It is very, very rare that we have to turn someone away.”

Founded in 2003, by co-founder Mary Kirchen, a member of the Immaculate Heart Community of Montecito, Housing Works has grown and now gives on-site support for more than 800 people in 11 housing sites and in individual housing. And it has a 93% success rate of housing retention. Through its mobile team (MIST), Housing Works helps locate the chronically homeless and retain housing and other critical services for them.

Housing Works believes that this dire humanitarian crisis can be solved by a one-on-one commitment of care based on empowerment, forgiveness, love, and compassion that fuels living environments that allow people to flourish and become thriving members of the community.

There

are 75,500 people in

L.A. County who

are currently experiencing homelessness.

KEY SUPPORTERS

Immaculate Heart Community

The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation

Santa Monica College: Dr. Nancy Greenstein (Board Trustee)

SoCal Gas: Neil Navin (Senior Vice President of SoCal Gas) Corporation for Supportive Housing L.A. Care

The Guibord Center

Remi Kessler (Film Producer)

The Sprague Foundation

Mary Kirchen, Founder of Housing Works

Saba Mwine-Chang (HW board member and Deputy Chief of DEI LAHSA)

Gary Blasi (Professor of Law Emeritus, UCLA School of Law)

Mollie Kaiser – Private Wealth Advisor

Dr. James Thing (Professor of Sociology)

Zella Knight (Homeless Advocate serving multiple L.A. agencies)

Linda Peacore (HW Board Chair and instructor, Westridge School)

Dulce Acosta (Senior Principal Director of USC Community and Local Government Partnerships)

Roland Palencia (former Community Benefits

Director - L.A. Care Health Plan and Founder and President of BreakSpell Consulting)

Heather Sanchez (Head of Business Banking - Farmers & Merchants)

Val Zavala (retired - 30 yearsbroadcast journalist KCET)

Scaling Up to Tackle Rising Homelessness

“New Beginnings is helping low-income people throughout Santa Barbara County with their affordable counseling services, helping them navigate difficult times, find housing, and get back on their feet. Their Safe Parking Program has been replicated nationally, allowing people in transition to sleep safely and find housing through the Rapid Re-Housing program, and their clients are always treated with dignity and respect.”

– Lloyd Dallett

Donor & Advocate

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check: NBCC

530 E. Montecito St., Ste. 101 Santa Barbara, CA 93103

*Donation Memo: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer:

Tax ID# 77-0556795

By Credit Card: sbnbcc.org/donate

Contact: Kristine Schwarz Executive Director (805) 963-7777 ext. 144 kschwarz@sbnbcc.org

New Beginnings www.sbnbcc.org

530 E. Montecito St., Ste. 101 Santa Barbara, CA, 93103 (805) 963-7777

Aman in his 40s with tears in his eyes walked into Santa Barbara’s New Beginnings Counseling Center late one evening – evicted for the first time, overwhelmed by the sudden blow, and unsure where to turn.

“He kept saying, ‘I don’t know what to do. I don’t know where to go. I don’t know who to ask for help,’” recalls Kristine Schwarz, Executive Director of New Beginnings. “When people are overwhelmed, sometimes what they need most is somebody to acknowledge their situation and say, ‘Let me help you.’”

As Santa Barbara’s housing and mental health crises intensify, New Beginnings is scaling up to meet the growing demand. The nonprofit provides counseling, housing assistance, and a safe place for those on the edge, blending practical support with emotional care for homeless and low-income individuals and families throughout the county.

With significant expansion efforts over the past years, New Beginnings is reaching more of the county’s most vulnerable, offering stability and connection when it’s needed most. Founded more than 50 years ago, New Beginnings started as a small counseling

center and has evolved into an essential Santa Barbara social safety net. Key programs include the Safe Parking Program, which offers secure overnight parking for individuals living in their vehicles – a vital service for those facing sudden homelessness – and rapid rehousing assistance for connection to stable, permanent housing. Their Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program provides tailored housing and case management support to those who have served, addressing unique challenges. The organization also runs the largest clinical training program in the county, training master’s and doctoral-level therapists to be the next generation of helpers amid the severe shortage of mental health providers.

