Sun, Bread & Roses

Oenophiles and gourmands were out in force when the Fund for Santa Barbara hosted its 30th annual Bread & Roses event for 520 guests at Elings Park after many years at the QAD headquarters in Summerland.

The bountiful bash, co-hosted by Eric Cardenas and Julia Hamilton, raised more than $200,000 for the 43-year-old charity that supports organizations for progressive social change.

“It’s a celebration of the progressive community and the fund’s work,” says Alina Rey Keswani, development and communications manager.

The fun foodie fête also marked the retirement of Executive Director Marcos Vargas after more than eight years running the organization. He tells me he has renovated a vintage VW camper van and intends to tour our glorious nation.

The Firebrand Award went to Cesar Vasquez, 15, a new tech sophomore, and the Founder’s Award posthumously to Gloria Liggett, a woman with a passion for the arts, education, and social justice.

The ubiquitous Geoff Green, head of the Santa Barbara City College Foundation, acted as auctioneer selling off a stay in the Cuyama Valley; a four-course cannabis pairing dinner; a Kona Coffee guesthouse in Kealakekua, Hawaii; a backyard bash with state senator Monique Limón; and seven nights in Lake Tahoe.

Among the hungry horde turning out were Das Williams, Janet Wolf, David and Sharon Landecker, Dick and Marilyn Mazess, Isaiah and Danny Sanchez, and Abe and Suzanne Peck.

A blooming good event making a lot of dough…