Lunch’ing for a Cause

Domestic Violence Solutions, founded in 1977, hosted its 15th annual lunch at the Montecito Club with 150 guests raising over $90,000 for the cause, which offers safety, shelter, and support for victims.

Last year the organization’s advocates answered more than 4,000 calls to its crisis line, provided 110 children with immediate safety at its emergency shelter, and sheltered 6,898 safe nights for adult and child clients.

The bash, chaired by Paige Batson, featured Dr. Olga Nikolic Damascus as the keynote speaker who spoke movingly about her own encounter with violence from her husband. “My girls are my world!” she declared, after being introduced by Meagan Harmon of Santa Barbara City Council.

The ubiquitous Geoff Green acted as auctioneer, selling off a dinner for 10 at Trattoria Uliveto for $1,000, a Disney experience in Anaheim, also for $1,000, and a VIP polo extravaganza and stay at the Hotel Californian for $1,500.

Among the supporters turning out were Ken Oplinger, Michael Holland, Erin Graffy, Anne Luther, Jim Melillo, Elizabeth Snyder, Ellen Goldstein, Nolan Nicholson of sponsors Farmers & Merchants Bank, Sarah Moray, Terri Zuniga, and Carmen Galzerano.