Tag archives: fundraiser

The Teacher’s Fund: Because TeachersHave Enough Homework
By Zach Rosen   |   August 18, 2026

There are certain things teachers should reasonably be expected to bring to school. Patience, for one. A working knowledge of long division. The supernatural ability to detect chewing gum from thirty paces. What they should not have to bring is half the contents of Staples, purchased with their own money. And yet, back in 2002, […]

Montecito Union School Foundation Annual Gala
By Joanne A Calitri   |   May 18, 2026

The Montecito Union School Foundation (MUSF) held its annual fundraiser gala at the Rosewood Miramar Resort on Friday, May 1. The guests arrived in the gala theme of “An Evening in Olympia,” women arriving in stunning gowns adorned with a gold floral headpiece, men arriving in suits topped with a toga scarf and Caesar-head piece.  […]

15th Annual Dream Foundation Flower Empower Luncheon
By Joanne A Calitri   |   April 21, 2026

Dream Foundation held its 15th Annual Flower Empower fundraising luncheon on Thursday, April 9, at the Rosewood Miramar Beach. The event welcomed more than 200 attendees from across the region and beyond. While guests arrived dressed to impress, the focus remained firmly on supporting the Flower Empower program. Following check-in, guests enjoyed a formal photo […]

Blood Cancer United: High School Students Raise Funds for Research with a Real Impact
By Zach Rosen   |   March 24, 2026

Every three minutes someone is diagnosed with blood cancer. It is a statistic that delivers a staggering reality and underpins Blood Cancer United’s annual Student Visionaries of the Year campaign, a seven-week fundraising effort that places high school students at the center of both outreach and leadership. Locally, the effort to raise $200K has been […]

SB Cottage Health’s 23rd Tiara Ball Elegance
By Joanne A Calitri   |   March 24, 2026

The SB Cottage Health’s 23rd Annual Tiara Ball took place at the Ritz-Carlton on Saturday, March 7. This elegant, bejeweled gala is ticketed out a year in advance to over 500 lucky guests. Noted this year was the super high energy and warmth from the attendees who came dressed to impress in gowns from Paris […]

Storyteller’s Color the World Gala
By Zach Rosen   |   March 10, 2026

Storyteller welcomed more than 300 guests to its sold-out Color the World Gala at Rosewood Miramar Beach, raising over $600,000 to support Santa Barbara’s most vulnerable children. This year’s theme, “Hues of Love,” celebrated the transformative power of stability, early care, and community. Guests began the evening on the lawn with a vibrant reception featuring […]

15th Annual St. Vincent’s SB Fashion Show Fundraiser
By Joanne A Calitri   |   December 16, 2025

I am happy to report that St. Vincent’s Santa Barbara annual Fashion Show fundraiser which took place for its 4th year at the Rosewood Miramar Beach on Saturday, November 29 was a huge success. This year saw 230 guests dressed in their holiday best bidding on 103 handmade gift baskets. The event founded by Claudia […]

CASA 2nd Annual Beach Ball Fundraiser
By Joanne A Calitri   |   November 25, 2025

The Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Santa Barbara County organization held its 2nd Annual Beach Ball fundraiser at the San Ysidro Ranch Montecito on Sunday, November 9, from 12 to 2 pm. This event was founded by Jackie Johnson McBride of The Weather Chef and Allison LaBarge for the purpose of generating funds for […]

Bright Girls, Bold Futures 2025
By Richard Mineards   |   November 25, 2025

Written by Maria W. Long I was escorted into the celebration by a beautiful young girl with a sparkling smile, who said, “Welcome, I am so excited you’re here!” as I entered this heartwarming, yet powerful event. Over 200 passionate community leaders at the Santa Barbara Club where there for a joyful celebration of resilience, […]