New Beginnings’ growth comes in response to the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has driven a surge in first-time homelessness, mental health issues, and financial instability across the region. Over the last fiscal year, the organization saw a dramatic rise in demand for its services, with a 15% increase in unduplicated clients, totaling over 2,000 individuals, with 88% of New Beginnings’

New Beginnings Executive Director Kristine Schwarz honoring the Hon. Susan Rose and Congressman Salud Carbajal at the 20th Anniversary of the Safe Parking Program.

Prevent Santa Barbara’s Most Vulnerable From Falling Back into Crisis

NewBeginnings seeks $250,000 in unrestricted funding to support essential client needs not covered by government funding. Your generous donations help provide food, hygiene items, and pet care for those living in vehicles, dental and medical care for individuals whose health has suffered on the streets, and extended motel stays for clients undergoing treatments like cancer care.

“This funding is crucial in preventing clients from falling back into crisis,” Executive Director Kristine Schwarz says. “Your donation directly supports these critical, often overlooked services, helping New Beginnings guide vulnerable clients toward stability and positive outcomes.”

clients falling under 50% of the Area Median Income.

More people are seeking therapy and staying longer, with an increasing number of families and couples coming in for help. Yet the average fee per session still remains just $13.

“People haven’t bounced back emotionally or mentally,” says Schwarz. “We’re seeing higher levels of distress, and it’s clear the level of need is showing no signs of returning to what it was before the pandemic.”

As the need continues to grow – an 18% increase in people housed, a 24% rise in counseling center clients, and a 42% surge in veterans served – New Beginnings continues to rise to the challenge, says Schwarz, providing not just housing and mental health services but a holistic whole-person support system for those at risk of losing it all.

“We can’t prevent you from falling into homelessness, but if you do, we can catch you and help you transition back into housing,” says Schwarz.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jacqueline Kurta, MFT, Psy.D. President

Dan Engel, Vice President

Mark Cardona, J.D., Secretary

Ziad Elkurjie, Treasurer

Suzanne Grimmesey, MFT Member

Julie LeVay, Member

Stasia Huiner, MBA, Member

Kathryn Keene, Member

Diane Pannkuk, MBA, Member

Warren B. Ritter II, Member

Scott Sanford, Member

Ronnie Shahbazian, Member

Veteran team building with Equine Therapy at Equi-Centered.

New Beginnings Counseling Center's staff at a mental health event.

A Safe Parking client smiling as he signs his new lease.

A new home for a Safe Parking client.

The PATH to Housing and Food Security

“H omelessness affects the entire community, and by working together, we can foster a proactive and compassionate environment where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and a place to call home. Supporting PATH means contributing to both immediate relief for those experiencing homelessness and long-term solutions that address its root causes.”

– Sheridan Taphorn

PATH Santa Barbara Advisory Board Member

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check:

PATH Philanthropy Mailbox

P.O. Box 31001-1743 Pasadena, CA 91110-1743

*Donation Memo: PATH SB: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer: Tax ID# 95-3950196

By Credit Card: epath.org/give

Contact: Liz Adams

PATH Santa Barbara Regional Director (805) 455-2331 liza@epath.org

PATH Santa Barbara epath.org/santabarbara 816 Cacique Street

Santa Barbara, CA 93103 (805) 884-8481

For more than four decades, PATH has been a beacon of hope and help for people experiencing homelessness in California. The statewide organization expanded to Santa Barbara in 2015. PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) follows the effective “Housing First” approach, which connects people to housing and then focuses on stabilization through voluntary supportive services.

Once interim housing has been achieved in their 100-bed facility on Cacique Street, the nonprofit works to transition their program participants into permanent housing while also providing case management, medical and mental healthcare, benefits advocacy, employment training, and other services. In Santa Barbara, the nonprofit has connected over 680 people to permanent homes since 2015.

PATH is always expanding its approach and services. To help combat the rising number of students who don’t have stable housing while they study, the organization just launched a rapid rehousing program – Pathways Home – in partnership with Santa Barbara City College.

“We’re working with students who are currently unhoused or at imminent risk of losing their housing, helping them find a place to live and supporting them by covering costs to move in, furnish it, and pay the monthly rent,” says Liz Adams, PATH Santa Barbara’s regional director. “Going to college is difficult enough as it is. If you’re struggling to survive and you can’t meet your basic needs of food and shelter, how are you going to be successful in classes?”

