Gail Arnold

On September 7 at the S.B. Yacht Club's Charity Regatta for VNA Health, guests enjoyed a splendid, full day of socializing, dining, and watching the regatta at the S.B. Yacht Club (SBYC) and on spectator boats. This year marked the 20th anniversary of the event, which over the years has raised more than $2.5 million for the treasured nonprofit VNA Health (formerly Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care). The day began with brunch at the club, where guests enjoyed ocean views, perfect weather, and steel drum music. In a short program, emcee David Moorman shared his gratitude to VNA for the care his mother received in her last days at Serenity House, remarking that in those darkest days, VNA staff had infinite amounts of strength, resolve, and resources to guide him and his family. Throughout the day, I heard many words of praise and gratitude for the care that they and loved ones had received at VNA, a level of care that some noted far surpassed what they had experienced with for-profit institutions. Every year, more SBYC members experience in some regard VNA Health's services, and, quite fittingly, every year VNA Health is again chosen as the event's beneficiary. Commodore Dennis Boneck recognized the event honorees: first responders from a multitude of agencies that serve the S.B. Harbor. Guests were introduced to Project Harmony, a program run by 9-1-1 At Ease International, a nonprofit that offers counseling and therapy to first responders and their families. In Project Harmony, healing is provided through songwriting and music. Two participants, Lois Mahalia and Hannah Griffin, beautifully performed a tribute to the first responders present. Many guests then boarded one of the 16 spectator boats for a fun couple of hours. I boarded Torqua , Geoff and Alison Rusack's 86-foot Ocean Alexander luxurious motor yacht, where we enjoyed cruising the harbor, watching the regatta, and socializing in the various deck and cabin lounge areas. After guests returned to the club, the party continued with a buffet dinner and guests seated at tables on the sand, while Davitt Felder & Band provided great music. Awards were presented to the winners of the three race classes: Dr. Laura Schlessinger, Warrior ; Ole Eichhorn, Spot the 505 ; and Shawn Hughes, Picante Funds raised by the Regatta go to VNA Health's charitable community programs and services. VNA Health operates a multitude of programs, including home health, hospice (at Serenity House and in-home), and palliative care. Last year, the value of VNA's charity care was $2.4 million, which included $1.7 million in services for uninsured and underinsured patients in these programs. The other $700,000 went to programs it offers beyond the standard ones, such as its Loan Closet, bereavement care, and integrative therapies such as Reiki, pet therapy, and music services. Last year, VNA's 380-plus employees and volunteers served more than 8,700 patients. VNA Health always welcomes new volunteers, including for hospice (full training provided), music services (for those who play an instrument), Loan Closet (for those who like to tinker and fix equipment), pet therapy (owner/pet teams) and veterans' program (for vet volunteers to connect with vet patients). VNA Health past board chair Mark Mattingly, Alixe Mattingly, Helen Phillips, and VNA Health Board Chair Ben Phillips | Gail Arnold SB City Fire Firefighter Brendan McElroy, SB City Fire Engineer Alex Kargbo, singer Lois Mahalia, 9-1-1 At Ease International Co-Founder, CEO, and Executive Director Mike McGrew, singer/songwriter Hannah Griffin, and SB City Fire Captain Bob Kendall | Gail Arnold

