Freedom 4 Youth’s Director of Development & Advocacy Dylan Griffith and Executive Director Dr. Billi Jo Starr knew immediately what they wanted to highlight in this week’s Giving List column focusing on the nonprofit, whose mission it is to uplift and empower youth – those impacted by the criminal justice system – to build safe [...more...]
Born and raised in a leafy suburb of Detroit, Michigan, located near the city’s zoo, Anne Towbes grew up surrounded by the sound of animals – an experience she credits with sparking a lifelong passion [...more...]
Giving List Matching Challenges
Youth Development
Marie was a victim of sex trafficking before she turned 13. “I was stuck in the lifestyle, always wanting to […more…]
When Diego first joined the United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County last year, severe separation anxiety made […more…]
Santa Barbara is hardly a winter wonderland where people gather on a frozen lake to frolic on ice skates during […more…]
Homelessness
Founded in 1968 as a small community counseling center, New Beginnings has evolved into a powerful agency with four core […more…]
In the shadows of Santa Barbara’s picturesque coastline, where million-dollar homes overlook pristine beaches, a different economic reality exists among […more…]
Housing Works has always been on the front lines of Los Angeles’ homelessness crisis, doing whatever it takes for as […more…]
Health & Wellness
Cottage Health is entering a new era of innovation while staying true to its mission of providing exceptional, compassionate care. […more…]
Despite Santa Barbara’s seemingly vibrant, prosperous community, some of its youngest residents face invisible barriers to health and wellness that […more…]
A dam was just 23 when he suffered a stroke that nearly took his life. He spent two weeks in […more…]
For the Environment
24 to 26 March 2026 | Free global virtual summit Justice doesn’t just happen by accident. It’s fought for, defended, […more…]
The Community Environmental Council’s annual Green Gala is giving the first word of the event’s name extra emphasis for this […more…]
Opening Night Features Keith Malloy’s Acclaimed Documentary “Fish People” from Award-Winning Bimarian Films NatureTrack Foundation, recently honored as the 2025 […more…]
For the Children
Storyteller has the humble “once upon a time” origins that befits its fairytale-like journey for the families and children it […more…]
In a classroom at Santa Barbara High School, a student named Arturo sat slumped in his chair, disengaged from another […more…]
On a recent afternoon at the Santa Barbara Zoo, a third-grader sat motionless before her untouched burger, politely declining offers […more…]
For the Arts
UCSB Arts & Lectures and the Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture present the FREE outdoor summer film […more…]
Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s Executive Director and CEO Amada Cruz is understandably proud of the museum’s current exhibition. The […more…]
Executive Director Greg Gorga has been part of the staff of the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) for nearly 19 […more…]
For the Animals
Join Return to Freedom for the Opening Day of their 2026 program season, and a celebration of Spirit’s 31st birthday on May 9 at their Lompoc headquarters sanctuary! The […more…]
In the wake of catastrophic flooding across parts of Central Texas, search efforts began in affected areas, where first responders […more…]
Emergency Services
Direct Relief has debuted a new public service announcement featuring Emmy Award-winning actress, comedian, and long-time supporter Jane Lynch. In […more…]
Wilma Melville founded the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation in 1996, a year after witnessing the dearth of rescue dogs […more…]
Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue (SBCSAR) was ready when an experienced paraglider had an issue with equipment and was […more…]
Education
The Central City East neighborhood of Downtown Los Angeles goes by another moniker – one familiar to the public and […more…]
Olive Crest’s Hope Refuge Campus in Santa Barbara County provides a safe place for young survivors of sex trafficking to […more…]
The first five years of a child’s life lay the foundation for how they’ll do in school and beyond – […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…]
State Street has long been the beating heart of Santa Barbara. Like many downtown corridors across America, it has faced […more…]
Direct Relief navigates the war zones in Ukraine to deliver cystic fibrosis medications, transports Mpox vaccines to clinics in the […more…]
Advocacy
In perhaps one of the most challenging times for undocumented immigrants in American history, the Legal Aid Foundation of Santa […more…]
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…]
When disasters strike the Central Coast, not everyone has equal access to help. For those in the 805 community who […more…]