Now PATH is putting extra attention on its food rescue program, where the nonprofit partners with the Foodbank to pick up food donated by local grocery stores, a massive effort that last year totaled more than $2 million dollars worth of products. The food is part of what PATH uses to make and serve three meals per day to its on-site participants, but it’s also earmarked for other people in the community impacted by food insecurity, including the SBCC students and PATH’s street outreach programs. More than 10,000 pounds a month also goes back out to other nonprofits, such as Veggie Rescue, City Net, or the Faulding Hotel, whose representatives

In Santa Barbara, PATH provides a variety of services for our neighbors experiencing homelessness that include outreach, employment assistance, housing navigation, rapid rehousing, interim and permanent supportive housing.

Building a New Food Facility

Although PATH counts some 300 monthly kitchen and food sorting volunteers, the work takes place mostly on plastic folding tables and makeshift equipment in a space that’s not dedicated to the process.

The nonprofit seeks $375,000 to build the brand new PATH Santa Barbara Food Resource Center, a dedicated food storage and distribution space as an addition to the existing PATH facility. The center would allow the nonprofit to more efficiently receive, sort, process, and provide food to the hundreds of participants it serves across its programs as well as redistribute a big percentage back out to the community.

“With that facility we could really ramp up our food rescue program and be able to better support so many more people in our community, and save a lot more food from being wasted,” says Liz Adams, PATH Santa Barbara’s regional director.

For someone to stay in the interim housing program for a full year, receiving three meals per day, hygiene supplies, case management, and a 24/7 home, it costs approximately $30,000 per person. With governmental budget cuts looming, private donations will have to make up the difference as costs rise with inflation. “We’re rallying that community support,” Adams says. “It really does take the whole village to do this work.”

come to the facility to choose what serves their vulnerable participants best.

“People today have so many pressing issues. We want food to be the least of their worries, so we do everything we

can to take that burden off of people’s shoulders,” Adams says. “As with all of our programs, we meet people where they’re at. And, we’re helping reduce food waste in the community.”

Each month, around 300 kitchen volunteers work to sort, weigh, and prepare meals from PATH's food rescue and donation programs. They are hoping to raise $375,000 to create the PATH Santa Barbara Food Resource Center, which will allow them to efficiently provide food to program participants and community partners.

KEY SUPPORTERS

Sue Adams

Mark Asman

Denny & Bitsy Bacon

The Balay Ko Foundation

Nancy Fiore

Ron & Carole Fox

Goleta Presbyterian Church

Geoff Green

Daniel Lane

Don & Kelley Johnson

La Centra-Summerlin Foundation

Brian McTeague

Juliana Minsky

Glen Mowrer & Bernice James

Sheridan Taphorn

The Towbes Foundation

The Vollmer Family Foundation

Dylan Ward

Devon Wardlow

Wolfe Lyons Family

PATH Santa Barbara's dedicated staff are led by Regional Director Liz Adams (center).

Supporting Vulnerable Mothers Through Pregnancy

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check:

Villa Majella of Santa Barbara 5662 Calle Real Ste. 228 Goleta, CA 93117

*Donation Memo: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer:

Tax ID# 95-3730718

By Credit Card: villamajella.org/donate

Lauren was filled with anxiety the night she was discharged from the hospital. Six months pregnant, ill from past substance abuse, and without family or friends to support her, Lauren found herself alone.

“When the hospital staff suggested I apply to Villa Majella Maternity Home, I was relieved to know there was somewhere I could call home.”

Once Lauren was safe and sheltered, the Villa Majella staff put together a plan to help Lauren through the end of her pregnancy. First, they connected her with local health services to restart her prenatal medical care; she had missed several appointments because she didn’t have reliable transport. Next, they helped Lauren prepare to be a mother. Having only collected a few items for her baby, Lauren felt overwhelmed thinking about all the things she still needed. But when the Villa Majella staff opened their baby supply cupboard, Lauren’s face lit up with joy. Because of the generosity of the Santa Barbara community, Lauren had access to everything she needed for her and her baby.

Baby Ileana was born this past autumn. Lauren is now a full-time student at SBCC where she is completing a degree in education administration. And both mother and daughter are healthy.