Honoree Susan Gulbransen, past honoree, presenter and author/actress Fannie Flagg, presenter and S.B. Symphony Music & Artistic Director Nir Kabaretti, and honoree Joan Rutkowski | Credit: Baron Spafford On September 14, The Granada Theatre celebrated its 100th anniversary at its annual Legends Gala, a grand, black-tie affair. The evening commenced with a lively reception in the Founders Room and first- and second-floor foyers, followed by an elegant dinner on the theater's stage. The gala also celebrated Susan Gulbransen and Joan Rutkowski for leading the theater's $52 million restoration project, which enabled it to reopen in 2008. In the program, Board Chair Palmer Jackson Jr. succinctly summed up the honorees' role: “Without those two, we would not be here; there is no way.” Author and actress Fannie Flagg and S.B. Symphony Music & Artistic Director Nir Kabaretti presented the awards to Gulbransen and Rutkowski, respectively. In accepting the award, Gulbransen expressed gratitude both for the honor and to the multitude of other people who made the renovation possible. Rutkowski similarly expressed gratitude for the honor and remarked that “hopes and dreams count, and without charity, there can be nothing good.” The 245 lucky guests in attendance were a who's who of Santa Barbara, comprising many past Legends honorees and other supporters of the Granada and its eight resident companies. When I ran into a friend in the ladies' room, we remarked simultaneously, “Everybody is here!” Indeed, the venue was filled with generous philanthropists without whom the Granada and Santa Barbara's other cultural institutions could not survive. Master of Ceremonies Andrew Firestone interjected humor and enthusiasm throughout the evening. UCSB Professor of Film & Media Studies Ross Melnick gave historical highlights of the theater, which opened in 1924 as a silent movie and live performance venue. When the city ground to a halt in the 1925 earthquake, Melnick noted, builder Charles Urton boasted that the Granada survived without a crack. Under the ownership of Warner Brothers in the 1930s, the Granada became a venue for Hollywood previews for films such as The Wizard of Oz and Guys and Dolls , using Santa Barbara audiences as tests before releasing anywhere else. It went on to host world premieres, including My Dream Is Yours with Doris Day in 1949. Granada Centennial Producer Scott Seltzer related that in 2000, Rob Rossi purchased the theater with ambitious plans, but then generously agreed to sell the theater on terms that amounted to donating more than half the market value of the property. The sale was made to the Santa Barbara Center for the Performing Arts so that the theater could be transformed into a venue for the benefit of the entire community. Throughout the evening, historical accounts and award presentations were interspersed with entertainment. There was a fun sneak peek of State Street Ballet's Chaplin and a great performance by a band created just for the evening, the One-Night-Stand Band, featuring Morganfield Burnett, Hunter Hawkins, Lois Mahalia, Tariqh Akoni, George Friedenthal, Herman Matthews, and Randy Tico. Euphony, comprising students from Santa Barbara Unified's three high schools, delighted guests in performing Hairspray 's “The Nicest Kids in Town.” Gulbransen was board president of the Santa Barbara Center for the Performing Arts for six years, and Rutkowski was a founding board member in 1997. The restoration project (1998-2008) transformed the theater back into a state-of-the-art performance venue and was made possible by many local philanthropists, including Michael Towbes, Sarah and Roger Chrisman, and Sara Miller McCune. Fundraisers like this are necessary because ticket sales, rental income, and investment income cover only about 60 percent of the Granada's annual operating costs. The Granada does not receive any ongoing financial assistance from any government entity. The Granada hosts events from national production companies in addition to performances by its eight resident companies: American Theatre Guild, CAMA, Santa Barbara Choral Society, Music Academy of the West, Opera Santa Barbara, State Street Ballet, the Santa Barbara Symphony, and UCSB Arts & Lectures.

