Tag archives: Friendship Center

Friendship Center has never needed much of an excuse for a party. There is Senior Prom, the Fourth of July celebration and, most recently, a full Fiesta week of music, dancing, art and performances. Then there was this summer’s Polo Soirée, where nearly 100 guests helped the organization surpass its $75,000 fundraising goal. So when […]

Friendship Center celebrated two milestones during its annual Fourth of July Party, honoring both America’s 250th birthday and the nonprofit’s 50th anniversary of serving both older adults living with dementia and their families. Members, loved ones, caregivers, volunteers, and community friends gathered for a festive afternoon featuring a special lunch and plenty of dancing to […]

As guests arrived for Friendship Center’s third annual Senior Prom this spring, there were dresses to admire, jackets to straighten, old friends to greet, and a dance floor waiting just a few steps away. Volunteers and Richie’s barbers gave guests makeovers. Corsages were pinned. Music filled the room. Members arrived hand in hand with spouses, […]

Light up the holiday spirit this Dec. 4 from 4-6 pm with the community and Coast Village businesses. The tree is already in place in front of Richie’s Barber Shop, and the lighting will be accompanied by Rosewood Miramar hot chocolate, Santa Barbara Youth Symphony Quartet, letter box for Santa letters, and more. Montecito County […]

The leaves may be falling off the trees (I think, we don’t have much of a fall here) but the costumes are certainly coming out. It’s Ghost Village Road time along our favorite local haunt of the Lower Village.  Families, friends, and four-legged companions take part in one of the community’s most beloved traditions. The […]

Next week, Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club will play host to more than a thrilling afternoon of sport – it will serve as a chance to learn about a local nonprofit that’s been quietly making a difference for nearly 50 years. On July 18th, from 3:30 to 6:30 pm, the Friendship Center will host […]

The Friendship Center Montecito held its annual Legacy Society Award Luncheon on Wednesday, May 28, at the University Club. This annual event has returned from its lockdown-related hiatus. The organization honors those who have committed to allocate funding via their estate to support the FC endowment. FC Board Finance Chair and Legacy Leadership Committee member, […]

The Mate Gallery owners Matt Albiani and Ron Brand announce they are now carrying the American West-inspired Ralph Lauren RRL line, affectionately known as Double RL. The line was launched last week in an invite-only opening event that caused a scene in the Montecito Country Mart parking lot in front of the store – not […]

Montecito Bank & Trust, which is celebrating its half century, held its annual anniversary grants reception at its State Street headquarters when Janet Garufis, chairman and CEO, handed out $5,000 checks, instead of the normal $3,000, to 11 nonprofits chosen by the bank’s staff. The Jerry Parent Legacy Award went to Many Mansions, which runs […]

Kathryn Westland, MPH,Executive Director of the Friendship Center (FC) held a healthy aging event at the Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center on Sunday, February 23, from 1-3 pm. The event was focused on bringing the FC’s programming and services to Carpinteria residents and their families in response to a need in the area. This meet […]

At the beginning of November, the Friendship Center held its 12th Annual Wine Down at the Arlington Theater with a special twist – this year’s event included a ghoulish costume theme given its proximity to Halloween. This sold-out event brought food, dancing, and much more to a crowd of 130 guests, raising nearly $60,000 in […]

The Friendship Center in Montecito held its annual Thanksgiving lunch for its members and their families and friends, on Wednesday, November 27, outside on the patio. The membership has grown 30% in the last year and the event was packed. Noted members at the lunch were Luis Cabello with his daughters Patty and Graciela;and 101 […]

Montecito’s Friendship Center, founded in 1976 and now with a satellite location in Goleta, marked the Silver Jubilee of its annual Festival of Hearts with a seaside elegance-themed lunch at the Rosewood Miramar for 230 guests. The lunch raised around $75,000 for the nonprofit, which offers supervised and engaging activities for adults living with dementia […]

The Friendship Center (FC) of Montecito celebrated the silver anniversary of its beloved “Festival of Hearts” fundraiser on Saturday, February 3, at the Rosewood Miramar Beach Montecito ballroom and outdoor patio. Nods to the event co-chairs FC Board member Kathy Marden andFC Board VP Sue Adams, with their committee Nathan Bero, Marianne M. Cherkas, Erica […]

The Friendship Center lives true to its name. It’s a special place somewhere between Heaven and Earth – where loved ones with Alzheimer’s and dementia go to find compassion, dignity, and connection while their caregivers can find relief, care, maybe even hope. It’s like time traveling where, if only for a couple hours, everything is […]

The Friendship Center in Montecito held a Thanksgiving luncheon for its members and their families and friends on Wednesday, November 22 at the center. The festive feast was led by Executive Director Kathryn Westland and her team of Kim Larsen, cooks, and even her cousins – the MeekerFamily from San Diego! The cooks were busy […]

Kathryn Westland is the new executive director for the Friendship Center Adult Day Services (FC) in Montecito. This is the first appointment to the position since Heidi Holly, who held the position for 38 years and retired earlier this year. Westland worked at the FC as program manager from fall 2017 through January 2021, and […]

The Friendship Center held its 11th Annual Wine Down fundraiser at its Montecito location on Thursday, September 14 from 4 to 7 pm. The support for this homespun event was large, with over 200 guests and volunteers stopping by to sip and mingle with friends, and enjoy the charcuterie table, especially the freshly baked sweets […]

Heidi Holly, executive director of the Friendship Center in Montecito and Goleta, has retired after 38 years, and 120 friends and supporters gathered at a fun-filled farewell bash at Brass Bear Brewing Uptown to give her a rousing sendoff. Kathryn Cherkas, Heidi’s successor who worked as a program director of the organization as well as […]

Feb. 4 saw the 24th annual Festival of Hearts Friendship Center fundraiser at the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort Montecito. The theme this year was Kentucky Derby Style, with guests dressing in colorful hats and retro-outfits.  It was a fun (and fashionable) time for event co-chairs Kathy Marden and Sue Adams: “We have a particular fondness […]