At the end of July, Direct Relief President and CEO Thomas Tighe announced his decision to step down from his role at the end of the year after 24 years leading the organization, a period that saw unprecedented expansion of the nonprofit’s critical work to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty and emergencies around the world. “There’s never a great time to leave a job that you love, but if there [...more...]
If you like stories with humble beginnings told straight from the horse’s mouth, then look no further than the story of the nonprofit Greener Pastures Farm Sanctuary. It’s a heartwarming tale featuring all sorts of [...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…]
FUTURE for Lompoc Youth was born from a passion to empower the next generation of Lompoc residents. Co-founded by Chuck […more…]
The Arts
When Amada Cruz took over as Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s new Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Director and CEO about […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
Health insurance companies and even Medi-Cal still think of orthodontics as a non-essential, even esoteric expense, even for kids – […more…]
On November 12, 2005, Leo’s life changed forever. After he lost consciousness behind the wheel, the then 24-year-old college student’s […more…]
In the heart of Santa Barbara, the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (CADA) stands as a beacon of hope […more…]
Homelessness & Housing
A man in his 40s with tears in his eyes walked into Santa Barbara’s New Beginnings Counseling Center late one […more…]
For more than four decades, PATH has been a beacon of hope and help for people experiencing homelessness in California. […more…]
On November 2nd, 2024, New Beginnings held its Annual Gala in the form of a performance of The Boys Next […more…]
Healthcare
In Lompoc, California, where resources are scarce and needs are great, the Lompoc Valley Community Healthcare Organization (LVCHO) has quietly […more…]
Since 1891, Cottage Health has carried out its mission to serve the community by providing healthcare of the highest quality. […more…]
Isabella Valencia has always cared for others, working as a domestic worker and caregiver for 20 years while raising three […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
White Buffalo Land Trust (WBLT) is focused on restoring our ecosystem through regenerative agriculture. Their methods represent a paradigm shift, […more…]
NatureTrack Foundation, founded by Sue Eisaguirre in 2011, began with a clear vision: to bridge the gap between K-12 students […more…]
California’s goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2045 can feel daunting and somewhat elusive. The Community Environmental Council (CEC) believes […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
Dear readers, meet Dinkey, the potbellied pig with one hell of a story. Destined for an early date with the […more…]
The Horse Project Santa Barbara has opened applications for their Better with Horses program for Women Veterans who have served […more…]
Thirty years ago this coming April, FEMA-Certified Canine Search Specialist Wilma Melville and her black lab Murphy spent a week […more…]
Advocacy
Anybody who has seen a police procedural or legal drama on TV knows that criminal suspects not only have the […more…]
Hillside is already in the works planning two exciting events scheduled for later this year! The Santa Barbara nonprofit couldn’t […more…]
Just 26 years old and the mother of three young children, Rhonda Leland found herself behind bars serving a life […more…]