Boardmember, panel moderator, and auctioneer Geoff Green, CEO-Executive Director Sigrid Wright, and keynote speaker-climate activist Ethan Maday | Credit: Gail Arnold On September 21, the Community Environmental Council (CEC) hosted its Green Gala in the Funk Zone's Bakery Block. Enthusiastic supporters of all ages turned out to support this treasured nonprofit, whose wide-ranging programs address climate change on the Central Coast. The 250 guests enjoyed a reception and locally sourced dinner at the al fresco venue, the site of the original Weber Bread Company, which was recently acquired by local investors and made available to CEC guests as a preview to the official opening. In the program, CEO/Executive Director Sigrid Wright concisely summed up CEC's work: “If it deals with climate change on CA Central Coast, we are there.” Specifically, she explained, CEC works to ensure that climate solutions are accessible to everyone, to protect our region from the impacts of climate change, and to engage land stewards to restore and regenerate our environment. Boardmember Geoff Green led an inspiring panel discussion with four young area climate activists: Dylan McLernon (5th grade), Alaina Galbraith (5th grade), Lena Fackler (10th grade), and Valentina Thomas (11th grade), who discussed climate change and their own climate activism. Fackler and Thomas both attended CEC's Youth Climate Workshop and the Ocean Guardians program, with which CEC partnered. Green led a live auction to raise crucial funds, followed by a crowd-pleasing performance by the local youth band Reimagined Dragons, whose members include Mazzy Gore, daughter of Depeche Mode's Martin Gore, who was also in attendance. The band performed songs by the pop band Imagine Dragons. Ethan Maday, a 9th-grade S.B. Middle School student, eloquently delivered the keynote speech. Maday noted that CEC has been pivotal in his learning and activism, inspiring him and giving him opportunities to make a difference. He proclaimed that it was up to his generation to come up with new ideas and build momentum for change. With the support of teachers, Maday started an environmental action elective at his school to build awareness and create action. Maday lauded CEC for the multitude of solutions for which the nonprofit educates, advocates, and pioneers. He pointed to CEC's work on renewable energy, energy-efficient transportation, recycling waste, climate-smart agriculture, and more. Maday learned about climate change in 3rd grade. “I knew I had to do something,” he related. With his love for spending time outside, he added, he couldn't just sit on the sidelines and watch. An after-party with music by The Last Decade closed out the night. CEC seeks to engage community members of all ages. It runs a college-level Climate Stewards Certification Program, which is held via Zoom on Wednesday evenings. Participants are provided with tools needed for individual and collective action. CEC reaches thousands more in the community through events, meetings, and webinars. In addition to programming to engage community members, CEC operates a multitude of other programs and does advocacy work.

Commodore Andrew Bermond (center) with Spring Loaded Band members Matt Staska (also an SBSSA parent) and Brad Altavilla | Credit: Gail Arnold On September 28, about 400 guests enjoyed Sips & Ships, an annual event of the Santa Barbara Sea Shell Association (SBSSA) to raise funds for its family-run youth sailing program. The sprawling event encompassed all of Santa Barbara Harbor's Marina One, where 17 boats welcomed guests on board and docks were lined with food, beverages, and silent auction offerings. Many guests were former or current SBSSA participants, while others came out simply to enjoy the scenic harbor, tour beautiful boats, and enjoy the festivities. This year even featured live entertainment, with the band Spring Loaded performing on the bow of a boat. Owners of motorboats and sailboats generously welcomed guests on board, where they were free to tour the boats above and below deck and sit down, chat, and relax. Boat owners, including Paula and Jeff Clark, are enthusiastic supporters of SBSSA. The Clarks had spent every Sunday from April to October for 12 years with Sea Shells, with their three kids having participated in the program. Their eight-foot dinghy in their Sea Shells days was their first boat, and the next one, 20 years later, was Sea Larks, a 50-foot Xquisite Yacht X5 Sail Catamaran, upon which they welcomed guests at the event. They have traveled in this gorgeous boat around Central America and the Caribbean, and next year plan on heading to the South Pacific. “The Sea Shell organization has a special place in our hearts.” Paula related. “We raised our kids at Sea Shell beach … [and] made friendships that have lasted the test of time and memories to cherish forever.” Founded in 1948, the all-volunteer nonprofit still operates Sunday afternoons from April to October on West Beach. Parents organize the events, teach the kids to sail, and maintain the boats. The first three sessions provide basic instruction, and then the new young skippers pair up with experienced skippers and head out on the water. Each Sunday, there are four kids' races and one adult race. The program teaches skill building and resilience building — dealing with, for example, a capsized boat and chilly or choppy waters — noted SBSSA Boardmember Mark Matthews, a parent and accomplished sailor. “Plus, it's a great family day at the beach and just a whole lot of fun.” A defining attribute of the program is the inclusion of the whole family. Another