“With Wayfinder, we don’t feel like my son has a disability. We feel like everyone else.” This is the gift that Wayfinder’s Camp Bloomfield program has been giving to families of children with disabilities for over six decades. Founded in 1953 on the belief that those facing the greatest challenges deserve the chance to thrive, [...more...]
A Valentine’s Day Message from Family Service Agency “Strengthening your relationship can not only improve your personal happiness, but improve the overall wellbeing of the family,” said Alison Espínola, Family Service Agency’s Health & Human [...more...]
Giving List Matching Challenges
Youth Development
In Santa Barbara County, vulnerable youth face an invisible crossroads every day. Some are on the verge of dropping out […more…]
Santa Barbara is hardly a winter wonderland where people gather on a frozen lake to frolic on ice skates during […more…]
Homelessness
A man in his 40s with tears in his eyes walked into Santa Barbara’s New Beginnings Counseling Center late one […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…]
In the shadows of Santa Barbara’s picturesque coastline, where million-dollar homes overlook pristine beaches, a different economic reality exists among […more…]
Health & Wellness
A dam was just 23 when he suffered a stroke that nearly took his life. He spent two weeks in […more…]
Cottage Health is entering a new era of innovation while staying true to its mission of providing exceptional, compassionate care. […more…]
In a world where anxiety and stress affect children at unprecedented rates, one Santa Barbara organization is teaching our youngest […more…]
For the Environment
NatureTrack Foundation invites the community to its May Special Screening, From Wings to Waves, an inspiring evening of films that […more…]
The ocean’s importance to the Earth mirrors the importance of blood to human life – a profound reminder that our […more…]
From natural disasters to a dismantling of the EPA to violence against citizens in Minneapolis and across the US, there […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 the face of a devastating diagnosis that would break most spirits, 13-year-old Ava Decker chose to fight not just […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
Nestled in the heart of Montecito, Casa del Herrero stands as one of Santa Barbara County’s most extraordinary yet underappreciated […more…]
When Amada Cruz took over as Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s new Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Director and CEO about […more…]
After a nationwide search, UCSB ended up turning to its own backyard to find the new Miller McCune Executive Director […more…]
For the Animals
“My goal was always to change the world. You know, nothing too dramatic,” Dr. Sam Dover, co-founder and director of […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
Direct Relief has debuted a new public service announcement featuring Emmy Award-winning actress, comedian, and long-time supporter Jane Lynch. In […more…]
Thirty years ago this coming April, FEMA-Certified Canine Search Specialist Wilma Melville and her black lab Murphy spent a week […more…]
Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue (SBCSAR) was ready when an experienced paraglider had an issue with equipment and was […more…]
Education
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…]
The Central City East neighborhood of Downtown Los Angeles goes by another moniker – one familiar to the public and […more…]
Community Resilience
Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue (SBCSAR), established decades ago by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department to provide vital […more…]
In an era where technology dominates our daily lives, you might wonder if public libraries still matter. According to Lauren […more…]
Lots of local Santa Barbara residents, long-timers and newbies alike, have strong opinions about whether the nine-block stretch of State […more…]
Advocacy
When disasters strike the Central Coast, not everyone has equal access to help. For those in the 805 community who […more…]
In a small corner office of the Shoreline Community Church, immigrants can find a much welcome pathway to the American […more…]
In perhaps one of the most challenging times for undocumented immigrants in American history, the Legal Aid Foundation of Santa […more…]