Villa Majella of Santa Barbara www.villamajella.org

5662 Calle Real Ste. 228 Goleta, CA 93117 (805) 683-2838 Contact: Loretta Johnson, PhD loretta@villamajella.org

“We don’t want any pregnant women to feel alone. By supporting a mom in this vulnerable moment, we can help change the trajectory of her future. For some this involves helping them rebuild broken relationships, for others it means helping them avoid entering long-term homelessness,” says Villa Majella Executive Director Loretta Johnson. “We welcome them into the dignity of a home environment, show them they’re supported, and then help them rebuild.”

When a mother comes to live at Villa Majella, she is given wrap-around support. With access to free weekly counseling, transportation, a lactation consultant, and 24-hour attention from the in-house staff, Villa Majella accompanies mothers throughout their pregnancy. Alongside their Maternity Home Program, Villa Majella also offers a referral center for any expectant mother calling in.

“In many cases, a mom calls us on her worst day. Even if she decides not to move into our home, she knows there is a community in Santa Barbara that supports her,” says Johnson. “If a mom calls and she is experiencing financial hardship or domestic violence and she

Joyful young alumnus held by his mother and father two years after his mother completed our program.

Villa Majella mom welcomes her newborn in the hospital accompanied around the clock by Villa Majella staff members.

Help Vulnerable New Mothers Find Safety and Support

Villa Majella is asking for your generous support to help vulnerable women through their pregnancies and the postpartum period, as they rebuild their lives and avoid chronic homelessness.

“We are their support system,” says Villa Majella’s Executive Director Loretta Johnson. “Returning home from the hospital to stay in a Maternity Home means that our moms have a staff who take on the crucial role of a partner during this precious time.”

• $35,000 will help buy a new van for transportation to doctors’ appointments (Villa Majella transports women and newborns seven days a week, many times in the middle of the night!).

• $15,000 will help keep program participants and their infants healthy by funding the installation of air conditioning into the home.

• $10,000 will fund General Operating Support so that staff can accompany women and infants 24/7 during their stay.

needs support, we will connect her with services and resources to make sure she gets what she needs.”

Villa Majella connects with about 55 women per year, but we know many more don’t leave messages or even reach out during their difficulties. By partnering with generous donors and community volunteers, Villa Majella makes sure there is a place where the vulnerable women of Santa Barbara

can turn to for care and support.

“Any community that truly wants to support women in need will make sure that a maternity home is in their town. For more than 40 years, Villa Majella has ensured that there is a space where women can walk through pregnancy and the postpartum period with dignity and grace, and with access to the resources they need,” says Johnson.

KEY SUPPORTERS

Santa Barbara Foundation

Cavalletto Charities

Wood-Claeyssens Foundation

Williams-Corbett Foundation

Rotary Club of Santa Barbara North United Way of Santa Barbara County

"Our Autumn BBQ" annual fundraiser event brings over 170 community members together in support of Villa Majella's mission.

Youth Development

Young people’s minds are plastic; they live in the throes of “developing” every day. In this tender development, the organizations highlighted below are all doing their part to ensure the generation coming of age has the tools it needs to be better than the last.

Conversations: Wendy Eley Jackson

as told to Steven Libowitz

Writing a New Story for Philanthropy and Social Change

Before signing on as a lecturer in the film department at UCSB in 2019, Atlanta native Wendy Eley Jackson spent more than 30 years in the TV and film industry. Her experience in the entertainment industry encompassed writing “coverage” for The Long Island Lolita at TriStar/ Columbia Pictures Television to developing madefor-television movies, working in advertising and marketing with Turner Broadcasting, to developing TV pilots for major studios and networks. More recently, Jackson formed Auburn Avenue Films –named for the area that was the commercial center of Black Atlanta a century ago – with her husband, Maynard Holbrook Jackson III, the son of the first

Black mayor of Atlanta. (The two have known each other since the first grade, but didn’t get together until much later in adulthood.)

