How many times has a family stared in slack-jawed wonder as the adorable new family dog tears around and around the yard like a caffeinated dervish, joyously destroying absolutely everything in sight? They may be looking at a future Disaster Search Dog in waiting. As National Disaster Search Dog Foundation’s (SDF) Wilma Melville has said (with her usual economy of language) – “These dogs need to work. When left alone in a suburban backyard, they [...more...]
Imagine a kid. He’s your son, and he has big plans. He wants to attend college and launch a startup. He wants to change the world. He always aims high, and he usually succeeds, even [...more...]
Giving List Matching Challenges
Youth Development
The REACH Fellowship is dedicated to serving low-income, first-generation high school students in Santa Barbara County. It combines traditional college […more…]
FUTURE for Lompoc Youth was born from a passion to empower the next generation of Lompoc residents. Co-founded by Chuck […more…]
When Diego first joined the United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County last year, severe separation anxiety made […more…]
The Arts
It was just a year ago last November that the Santa Barbara Symphony first took the stage with a rock […more…]
A cool breeze blows as a group of students walk through the Carpinteria salt marsh and down to the beach. […more…]
UCSB Arts & Lectures turns denizens of the local community into citizens of the world. “We bring the world to […more…]
Specialty Compassion Care
It’s hard to overestimate the importance of communication skills for success in life. It’s something most of us take for […more…]
The word “Parkinson’s” invokes a certain image. If you are the Parkinson Association of Santa Barbara (PASB), the image is […more…]
In the heart of Santa Barbara, the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (CADA) stands as a beacon of hope […more…]
Homelessness & Housing
Deborah Leigh Stevens, 68, was living on the streets of West Hollywood in 2014, within blocks of her former apartment. […more…]
Lauren was filled with anxiety the night she was discharged from the hospital. Six months pregnant, ill from past substance […more…]
A man in his 40s with tears in his eyes walked into Santa Barbara’s New Beginnings Counseling Center late one […more…]
Healthcare
In Lompoc, California, where resources are scarce and needs are great, the Lompoc Valley Community Healthcare Organization (LVCHO) has quietly […more…]
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…]
For the Children
Over the past 12 years, the Sonrise Baby Home has saved the lives of more than 450 malnourished, sick, and […more…]
Images of Boy Scouts and kids Scouting are as American as apple pie. But beyond those iconic, timeless images is […more…]
In the first five years of life, a child’s brain will develop to 90% of its capacity, according to the […more…]
Family Well-Being
In a world where the pressures of daily life can feel overwhelming, many families find themselves stretched thin – caring […more…]
When Rachael Steidl’s daughter started struggling with depression and anxiety in 9th grade, her good grades, sports, charm, and active […more…]
Environment
California’s goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2045 can feel daunting and somewhat elusive. The Community Environmental Council (CEC) believes […more…]
White Buffalo Land Trust (WBLT) is focused on restoring our ecosystem through regenerative agriculture. Their methods represent a paradigm shift, […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
Imagine a high school student in the 90th percentile or higher of their class who is enthusiastic about learning and […more…]
When asked why she saved the Santa Barbara Agriculture and Farm Education (SBAFE) Foundation’s farm from development, CEO Leslie Person […more…]
Community Resilience
Direct Relief navigates the war zones in Ukraine to deliver cystic fibrosis medications, transports Mpox vaccines to clinics in the […more…]
A hiker in Santa Barbara’s wilderness hasn’t returned home, a biker crashes off the trail, a runner collapses from dehydration, or […more…]
Animals
If you like stories with humble beginnings told straight from the horse’s mouth, then look no further than the story […more…]
How many times has a family stared in slack-jawed wonder as the adorable new family dog tears around and around […more…]
For 10 years, The Horse Project has rehomed and rehabilitated rescued horses. Today, with the hard work of passionate volunteers, […more…]
Advocacy
ACCESS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE has been helping people gain access to abortion and reproductive care for 30 years. As the only […more…]
Earlier this fall, the Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County (LAFSBC) marked its 65th anniversary with an early evening […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…]