On May 20, 2025, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors officially proclaimed the month of May as Search and Rescue Month, honoring the exceptional service and sacrifice of the all-volunteer Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue (SBCSAR) team. SBCSAR is an elite, all-volunteer unit operating under the direction of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. Dispatched through the 911 system, the team responds to over 100 emergencies each year across diverse terrain—from technical rope rescues and swiftwater operations to helicopter-supported extractions, storm evacuations, and missing persons searches. With more than 50 [...more...]
Set Sail for an Evening of Smooth Tunes and Celebration As part of its 25th anniversary celebration year, the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) is proud to present a special 21+ live concert featuring Yachty [...more...]
Giving List Matching Challenges
Youth Development
When Diego first joined the United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County last year, severe separation anxiety made […more…]
The REACH Fellowship is dedicated to serving low-income, first-generation high school students in Santa Barbara County. It combines traditional college […more…]
Chuck Madson knows a lot about the possible consequences of believing that your opportunities are limited. A Central Coast native, […more…]
The Arts
Set Sail for an Evening of Smooth Tunes and Celebration As part of its 25th anniversary celebration year, the Santa […more…]
UCSB Arts & Lectures turns denizens of the local community into citizens of the world. “We bring the world to […more…]
A cool breeze blows as a group of students walk through the Carpinteria salt marsh and down to the beach. […more…]
Specialty Compassion Care
Camp Chit Chat is a fun and socially interactive camp for children aged 3 ½ to 6 years old with […more…]
In the heart of Santa Barbara, the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (CADA) stands as a beacon of hope […more…]
It’s hard to overestimate the importance of communication skills for success in life. It’s something most of us take for […more…]
Senior and Speciality Compassion Care
For an organization that’s been around for more than three-quarters of a century, the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse […more…]
Homelessness & Housing
Deborah Leigh Stevens, 68, was living on the streets of West Hollywood in 2014, within blocks of her former apartment. […more…]
Housing Works has always been on the front lines of Los Angeles’ homelessness crisis, doing whatever it takes for as […more…]
New Beginnings is thrilled to announce their 2025 Annual Gala on October 25th, and is seeking sponsors. This year’s focus is the […more…]
Healthcare
Isabella Valencia has always cared for others, working as a domestic worker and caregiver for 20 years while raising three […more…]
When Abe Lincoln, the executive director of the healthcare clinic Savie Health, gets stressed about running an organization, he sits […more…]
Since 1891, Cottage Health has carried out its mission to serve the community by providing healthcare of the highest quality. […more…]
For the Children
Just over a dozen years ago, the Sonrise Baby Home in Uganda was started by a young woman named Damali […more…]
In the first five years of life, a child’s brain will develop to 90% of its capacity, according to the […more…]
Thirty-seven years after its founding in the parking lot at Transition House – where the goal was simply to create […more…]
Family Well-Being
When Rachael Steidl’s daughter started struggling with depression and anxiety in 9th grade, her good grades, sports, charm, and active […more…]
Are you, or do you know, a high school student passionate about mental health? Apply for YouthWell’s Youth Advocacy Board internship and make a […more…]
In a world where the pressures of daily life can feel overwhelming, many families find themselves stretched thin – caring […more…]
Environment
Eighteen months ago, White Buffalo Land Trust (WBLT) celebrated the culmination of its year-long pilot of the organization’s Artist in […more…]
Nine countries, including the United States, possess approximately 12,500 nuclear warheads and are currently spending vast amounts of money maintaining […more…]
Attention all seniors in North County High Schools. Submissions for next year’s opportunity to earn the $5,000 NatureTrack Foundation’s Nancy […more…]
Education
For a nonprofit whose main asset is a modest seven-acre farm in Summerland known as Sweet Wheel Farms, the Santa […more…]
This winter, Matriculate officially welcomed 700 college advisors to support high-achieving high school students from low-income communities. Orientations were held on various […more…]
“Undermatching” might sound like a snafu on a dating app, but what the concept actually refers to is the unnecessary […more…]
Community Resilience
On May 20, 2025, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors officially proclaimed the month of May as Search and Rescue Month, honoring the […more…]
Direct Relief has debuted a new public service announcement featuring Emmy Award-winning actress, comedian, and long-time supporter Jane Lynch. In […more…]
Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue (SBCSAR), established decades ago by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department to provide vital […more…]
Animals
It was just a year ago that The Horse Project rejiggered their mission after a decade spent simply rescuing, rehabilitating […more…]
Thirty years ago this coming April, FEMA-Certified Canine Search Specialist Wilma Melville and her black lab Murphy spent a week […more…]
Dear readers, meet Dinkey, the potbellied pig with one hell of a story. Destined for an early date with the […more…]
Advocacy
Hillside’s 8th Annual Shining Light on Abilities kicks off on Saturday, December 7th and runs through December 31st at 1235 Veronica Springs Road in Santa Barbara. […more…]
Earlier this fall, the Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County (LAFSBC) marked its 65th anniversary with an early evening […more…]
Hillside is already in the works planning two exciting events scheduled for later this year! The Santa Barbara nonprofit couldn’t […more…]