key feature, according to Commodore Andrew Bermond, himself a parent, is the emphasis on the autonomy of the kids, who are referred to as skippers because they are the captain in command. Initially, the skipper is often intimidated, Bermond related, so having a parent or other trusted person helps build a sense of security, and then they develop the courage to sail solo. Currently, 40 families participate, with about an equal number of boys and girls. This year, the Novice Fleet has kids ages 7 to 12, but this fleet and the advanced fleets are open to kids up to age 18. While some parents are on the boats helping the kids, others are onshore under beach umbrellas enjoying watching loved ones and new and old friends experience the thrill of learning to sail. Although the races are primarily for fun, according to Matthews, there are also “some hotly contested racing at the front of the fleet and then races within races in the middle … and there's always a big round of applause for the kid, or adult, that brings up the back of the pack.” Thanks to an existing fleet of boats and this annual fundraiser, SBSSA keeps costs relatively low to make the program as financially accessible as it can. Annual membership is $200 and boat rental $300. Participants can also buy their own boat and store it with SBSSA for a $175 fee per year. A couple of donated boats are available each year to low-income families. Two safety boats are a constant presence to deal with the inevitable capsize. SBSSA has 30 Sabots (sailing dinghies) for novices, and some Open Skiffs, RS Teras, and RS Fevas. SBSSA is very welcoming to parents with no sailing experience. In recent years, only about half of the parents come in with experience. Some of these newbies opt to learn to sail with their kids, but for those who don't want to, there are plenty of other parents who volunteer to do so. A Sportsmanship Trophy is awarded each year to the skipper who is the best sport. According to Bermond, “a few older skippers have realized that helping novice skippers learn to sail is a great way to become a candidate for this award. Others just enjoy the experience of being a mentor.” SBSSA has raised $75,000 to renovate its storage sheds near the Harbor's boat launch, but needs to raise another $50,000 for the project, which seeks to ensure safe storage for future generations.

Board Chair Kiah Jordan, President Rolf Geyling, and Honoree Housing Authority of the City of S.B. Executive Director-CEO Rob Fredericks | Credit: Gail Arnold On October 5, the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission (SBRM) hosted its annual Bayou celebration at Dos Pueblos Ranch, raising $600,000 for its Homeless Guest Services Program and its Residential Treatment Programs. The former provides critically important shelter, meals, and more to homeless individuals; the latter transforms lives with treatment programs that have success rates far exceeding national averages. A joyous spirit permeated the crowd of 316 supporters, who are drawn to the nonprofit because of the tremendously positive impact its work has on some of the most vulnerable members of our community. Among the supporters were many Women's Auxiliary members, who put on the event each year and assist the SBRM year-round. After an extended reception, guests were seated for a late afternoon dinner and welcomed by President Rolf Geyling, who praised the event honoree, Housing Authority of the City of S.B. Executive Director and CEO Rob Fredericks, for his agency's provision of housing to vulnerable populations. Calling Fredericks compassionate, innovative, and committed, Geyling related how under Fredericks's leadership since 2016, the Housing Authority has provided 1,600 affordable homes and 3,000 vouchers to low-income residents. Transition House Executive Director Kathleen Bauschke delivered a touching tribute to Fredericks. In accepting the honor, Fredericks lauded SBRM, which “provides something equally vital” as his agency does, “a safe refuge for those in need, paired with transformative programs that offer individuals the tools to rebuild their lives. Together, we are community builders and, quite literally, life savers. We are here to support those who need us most, providing not only shelter, but hope and a path to a better life.” In addressing supporters, Geyling emphasized that for the critically important community services SBRM provides on its $4 million annual budget, it receives no public funding. “Simply put, we won't be able to turn on the lights this evening, unless someone gives us a dollar to do so.” Homelessness must be viewed as a problem of human beings struggling, Geyling pronounced, and people of faith and compassion are compelled to respond. What's more, he noted, SBRM has been going beyond providing food and shelter, addressing the complex circumstances individuals face. In an interview, Geyling explained that under its Transitional Shelter Pilot Program (TSP), launched last year, SBRM has been providing focused case management and a more stable environment to some shelter clients, allowing them to remain on-site during the day. Especially for those with infirmities, Geyling noted, there is a humane need to not leave them to struggle on the street. Previously, all shelter clients had to exit for the day after breakfast. Of the 117 individuals who entered the program last year, 58 have exited to positive placements: permanent housing, a recovery program, or an appropriate care facility. The program addresses a common challenge, Geyling related, of going from the street to being ready for a recovery program. Just two