Lunch with a Side of Dough

The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara’s 2024 Community Leaders lunch saw 315 guests descending on the Hilton to mark yet another successful year during which they raised a hefty $7.1 million for 1,800 students, bringing the total to more than $150 million since its founding in 1962.

However, 1,600 eligible students had their applications turned down because of lack of funds, said Melinda Cabrera, president and CEO.

Billie Maunz – Executive Director of the foundation from 1990 to 2006 who went on to found the local consulting firm Nonprofit Management & Fundraising Solutions – looked back on the organization’s relationship with the late George and Dale Cavalletto and the subsequent Cavalletto Charities.

Maunz was also named beneficiary of the annual South Coast Business & Technology Awards ceremony.

As featured speaker, UCSB professor of economics Dr. Peter Rupert emphasized the value of a degree, and the disparity in earnings between young people with degrees and those without.

Edgar Olozagaste, 18, a former student at Santa Maria High now studying computer science at Cal Poly, spoke eloquently of his difficult upbringing in a large family and how the foundation’s grant had helped guide him to the right path.

Among the helpful horde were former Mayor Helene Schneider, Joe Cole, Danna McGrew, Janet Garufis, George Leis, Rebecca Anderson, Joe Campanelli, Ed and Sue Birch, Jack and Marguerite Bianchi, Jeff Giordano, Greg Gorga, David Williams, Vicki Hazard, Carole Halsted, Jason Jones, and Heidi Holly.