SB Rescue Mission’s 25th Bayou Funding Event Honors Kathleen Baushke

The Santa Barbara Rescue Mission (SBRM) held its 25th Annual Bayou Funding Event outside on the Grand Lawn at the Sandpiper Golf Club, a Ty Warner property, on Saturday, October 3. The theme of tropical islands had guests with lovely sunhats and colorful, cool outfits for both fashion and for the 80-degree temperature.

Event Co-chairs were Pamela Dillman Haskell and Nancy Melekian, who are members of the SBRM Women’s Auxiliary, the group who leads the event annually. Joining them to create this year’s event were SBRM Women’s Auxiliary President Cindy Anderson and Decorations Chair Dianne Davis.

The Silent Auction at this event is always a big hit, and this year took place over two hours. Betting for prized items and experiences went right down to the last second, with guests bidding via their smartphones. The Silent Auction coordinators were Terry Foil, Alice Birch, and Katie Pointer. 

SB Rescue Mission President Rolf Geyling, and his Board of Directors Chair Kiah Jordan, share, “Together, we are not only transforming the lives of individuals, but we’re also changing and saving entire families. Generations from now, people will be living in hope and freedom because of the Mission and our donors who make it possible.”

Programming included welcome remarks, lots of blessings, a tribute to this year’s honoree, and an introspection by a SBRM Program Graduate, Sarah Ringler, who shared her journey prior to and during her time in the program, along with the personal benefits and achievements she realized.

Rob Fredericks paid homage in his tribute to this year’s Léni Fé Bland Honoree, Kathleen Baushke, the executive director of Transition House. Baushke has a long history with nonprofits, serving as board president of St. Francis Foundation, the Second Story Associates board, the Storyteller Children’s Center advisory board, and on the grant selection committee for the Hutton Parker Foundation. She was named a 2020 Congressional Woman of the Year for California’s 24th District by Representative Salud Carbajal. 

The funds raised at this event allow the Rescue Mission to offer a successful 12-month residential drug and alcohol treatment program and provide emergency and transitional services for homeless guests. Last year, the Bayou event raised over $750,000 to assist people seeking shelter and recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. The Mission has helped over 1,000 people achieve recovery in the last 29 years.

SB Rescue Mission Women’s Auxiliary members include Susan Hughes, Leanne Patterson, and Barb Biehl, Board Vice Chair Sarah Douglas, Treasurer Tom Rodgers, Secretary John Ross, and board members Erin Barr, Chris Call, Joe Foster, Patti Hunter, Karen McLean, Barney Melekian, Garth Nobis, John Ortberg, and Tim Reinauer, plus the many friends and families of the SBRM.

As fans of this annual event remember when it took place by the beach at Rancho Dos Pueblos, there were a pair of llamas and other tropical animals for people to “get to know” close up. This year there were parrots from Jamie McLeod’s Santa Barbara Bird Sanctuary and Menagerie, and catering was by Solera & Co.  

411: https://sbrm.org