Society Invites

Alzheimer’s Women’s Initiative

Inspire Luncheon with Jane Seymour

SATURDAY 7PM

SUNDAY 3PM

A centuries-wide sweep of choral excellence from Mozart’s Requiem to the Santa Barbara premiere of Waloyo Yamoni, a rainmaking litany by Grammy award winning composer Christopher Tin

THE CHORAL SOCIETY & ORCHESTRA

Conducted by Jo Anne Wasserman

by Joanne A Calitri

TICKETS

$25 general admission

$10 student/child sbchoral.org

We are grateful for the s upport of our wonderful community.

The return of the in-person Alzheimer’s Women’s Initiative Inspire Luncheon was sold out – more than 400 guests filling all three SB Hilton ballrooms on Wednesday, April 26. There was a super up-buzz in the air at the reception as guests connected with friends. VIPs were seen at the step’n’repeat for media photographs. Next to the check-in desk was a display of Jane Seymour’s artistically designed silk scarves for sale, with the proceeds going to the Alzheimer’s organization and her Open Hearts Foundation. The hallway had tables and easel displays with educational brochures and volunteers.

As the banquet doors opened, guests were seated, served lunch, and the program commenced. Gerd Jordano, co-founder of the Women’s Initiative, welcomed the guests and paid tribute to Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree for her generous support of the organization. Lindsey Leonard , Executive Director of the Central Coast Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, acknowledged the founders, event chairs, the event’s 41 sponsors, and the caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s.

Dr. Claire Sexton provided the current research data on cures, new blood testing for the disease, and the January FDA accelerated approval of Leqembi™ (lecanemab-irmb) for early onset dementia. Medicare will pay for the drug pending full FDA approval July 2023. A poignant view of dementia was given by Tony Gonzales who talked about being diagnosed with it at age 47, and doing all he can to raise awareness for it. He acknowledged the support of his wife – whom he credits for his being here. Anne Towbes introduced keynote speaker, actress, and philanthropist Jane Seymour, as “a woman of all seasons, with generosity, purpose and love.” Seymour thanked everyone for having her speak, and shared her stories of acting as a woman with dementia in the film, Ruby’s Choice, her producing the 2014 documentary I’ll Be Me about Glen Campbell’s own struggles with Alzheimer’s on his final tour, and how dementia affected some of her family. She also mentioned missing living in Montecito and her girlfriends who live there. Emcee Andrew Firestone led the live auction to raise additional funds.

Seen at the lovely event were Dana and Andrea Newquist with sister Nancy Newquist-Nolan , Jim Crook , Vince Caballero of Union Bank, Katina Zaninovich , Sue Adams , Dr. Gabriella Garcia , Linda Alderman , Carol Fell , Robin Sonner , Carole East , Leigh Cashman , and Rosanne Masi Marquis , its sponsor organizations and board members.

Also attending, and showing a trend of nonprofits supporting each other, was the executive team from VNA Health: SB COO JoAnn Mack; Director of the foundation Lailan McGrath ; CHPCA, President and CEO Kieran

Shah ; Senior Development Associate

Maggie Mabuchi ; Development

Associate Melissa Cure; and Director of Marketing and Communication Easter Moorman. I talked with Shah about their support of Alzheimer’s, he replied, “As our communities face the challenges of an aging population and the increasing rate of Alzheimer’s, it will take creative partnerships among nonprofit, healthcare, and social service organizations to be the safety net for patients and their caregivers. At VNA Health, one of our core values is teamwork, so partnering with

Jane Seymour and our local Alzheimer’s Association is one way we can be our community’s care partner, now and into the future.”

At the time of printing, the luncheon raised $216K toward their $250K goal. Donations can still be made at inspire2023.givesmart.com.

411: www.alz.org/cacentralcoast

23rd Youth and Family Services YMCA’s Reaching for Stars

The Channel Islands YMCA Youth & Family Service (YFS) held their 23rd annual fundraising event titled, Reaching for Stars, at the Cabrillo Pavilion on Wednesday, April 26. The event funds its five-tiered service programs for youth through age 24: Youth and Family Services, Noah’s Anchorage Youth Crisis Shelter, St. George Youth Center, My Home, and Haley Street Navigation Center. These pivotal programs have aided countless youth with shelter, food, clothing, healing, enrichment programming, and recreation to those in need. Some are open 24/7. The programs help over 600 children and youth annually.

Attendees were treated to a five-course gourmet dining experience created fresh by

4.5 HOUR ISLAND WHALE WATCHES

local star chefs like the Wine Cask’s Josh Brown, Caruso’s Paul Osborne, Oliver’s Manny Juan, and were assisted by the local culinary schools’ students. Libation sponsors were Brander Winery, Fess Parker Vineyard, Draughtsmen Aleworks, Casita de Bravo, and Topa Topa.

During the dinner, keynote speaker Marriage & Family Therapist Lisa Conn-Akoni talked about the youth programs and the current data for homeless youth in Santa Barbara, of whom 57 percent are pre-K to grade 5, 23 percent are grades 6-8, and 19.2 percent are grades

9-12. They suffer family conflict, emotional, and sexual abuse and “…almost all homeless youth say they are forced out of their homes.”

The honorary chair was George Leis, President and COO of the Montecito Bank & Trust. He talked about learning to swim at the Long Island Y and has volunteered at our local Y for 15 years. He emphasized the importance of its programs for our youth and its ultimate impact on our community. He presented Society Page 304

BY THERESA REBECK

DIRECTED BY

FOX

L o u i s J o h n B o u t i q u e

S p e c i t e o f L a d y L e s l i e R i d l e y - T r e e

' F a s h i o n & E n t e r t a i n m e n t ’

T h e P a r t y C o n t i n u e s . . .

A u c t i o n R e l e a s e P a r t y C o m i n g t h i s S p r i n g

Junior League of Santa Barbara receiving the Organization of the Year Award. It was chaired by Lori Baur

The Behrmans and Kim Faraudo movingly shared their stories of their fostering experiences.

While the boffo bash was taking place, five local artists – Melissa Seaward, Francine McOwen, Gail Parker, Peter Horjus, and Bonnie Fearer – working in different mediums created original works that were sold to benefit the nonprofit, while guitarist Michael Holland provided entertainment.

“With the marine layer it was a decidedly chilly day, but everyone here showed warm hearts!” said Executive Director Holly Carmody.

Since its inception in 2006, Angels Foster Care has placed 306 foster infants and toddlers in stable, loving homes –with 149 of those children being adopted into their Angels families.

Among the supporters turning out for the cause were Sue Heinz, Brianna Aguilar, Janet Garufis, Anne Luther, Erin Graffy, Megan Orloff, Thomasine Richards, Lucy and Mary Firestone, Marsha Kotlyar, Kirsten Cavendish,

Angels Board of Directors: Megan Orloff, Holly Carmody, Davina Gomez, Lori Baur, Jeanette Petrus Le Renard, Meichelle Arntz, and Michele White

Climate Champions

The Santa Barbara chapter of The Association for Women in Communications hosted its 15th annual Women of Achievement Climate Champions lunch at the Cabrillo Pavilion when Hillary Hauser , a founder of Heal the Ocean, and Dr. Leah Stokes, the Anton Volk Associate Professor of Environmental Politics at UCSB, were honored.

KEYT-TV anchor Beth Farnsworth, a former honoree in 2019, emceed the event and interviewed the dynamic duo, with other speakers including former KEYT-TV reporter and WOA