CALM’s Annual Fundraiser Where Generosity Abounded

CALM’s annual fundraiser, the “CALM at Heart” luncheon, was held for the first time at the Rosewood Miramar Beach, on Friday, November 15. Upon arriving at the luncheon, one could feel the elevated excitement with the new venue location, which accommodated an expanded guest list topping 340. 

The sterling event co-chairs were Amanda Lee, Elisabeth Crain Sikors, and CALM Trustee Katrina Sprague. The event committee members were Samantha Carly, Alexis Courson, Liz Deim, Jen Drucker, Carolyn Fitzgerald, Belle Hahn, Analise Maggio, Sima Morrison, CALM Trustee Caroline Powers, Vanessa Ringel, Jenna Rogers, Josephine Tournier Ingram, and Carly Walters.

We started of course with a proper cocktail reception, held in the garden patio adjacent to the banquet rooms. Women in gorgeous tea-party dresses and suits and men in designer wool suits chatted amicably, giving little notice to the sudden chilly winds coming ashore. The event guest list and sponsors were a Who’s Who of Montecito, with Carrie Towbes and John Lewis, Cate Stoll, Chana and Jim Jackson, Lily Hahn, Merryl Zegar, Ed and Sue Birch, Dina and Dave Cantin, Gail Gelles, Kat Hitchcock, DJ and Richard Yao, Danna and Zohar Ziv, Ana and Petar Kokotovic, Roberta and Matt Collier, Justin Fantl, and Matt and Natalie Rowe.

Also attending from CALM were Board Chair Andrew Fitzgerald, Vice Chair of Finance Sam Ellis with wife Jill, and board members Frann Wageneck, Luz Reyes-Martin, trustees Susan Miles Gulbransen with husband Gary; President and CEO Alana Walczak, COO Adolfo Garcia, Development Coordinator Meredith Donin, Director of Development Ashlyn McCague,and CALM’s management team.

Andrew Fitzgerald opened the formal program and sit-down luncheon. He welcomed the guests and acknowledged guests attending for their first time, the event co-chairs, the event committee, his board, team, and the 49 sponsors. He talked about being on the board for six years and how CALM is a community organization with collabs throughout the nonprofit sector, and the families it serves. 

Auctioneer Jim Nye successfully raised $45,000 with the live auction, and started the Ask at $25,000 – raising an additional $192,000, totaling approximately $236,665 [and counting] of their $400,000 goal. The proceeds from the event will support CALM’s continuum of mental health services specifically providing therapeutic services for 72 children and their families.

Additional program notes were videos of CALM’s work and a keynote by Garcia to spur the fundraising.

In my brief interview with President and CEO Alana Walczak, she said of the fundraiser, “At CALM at Heart, we celebrate the resilience of our clients and the incredible impact of our community’s support. Having been recognized as a 2024 California Nonprofit of the Year, CALM provides pioneering trauma-informed services and evidence-based practices centered on the strengths of our clients. We are proud to have served 2,300 children and families and provided more than 25,000 therapy services this past year. With three-quarters of our clients seeking prevention services, we are interrupting intergenerational cycles of trauma and changing the fabric of our community. We are grateful to everyone who stands with us, ensuring CALM is successful in ensuring a brighter future for all.”

411: https://calm4kids.org