United en Rouge

Everybody was seeing red when United Way of Santa Barbara County hosted its 27th annual Soirée en Rouge at the Montecito Club.

The Red Feather Ball attracted 215 guests who raised around $400,000 to fund educational programs and initiatives which serve thousands of local children and their families each year.

The boffo bash, created by Montecito event planner Merryl Brown, also honored co-chairs Belle Hahn and Lily Hahn Shining who have, for more than a decade, been an integral part of the United Way story, including significant financial commitments in support of programs like the Fun in the Sun summer learning program.

The ubiquitous Andrew Firestone emceed the glamorous fête with honorary co-chairs Xorin Balbes and Truman Davies.

Among the festive throng were Steve and Amber Ortiz, Rick Oshay and Teresa Kuskey, Bob and Val Montgomery, Robert Ooley and Rodney Baker, Thomasine Richards, Scott Reed, Jonathan Bishop, David Reichert, and Paul Didier.