Tag archives: cancer

Gala Fever
By Montecito Journal   |   September 15, 2026

Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation and Rally4Kids Put Local Children and Families at the Center of Two Fall Traditions At the unlikely intersection of cuddly toys and deafening internal combustion, two of Santa Barbara’s most established philanthropic high points come back into focus this September and October. One invokes the silent, grounding comfort of a teddy bear, […]

Glimmers Foundation
By Steven Libowitz   |   July 14, 2026

Glimmers Childhood Cancer Foundation President Vanessa Decker didn’t know what to do with herself when her 13-year-old daughter Ava passed away on May 9, 2024, just 18 months after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare and very aggressive bone cancer, devastating the family already exhausted from a battle with the disease.  Fortunately, Ava did.  “Even […]

The Breast Cancer Resource Center: A Beacon of Hope for Those in Need
By Deann Zampelli   |   November 25, 2025

Recently I came across a note that my mother wrote to me 29 years ago right before she died. My husband and I had just gotten married and for us, it was the beginning of everything. For my mother who had been battling breast cancer for two years, it was the end. The letter was […]

Soup Season Is Here: Organic Soup Kitchen Welcomes the Community Back to the Table
By Organic Soup Kitchen   |   October 14, 2025

For 16 years, our team of volunteers, farmers, and neighbors has been simmering, stirring, and serving soups that do more than feed the belly – they nourish our community. Organic Soup Kitchen provides restorative, organic meals designed to support people in cancer treatment and recovery, while also ensuring food security for low-income seniors and others […]

TBCF’s Golden Gala Glows with Purpose
By Richard Mineards and Maria McCall   |   October 7, 2025

Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation’s Golden Gala lit up the Tuscan Hills Estate with shimmering style and heartfelt generosity. Guests gathered in gold to celebrate the nonprofit’s mission of supporting families facing pediatric cancer. Presenting Sponsor Earl Minnis delivered a heartfelt message on the power of giving. Dr. Jordan Witt was honored with the Humanitarian Award, […]

Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation Annual Gala Preview
By Joanne A Calitri   |   August 26, 2025

The Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation Annual Golden Gala is scheduled for September 27, at the Tuscan Hills Estate, the home of longtime TBCF supporters Michael and Sylvia Schulte Molony. Honorees at the Gala included the Rodriguez family, recipients of the Pay It Forward Award; Jeff and Margo Barbakow, recipients of the Heart of Gold Award; […]

A Soup-er Celebration
By Richard Mineards   |   November 26, 2024

The Organic Soup Kitchen, which has served more than three million bowls to needy residents in Santa Barbara County, celebrated its 15th anniversary with a bountiful bash for 250 guests at the Cabrillo Pavilion. Founder and executive director Anthony Carroccio declared: “When we served our first bowl in the park in 2009, we were visionaries […]

TBCF Golden Gala 2024
By Joanne A Calitri   |   October 22, 2024

Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation Golden Gala 2024 was held on Saturday, October 5, at the Montecito Les Belles Fontaines Estate of Alastair and Ann Winn, co-hosted with their daughter Amanda and her husband Travis Twining. The TBCF team asked the more than 300 attendees to wear gold – the internationally acknowledged color of pediatric cancer […]

Repose and Praise in Pink
By Richard Mineards   |   October 8, 2024

The Breast Cancer Resource Center was thinking pink when it hosted its 26th annual Pink Lounge gala at the Rosewood Miramar that attracted 200 guests and raised $350,000 for the popular nonprofit. The fun fête, co-chaired by Dr. Priti Gagneja and Vince Caballero, featured a live auction conducted by Sotheby’s International realtor Dusty Baker, who […]

Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation Annual Gold Gala Announcement
By Joanne A Calitri   |   September 3, 2024

The Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation (TBCF) has announced its annual major fundraiser, The Golden Gala,to take place Oct. 5 at a private Montecito estate. Tickets are selling fast and maxed at 300 attendees, and sponsorships are available on the TBCF website. The Gala marks their capstone event following National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September. […]

TBCF: Celebrating 21 Exceptional Years 
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   December 5, 2023

Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation (TBCF) proudly marks its 21st year of standing with families battling cancer in the tri-counties in significant ways. What began as a humble grassroots effort has blossomed into an organization now synonymous with hope and critical financial aid for families enduring the trauma of pediatric cancer. Despite its modest office on […]

Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation Expands Reach
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   September 19, 2023

Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation (TBCF), a local nonprofit organization providing support for families battling childhood cancer along the Central Coast, has announced a major milestone as it enters its 21st year of operation: TBCF is now able to extend its age eligibility to 21 years.  For the past two decades, TBCF has been a place […]

Organic Soup Kitchen
By Steven Libowitz   |   July 25, 2023

Organic Soup Kitchen (OSK) provides nutrition and food security to cancer patients, chronically ill, and low-income individuals throughout Santa Barbara County. The nonprofit organization has served more than a million bowls of nutrient-dense SoupMeals since its founding in 2009.  It all sounds pretty straightforward and simple. After all, like Campbell’s claimed in a long-running ad […]

Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation Picnic Fundraiser
By Joanne A Calitri   |   June 6, 2023

The Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation held a picnic fundraiser at the Montecito Country Club on Sunday May 21 in the afternoon. Guests were asked to wear summer whites attire and bring the kids for an all ages fun day with picnic lunch. There were tables and picnic blankets on the lawn to choose from, and […]

Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation Upcoming Picnic
By Joanne A Calitri   |   May 16, 2023

The Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation (TBCF) announced its annual picnic fundraiser to be held at the Montecito Country Club (MCC). The event proves to be a super-fun and low-key way for people to contribute to their foundation. The event cochairs, Sofie Langhorne and Deborah Stanley, are asking attendees to don a “summer white” outfit of […]

Pinking About Fashion
By Richard Mineards   |   May 16, 2023

More than 170 guests were in the pink when the Breast Cancer Resource Center hosted its 15th annual THRIVE fashion show at the Montecito Club, raising $100,000. The event was originally scheduled for the club’s expansive lawn, but the unusually chilly weather forced a last-minute change to indoors where the fires were roaring. Ubiquitous DJ […]

Brems on Board
By Richard Mineards   |   January 31, 2023

Psychologist and yoga therapist Christiane Brems has joined the board of the Breast Cancer Resource Center. A breast cancer survivor herself, Brems brings a wealth of professional and personal expertise to her role. “I’m very impressed with the wholistic and integrated mission of the BCRC and I’m honored to be able to contribute to such […]

Soup-ing up the Holidays
By Steven Libowitz   |   December 6, 2022

For a decade, the Organic Soup Kitchen (OSK) hosted community meals on Christmas Day at the Veterans Memorial Building on the Santa Barbara waterfront, serving hundreds of warm nutritious meals to the homeless and others. The event eventually grew to include an appearance by Santa to hand out gifts to people of all ages and […]

Lunch on the Riviera
By Richard Mineards   |   November 15, 2022

American Cancer Society hosted its second annual Riviera Luncheon at the Hilton, attracting 80 guests and raising around $100,000. The boffo bash, chaired by Denise Sanford, was emceed by Drew Wakefield with Dr. Daniel Greenwald of the UCLA Health Cancer Care Center in Santa Barbara, Karina Kulangara, associate vice president of research and development of […]

A Golden Night
By Richard Mineards   |   October 18, 2022

It was truly a night on the tiles when the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation hosted its 20th anniversary Golden Gala on the expansive rooftop of MOXI, the Wolf Museum of Exploration, raising around $300,000 from 225 dinner guests, and another 200 guests who came for the after-party with K-LITE DJ Scott Topper providing the throbbing […]