Tag archives: fundraising
After more than 50 years as a journalist and TV commentator, I took on one of my most unusual assignments when the Polo Training Center hosted its 10th anniversary Denim and Diamonds benefit dinner, raising more than $50,000 from the 120 guests in a giant fieldside marquee at the Carpinteria-based polo club. Club president Rhys […]
Lotusland’s annual gala is undoubtedly one of the social highlights of the year with the 500 tickets sold-out months in advance. This year’s 30th annual bash Lotusland Celebrates: The Way of the Lotus, co-chaired by the tony triumvirate of Merryl Brown, Ashley Adelson, and Lisa Bjornson Wolf, raised a whopping $1 million for critical support […]
The 18th Annual CommUnify Champion Awards fundraiser was held on Friday,June 7, at the Craft House at Corque in Solvang. The CommUnify 2024 honorees are Geoff Green, The Vikings of Solvang,and Hardy Diagnostics for their dedicated work on behalf of the people of Santa Barbara County. Program commenced with welcome remarks by Chief Executive Officer […]
Social gridlock reigned when PATH Santa Barbara, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, hosted its third annual Toast to Home fundraiser at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum with 150 guests raising around $60,000. The ubiquitous Geoff Green – former head of the City College Foundation – hosted the affair, with PATH CEO Jennifer Hark Dietz […]
Petal power was palpable when the Dream Foundation hosted its 13th annual Flower Empower lunch for 200 guests at the Rosewood Miramar, raising around $160,000 for the Santa Barbara-based program that delivers colorful bouquets and handmade cards to hospitals, cancer centers and homes every week. Since it started in 1994, the program had made more […]
The sun finally shone after days of May Grey on the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara, which hosted its annual dinner for 200 guests at the historical museum. More than $7.1 million was given to 1,780 students in Santa Barbara County, with 1,700 turned down because of limited funds. The foundation has now awarded more […]
The VNA Health’s 23rd Annual Mother’s Day Luncheon Fundraiser took place Friday, May 10 at the Santa Barbara Hilton Ballroom. The event celebrated Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree as their Remembered Mother and Leslie Person Ryan as their Honored Mother. The sold-out event opened with a champagne reception, and silent auction tables in the ballroom. Raffle tickets […]
Breast Cancer Resource Center hosted its annual Thrive Fashion show and lunch with a sold-out 150 guests raising $75,000 for the popular nonprofit at the Montecito Club. The boffo bash, chaired by Nora Scheinberg, featured five models who overcame breast cancer strutting their stuff on the catwalk in fashions from Allora by Laura – Francesca […]
Santa Barbara City College hosted its fifth annual Spring Forward! college foundation gala on the Great Meadow on the West Campus under new CEO Bobbi Abram, who had only been on the job four days after moving from a similar position in Pasadena. “Let the fourth be with you!” she told the more than 300 […]
Riviera Ridge School’s floral-themed annual gala truly bloomed, with more than 250 guests at the Rosewood Miramar more than surpassing its $200,000 fundraising goal. With lush floral centerpieces adorning each table in the Chandelier Room, and whimsical six-foot tall papier mâché filling the space, the Spirit Blooms bash was led by Katrina Sprague and Mari […]
Transition House (TH) held its Silver Anniversary Mad Hatter Luncheon fundraiser at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara on Tuesday, April 23. The theme was “Come Celebrate our Silver Anniversary.” Guests arrived showcasing a variety of silver threaded designer pieces, from hats, scarves, dresses, rhinestone tops, right down to the basic silver lurex card’y. Hats took on their […]
Supporters of Santa Barbara Choral Society were clearly in the right aria when the popular 76-year-old choir hosted Toi, Toi, Toi, an evening of operatic enchantment at the Rockwood Woman’s Club with 110 guests, many in Tosca attire, raising around $70,000 during the sunset soirée. After cocktails on the terrace, followed by a musical toast […]
The Santa Barbara Education Foundation held its annual Hope Awards at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum honoring local heroes of public education with 160 guests raising more than $50,000 with a paddle raise benefitting the Teacher Grants program, which has given 387 grants since 2018 with more than $685,000 invested in classrooms. The two recipients […]
Winemaker Samra Morris and I are sharing wine, and the conversation soon turns to mental health. “It’s a common human experience,” she tells me, “and yet people are still scared to share their struggles with it, for fear that they will be judged.” We agree that COVID exacerbated mental health issues for many of us. […]
Local doctor Michael Behrman and his wife Sonia, both foster parents, opened the gates of their picturesque oceanfront Hope Ranch estate for the third consecutive year for Angels Foster Care’s 11th annual al fresco lunch with 270 guests raising around $250,000 for the non-profit founded in 2006 by Meichelle Arntz, who was Mistress of Ceremonies, […]
It was a very in-tents occasion when a giant marquee covered the Hilton Hotel’s rotunda when the Santa Barbara Foundation held its 81st Persons of the Year lunch, with awards going to Jim Morouse and Peter Schuyler, whose mother Jane Schuyler won the award in 1997, making them the first mother-son duo to be so […]
A tidal wave of generosity enveloped the Santa Barbara Channelkeeper’s sold-out 22nd annual Blue Water Ball at the Cabrillo Pavilion with more than 200 guests raising around $170,000 for the popular nonprofit. The boffo bash was emceed by the ubiquitous Andrew Firestone and 14 paintings by local artists, including Kelly Claus, Benjamin Anderson, Eric Foote, […]
The Montessori Center School held its annual soirée fundraiser on March 9 at the Santa Barbara Women’s Club. This year’s theme was ‘90s Rock ’n’ Roll, and they rocked that ballroom! The top costume was sported by Primary teacher Kacy Cristofani and her husband Chris Burke as Wayne & Garth of Wayne’s World. The cocktail […]
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum was even more magical than usual when it hosted the “Heist at the Harbor: An Evening of Mystery and Intrigue” gala for 120 guests, which raised around $100,000 for the harborside institution. The boffo bash, co-chaired by immediate past president Sigrid Toye and Cindy Makela, also celebrated benefactors Robyn Parker and […]
Rain certainly didn’t stop play, nor pulling, when the Alpha Resource Center hosted its third annual Plane Pull at Santa Barbara Airport, raising more than $72,000 for the popular 70-year-old nonprofit, which empowers individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Teams of ten in four divisions, including schools and public safety – military, EMTs and firefighters […]