Channel Islands YMCA’s 25th Annual Reaching for Stars Event

Youth and Family Services division of the YMCA celebrated the 25^th Anniversary of its annual fundraiser, Reaching for Stars, on Thursday, May 1, at the Santa Barbara Woman’s Club at Rockwood. The event was attended and supported by many locals. Noted were Marilyn and Steven Gutsche, Steve Lyons, Bob and Patty Bryant, Lynn and Roger Karlson, Wendy Scott, Wendy and Harry Atterbury, with special thanks to Montecito Bank and Trust, the Montecito Journal, and Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation. 

The event followed the reception-silent auction with dinner and live auction programming, and concluded with dancing. The Event Committee chair was Marsha Roberson with her event committee Dawn Bokman, Joaquin Gonzales, Victoria and Brent Lindstrom, Susan Morris, Adrienne Schuele, Wendy Scott, Amber Stevens, Amy Tovias, and Carolyn Williams.

Amy Tovias YFD Operations Director welcomed the guests, and thanked the event sponsors, donors, and her team. She introduced Honorary Chair Roy Lee; SBC First District Supervisor, and longtime YMCA member since his youth. His speech was succinct, “I went to the Y when I was a youth and it provided many benefits for me, as it still provides for the youth of today. I still go to the Y in Montecito to work out. Let’s support tonight the work they do.”

Keynote speaker was Barbara Andersen, Senior Assistant to the Santa Barbara City Administrator, who was recognized for her leadership in homelessness and community initiatives. She said, “We will be forever grateful to you, Roy Lee, for your support. My speech is an opportunity to say thank you to the Youth and Family Services organization. The City of Santa Barbara relies on you and so does the community. Thank you to Steve Lyons for making the Lyon’s House possible. We are a community that gives abundantly. Most of us came from a family that gave us a safe space with basic necessities. What would it be like if kids didn’t have that? This is a beautiful city with dark edges. In Santa Barbara we have 120 unhoused kids that we can count but there may be others we don’t know about, and one in five kids lives in poverty. The Youth and Family Services staff meets these kids where they are. They have provided over 1,300 drop-in services and answered over 1,000 calls for youth in need.” 

There was a brief speech from a youth graduate of the program who talked about her experiences before and after the support from the Youth and Family Services organization. 

Guest Auctioneer Andrew Firestone began his pitch for paddle raises by saying, “The Y’s outcomes – that’s why I’m here.” He raised approximately $33,500.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Youth & Family Services YMCA programs, including Noah’s Anchorage Youth Crisis Shelter, My Home, The Lyons House, and the Haley Street Navigation Center. These programs provide critical services such as crisis intervention, housing, shelter, youth and family counseling, employment assistance, and basic needs support to at-risk and homeless youth in Santa Barbara County.  

411: www.ciymca.org