15th Annual Red Feather Ball
A successful gala event raising money for United Way’s United for Literacy Programs and honoring Eric, Ron & Marlys Boehm and ABC-CLIO and Mario & David Borgatello and MarBorg Industries for over 125 combined years of community business, service and philanthropy.
A United for Literacy Event
Thanks to the generous support of individual and corporate sponsors and three anonymous donors with additional
and/or matching gifts, the 15th Annual Red Feather Ball concluded as one of the top 3 Red Feather Balls in history, with over $260,000 raised for United Way Literacy programs.The success of the event and the support received from those in attendance will allow United Way to expand the award winning Fun in the Sun, a summer enrichment program, and the Reading Plus scholarships available in our community. Twenty-five Santa Barbara county schools and 4 after-school programs serving more than 3500 students are experiencing exceptional reading results. Now, thousands more local students will have the life changing opportunity to experience academic success.
The gala started with a salute to Eric Boehm, 92 and Mario F. Borgatello, 93. These patriarchs started businesses that have employed thousands of local people, do business with dozens of local professionals and vendors, and are successfully run by second and third generation family members who are committed to giving back to the community and education in so many ways.
Art Deco & His Society Orchestra had the dance floor packed during and after dinner. Debbie Davison Phelps and Andrew Firestone added grace, humor and results to the program and auction.
The evening culminated in the presentation to the 2011 recipients of the Abercrombie Community Excellence Award: Eric, Ron & Marlys Boehm and ABC-CLIO and Mario & David Borgatello and MarBorg Industries for decades upon decades of philanthropy and service to our communities.