CADA’s Gratitude Luncheon Tix On Sale

Join the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (CADA) at their 14^th Annual Gratitude Luncheon, March 6, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm at the Belmond El Encanto.

The annual event is hosted by Anne Smith Towbes. Keynote Speaker is Bill Pintard, Executive Director and Field Manager of SB Foresters Hugs for Cubs. Towbes has established her own award in a first this year titled, Anne Towbes Gratitude Founder Award which will be given to Wim Verkaik. The annual Penny Jenkins Mentor Champion Award will also be presented to Nan Verkaik. Luncheon proceeds post net are earmarked for CADA’s 29-Year Mentor Program that matches youth grades 3^rd – 8^th with a vetted adult. Currently there are 75 mentor-mentee matches.

411: www.cadagratitude.org

Women’s Fund of SB Reaches $1.25 Million Grants Pool for 2025

For a second year in a row, the Women’s Fund of SB (WFSB) has pooled its resources to establish a record grants pool of $1,250,000 for 2025. Since inception in 2004, the organization has awarded nearly $13 million to local nonprofits. The WFSB volunteer Research Committee has compiled the 2025 ballot of eligible nonprofit projects for its record number of over 1,400 members to vote on for funding. The biggest question asked of the WFSB team is, what happens to unallocated funds? Carolyn Jabs, Board Chair explains, “The Women’s Fund is committed to awarding all the money in the grants pool each year. Often, the projects receiving the most votes don’t add up to the entire dollar amount in the pool. When that happens, the Research Committee is responsible for making a recommendation to the Board about how to allocate the remaining funds. Two established policies guide that decision. First, our minimum grant is $50,000. Second, we honor the preferences expressed by members when they vote. Policy 1 is, if, after voting, unallocated funds amount to less than $50,000, the Committee reviews the agencies/projects that received the most votes from members and recommends that the additional money go to one or more of them. In those cases, agencies will receive a grant that is slightly more than what they requested. Policy 2 is, if the unallocated funds amount to more than $50,000, the Committee has choices. It can recommend that it be distributed to one or more of the agencies that received the most votes from members. Or, it can consider the agency that was next in the total number of votes. If $50,000 could fund all or a significant part of that project, the Committee can recommend granting unallocated funds to that agency. The Board reviews the Committee’s recommendation and makes the final decision.”

411: https://womensfundsb.org

Nominations for the Annual Explore Ecology Environmental Awards

Explore Ecology is asking the community for their nominations for the following Environmental Stewardship Awards. The deadline for nominations is February 28 and awards will be presented at a luncheon on April 17.

Two Teacher Awards: Preschool to 6th grade & 7th to 12th Grade: The Teacher Award honors the achievements of teachers or support staff who have made significant contributions to educating and impacting youth awareness on the environment and who have inspired their class and school through teaching and action. 

Class or Club Award: This honors a class or school club that has raised awareness, protected the environment, and influenced their school community. There is one award in this category for a class grades Preschool to 12th.

Student Awards: This award goes to students who have committed their time to care for the environment in a significant way. There are two awards in this category for students in grades Preschool to 6th grade and 7th to 12th grade.

411: https://exploreecology.org/environmental-stewardship-awards

Alma Rosa Winery 6th annual “Peace of Mind” Fundraising Walk

Setting the pace for an early bird invite pricing is the Alma Rose Winery’s 6^th Annual fundraising walk event slated for Saturday, May 17th. This all day walk and dine event features a 4.5-mile hike on the wine estate vineyard in Buellton. Guests can partake of wine and non-alcoholic drinks, and a post walk wine tasting reception. The Peace of Mind fundraising walk was launched in 2020 by Alma Rosa Proprietors Bob and Barb Zorich to support mental health community services, as well as fund research on the causes, treatment and potential cures for anxiety and depression. Over the last five years, the winery has raised over $955,000 for these two organizations. To continue to amplify the efforts of the event, the Zorichs will be matching individual donations dollar-for-dollar, up to $35,000 to both One Mind and Mental Wellness Center in Santa Barbara. With the hope to garner greater support and funds raised, the Zorichs will also be matching corporate sponsorships up to an additional $25,000 and are grateful to have already received a generous donation from WineDirect.  

411: Sign Up link: https://tinyurl.com/AlmaRosaWalk