Tag archives: fundraising

A Heartfelt Lunch
By Richard Mineards   |   February 20, 2024

The three-year-old charity Hearts Aligned, which supports critically ill children, had a record sold-out turnout for its second annual Hearts to Hearts Valentine’s lunch at the oceanside Cabrillo Pavilion. More than 180 guests raised around $150,000 for the organization founded by Vivian Solodkin who, along with David Edelman and Brigitte Welty, co-chaired the boffo bash. […]

25th Annual Festival of Hearts Fundraiser
By Joanne A Calitri   |   February 13, 2024

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 […]

A Seaside Silver Jubilee
By Richard Mineards   |   February 13, 2024

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 […]

Alcazar Theatre Announces Renovation Fundraiser with the Doublewide Kings
By Joanne A Calitri   |   January 23, 2024

Palmer Jackson Jr.’s band, the Doublewide Kings, is doing a benefit show to raise funding for the Alcazar Theatre’s 2024 renovations on February 2 and February 3. The band has a huge following and announced that early sponsorship VIPs include Montecito’s Scott Brittingham of Brittingham Family Foundation, Bill and Katie Garland,Board Treasurer of Casa del […]

Having a Ball
By Richard Mineards   |   December 19, 2023

Novelist Jane Austen would have been in her element at the Music Academy’s Lehmann Hall when the Miraflores campus’ creative Auxiliary hosted the Aux Ball: Celebrating the Eras with 120 guests in their Regency finery, many donning tiaras, raising around $50,000 towards the SING! choral program for youngsters from first to ninth grade. Mally Chakola, […]

Empty Bowls Runneth Over
By Richard Mineards   |   December 12, 2023

Empty Bowls, the popular fundraiser for the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, staged its 26th event at the new $20 million Sharehouse in Goleta, with a record 750 guests being shuttled by the Santa Barbara Airbus from the Hilton Garden Inn, a short distance away. The 77,000-square-foot Foodbank property, which boasts 10 times the refrigerated […]

Getting an Arise Out of Runners
By Richard Mineards   |   December 12, 2023

Everybody was certainly in the pink at Arise International’s third 5K run-walk along the beachfront at Chase Palm Park, which had a record breaking entry of 250 participants raising a record $50,000 for Bethel House, a women’s residential treatment program at the Rescue Mission. The monies will enable the facility to complete renovations on the […]

15th Annual St. Vincent’s Fashion Show Luncheon
By Joanne A Calitri   |   December 5, 2023

The much-loved St. Vincent’s Santa Barbara annual fashion show luncheon took off with all the holiday flair of the season at the Rosewood Miramar Beach Ballroom on Saturday, November 25. This year was their 15th annual event, and saw 300 guests with a wait list, indicating the growth of the event over the years, since […]

Jodi House Raises Funds & Awareness
By Ann Pieramici   |   November 28, 2023

Last month, 200 community members – many Montecito residents – gathered on the rooftop of MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation, to learn about Jodi House’s critical mission to empower brain injury survivors to thrive. “An Evening to Explore Jodi House,” an annual event raising awareness and funds for the brain injury support […]

Lotusland Forever
By Richard Mineards   |   November 28, 2023

Lotusland, the 37-acre botanical paradise that is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, received a Happy Birthday gift from Mayor Randy Rowse, when he presented board members of the historic estate with a colorfully inscribed vellum proclamation on behalf of our Eden by the Beach. The tony twosome, Laura Bridley and Jeanne Anderson, joined the […]

Association of Fundraising Professionals Santa Barbara/Ventura Counties Chapter 2023 Honorees
By Joanne A Calitri   |   November 28, 2023

The Association of Fundraising Professionals Santa Barbara/Ventura Counties Chapter celebrated National Philanthropy Day with a Philanthropy Awards presentation on Tuesday, November 14, at the Santa Barbara Zoo. The event was led by their President Lauren Trujillo, her co-chairs Molly Kemper and Gerry Pantoja, and the event committee: Karen Y. Kawaguchi, Megan Nuss, Hannah Quiroz, Shannon […]

