Foundational Support

The Santa Barbara Historical Museum was socially gridlocked when the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara hosted its annual dinner after handing out checks in the south county with $3,892,647, bringing the total to $7.7 million for 2,125 students in the county as a whole, $600,000 more than last year.

Since forming in 1962, the foundation has awarded in excess of $167 million to more than 64,000 county students.

Board chair Danna McGrew welcomed more than 200 guests with Melinda Cabrera, president and CEO, introducing the program and student speakers.

The occasion also marked the departure of six board directors including Montecito Bank & Trust CEO Janet Garufis, a member since 2009 and president from 2013 to 2015, and Matt Rowe, a member since 2016 and chairman from 2021 to 2023.

Among the crowd were Ed and Sue Birch, Roger and Sarah Chrisman, Joanne Rapp, Gina Carbajal, and former mayor Helene Schneider.