Presto SBSOS

The racketeers were out in force when the Santa Barbara School of Squash celebrated its annual gala with the theme the Magic of SBSOS 2024 in the charming La Arcada complex.

More than 100 guests descended on La Arcada’s Courthouse Distillery for the fun fête, emceed by ubiquitous magician Mark Collier, raising around $40,000 in the organization’s efforts to bring more squash courts to our Eden by the Beach.

Founder Robert Graham, former U.S. No. 1 squash champion, says they have quietly started a capital campaign to raise $8 million to build a complex with four to six courts, with $500,000 already in place and a matching anonymous donation of $1 million pledged.

And it is hoped the local YMCA, which last year allowed the transformation of one racquetball court into a squash court at a cost of $20,000, will allow two more to be changed in due course.

Among the supporters were auction co-chairs Daniele Huerta and Sue Burk, Peter and Kathryn Martin, Gustavo Duran, Sam Benson, Tim and Ginny Bliss, Lucy Firestone, Greg Gorga, Lily Hahn, Hugh Margerum, Maria McCall and Dirk Brandts, and Brendon Twigden.