Tag archives: fundraising

In the Business of Scholarships
By Richard Mineards   |   June 20, 2023

A record $310,400 was raised for the Scholarship Foundation when 500 guests attended the South Coast Business & Technology Awards celebrating leadership and ingenuity at the Hilton. Initiated in 1995 by local business and industry executives, the awards laud companies and industries that demonstrate extreme commitment to the economic vitality in Santa Barbara County. “Since […]

Musical Magic in Montecito
By Richard Mineards   |   June 13, 2023

The Music Academy’s 76th anniversary gala, The Magic of Miraflores, paid homage to the distinguished 25-year career of president and CEO Scott Reed, who started his successful relationship as an intern and is now moving on to another trajectory in fundraising when the summer festival concludes in August. More than 350 guests turned out for […]

Shining a Light on Compassionate Care
By Richard Mineards   |   June 13, 2023

Compassionate Care of Carpinteria had a record turnout of more than 150 guests when it hosted its fifth annual The Light Shines Ahead lunch at the Rincon Beach Club, raising around $40,000. The boffo bash – chaired by Marybeth Carty – featured guitarist Hector Hurtado’s music before speeches from David Selberg, Hospice of Santa Barbara […]

Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation Picnic Fundraiser
By Joanne A Calitri   |   June 6, 2023

The Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation held a picnic fundraiser at the Montecito Country Club on Sunday May 21 in the afternoon. Guests were asked to wear summer whites attire and bring the kids for an all ages fun day with picnic lunch. There were tables and picnic blankets on the lawn to choose from, and […]

Empowering the Dream
By Richard Mineards   |   June 6, 2023

Petal power reigned supreme when the Dream Foundation hosted its 12th annual Flower Empower lunch at the Rockwood Woman’s Club, with a record 225 guests raising around $250,000 for the popular charity. Last year the scheme handed out 8,400 bouquets of flowers with volunteers putting in more than 4,900 hours, says Valerie Banks, coordinator. Since […]

Montecito Union School Foundation Annual Gala
By Joanne A Calitri   |   May 30, 2023

The Montecito Union School Foundation (MUSF) held its annual fundraiser gala on Saturday, May 20 at the Montecito estate of Blaine and Valerie Lando. The event was sold out at over 200 guests, with sponsors also donating tables to MUS staff and teachers to attend the gala. Everyone was upbeat in their more-than-Sunday-best, with mostly […]

A Fundraiser with Moxie
By Richard Mineards   |   May 30, 2023

Inclement weather and a time change marked The Power of MOXI brunch for 100 guests at the Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation, which has welcomed more than 790,000 visitors since opening in 2017, just a tiara’s toss or two from Stearns Wharf. Normally the event, which raised more than $40,000 for the institution’s education […]

VNA Health’s Mother’s Day Fundraiser
By Joanne A Calitri   |   May 23, 2023

The VNA Health’s 22nd Annual Mother’s Day Luncheon Fundraiser, a.k.a. Love fest, took place May 12 at the SB Hilton Ballrooms. The event celebrated Dame Olivia Newton-John as their Remembered Mother and Rona Barrett as their Honored Mother. The sold-out-for-months event with more than 300 attendees saw many familiar faces of philanthropy in our town, […]

Mad Hatter Returns! 24th Annual Transition House Fundraiser
By Joanne A Calitri   |   May 23, 2023

The 24th Annual Transition House Mad Hatter luncheon took place on May 11 at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara SB grand ballrooms. The 230 guests wore all manner of millinery attire with designer matching outfits. The theme was Garden Party at the Ritz. Hats ranged from antique 1920s lace, feathered hats, Vegas fedoras with an Ace of […]

Dream on: FSA Fundraiser rakes in $160K
By Richard Mineards   |   May 23, 2023

Santa Barbara’s 124-year-old Family Service Agency hosted its first Dreams in Bloom fundraiser with 170 guests and raised around $160,000 toward programs that serve more than 24,000 annually, ensuring access to food, shelter, and other basic needs. The boffo bash at the historic Rockwood Woman’s Club, co-chaired by the tony triumvirate of Maria McCall, Sandy […]

