Twenty Years of Yachts and Care
The Labor Day holiday, now in the history books, allegedly ended our summer and its many activities. Other than a couple of notations in our 2024 calendar, it appears that no one else in Santa Barbara has gotten the memo! Activities and events continue unabated all over town, especially at the harbor!
The Santa Barbara Yacht Club (SBYC) members once again gathered to host their annual Charity Regatta benefiting VNA Health and its mission of caring with compassion. Although always a huge event in the Santa Barbara community, this year’s Charity Regatta marks its 20th anniversary! For two decades this annual benefit has raised over $2.5 million in support of VNA Health and its services for our families, friends and neighbors. Dependent on the generosity of our community, VNA Health is an organization that provides a safe harbor for those in need regardless of resources or insurance. Quite an important mission!
Helmed by co-chairs Staff Commodore Francie Lufkin and Nick Sebastian, this year’s Charity Regatta took place on Saturday, September 7th from 11:30 am to 7 pm. The day began with a mimosa-sprinkled buffet breakfast and ended with a BBQ dinner and rollicking after-party!Add to that a table full of enticing silent auction items and courtesy passes to the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum. What could be better than that?
The Charity Regatta’s MC, David Moorman, began the opening ceremony by introducing VNA Health’s President Kieran Shah and SBYC Commodore Dennis Boneck, who welcomed the attendees and discussed the day’s events. Spectator boats stood ready on the docks to transport guests beyond the breakwater to view the Memorial Boat Tribute and the Regatta. Post race, the Palapa Bar was in full swing as was the BBQ after which the celebration continued in the club and on the beach. And what a celebration it was! “This has been quite a day,” noted long time co-chair Lufkin. “The success of this event is due to the enthusiasm and hard work of our team! Our generous club members continue their sponsorship of our annual benefit, donate boats, time, talent, and work to make this day as popular and fun as it is. For that I am truly grateful – and proud!”
Each year SBYC chooses a group of Celebrity Skippers who undertake vital services in our community. This year Santa Barbara Harbor’s First Responders were chosen. This important and dedicated group of people include the Harbor Patrol, Coast Guard, Search & Rescue, City Police, County & City Fire, and VNA Health Case Managers who ensure patients get the best care possible.
“We at VNA Health are grateful to our Yacht Club family for their support over the years,” stated Lailan McGrath, Director of the VNA Health Foundation. In contemplating a charitable partnership, the Yacht Club found that VNA presented the ideal opportunity as many of its members had personal experience with the care VNA provided, either for themselves or their loved ones. Over two decades the partnership has supported a broad range of VNA Heath services such as Integrative and Expressive Services, Loan Closet, Bereavement Care, Vet-to-Vet Volunteer Services, and Community Education. “The Charity Regatta has become a beloved tradition for SBYC,” added McGrath, “and the reason that this year’s 20th anniversary Charity Regatta is such an amazing milestone!”
As a safe health care harbor, over 8,700 patients and families are treated per year in Santa Barbara County – over 570 patients per day – with the assistance of 380+ employees and volunteers posed to serve people at any stage of their life to live well. VNA is the only medically-certified nonprofit provider of home-health care, palliative care, and hospice care in Santa Barbara. The organization also owns and operates Serenity House, the largest nonprofit inpatient hospice facility in California known as a place to transition at the end of life with dignity and comfort.
Currently, there is no dedicated provider of Pediatric Hospice Concurrent Care Services in Santa Barbara County. In anticipation of future need, starting in 2024, VNA Health is co-leading a dedicated collaboration of providers to create a coordinated, specialty-trained pediatric concurrent care program. Delivered by experts in end-of-life Care, an interdisciplinary team is being formed specializing in pediatric pain and symptom management partnering with local pediatricians, providers, clinics, and health systems. VNA Health’s leadership of this dedicated program for care of children living with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions will launch in 2025.
VNA Health Foundation is solely dependent on support from the community. For further information visit: https://vna.health
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