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| Save The Date |
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December 9, 2009
Holiday Bash at Fess Parker's Double Tree Resort
For photos & highlights of past events, click on the links for:
Day of Caring 2008
Annual Awards 2008
Fun in the Sun
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| Save The Date |
|
December 9, 2009
Holiday Bash at Fess Parker's Double Tree Resort
For photos & highlights of past events, click on the links for:
Day of Caring 2008
Annual Awards 2008
Fun in the Sun
|
| Save The Date |
|
December 9, 2009
Holiday Bash at Fess Parker's Double Tree Resort
For photos & highlights of past events, click on the links for:
Day of Caring 2008
Annual Awards 2008
Fun in the Sun
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Venoco, Inc. and Dr. Peter MacDougall Honored at 13th Annual Red Feather Ball!
2009 Honorees: Bernie & Tim Marquez, Venoco, Inc. with Dr. Peter MacDougall & wife, Leslie
Its origins go back 500 years but, flamenco was alive and stomping as ever at the 13th Annual Red Feather Ball. The Fess Parker's DoubleTree Resort ballrooms were transformed once again. Patrons and guests were greeted by a velvet mural of a female flamenco dancer measuring 40' by17' tall on the far wall. This beautiful lady appeared to be floating on a stunning sea of shimmering white tables and chairs with red accents. Tapas of Serrano ham, Manchego cheese and olives were appreciated by all as the program got under way with Musical Mischief Productions' tribute spoofs to honorees, Dr. Peter MacDougall and Venoco, Inc.
Debby Davison-Phelps was the Master of Ceremonies par excellence as usual. Flamenco entertainment preceded auctioneers, Andrew Firestone and John Palminteri who delighted the crowd with their witty repartee while raising money for our Fun in the Sun children. A highlight of the evening was the appearance at the podium of two of our former Fun in the Sun campers who are now juniors at San Marcos High School and will return as Counselors in Training again next summer, Jessica Arroyo and Alejandra Perdomo. Their personal stories captured the hearts and wallets of the attendees. These delightful and successful girls showed the attendees first hand the difference they are making in local children's lives.
Fun in the Sun graduates & CITS: Jessica Arroyo and Alejandra Perdomo were wonderful speakers!
Tom Thomas of Santa Barbara Bank & Trust and our United Way Board, Chair presented the tribute to Tim and Bernie Marquez and Venoco, Inc. Tim razzed good friend Peter MacDougall about baseball and made sure that we all knew that everything he is and has done is because of Bernie his wife. His self effacing humor and gracious acceptance spoke volumes. Venoco, Inc. has made over $4 million in grants to education and non-profit projects in the last decade.
Lois Mitchell, President of the Orfalea Foundation representing last year's recipients, Paul and Natalie Orfalea, paid tribute to Dr. Peter MacDougall for his over twenty years of service to the community. Peter has proven that helping make Santa Barbara a better place for all is truly his passion. He is just as busy helping the community in retirement as he was the first twenty years in town at the helm of Santa Barbara City College.
Co-Chairs Morrie & Irma Jurkowitz looking festive in red
We thank Morrie and Irma Jurkowitz for Co-chairing this event and lending their significant support. The Fun in the Sun children will benefit in summer of 2010.
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Power of Parntership Initial Phase Complete
On Wednesday, October 21, 2009, United Way of Santa Barbara County held a press conference to release the results from the Power of Partnership Initiative (POPI).
POPI has become the largest community engagement effort in the history of the tri-counties. Since 2007, more than 5,000 individual community members, from all backgrounds, have come together to share their hopes and dreams for the future for children, seniors, and their families in our south coast communities. In addition, hundreds of community leaders, experts, and local community organizations participated to clarify our community's vision and goals for the future. Together, we have reached an unprecedented level of agreement.
Special thanks to the POPI Vision Council, Children & Families Steering Committee and Seniors & Families Steering Committee, and other supporters and participants who made this community effort possible.
To view the final report in English and Spanish, visit the PartnershipSB website, www.partnershipsb.org. |
United Way to Partner with Dolly Parton Imagination Library!
United Way of Santa Barbara County is partnering with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to distribute books to Santa Barbara County children under the age of 5.
Educators have emphasized the fact that reading with your preschool child is the single most important activity to prepare a child for school. With this partnership, county children from the day they are born, can register for the program and receive a book mailed directly to their home every month, at no charge, until their fifth birthday.
A blue ribbon committee of early childhood education experts selects the books for the Imagination Library, which includes such beloved classics as The Little Engine That CouldŽ, Spot Goes to the Farm, The Snowy Day, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten.
