​13 Years of Changing Lives Together

Women's Fund donates over $6 million since 2004

The Women's Fund 13th Annual Presentation of Grants reception, held on May 8, was a sold out event with almost 350 attendees. It was an emotional afternoon that delivered tears, laughter and inspiration!

Eight Nonprofits Receive Women's Fund Grants

In their heartfelt thanks, each of the eight 2016-17 grant recipients stirred us with their stories of how $485,000 in Women’s Fund grants will make a difference in the lives of many in our community.

The nonprofits receiving 2016-17 Women's Fund grants are:

Accelerated Reader Program—$25,000 to improve reading proficiency by expanding libraries in K-3 classrooms in the Santa Barbara Unified School District.

AHA! (Attitude. Harmony. Achievement.)—$70,000 to expand the Peace Builders program to prevent bullying at three additional junior high schools.

Casa Pacifica—$75,000 to expand rapid mobile crisis weekend response for children and youth experiencing a mental health emergency.

Channel Islands YMCA, Noah’s Anchorage—$65,000 for upgrades in facilities and furnishings to meet new state accreditation requirements.

Domestic Violence Solutions—$55,000 to replace old playground equipment with a safe, inviting play system for children fleeing domestic violence.

PEAC (Program for Effective Access to College)—$75,000 to increase college readiness and acceptance rates for low-income students by expanding the program to all secondary schools.

Peoples’ Self-Help Housing—$60,000 to establish onsite learning centers, providing bilingual tutoring and coaching, at two new low-income housing projects.

St. Vincent’s—$60,000 to address legal problems and expand parenting education for single mothers transitioning to jobs and permanent housing.

As Dr. Patricia Madrigal, Director of Community of Schools and PEAC Initiatives said: “As a first generation college student, I understand the value of access to mentoring and wrap-around services, as well as support from my community who believed in my potential and helped me achieve a doctorate degree. Together as a community we are changing the trajectory of our youth and creating a college-going culture for all students. Thank you to all who volunteer endless hours to ensure that we develop a stronger Santa Barbara.”

For more information about the Presentation of Grants event, read the Noozhawk article.

2016-17 Grantees. Pictured left to right (front row) Dr. Patricia Madrigal, Director of Community of Schools and PEAC Initiatives; Charles Anderson, Executive Director Domestic Violence Solutions; Jennifer Freed, PhD, Executive Director AHA!; Steven Elson, PhD, CEO Casa Pacifica; (back row) Valerie Kissell, Executive Director, Youth and Family Services YMCA; Amy Alzina, Adams School Principal; Rosa Paredes, St. Vincent's Executive VP, CFO and COO; John Fowler, CEO and President Peoples' Self-Help Housing.

Please visit our Photo Gallery for more photos and our #POG17 Facebook photo booth album for some fun member photos.

Thank you to our event supporters

Bryant & Sons – Annual Brochure
Stina Hans – Program
Ashley Parker-Snider – Wine
Ashley Butler, Susan Robeck – Photo Booth
Sallie Coughlin, Sarah de Tagyos, Pat Gregory, Laurie Tumbler, Christine Riesenfeld,
Barbara Hauter Woodward – Guest Sponsorships

And to the Santa Barbara Foundation which provides valuable fiscal and administrative support to the volunteer-led Women's Fund of Santa Barbara. The Women's Fund is a field of interest fund of the Santa Barbara Foundation.

Let's continue the momentum...

...and grow our grants pool! The money we all contribute in 2017 will make up the grants pool that we'll award in spring 2018. Laurie Tumbler, Women’s Fund Co-Chair said, “We hope today’s celebration inspires you to renew your membership for 2017, or to join us if you are a guest. We’ve set a goal of reaching an annual grants pool of at least $500,000 and you can help us all reach that goal by increasing your own membership contribution or encouraging new members to join us."

As one member said as she left Monday's inspiring celebration: "With our swelling numbers, we could all increase our donation by $20 and reach that $500,000 goal!"

Laurie concluded by saying, "And while I’m asking, I have to add that we hope you’ll renew soon. Early renewals help our researchers evaluate the size of potential grants to recommend, and reduces the year-end contributions rush that challenges our volunteer membership team. We also earn interest on our funds, so the earlier our memberships come in, the more interest we can accrue.”

Join or Renew Today!