weeks of monitored care has increased the participant's ability to engage in the recovery programs. In light of this success, SBRM is doubling its case management staff of two and opening the program to anyone in the shelter who wants to participate. According to Geyling, “The more contact we can give individuals with caring case managers who work in concert with other providers, the more helpful we will be.” Turning in his remarks to treatment programs, Geyling noted the dismal success rate of programs nationally, with only one in five people who start completing them; and of those who do complete, only one in five maintain recovery for at least five years. In SBRM's programs, Geyling shared, participants are able to stabilize over a generous 12-month period, while surrounded by people of faith, compassion, and clinical expertise. The results are remarkable: a graduation rate of 41 percent, and a five-year-out recovery rate of 63 percent. SBRM also boasts incredible employment rates, with 100 percent employment for last year's graduates. Begun in 1997, the Residential Treatment Programs this year had their 1,000th graduate. Immediate past board president Joyce McCullough made the pledge appeal, noting the effectiveness of the treatment programs, whose staff include many program graduates with a keen understanding of the issues participants face. She pointed also to the cost effectiveness of the nonprofit's programs, which are 85 percent less than the national average. A residential treatment program graduate, now a Cal Poly student, shared his courageous, moving story of addiction and recovery thanks to SBRM. SBRM provides food and shelter 365 nights a year, last year providing 58,897 nights of shelter and 111,170 meals. Its Men's Residential Treatment Program, for the 12 months ending September 2024, enrolled 48 men and had a whopping 25 graduate. The Women's Treatment Program had 45 intakes and a lesser number, but still quite impressive, of 15 graduates, with their lives transformed.

Associate Director Patricia Solorio, Boardmember Ted Rhodes, Grant Making Committee liaison to the Board Rachel Johnson, Executive Director Eder Gaona-Macedo, Board President Eric Cárdenas, Boardmember Arcelia Sencion, Boardmember Joyce Howerton, Boardmember Mahil Senathirajah, and former Boardmember Susan Wax. | Credit: Gail Arnold On October 6, The Fund for Santa Barbara hosted its annual Bread and Roses celebration to raise funds for its support of organizations pursuing progressive social change. About 450 guests came out to SBCC's Great Meadow, including many nonprofit leaders, activists, and politicians, with the event netting about $225,000. Bread and Roses always has good energy, with a palpable enthusiasm among supporters for the Fund's work of making grants and hosting capacity-building workshops for community-based organizations. After a reception featuring popular musical performances by the Brasscals and Terrill Carter, guests were seated under an enormous open-air tent for the program. Co-Emcee Rich Sander remarked on how “the Fund is really the thread that ties us all together, as we unite in our vision for a more just and joyful world,” and bade guests to “give each other high-fives and a round of applause!” which elicited hearty cooperation and many smiles. The Fund honored Jeanne Sparks and Ken Hough, who serve as co-executive directors of SBCAN, the S.B. County Action Network. Sander praised them as “a powerhouse couple known for their tireless commitment to community service and advocacy.” In addition to co-leading SBCAN, Sparks was recognized for her key roles in projects in the Cuyama Valley, the Dunes Center in Guadalupe, Santa Maria's first dog park, and the Santa Maria River Levee Trail. Sander acknowledged Hough's expertise, with 30 years of experience in transportation, housing, and regional planning. The Fund honored also the nonprofit Future for Lompoc Youth (FLY) for empowering youth to participate in civic activities. FLY recently collaborated with UCLA to conduct a survey on post-pandemic experiences among youth and is presently rallying support for a bond measure to upgrade Lompoc schools, among many other activities. The Fund for S.B. Executive Director Eder Gaona-Macedo, who took the helm last year, related how he came to the U.S. at age 4 and grew up on the Westside. He has faced xenophobia, racism, and low-wage jobs, he noted, and participated in projects and organizations funded by the Fund for S.B. His vision for the Fund is for it to play a crucial role in bridging communities — to build a community where everyone feels like they belong. He lauded the Fund's grantees and nonprofit partners as the “real social justice warriors, who daily challenge the status quo and empower others to do the same.” He remarked further that now more than ever, the Fund plays a crucial role in resourcing grassroots groups because of the rampant xenophobia, homophobia, and racism in our local community and our national politics. Annually, the Fund for Santa Barbara grants nearly $300,000 to local nonprofits. Its Grant Making Committee, composed of community activists and leaders, determines the allocation of funding. This year, funding was spread over 21 nonprofits. A separate teen-led program, Youth Making Change, has a North County and South County board of teens who make grant decisions on youth-led projects. This year, $20,180 in grant funding was spread over eight organizations. Additionally, this year, the Fund distributed $233,750 in County funds through the Racial Equity Fund and $191,250 through the state-funded Stop the Hate Partners.