CALM Hearts at Annual Fundraiser
By Joanne A Calitri   |   November 18, 2025

CALM – also known as calm4kids – held its annual fundraising luncheon, CALM at Heart, on Friday, November 7, at the Rosewood Miramar Beach.  The event co-chairs Amanda Lee and Katrina Mudd Sprague, Calm Board of Trustees Vice Chair of Development, shared, “This year, we will be deeply moved by a courageous former client whose […]

Mount Carmel School’s Fiesta Elegante
By Joanne A Calitri   |   October 21, 2025

On Friday, November 14, 2025, Our Lady of Mount Carmel School will reconvene the school’s 42nd annual auction and dinner. Fiesta Elegante opens its arms to generations of families, alums, parishioners, and local supporters for an evening of dancing, noshing, and community that has long since become an anticipated yearly gathering.   The event’s longevity […]

Brilliant Things Beginning
By Steven Libowitz   |   October 21, 2025

Three years ago Jonny Donahoe first brought Every Brilliant Thing to Center Stage as a benefit for New Beginnings – the longtime Santa Barbara nonprofit that has often employed the arts and entertainers to raise money and draw awareness to its mission of serving its underprivileged clientele with mental health services and more.Donahoe’s audience-conversant one-man […]

Green on Screen
By Steven Libowitz   |   October 7, 2025

Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network premiered its educational/documentary/promo film Wild Rescue at a fundraising benefit at the Lobero in August. On Sunday, October 5, the professionally produced movie gets a viewing as intended – on a giant screen with a spectacular sound system at the Granada. The setting is perfect for the film, which documents […]

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, […]

Casa del Herrero Centennial Gala
By Joanne A Calitri   |   September 23, 2025

This week’s Society Editis bringing you the exclusive report on the Centennial Gala of Casa del Herrero, held on Saturday, September 6. As the only press person requested by the organization to cover the event, here are the illustrious details! I arrived early to meet with the Casa del Herrero (the Casa) Board of Trustees […]

Rescue Roundup: Upcoming Fundraiser to Support Search and Rescue Volunteers
By Jason Copus   |   September 23, 2025

Santa Barbara County residents will gather on Friday, October 10, for an evening that combines celebration with a serious purpose: supporting the all-volunteer Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue (SBCSAR) team. Rescue Roundup 2025, set for 6 to 10 pm at the Santa Barbara Carriage Museum, promises lively entertainment, memorable food, and unique demonstrations of […]

A Full House of Heart
By Richard Mineards   |   September 23, 2025

Heart of New House, which helps drug and alcohol addicted people, welcomed 220 guests to its 9th annual lunch at the Hilton, raising $135,000 for the charity. Executive Director Adam Burridge presented Hero awards to Demetrio Espinosa and Alex Vandenbelt, who went on to study at Berkeley and New York’s Columbia University where he attained […]

Birdies & Divots
By Richard Mineards   |   September 9, 2025

Polo players turned in their mallets for golf clubs and showed non-equestrian talents at the Glen Annie course for the 7th annual Polo Training Center fundraiser. The event, which raised around $10,000, was partially sponsored by Farmers & Merchants Bank and organized by Rhys Williams. The Friedman family, led by Geoff Friedman, looking dashing in […]

A Bloomin’ Gala
By Richard Mineards   |   July 29, 2025

Lotusland, the 37-acre botanical paradise developed by the late international opera singer Ganna Walska, sold out all 500 tickets for its annual gala, Jardin des Rêves, months in advance, raising more than $1 million. The 31st annual event Garden of Dreams, co-chaired by David Jones and Julie Morley, with honorary chair Wendy Schmidt, featured vintage […]

Fundraiser for Film Debuts ‘Dads’ Documentary 
By Steven Libowitz   |   July 29, 2025

The 2023 short documentary film The Dads featured five fathers of trans children who joined Dennis Shepard – father of 1998’s infamously murdered teen Matthew Shepard – for a weekend fishing trip. In the course of the outing, the dads found common ground across racial, geographical, and generational lines in their unconditional love for their […]