Tag archives: fundraiser

“Remember the past with gratitude. Live the present with enthusiasm. Look forward to the future with confidence.” – St. John Paul II The family, friends, and alumni, 350 strong, of Our Lady of Mount Carmel School gathered at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort for its 35th annual auction and dinner, “An evening of Gratitude.” […]

The 21st annual Empty Bowls fundraiser at the Ben Page Youth Center was so oversubscribed, there had to be three seatings for the simple soup and bread meals, which allowed the 1,000 participants paying just $30 to choose a hand-crafted bowl and, after dining, take the colorful ceramic home. The bustling event, founded by the […]

The American Cancer Society honored its heroes at the 8th annual Riviera Ball at the Biltmore, when 120 guests turned out for the cause, raising around $100,000. The popular bash, co-chaired by Jon Church and Elaine Christ, feted Carpinteria financial executive Jeff Moorhouse, who, along with other pilot friends, used his Beechcraft Bonanza to fly […]

For 17 years, the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission (SBRM) has had a fundraiser at the wonderful Dos Pueblos Ranch just north of town. Since one of the founders thought the property looked like a bayou, they have had different bayou themes – this year the Bayou Open, as in golf. Tee-off time was 2 pm […]

The party animals were out in costumed force when the popular charity Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network threw its 30th annual benefit at the Carriage and Western Art Museum, with a record 260 guests raising around $80,000 for the Goleta-based facility that rescues and treats more than 3,500 animals annually. The bustling bash, co-chaired by […]

Liquid assets were in abundance when the Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County staged its 9th annual Chowder Fest Charity Cookout at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum. Featuring 34 vendors, more than 500 turned out for the harborside foodie fest, raising around $65,000 for the 59-year-old nonprofit that provides legal representation and advice to […]

The 175-strong Women’s Auxiliary of the Music Academy of the West has clearly got a winner with its latest fundraising effort in 47 years, Music in the Gardens, with 400 guests raising around $80,000. The new event, which replaces its May Madness rummage sale, was co-chaired by a tony triumvirate of Evie Vesper, Kaye Willette, […]

Robert and Christine Emmons opened the gates of their charming ocean-view estate, Casa Cima Linda, for a high tea and champagne sunset soirée, catered by Seasons, to raise around $65,000 for Social Skills America, an eight-year-old organization that teaches students the manners and etiquette they need to succeed. Since being launched by John Daly, executive […]

A tidal wave of generosity swept over the historic El Paseo restaurant when Heal the Ocean, celebrating its 20th anniversary, hosted its annual sold-out gala, raising around $200,000 from 200 guests. The bustling bash had Montecito actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, recently recovered from a breast cancer scare, as honorary chair and Los Angeles auctioneer Rick Werner […]

Ensemble Theatre Company’s third annual Ghost Light Night was a real thriller! The 175-guest fête, which was expected to raise around $225,000, kicked off in the gardens of the Santa Barbara Club, when a local group of wonderfully costumed and choreographed players performed the late Michael Jackson’s hit “Thriller,” and then led supporters two blocks […]

It really was a Coral (Casino) Sunset when United Way gave its 22nd annual Red Feather Ball. The late Katherine Abercrombie is the honorary chair in perpetuity. She created the Red Feather Ball in 1997 after hearing the story of the Red Feather and how it came to symbolize giving during the Depression Era Community […]

Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation (TBCF) gave its Gold Ribbon Luncheon on the Monte Vista Lawn at the Biltmore Four Seasons Resort in spite of the rain. It was a tad muddy, but with a tent roof hung with beautiful turquoise and gold balloons over our heads, we were all dry and cozy. The luncheon was […]

It’s time to put on your running shoes for the annual AHA! fundraiser, Rock the Walk, on Saturday November 4, at 9 am with the starting line at Stella Mare restaurant across from the Andree Clark Bird Refuge. I met with event founder Kyle Brace and development director Molly Green at the Starbucks on Coast […]

It was a most bewitching occasion when Alistair and Ann Winn and co-host Bonnie Dunlap threw an early Halloween bash in their Gothic conservatory, which raised $12,000 for the Bucket Brigade and Habitat for Humanity’s Montecito Mavericks from an auction of dolls. Guests had flown in from Seattle, New York, and Washington for the boo-tiful […]

Philanthropist Sara Miller McCune was front and center when CAMA – the Community Arts Music Association – threw its centennial gala at the Biltmore, with 110 guests raising around $210,000 for the organization that brings many of the world’s most famous orchestras and performers to our Eden by the Beach. Sara, who has donated millions […]

Bellosguardo, the 23-acre estate 100-million-dollar estate of the late reclusive copper heiress Huguette Clark overlooking East Beach, opened its imposing doors to the public for the first time in six decades when the 22,000-sq.-ft. mansion’s newly formed foundation threw a memorable Great Gatsby gala, which attracted more than 500 guests and is expected to have […]

MontecitoTrails Foundation (MTF) has been working long and hard since the debris flow. Their mission as a nonprofit is to have volunteers and to keep more than 300 miles of trails open to the public. MTF folks want you to know “that thanks to your donations, membership and support the trails are really taking shape.” […]

Hearts Therapeutic Equestrian Center (HTEC) at 4420 Calle Real is a special place. As honoree and past president a couple of times, Barbara Toumayan shared, “It was a very small organization when I began fourteen years ago. It brings me total joy.” That will be echoed by thousands of individuals from children to adults since […]

Jim and Stephanie Sokolove opened their beautiful Montecito estate, just a tiara’s toss from TV talk show titan Oprah Winfrey, for the fourth consecutive year to host the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County’s seventh annual Table of Life beano, chaired by Montecito Bank & Trust head honcho Janet Garufis, with more than 260 colorfully garbed […]

A large tent had been erected to protect the 420 guests at the sold-out 16th Gold Ribbon lunch for the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation at the Biltmore from the blazing sun, but it served an entirely different purpose when the heavens opened, deluging the tony beachside hostelry in a rare rainstorm. Silent auction items had […]