Auburn Avenue Films focuses on entertainment that promotes positive social change. Jackson and the company have become a “go to” curator for content creation developed out of Georgia on a path into Hollywood, with such titles as Welcome to Pine Lake, CARTERLAND, Counting The Ballots, and the award-winning feature length documentary, Maynard, about the mayor and the role he played in how Atlanta and other urban cities became largely populated by African Americans. Jackson also wrote a screenplay adaptation for 30 Days a Black Man: The Forgotten Story That Exposed the Jim Crow South. Jackson is also the screenwriter of Napa Ever After, an original Hallmark Channel Mahogany Movie, about a high-powered attorney who inherits her estranged grandmother’s winery and, in the process of renovating the vineyard, learns about the grandmother she hardly knew and opens herself up to love with a handsome local man. This is the first Mahogany movie representing a new content initiative and brand extension for Hallmark Channel, which is an outgrowth of the company’s line of African American cards established 34 years ago. The movie features an all Black leading cast as well as a Black creative leadership team behind the scenes. Jackson has taught 52 classes in Screenwriting and other filmmaking at UCSB and also lectures in Documentary Filmmaking, Screenwriting, and Creative Writing for the theater and English departments at Westmont College. She quickly immersed herself in the community, and has served on nonprofit boards and volunteers with several organizations in town.

Q: Can you share about your journey and how it led to where you are today? What in your upbringing mattered the most in forming who you are as an adult, and the values you live by?

regular people. They created the story and focused the messaging. Through screenwriting, you are able to change the way people feel. The films we make now are very targeted to resonate in a way that creates change.

Q: Can you say a little more about that aspect?

A: In a nutshell, I start off by creating very character-driven storylines with complex protagonists and powerful transformation arcs. I personalize larger issues by using humanizing microcosms of society, and creating conflict and moral dilemmas as a reflection of social issues, whether it’s systemic conflict, societal structures or institutional problems of inequality, racism or environmental degradation, for example. When you watch this person undergo transformation, whether it’s personal, political, or ideological, it mirrors broader social issues and forces your audience to confront the ethical questions around them.

Q: I am imagining that teaching these techniques and skills as a lecturer at UCSB is a form of giving back, or rather paying it forward.

A: Completely. The way I see it is that I’m seeding a student whose harvest will look very similar to what I planted, and hopefully they’ll use the skills and the knowledge to create the stories and have the impact they want to have. I spend an extra 10 to 20 hours a

week doing independent studies with students that need me as part of giving back just as I hope a professor would do with my child. Sometimes those meetings feel like a therapy session because these kids are going through a lot and they need someone to listen or help them figure out how to take the madness of their past and turn it into a compelling story that can serve as a change agent later.

Q: Zooming out, what do you see as the role of philanthropy in filmmaking?

A: Philanthropy really does play a significant role, particularly in supporting films that may not have access to traditional funding sources due to their subject matter or even the target audience. So philanthropic contributions can come from individuals, foundations, nonprofits to have a role in advancing underrepresented voices. The funding helps elevate stories from those communities, including women, people of color, and other marginalized groups. It’s particularly important for emerging filmmakers to give them the opportunity to tell their stories and launch their careers. Especially when it’s really hard to come by traditional funding when you are emerging. You can even be innovative with film distribution, because philanthropy can have distribution in alternative channels like community screenings or online platforms, collaborations with

Led by Wendy Eley Jackson, the inaugural cohort of the UC Santa Barbara-Tuskegee University Booker T. Washington Scholars Writing for Television program.

Investing in Lompoc’s Youth

The Career Readiness Academy (CRA) is a 12-week, intensive hands-on training program focused on 21st century employability skills. The CRA is co-facilitated with help from area business and industry leaders.

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check:

FUTURE for Lompoc Youth

338 South F Street Lompoc, CA 93436

*Donation Memo: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer: Tax ID# 86-2049195

By Credit Card: futureforlompocyouth.org

Contact: Chuck Madson Executive Director (805) 717-5995 futurelompoc@gmail.com

FUTURE for Lompoc Youth www.futureforlompocyouth.org 338 South F Street Lompoc, CA 93436 (805) 717-5995

FUTURE for Lompoc Youth was born from a passion to empower the next generation of Lompoc residents. Co-founded by Chuck Madson, DeVika Stalling, and Tim Harrington, the nonprofit focuses on providing Lompoc youth with the skills, resources, and opportunities they need to succeed. Each founder brings a unique perspective, shaped by personal experiences to create a community-driven approach prioritizing young people’s needs.