Squash Vegas
By Richard Mineards   |   May 23, 2023

The racketeers were out in force when the Santa Barbara School of Squash celebrated its third annual Viva Las Vegas! gala at the 1114 Sports Bar in La Arcada with 130 guests raising around $40,000. Former U.S. Number One squash champion Robert Graham, executive director, is about to embark on an $8-million capitalization campaign to […]

United Way Celebrates a Century of Service
By Steven Libowitz   |   May 16, 2023

As might be expected with an organization that has been around for 100 years, there have been a lot of changes at United Way of Santa Barbara County (UWSBC) over the course of a century of service that began in 1923. Originally known as the Santa Barbara Community Chest, the nonprofit’s model focused almost exclusively […]

Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation Upcoming Picnic
By Joanne A Calitri   |   May 16, 2023

The Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation (TBCF) announced its annual picnic fundraiser to be held at the Montecito Country Club (MCC). The event proves to be a super-fun and low-key way for people to contribute to their foundation. The event cochairs, Sofie Langhorne and Deborah Stanley, are asking attendees to don a “summer white” outfit of […]

Step Right Up to Cirque du Crane… The Greatest School Fundraiser on Earth!
By Ann Pieramici   |   May 16, 2023

The Big Top came to Montecito on May 6, when Crane Country Day School hosted its annual fundraiser, “Cirque du Crane.” It was a spectacle befitting for the school’s first gala back on campus since 2019, when the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions forced many events to virtual or smaller formats. “We are thrilled to be back […]

Pinking About Fashion
By Richard Mineards   |   May 16, 2023

More than 170 guests were in the pink when the Breast Cancer Resource Center hosted its 15th annual THRIVE fashion show at the Montecito Club, raising $100,000. The event was originally scheduled for the club’s expansive lawn, but the unusually chilly weather forced a last-minute change to indoors where the fires were roaring. Ubiquitous DJ […]

23rd Youth and Family Services YMCA’s Reaching for Stars
By Joanne A Calitri   |   May 9, 2023

The Channel Islands YMCA Youth & Family Service (YFS) held their 23rd annual fundraising event titled, Reaching for Stars, at the Cabrillo Pavilion on Wednesday, April 26. The event funds its five-tiered service programs for youth through age 24: Youth and Family Services, Noah’s Anchorage Youth Crisis Shelter, St. George Youth Center, My Home, and […]

SBMA Women’s Board Annual Fundraiser: The return of Off the Wall
By Joanne A Calitri   |   May 9, 2023

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art Women’s Board decided to do their signature event, Off the Wall, for their annual fundraiser and to pay tribute in memoriam to one of its co-founders, Cecia Hess, who started this lively auction in 2007 with Peggy Odgers. This is the 7th time it has been held since inception […]

Art and Angels Over Lunch
By Richard Mineards   |   May 9, 2023

Local doctor Michael Behrman and his wife Sonia are foster parents – and graciously opened the expansive gardens of their picturesque Hope Ranch home overlooking the Pacific to Angels Foster Care when the nonprofit agency hosted its annual al fresco lunch, with a record 320 guests raising around $200,000. Founder Meichelle Arntz and K-LITE radio […]

Ready to Rally
By Richard Mineards   |   May 2, 2023

Millions of dollars worth of mechanical horsepower scattered across the lush lawns of the Hilton when the 8th annual Rally4Kids culminated at the oceanside hostelry –  raising more than $382,000 for the United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County. Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Bentleys, Jaguars, McLarens, Porsches and Aston Martins were just some of the […]

One805 is Off to a Sunny Start at Sunstone
By Richard Mineards   |   April 25, 2023

One805 – the local nonprofit dedicated to supporting First Responders across Santa Barbara County – gave supporters a foretaste of its flagship One805LIVE! gala event in September (that will include rockers Maroon Five at the Summerland oceanside estate of Oscar winner Kevin Costner) with a boffo bash to a crowd of 500 at the Sunstone […]