Wine Down

Friendship Adult Day Care Center (FADCC) just held its ninth annual Wine Down and Big Heart Awards. It’s such a lovely facility anyway with its open courtyard, but it’s especially pretty when dressed up for this fête.

Guests arrived and picked up a wine glass from which to savor wines, spirits, and coffee: Buttonwood Farm Winery, Draughtsmen Aleworks, Fess Parker Winery, Frequency Wines, Gainey Vineyard, Goleta Red Distilling Co., Kalyra Winery, Rideau Vineyard, Vinemark Cellars and Windrun Vinters. Premiere sponsors were Heritage House Assisted Living and David and Louise Borgatello.

Montecito Jazz Project kept it lively with their music while guests mixed and mingled and checked out the silent auction. The hors d’oeuvres by Kay Bowman Catering were delicious. Geoff Green wore several hats: emcee and auctioneer with monies going to LEAP (Life Enrichment Activity Program).

The folks who come to Friendship Center each week don’t just sit around. There are many programs to keep them occupied like Art and Soul, Vitality classes from SBCC and Cycling Without Age by John Seigel–Boettner. Passionate speaker Lisa Vincent told us about her husband, Jamie, and how much he loves to come. It gives everyone in the family a life.

Board secretary Dana VanderMey presented the Big Heart award to Kathy Marden for all her hard work at Friendship Center. Kathy was also event chair and teaches improv acting to members. As she told me, “I don’t do it for awards, but it was a nice surprise.” Karolyn Hanna awarded Andy Harper and Jeanette Chian the other Big Hearts trophy. Andy is in charge of SBCC School of Extended Learning (Adult Ed) and supervises vitality classes all over town.

Executive director Heidi Holly has been leading this group for over 30 years and confirms “all the good work we do.” So does board president Pat Forgey. Some others who worked on the committee were Pamela Vander Heide, Sue Adams, Mary Kay Fry, Greta Liedke, Marianne Meeker, Justin Redmond, Andy Siegel and Marcella Simmons.

Visiting from the Santa Ynez Valley was supporter Rona Barrett, who has her own Golden Inn & Village and will soon have an Alzheimer’s and Assisted Living facility for seniors.

Friendship Center is across the street from the Episcopal Church in Montecito and another facility is in Goleta at 820 North Fairview. No one is turned away for lack of funds. 

The mission for Friendship Center is to offer engaging activities that promote socialization, well-being and a sense of community for aging adults. They provide respite, support and education for their caregivers, enabling them to achieve balance in their lives. For information call 805.969.0859. Friendship Center has been sharing the care since 1976.