Chuck Madson understands how limited opportunities can feel, especially during challenging times. After battling substance abuse and incarceration in his youth, he transformed his life and became a certified addiction treatment specialist. He realized many young people in Lompoc struggled with isolation and lack of support, even before the pandemic. This insight led him to co-found FUTURE for Lompoc Youth with Stalling, who has over 14 years of experience as a director at the Lompoc Boys & Girls Club, and Harrington, a seasoned business consultant, with strong community ties. Together, they created an organization that listens to youth and tailors programming to their needs.

At FUTURE for Lompoc Youth, programming is shaped by the stu -

dents themselves. A survey of local youth aged 14-21 revealed their primary needs included mentorship, career learning opportunities, and access to local colleges. In response, the organization developed weekly meetings that foster skill-building, trust, and communication, along with career development and civic engagement programs.

One notable initiative was the introduction of Allan Hancock College’s career readiness academy at Lompoc High School, marking the school’s first offering of such a program. This initiative equips students with essential workforce skills, including interview techniques and résumé writing. Beyond classroom learning, FUTURE organizes visits to colleges, Vandenberg Space Force Base, and local employers like the City of Lompoc and Lompoc Valley Medical Center.

“Students learn about local career opportunities and can ask questions directly,” says Madson. “But FUTURE is about more than exposure; it’s about creating real-world opportunities and fostering local empowerment.”

FUTURE for Lompoc Youth (FLY) fosters connections in an innovative environment for Lompoc Valley youth to feel empowered in building their legacy.

Supporting Lompoc’s Youth

To ensure the ongoing success of FUTURE for Lompoc Youth, the organization seeks support from the community. Your contributions will provide essential resources, empowering students to build their legacies and confidently advocate for their futures. Funds will support:

• $300 for after-school snacks for enrolled students

• $500 for one month of program materials

• $1,000 for work clothes for five students participating in job shadowing

• $2,000 for transportation and meals for 10 students attending college and career tours

Your support will help ensure that Lompoc youth have access to transformative opportunities.

FUTURE’s efforts extend beyond career preparation. The nonprofit also offers a mentorship program, where community members commit to guiding students for a year. In partnership with UCLA’s Chicano Studies Research Center, they host the California Freedom Summer program, emphasizing voter registration and civic engagement. Many FUTURE students have engaged in local politics, advocating for school bond measures and the redistribution of cannabis tax revenues toward youth services.

The impact has been significant. In just three years, many participants have started giving back, with first-

year members stepping up as mentors. “It’s rewarding to see our youth take advantage of the opportunities we provide,” Stalling reflects. “Their hope and potential inspire us to continue expanding our programs.”

FUTURE knows “Youth have the power to shape the future by stepping up today. When young people get involved in their communities, they don’t just witness change they create it. Their passion, energy, and fresh ideas are the seeds of a legacy that will outlast them, inspiring future generations to rise up, take action, and leave the world better than they found it.”

“Iremember a student saying, ‘This program saved my life. I didn’t know anybody. I didn’t feel comfortable talking to anyone. Now I feel like I have a family.’”

– Lana Huyck Lompoc High School Counselor

KEY SUPPORTERS

Lompoc Unified School District

Allan Hancock College

UCLA Chicano Studies Research

City of Lompoc

Lompoc Valley

Chamber of Commerce

Future Leaders of America

Lompoc Valley Medical Center

FLY Mentoring, at its core, guarantees Lompoc youth that there is someone who cares about them, assures them they are not alone in dealing with day-to-day challenges, and makes them feel like they matter. Experiencing the college environment empowers our youth to know it is possible.

REACHing Students for a Life of Success

The REACH Fellowship is dedicated to serving low-income, first-generation high school students in Santa Barbara County. It combines traditional college prep workshops with nature-based learning to build a foundation for a successful life after high school, and it has proven to be massively effective.

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check:

REACH Fellowship 1117 State Street., Ste. 78 Santa Barbara, CA 93101

*Donation Memo: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer:

Tax ID# 77-0526117

By Credit Card: wyp.org/donate-reach

Contact: Raúl Aguilera Executive Director (805) 708-6176 raul@myreachnetwork.org

REACH Fellowship www.reachfellowship.org 1221 Chapala Street, Ste. 6 Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (805) 467-8510

“We provide a holistic approach for the student,” says Executive Director Raúl Aguilera. “We don’t just prepare students for college; we prepare them for life. We do this by providing academic readiness, outdoor education, and personal development workshops which foster growth, resilience, and confidence beyond the classroom.”

