Technology Grant for Our Lady of Mount Carmel

The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation donated more than $93,000 to 13 area schools through its Technology in Schools Program for the ‘25-‘26 school year. The funds support classroom technology needs for both students and faculty.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel School (OLMCS) was awarded $5,000 to implement a one-to-one device program for grades one through eight. The funding also covers protective cases for devices and keyboards for middle school students.

I reached out to OLMCS Principal Tracie Simolon regarding the grant. She shared that the school’s first-grade teacher, Erica Holtgrewe, spearheaded the grant effort and wrote the proposal. “We are incredibly grateful for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation’s generosity to our local schools. This grant will allow us to replace aging technology with new student iPads. The Foundation’s investment directly supports our students and aligns with our mission by strengthening our academic program while preparing students to thrive in a technologically advanced world, grounded in strong moral and ethical values.”

Holtgrewe, originally from Vancouver, moved to Santa Barbara to reconnect with her American roots and pursue her teaching career. Her experience spans kindergarten through eighth grade, including physical education, math, reading, and language arts. She was named Teacher of the Month in June 2022 by KEYT, KKFX, and NEYT, and holds an MA in Educational Counseling from Azusa Pacific University.

Kenneth Kahn, tribal chairman for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, stated, “Each year, we see how meaningful technology can transform a student’s education. Through our Technology in Schools Program, we’re honored to support the educators and staff who champion this work and to help provide the tools that strengthen the future of education in Santa Barbara County.”

The school technology funding initiative began in 2015, when the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians donated proceeds from its annual charity golf tournament to four local schools. Inspired by the success of those initial grants, the tribe’s leadership established the Technology in Schools Program through its foundation to address the growing technological needs of classrooms in Santa Barbara County. Since its inception, the program has distributed more than $640,000 in grants to area schools.

The full list of 2026 grant recipients includes Ballard School District (Solvang), Leonora Fillmore Elementary School District (Lompoc), Cabrillo High School (Lompoc), Notre Dame School (Santa Barbara), Our Lady of Mount Carmel School (Santa Barbara), Jonata Middle School (Buellton), Dunn School (Los Olivos), Adelante Charter School (Santa Barbara), Santa Barbara High School, Santa Maria Joint Union High School District, Santa Ynez Valley Charter School, Solvang School District, and Santa Ynez Valley Christian Academy.

To date, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians has donated more than $30 million to hundreds of organizations, schools, and community groups locally and nationwide as part of its long-standing tradition of giving.  

411: https://chumash.gov/foundation#programs
www.mountcarmelschool.net