1st Annual Black-Tie Gala for Girls Inc. of Carpinteria

The Carpinteria Girls Inc. held their first “Red, Black and White” Gala on Saturday, February 22, at their newly renovated Carpinteria campus, transforming both the inside and outside area into an elegant ballroom, with decorations by the girls in their programs. 

Girls Inc. has humble beginnings – the national organization was founded in 1864 after the Civil War to help young girls and women. The organization’s mission statement provides that it is important to create a safe space for girls to learn and to share in a sisterhood, and each girl can develop her own capacities and self-confidence to be healthy, educated, and independent.

The event honorees were Esther and Hans Brand, owners of B&H Flowers and Autumn Brands, for their contributions to the organization and its youth. They were early investors in the Carpinteria Girls Inc. Endowment Fund; and under their B&H Flowers business made a major donation to build the current organization’s campus. 

I attended the gala starting with the VIP reception. The outdoor cocktail hour had a silent auction, a gift card donation station and wine auction station. There I met with new Board President Angelina Lane and the former Board President Lori Pearce. We talked about their team’s decision to change from hosting two longstanding signature fundraising events to holding an annual gala. Pearce explained, “So we thought it would be nice to combine our Women of Inspiration event and our original event – Bloom – into one spectacular event with everyone dressed up, to put the focus on the girls, and live up to our reputation of having the best galas in town. For us it was taking a step back and looking at our two main fundraising events and trying to home in on one spectacular event instead of two – which can be a drain on our community. We decided to have it here to show off the campus which we’ve completely renovated, we have a new courtyard, a new library, and the biggest gym in town, it’s important to show the community what we do, and this is our “home” – the safe place for the girls who are members.” 

In her new role as Board President, I asked Lane what her main focus is for this year. She said, “My main focus point is how can we reach more girls, and is it more girls in Carpinteria or more girls in our county, and children and boys included, and to continue our mission for Girls Inc.”

Seen at the event were D’Arcy R. Cornwall, President of Summerland Beautiful with husband Mark; Lynda Fairly and Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts CenterExecutive Director Kristina Calkins; Beth Cox; Clyde Freeman, Sr. VP Construction-Commercial Real Estate Manager at Montecito Bank & Trust; Betty Brown who with her late husband spearheaded the capital campaign to build the Girls Inc. campus; Stephanie Petlow,realtor andPast Presidente & Director for Old Spanish Days, Inc.; Denise Sanford,Executive Consultant at Rodan + Fields; Carpinteria Mayor Natalia Alarcon, and SBC First District Supervisor Roy Lee. 

Present from Girls Inc. Carpinteria were Executive Director Jamie Balch Collins, Development Director Tess Ortega, Development Coordinator Aja Forner, Programs Director Kenya Rodriguez, Board of Directors VP Peter Dugre, Treasurer Hayley Fedders, and Trustees Caroline Alarcon, Eleanor Gartner, Alan Griffin, Kirsten Jenkins, Amber Kaplan, Diana Rigby, Anu Sharma,and April Simpson.

Balch Collins welcomed the guests, and became tearful in thanking her team, talking about the program mentors and the girls who have been through the program, “Our building and grounds renovations are almost all complete and we are working on our silo library funded by the Mithun Foundation. We expanded our outreach programming via Project Accelerate. Your donations help our programs – invest in her today, empower a leader tomorrow.”

During the sit-down dinner was the live auction and Ask led by Courtney Rainwater. She raised $13,350 for four live auction items and $88,000 for the Ask which included an anonymous $30,000 matching donation. Adding to the funds raised was the Dessert Dash, where each table of guests bid collectively to partake of the homemade desserts buffet, the silent auction, wine auction, gift cards and event tickets.

The program concluded with a DJ dance party ‘til 10 pm.

Title Sponsor was Lynda Fairly, along with key sponsors Griffin Rowe Advisory Group of Raymond James, the John C. Mithun Foundation, Montecito Bank & Trust, Chevron, Travis & Jessica Hawley and Dr. Terry & April Simpson. 

411: https://girlsinc-carp.org