VOLUNTEERS & SUPPORTERS HONORED AT UNITED WAY'S ANNUAL AWARDS CELEBRATION
 

l-r-Lance Connor & Nancy Werner with Reliable Engineering Services; Paul Didier, United Way of Santa Barbara and Bobbie Didier, Cox Communications

United Way of Santa Barbara County recently hosted its 83rd Annual Awards Celebration for the 2005-2006 Community Campaign to a packed house and excited crowd.

Mistress of Ceremonies Bonnie Campbell, Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics' Development Director, presided at the elegant dinner and dancing reception for over 200 guests made possible by the Four Seasons Biltmore Hotel in Montecito. Local supporters and volunteers were recognized for their outstanding service to the 2005-2006 Community Campaign. Award winners were chosen from 28 categories with five deserving nominees in each.

Paul Didier, President and CEO of United Way of Santa Barbara County, gave a brief overview of the past year and a look forward to the future of the vision and direction of the organization. Didier noted that for the fifth year in a row, United Way of Santa Barbara County was among 38 United Way organizations in California by placing first in all measures for annual fundraising performance. Successful volunteer partnerships were recognized such as Lunch Bunch (650 volunteers from 55 workplaces, providing mentor support to homeless and poverty-level children at lunchtime), Women's Leadership Initiative, and Day of Caring (now 1,100 volunteers strong).

Lisa McKinley of Nordstrom accepting her Outstanding Campaign Manager Award

Didier also noted other achievements such as 211 phone service (providing crisis and information help 24/7), distribution of 10,000 prescription drug discount cards to the medically underserved, the 40 Healthy Assets program at local high schools, and the Community Response Fund, which provides health insurance for children with no health insurance of any kind, by partnering with First 5.

Theresa Weissglass was especially acknowledged by Didier for her decade of work at Santa Barbara School Districts, helping disadvantaged children who attend our local schools.

Suzi Schomer won the Outstanding Endowment Volunteer Award. Community Impact and Investments Chair Karen Anne Platt recognized John Hanna as the Outstanding Community Impact Volunteer.

In recognition of their efforts on behalf of United Way, and particularly in support of the Fun in the Sun program in Carpinteria, Kent and Jill Englert were presented the award for Outstanding Leadership Volunteer for Time, Talent and Treasure. John and Susan Hanna received the Alexis de Tocqueville Award for outstanding giving of ideas, money and time in the 2005-2006 campaign year.

Cottage Health System received the award for Outstanding Leadership in the Workplace, while Bank of Santa Barbara received the Best New Campaign Award. Outstanding Campaign Managers were Christine Whitefoot of Astro Aerospace, Kitty Ryan from Community West Bank, and Lisa McKinley from Nordstrom. Cox Communications and ABC Clio were honored as Power of Partnership™  Employers.

Other winners included: Raytheon; Four Seasons Biltmore;AGIA; Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care of Santa Barbara; Damitz, Brooks, Nightingale, Turner & Morrisset; UCSB; City of Santa Barbara; Sansum-Santa Barbara Medical Foundation Clinic, and NAUTRONIX MariPro, Inc. The Most Outstanding Employee/Corporate Campaign award went to Santa Barbara Bank & Trust.

Community Campaign Chair and President of Santa Barbara City College John Romo thanked all the hundreds of volunteers, thousands of local donors, and staff members for their support and generosity in this year's campaign.
 

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l-r-Eileen Bunning & Kathy Organ accept Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care of Santa Barbara's award