Arts & Lectures Executive Director Celesta Billeci, Dr. Jennifer Doudna, and Cancer Foundation of S.B. Executive Director Lori Willis | Credit: Grace Kathryn On October 22, Nobel Prize–winning biochemist Dr. Jennifer Doudna dined with supporters of UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) and the Cancer Foundation of S.B. (CFSB). The intimate, al fresco dinner party at Villa & Vine was held before Doudna's lecture at The Granada Theatre, giving supporters a chance to pose questions to Doudna about the revolutionary CRISPR gene-editing technology. A&L Executive Director Celesta Billeci and CFSB Executive Director Lori Willis welcomed guests. Doudna, when asked what she was most excited about, stated the future of genome editing as the standard of care. She pointed to sickle cell as an example of a disease that we now have an FDA-approved CRISPR therapy to treat and cure. The therapy is very expensive, she acknowledged, such that much work remains to be done, but this achievement is tremendously motivating. Another especially exciting area for Doudna is the use of CRISPR in the microbiome. These are the bacteria, Doudna explained, that populate our bodies and the environment, we “are learning they have everything to do with our health and our climate,” and we can manipulate them using CRISPR. A $70 million gift from the TED Audacious Project has enabled the Innovative Genomics Institute, which Doudna founded, to hire many scientists. She beamed with excitement in discussing plans to build a whole community of passionate scientists, collaborating across UC campuses. When a guest commented on how long it took to achieve the sickle cell therapy and queried what this portends for the timing of the next CRISPR application, Doudna implied that the sickle cell therapy was actually developed remarkably fast. She noted that the research describing CRISPR was first published in an academic/scientific journal in the summer 2012, and in December 2023, 11.5 years later, we have an FDA-approved clinical therapy that is a “one-and-done cure for sickle cell disease.” This feat, according to Doudna, was able to happen only because an entire community — researchers, clinicians, patients, investors, and others — came together. The next application, Doudna posited, will happen even faster because of all the progress that has been made and how much has been learned along the way. Also, she noted, the FDA is getting smarter in how it regulates CRISPR technology. She referenced lots going on now with CRISPR, including cancer applications. When asked about any ethical concerns she has about CRISPR, Doudna quickly responded affirmatively, because the technology allows targeted changes in DNA, including in the human genome. The technology is incredibly valuable, but because it can also be harmful, Doudna cautioned, there is a need to be proactive on an international scale, and her institute is involved with these efforts. In closing, Doudna praised the UC system as having an incredible ecosystem of people with shared values. She pointed to scholarship programs that give people who otherwise would not have access a chance in the world. Presently, her institute has a phase one clinical trial at three UC campuses and just added a fourth. The Institute has not worked with UCSB to date, but Doudna stated that she would love to involve all of the UCs. Earlier in the day, Doudna held a session with students in the UCSB Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Department and another session with physicians and staff from Ridley-Tree Cancer Center and other physicians. Arts & Lectures relies heavily on community support to sustain its lectures, performances, and community outreach and education. More than half of all visiting artists and lecturers engage in some form of outreach or educational activity. The Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara is Ridley-Tree Cancer Center's fundraising partner. This year, CFSB awarded $3.6 million to the center for various programs and services. It also completed a four-year, $10 million renovation of the center's Nuclear Medicine Department, which is in the basement of Cottage Hospital.

Every $100 donation enables another surgery by a volunteer doctor.

Joyful Plaza Palooza Street Party followed ribbon cutting.

Foodbank is experiencing a post-pandemic surge in demand.