Community Leaders Luncheon

“The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara (SFSB) has been around for 56 years and has given $108 million to over 50,000 students,” board president Don Logan told the 350 guests at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachside Resort. Every year the Foundation gives a luncheon to thank volunteers and donors for their help. Why does it matter? College graduates will earn nearly $1 million more over the course of a 40-year working life; more likely to have a pension or retirement account; have higher employment rates; live an average of nine years longer; vote and volunteer more; pay more taxes and require less public assistance.

The SFSB mission statement is: “Inspires, encourages, and supports Santa Barbara County students to and through college, graduate, and vocational school by providing information, advising, and scholarships.”

During lunch, student speaker Miguel Cruz told us his amazing story. “I grew up in extreme poverty in Mexico. I was on a gang list even though I was never a member. I didn’t like to work on cars. Three of my classmates committed suicide and I had two children.” Eventually he graduated from SBCC with honors because he was a recipient of a scholarship.

The keynote speaker was Chairman and CEO of Montecito Bank & Trust Janet Garufis. Her credits are nearly as long as a speech. She’s been called a real life Wonder Woman. She succeeded in spite of setbacks in her jobs and education. As she says, “Education is transformational.” She also admits to liking to be in charge and being bossy. Her bank was the premiere sponsor of the luncheon.

Also introduced was the SFSB brand new CEO Victoria Juarez. She was from Girls Inc. in Carpinteria. Her appointment came after an eight-month nationwide search. As she said, “My grandparents were migrant workers and my father never made it past the third grade, but my family instilled a deep love of learning in me. They understood that a college degree could open opportunities that would have otherwise remained closed to me. There’s nothing I’d rather do than help the next generation of students better their lives and enrich their community through access to higher education.

SFSB is the nation’s largest community based provider of college scholarships. In May 2018, the SFSB awarded $8.32 million in scholarships to 2,620 students. The six-year graduation rate among SFSB recipients is 81 percent while the national average is 63 percent. Fifty-four percent of recipients are first-generation college students. There are always more qualified students than money. If you’d like to help, call 805-687-6065 or go to www.sbscholarship.org.