REACH integrates outdoor experiential education as a powerful tool for fostering students’ personal growth. “The outdoor trips challenge students to overcome obstacles with expert mentorship. These trips pro -

vide a rare opportunity to confront internal barriers that have inhibited individual growth. Students face mountains they doubt they can climb, work through their anxiety, and ultimately reach the peak – leaving them with the realization that they are capable of more than they ever imagined, which then encourages them to reach new heights,” says Aguilera.

During the latter half of high school and the first year post-high school, the students have workshops ranging from financial literacy and nutrition to academic prep. The experience is rounded out with college trips and multi-day camping expeditions, all designed to help students level up their life skills and better prepare for their future. The proof of its success is in its numbers, with 95% of its participants pursuing higher education.

Aguilera knows firsthand how programs like REACH can leave a long-lasting impact later in life. Aguilera was a first-generation student who participated in the REACH program. Now, in a leadership position at the organization that supported him, he pays forward the guidance and support that was so empowering for him as a young man.

“Most students end up coming back to where they grew up. They become active community members, whether that means joining the workforce, volunteering, or giving philanthropically. We’re investing in our students now

REACH celebrates and honors all of their students' accomplishments, including their high school graduation which breaks the cycle of educational attainment for most of them.

REACH students push beyond their limits, gaining resilience and leadership skills through transformative outdoor experiences, while REACH-ing new heights.

One of the major challenges that first-generation students face is finding the resources to support them in their postsecondary journey. REACH fills in the gaps of their counselors and parents.

because they will become valuable contributors to the community when they return,” says Aguilera.

Community is the core of REACH, and the staff provides workshops and support to students and their parents. A partnership with Montecito Bank & Trust helps students begin their savings journey by opening savings accounts with funds gifted to them from the

program. It’s a reminder to the students and their families that there is a community around them that supports them and is there to help them build a foundation for success. REACH also provides students with scholarships for orthodontics to cover a portion of the cost. A confident smile can open doors in personal and professional settings by boosting self-esteem.

Giving First-Gen Students

an Indoor and Outdoor Educational Boost to Thrive in Life

With the unique blend of academic preparation, personal development, and outdoor education, REACH empowers first-generation students to break barriers and achieve their dreams. Your support helps provide crucial resources like mentorship, college readiness programs, and transformative experiences that shape future leaders. Together, we can create lasting change in our community.

• $50,000 provides 55 computers for college-bound students

• $20,000 provides five camping trips

• $5,000 covers most of the cost of braces for one student

• $1,000 covers the cost of an immersive six-day college tour for one student

“I know we can break the cycle of intergenerational poverty, and the REACH Fellowship has proven it. We have over 600 Alumni, beneficiaries of the program, who are now university graduates and productive members of society. These are first-generation, low-income young adults whose parents did not go on to get a higher education. One REACH grad worked in the fields with her parents as a teenager. She now has a master’s degree from a prestigious university, a rewarding job, and is giving back to her community and family. Paul and I fund this work because we believe every student, especially in our community, deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential.”

– Jane Walker Wood Orfalea Donor

KEY SUPPORTERS

Paul Orfalea

Jane Walker Wood Orfalea

Catherine Brozowski, Audacious Foundation

Dan Fontaine, Wilderness Youth Project

Erika Lindemann, Wilderness Youth Project

Tom Blabey, MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation

REACH students are encouraged out of their comfort zone and into their learning zone to develop new abilities, gain confidence, and become more adaptable, which ultimately leads to greater personal and professional growth.

Helping Kids Find Their Strengths

Volunteers are the heartbeat of the United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County. Their dedication and passion make it possible for the club to provide a wide range of programs and support to the children and teens who need it most. Whether it’s mentoring a student, coaching a sports team, assisting with homework, or helping out at special events, volunteers are essential to creating a positive and nurturing environment where young people can thrive. The United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County is always looking for partners and volunteers to support their mission and care for the youth of Santa Barbara County.

The Many Ways to Give...

By Check:

United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County

P.O. Box 1485

Santa Barbara, CA 93102

*Donation Memo: The Giving List

By DAF or Stock Transfer: Tax ID# 23-7087814

By Credit Card: unitedbg.org/donate

Contact: Taylor Swan Chief Development O cer (805) 681-1315 development@unitedbg.org

United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County www.unitedbg.org P.O. Box 1485

Santa Barbara, CA, 93102 (805) 681-1315

When Diego first joined the United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County last year, severe separation anxiety made each day a struggle. He clung to his mom, tears streaming, trying to bolt out the front door, too overwhelmed to join any activities.

