“What a difference a day makes, 24 little hours,” Dinah Washington sang in 1959. “What a difference a day made, and the difference is you.” Washington, of course, was singing about romantic love. But for Santa Barbara’s Community Counseling and Education Center (CCEC), one day can make a huge difference in others’ lives too. One [...more...]
Lompoc HS student wins award he's the first male to recieve it and first from Lompoc HS. (Courtesy Photo) The NatureTrack Foundation is proud to announce Braiden Flaherty as the first student from Lompoc HS [...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…]
In Santa Barbara County, vulnerable youth face an invisible crossroads every day. Some are on the verge of dropping out […more…]
On Ellwood Mesa, a second grader watched dolphins crest the waves and whispered, “Pinch me so I know I’m not […more…]
Homelessness
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…]
Villa Majella is SB County’s only maternity home, providing safe shelter, 24/7 support, transportation, warm meals, and access to vital services. […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
“My goal was always to change the world. You know, nothing too dramatic,” Dr. Sam Dover, co-founder and director of […more…]
Join the Community Environmental Council on Saturday, September 27 for a celebration of resilience to honor our collective strength as […more…]
A few weeks ago Setarah Homayoni and Kimberly Blake joined ClientEarth Americas attorney Hana Heineken and Executive Director Danielle Lackey […more…]
For the Children
In the first five years of life, a child’s brain will develop to 90% of its capacity, according to the […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
The Santa Barbara Museum of Art has a long-standing tradition of uniting people of all ages through a diverse range […more…]
After a nationwide search, UCSB ended up turning to its own backyard to find the new Miller McCune Executive Director […more…]
Nestled in the heart of Montecito, Casa del Herrero stands as one of Santa Barbara County’s most extraordinary yet underappreciated […more…]
For the Animals
How many times has a family stared in slack-jawed wonder as the adorable new family dog tears around and around […more…]
Plenty of local folks probably aren’t aware of CIMWI, let alone what the acronym stands for – Channel Islands Marine […more…]
Emily Everett-Nelson’s life changed the day she volunteered to work at a dog shelter. On her first day, Everett-Nelson recalls, […more…]
Emergency Services
The Search Dog Foundation (SDF) has announced the deployment of seven specialized canine disaster search teams to Washington state as […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) 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…]
The first five years of a child’s life lay the foundation for how they’ll do in school and beyond – […more…]
Olive Crest’s Hope Refuge Campus in Santa Barbara County provides a safe place for young survivors of sex trafficking to […more…]
Community Resilience
Direct Relief navigates the war zones in Ukraine to deliver cystic fibrosis medications, transports Mpox vaccines to clinics in the […more…]
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…]
In an era where technology dominates our daily lives, you might wonder if public libraries still matter. According to Lauren […more…]
Advocacy
In a small corner office of the Shoreline Community Church, immigrants can find a much welcome pathway to the American […more…]
For the first time in six years, Chowderfest, the much-cherished annual fundraiser for the Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara […more…]
Hillside is already in the works planning two exciting events scheduled for later this year! The Santa Barbara nonprofit couldn’t […more…]