Tag archives: fundraiser

Food on the Table
By Richard Mineards   |   October 18, 2022

The Food Bank of Santa Barbara County hosted its annual Table of Life gala at the picturesque Montecito estate of Steve and Cindy Leonard, a short distance from Westmont College. More than 130 guests helped raise around $500,000 towards the $16.5 million cost of a new 57,000-square-foot warehouse and offices, or Sharehouse, near Deckers in […]

Romantic Rio at the Museum
By Richard Mineards   |   October 11, 2022

Purple reigned at CADA’s 35th annual Amethyst Ball: Romance in Rio at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum with 230 glamorously garbed, masked, and befeathered guests raising in excess of $300,000 for the 73-year-old nonprofit that fights alcoholism and drug abuse and has served more than 18,000 addicted youth and adults in that time. Emceed by […]

Road Trip with a Mission
By Richard Mineards   |   October 11, 2022

The Santa Barbara Rescue Mission had a delightful change of venue for its 21st annual Road Trip to the Bayou with a move to the beach at Rancho Dos Pueblos rather than the main residence, which was being used as a set for a TV show. More than 350 guests turned out for the sandy […]

A Heartfelt Luncheon
By Richard Mineards   |   October 11, 2022

Gordon Guy, the late Executive Director of New House, a 67-year-old charity which has helped more than 25,000 men suffering from drug and alcohol addiction, was honored at the sixth annual Heart of New House lunch at the Hilton with 200 guests raising around $75,000 for the organization. Gordon died earlier this year after a […]

The Heroes of Hospice
By Richard Mineards   |   October 4, 2022

Given the intense sunshine, there were so many umbrellas out at the Hilton’s Plaza del Sol for the 10th annual Heroes of Hospice of Santa Barbara lunch that it looked like a Mary Poppins convention! The bountiful bash for 260 guests, co-hosted by KEYT-TV anchors Beth Farnsworth and C.J. Ward, also featured local lifestyle strategist […]

Tacos and Tequila for a Cause 
By Richard Mineards   |   September 27, 2022

International locally-based charity ShelterBox raised around $250,000 from 175 guests at a Tacos and Tequila party at the Summerland estate of John McGovern, who also received this year’s Community Partnership Award from president Kerri Murray. The sunset soirée, an immersive experience of the charity’s lifesaving work, included interactive demonstrations of shelters and equipment, used in […]

‘USS Santa Barbara’ Cruising Along
By Richard Mineards   |   September 27, 2022

It was one hull of a night when 50 maritime mavens turned out for a commissioning bash for the USS Santa Barbara at the Summerland estate of Pat and Ursula Nesbitt. Emcee Andrew Firestone helped raise more than $350,000 to outfit the 127-foot trimaran hulled aluminum 70-crew vessel, the third to be named after our […]

Fired Up for Special Olympics
By Steven Libowitz   |   September 20, 2022

Not surprisingly, Special Olympics of Southern California (SOSC) took a little longer than most organizations to return to in-person activities, as it only ushered in Phase 3 of its sports and programs, a small single step shy of no restrictions, in June. That’s because individuals with intellectual disabilities – the population Special Olympics has served […]

Patti and Pizza for a Cause
By Richard Mineards   |   September 20, 2022

Justine Roddick and Tina Schlieske opened the gates of their charming Montecito estate for a special concert by iconic singer-songwriter Patti Smith. More than 120 guests turned out for the Merryl Brown-organized boffo bash, which raised $135,000 to be split equally between the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation and CADA – the Council on Alcoholism and […]

One 805: Feeling Stronger Every Day
By Steven Libowitz   |   September 13, 2022

The Thomas Fire and debris flows that plagued Montecito and the area in over a month spanning 2017-18 was an unprecedented tragedy that caused great devastation to the community.  But out of the ashes and mud rose a brand-new nonprofit called One805, which has not only raised funds to support the First Responders who worked […]