“Through our programming and the support of our staff, Diego was able to build up his confidence,” says Taylor Swan, Chief Development Officer of United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County. “He’s now one of our student guest hosts – if a shy kid comes in, he takes care of it.”

Diego’s progress reflects a common experience at the Club, where children facing challenges find a safe, supportive space to grow. The Club becomes more than an after-school program – it’s a support system that helps children overcome fears, build resilience, learn skills, and provide stability for their families.

The Club engages youth through five key program areas: education and career, character and leadership, health and life skills, sports and fitness, and the arts. These programs offer dynamic, learning experiences that encourage kids to tap into their

strengths, master essential skills and spur their empowerment.

Founded with the mission to enable all young people, especially those who need it most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens, the United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County has supported youth since 1938.

Over the decades, the organization expanded into a countywide network with sites in Goleta, Carpinteria, Lompoc, Buellton, and Solvang. They also opened a 94-acre Campsite in 1988 in the Santa Ynez Valley.

“We level the playing field so that children can have a childhood,” says Michael Baker, the Club’s Chief Executive O cer.

Baker says “many of the kids the Club serves face harsh realities in their daily lives that force them to grow up too quickly – worrying about bills, food, and housing as if they were already adults. Within the Boys & Girls Club, they are allowed to be kids, enjoy their childhood, and receive the tools they need to succeed in life,” Baker says.

Santa Barbara County ranks as the third highest county in California for student-age children who are homeless or houseless. “Seventy-three percent

Members of United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County's Lompoc Club enjoying one of their Food Program's favorite Suppers, Pozole!

Help Kids Reach Their Potential

The United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County is changing lives and helping kids reach success as leaders, learners, and creators.

• $40/year gives one child a full-year Club membership, opening doors to education, character-building, and the arts.

• $2,500 sponsors a child for a year with tutoring, meals, transportation, and life-changing experiences.

• Bigger gifts fund critical upgrades like gym renovations, keeping our spaces vibrant and safe.

“Your support is more than a donation – it’s a chance to shape a brighter future,” says Michael Baker, Chief Executive O cer.

of our organization’s members qualify for the free or reduced lunch program at their local school,” Swan says. To tackle these challenges, the Club runs its Zero Hunger food program, offering healthy snacks and full meals after school and on Saturdays.

Scholarships are available for club membership, summer camps, and even transportation. But no child is ever turned away for financial reasons.

“We focus on vulnerable kids. It’s a top priority for us to create an easy onboarding space for those who need access to what we offer: food, family, and safety,” says Swan.

Over the past year, Diego has transformed. He now chats comfortably with sta , helps new kids feel welcome and loves giving tours, proudly sharing all the things he enjoys at the Club. Diego’s mom, often calling in gratitude, shared how the Club’s patience and understanding have helped her through tough times. With support from the Club, she was able to return to work and continue her own education.

“The Club has become a vital part of their lives, o ering unwavering support and a sense of community,” Swan says.

“As a longtime supporter of the United Boys & Girls Clubs, I’ve seen firsthand the transformative impact these programs have on our community. The dedication and passion of the sta create an environment where every child feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential. Whether it’s providing a safe space after school, o ering academic support, or fostering creativity through arts and sports, the Club is truly changing lives. Investing in the United Boys & Girls Clubs is more than just philanthropy—it’s a commitment to the future of our children and the strength of our community.”

– Paul Menzel

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Nicholas Behrman, Chairperson

Janyce Creery, Vice Chairperson

Travis Ortega, Treasurer

Louise Cruz, Secretary

Marcos Alvaro

Eric Beecher

Jim Crook

Carol Del Ciello

David Edelman

Andrea Keefer

Mark Korte-Nahabedian

Mike Lopez

Luis Mendez

Peter Muzinich

Je Omdahl

Eloy Ortega

John Petote

Omead Poure

Javier Quezada

Rich Ridgway

David Shea

Jim Turner

Tony Vallejo

Brandon Vallin

Carpinteria Club Director Diana Ornelas and members!