Music Academy Auxiliary 2nd Annual Sip and Swap Fundraiser
By Joanne A Calitri   |   November 21, 2023

The beloved Music Academy’s (MA) Auxiliary held its 2nd Annual Sip and Swap Fundraiser at the MA’s Marilyn Horne Main House on Thursday, November 9. The event saw both its members and their friends joining for a lovely evening of libations and top tier swapping of one or more treasured items from one’s closet to […]

FSA’s Turn to Serve
By Richard Mineards   |   November 21, 2023

The Family Service Agency of Santa Barbara County got into quite a pickle at the Montecito Club at the weekend. The popular charity, founded in 1899, hosted its inaugural pickleball tournament with 68 players organized by local realtor Natalie Collins-Smith, raising $20,000 for senior service programs and youth mental health with sponsorship from Farmers & […]

Surfing for Support at FisHouse
By Richard Mineards   |   November 21, 2023

A tsunami of supporters turned up at the FisHouse for a Heal the Ocean sunset soirée to thank donors for helping raise a most impressive record $350,000 from its fourth consecutive imaginary Silver Anniversary gala. “It’s the perfect kind of event,” enthused Hillary Hauser, president and executive director of the popular charity. “Very little overhead […]

Explore Ecology Annual Sustainable Table Fundraiser
By Joanne A Calitri   |   November 7, 2023

Explore Ecology’s (EE) Annual Sustainable Table Fundraiser was held for the first time since 2019 on Thursday, October 26, at the Cabrillo Pavilion. The lucky 120 guests were treated to an extraordinary dinner event that was warm and welcoming, with many longtime friends of the organization reuniting. Seen at the event were EE’s Art from […]

75th Anniversary of the Assistance League of Santa Barbara
By Joanne A Calitri   |   November 7, 2023

The Assistance League (AL) of Santa Barbara celebrated its 75th Anniversary with an afternoon reception at its Veronica Springs Road offices on Thursday, October 26. The local chapter, the 10th of 120 chapters nationally, was founded post-WWII in 1948 by 15 society women who saw a need to help the community in ways beyond compare. […]

Hillside House Hosts 2nd Annual “Friend-raiser”
By Joanne A Calitri   |   November 7, 2023

The Hillside House organization held its 2nd Annual “Friend-raiser” event to bring their work out to the community in an open program event on Sunday afternoon, October 29, at the Carousel House at Chase Palm Park.  There were mini-info tables all around the rotunda with staff members providing information on the various programs of the […]

22nd Annual St. Vincent’s Golf Classic Fundraiser at the Montecito Country Club 
By Joanne A Calitri   |   October 31, 2023

Monday, October 16, saw the 22nd Annual St. Vincent’s Santa Barbara Golf Classic at the Montecito Club, a charity tournament supporting single mothers and young children in the Family Strengthening Program. There were 20 teams with 80 players who competed for grand prizes in over five categories. The event commenced at 10 am with breakfast, […]

Lunch’ing for a Cause
By Richard Mineards   |   October 24, 2023

Domestic Violence Solutions, founded in 1977, hosted its 15th annual lunch at the Montecito Club with 150 guests raising over $90,000 for the cause, which offers safety, shelter, and support for victims. Last year the organization’s advocates answered more than 4,000 calls to its crisis line, provided 110 children with immediate safety at its emergency […]

22nd Annual Santa Barbara Rescue Mission Fundraiser
By Joanne A Calitri   |   October 17, 2023

The beloved Santa Barbara Rescue Mission (SBRM) held its 22nd annual major fundraiser, Big Waves on the Bayou, on Saturday, October 7 at the Dos Pueblos Ranch with the ocean waves as the backdrop.  Over 300 guests sported beach resort attire. The event décor by Decoration Chair Dianne Davis complemented the shoreline with coral tablecloths, […]