Annual Gala Returns to the Granada Stage
By Steven Libowitz   |   September 6, 2022

The annual Granada Theatre Legends Gala has become one of the most cherished events ever since its debut in 2015, and it’s easy to see why. The evening pays tribute to the trio of pillars that represent foundational aspects of the performing arts in town, an approach that has made the Granada such a smashing […]

One Enchanted Evening
By Richard Mineards   |   September 6, 2022

The party animals were out in force when Santa Barbara Zoo held its 36th annual sold-out Zoofari gala with an Enchanted Forest theme, with the 712 guests taking the theme to heart with colorful, creative costumes more befitting Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and the Harry Potter novels as they converged on the […]

Pup Party
By Richard Mineards   |   September 6, 2022

Billionaire Rick Caruso’s Rosewood Miramar went to the dogs when dozens of canines invaded the tony hostelry’s Great Lawn to celebrate International Dog Day. With pet owners paying $250 to enter, all proceeds benefited the local animal shelter, Santa Barbara Humane – which has two campuses in Goleta and Santa Maria – with judges looking […]

The Show Must Go On
By Richard Mineards   |   September 6, 2022

Social gridlock reigned at the historic Santa Barbara Club when the Ensemble Theatre Company marked its 43rd season with a Curtain Up! gala for 150 guests, raising more than $200,000 for productions at the New Vic. Susan Van Abel chaired the fun fête that featured the ubiquitous Chris Fossek on classical guitar, singer Linda Purl, […]

Garden Party for the Rona Barrett Foundation
By Richard Mineards   |   August 30, 2022

Scott and Kohanya Groff opened the doors of their delightful Riven Rock estate for a garden party for the 22-year-old Rona Barrett Foundation with 70 guests raising more than $20,000, its first ever event in Montecito. The monies will go towards the construction of a 60-unit extension to the former Good Morning America gossipeuse’s Golden […]

Lunch and Compassionate Care
By Richard Mineards   |   August 23, 2022

A record 160 guests turned out for the fourth annual Compassionate Care of Carpinteria lunch at the Rincon Beach Club raising more than $40,000 for the nonprofit that deals with end-of-life care. The fête, chaired by Marybeth Carty, was emceed by brothers Ed and Winfred Van Wingerden, with Virginia Benson Wigle, who lost her husband […]

Fiesta Finale Fun
By Richard Mineards   |   August 23, 2022

The John E. Profant Foundation for the Arts hosted its 22nd annual Fiesta Finale gala for 144 guests at the historic El Paseo restaurant, raising around $100,000. The fun fête featured myriad entertainers, including the Martinez Brothers, Marco Labastida, Guillermo De Fazio and Giovanna Dan, soprano Camila Lima and pianist Ruy Folguera, and flamenco dancers […]

La Fiesta Del Museo
By Lynda Millner   |   August 16, 2022

The Santa Barbara Historical Museum became a page out of a book about Sevilla with their La Fiesta del Museo Old Spanish Days party in the courtyard. We celebrated the culture, the dance, and the cuisine of one of my favorite places on Earth. My family was lucky enough to live there for seven years. […]

A Taste of Wine and Nature
By Richard Mineards   |   July 5, 2022

Oenophiles and gourmands were out in force at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History when, after a two-year pandemic hiatus, it hosted the region’s premier wine and food event, attracting 1,000 supporters to the beautiful 17-acre Mission Creek campus and raising more than $200,000 for the museum’s programs and exhibits. Around 200 VIP tickets, […]

Viva Las School of Squash
By Lynda Millner   |   June 28, 2022

The Santa Barbara School of Squash (SBSOS) recently gave its annual gala fundraiser in a unique venue – the courtyard at La Arcada Plaza around the turtle pond at Eleven14 restaurant. It was a beautiful setting for 100 folks seated at the round dinner tables and a fun place to mix and mingle. The theme […]