A Foundational Lunch

The 61-year-old Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara hosted its annual festive Community Leaders lunch at the Hilton for 300 guests to recognize donors and volunteers.

Featured speakers included Dr. Richard Yao, President of California State University Channel Islands, who was appointed last year after serving as interim president for a year.

Honoree Steve Hicks, who received his MBA from USC, enjoyed a 30-year career in the computer and software industries.

He moved to our Eden by the Beach in 1994 and served as board chair of CALM, the Scholarship Foundation, the Museum of Natural History, and the Santa Barbara Foundation.

Student speaker was Ethiopian-born Massimo Genovese, who is now studying at Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law. “The grants opened doors to more creative work and my post-graduate journey,” he attested.

In May, the foundation awarded scholarships totaling $7.2 million to 1,864 students throughout Santa Barbara County. More than $148 million has been made in more than 50,000 student grants since the organization was founded, says Danna McGrew, chair.

Among the supporters were Melinda Cabrera, foundation president and CEO, Roger and Sarah Chrisman, outgoing head of the City College Foundation Geoff Green, and chairman and CEO of Montecito Bank & Trust Janet Garufis.