Stay tuned in the coming months as United Way rolls out this new and exciting opportunity to help our children start school ready to succeed.
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Elder abuse comes in many forms.
Our elderly and frail citizens are prime targets for financial or physical abuse, and sometimes that abuse is unintentionally self-inflicted. What can you do to help?
Attend our free seminar
"Issues in Elder Law; Preserving Your Dignity, Assets & Family"
October 29, 2009 from 4:00 to 5:30pm
United Way of Santa Barbara County presents elder law attorney Marilyn Anticouni, Esq. and Jackie Quinn, PhD, Senior Planning Services Geriatric Care Manager, who will discuss how to recognize the warning signs of elder abuse and exploitation.
  Marilyn Anticouni, Esq. and Jackie Quinn, PhD
Familiarize yourself with crimes commonly perpetrated against elders including Identity Theft, Home Improvement Scams, Estate Planning Hazards, and Telemarketing.
The seminar will take place in the main conference room of United Way of Santa Barbara County, 320 E. Gutierrez Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
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Bank of America Partners with United Way Financial Stability Partnership
Along with steady employment, maximizing tax benefits is another aspect of financial stability. One of the biggest commitments a National Corporate Leader (NCL) partner has made to United Way's national impact agenda is Bank of America's investment of $2.5 million to the United Way Financial Stability Partnership.
Since 2007, Bank of America has supported United Way's national efforts to advance EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) outreach, free tax preparation, and asset building services in 44 strategic markets across the country.
The results of the partnership to date have included:
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1.1 million free tax returns completed, resulting in more than $1.2 billion in refunds for lower-income working families
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Increasing capacity of United Way Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites
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Increasing the number of VITA clients through outreach efforts
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Increasing the number of Bank of America employees who volunteered with local campaigns, either as tax preparers or other types of volunteers.
In addition to supporting United Way on a national level, Bank of America has also been very supportive on a local level. The company runs an exciting employee campaign each year holding presentations for all employees and various special events and raffles. This group is also very active in volunteering for United Way's Fun in the Sun program and Day of Caring. In addition, Market President, David Prichard, serves on the Board of Directors for United Way of Santa Barbara County.
Many thanks to Bank of America!
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Introducing Matthew Weisner and Kellen Skersies: Volunteers In Service To America (AmeriCorpVISTA Program)
VISTAs Kellen Skersies and Matthew Weisner at Red Feather Ball
Matthew Weisner, along with his fellow VISTA Kellen Skersies, are the latest members of United Way of Santa Barbara County team, beginning their service on August 21, 2009. AmeriCorps VISTA program places individuals in the non-profit sector all over the United States, with an emphasis on programs that work to alleviate poverty. Matthew graduated from UCSB in June 2009 with a B.A. in Political Science. He plans on attending law school once his term of service has ended, and his fascination with public interest law is what drove him to want to experience the world of a non-profit organization through the VISTA program. Kellen is a 2009 graduate of Westmont College with a B.A. in Sociology. His love and ambition for volunteering played a large role in the reason for applying for the position at United Way. Matthew and Kellen's goal throughout this one-year commitment is to plan, build and implement a sustainable program for volunteer recruitment and retention which they can leave behind once their term is up at United Way. Currently, Matthew and Kellen are enrolled in the Volunteer Management Certification Training course at the Non-Profit Support Center in Goleta, where they are learning vital volunteer coordination skills. Their focus throughout the first six weeks has been to build relationships with Santa Barbara County non-profit agencies by visiting their sites and discussing the volunteer needs of these organizations. Through this outreach, Matthew and Kellen plan to match the right volunteers with the right organizations through United Way's website www.volunteersbc.org. Matthew and Kellen have committed to improving the VolunteerSBC website and are reaching out to agencies to utilize this exciting resource. |
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Fun in the Sun Students Are Back to School
On September 17th, United Way had the pleasure of attending Back to School Night at La Cumbre Jr. High School. The local junior high school was host to one of four sites, with 104 kids, for Fun in the Sun during the summer of 2009.
Parents and students, many of whom attended the program during the summer, had the opportunity to learn more about Fun in the Sun and enjoy a slideshow. Students had a great time finding their pictures and proudly pointing them out to their parents. This was a fantastic opportunity to remember the fun summer of learning (click here to read the FITS Final Evaluation Report) and to look forward to an even better one next year.
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Save the Date!
2009-2010
Holiday Bash!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Fess Parker's DoubleTree Resort
Reagan Room
Help us celebrate outstanding local individuals and organizations!
contact
(805) 965-8594
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