Community Environmental Council

The Community Environmental Council (CEC) signature fundraising event, known as the Green Gala, is returning to the Bakery Block, the newest event venue in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone, for its 2025 event on Saturday, September 27. The Green Gala brings together an influential group of community leaders, philanthropists, and climate activists to help fill the coffers of the longstanding organization and ensure that California’s Central Coast remains a leader in climate resilience and sustainability. 

CEC has been around since shortly after the 1969 oil spill devastated the Santa Barbara waters and led to the creation of Earth Day. The organization puts on our big local festival in Alameda Park every spring, but the Green Gala is fast becoming an even trendier gathering that marks an important date on the annual calendar. 

“We’re going back to the Funk Zone because that area is really aligned with our mission of redeveloping and revitalizing,” explained Darlene Snow, CEC’s director of development. “What was once an industrial area has become one of the most happening areas in Santa Barbara. It’s a good fit for the Green Gala.” 

Indeed, the Bakery Block, on Gray Avenue, stands on the site of the original Weber Bread Company but now serves as an event space with a large outdoor area that is operated by Acme Hospitality’s world-class events team. 

This year’s theme, Resilience, takes note of the historic strength of the Santa Barbara community in the face of ever-increasing environmental challenges. The Matilija poppy – which was reportedly used medicinally by the Chumash to treat stomach aches as well as skin and gum problems – serves as a symbol, because the flowering plant is known for its drought tolerance and ability to thrive under harsh conditions. The theme serves as a reminder of the urgency and determination needed to face future climate challenges head-on. 

“The Matilija poppy is generally the first plant to pop up after a wildfire,” Snow said. 

That distinction isn’t accidental, as wildfire response and recovery are a focus of this year’s Green Gala, because of the importance of communities and first responders coming to each other’s aid during these climate related extreme weather events, which are becoming more and more frequent, Snow said.

“Community is in our name, and that concept becomes even more vital in these turbulent and unsettling times,” she said. 

To that end, CEC is welcoming Los Angeles County Fire Department Public Information Officer Captain Sheila Kelliher Berkoh to deliver this year’s keynote address, where she will provide a firsthand account from the frontlines of the recent L.A. fires and the community’s inspiring response. Her remarks will underscore the importance of preparedness and collective action in the face of climate-related crises. 

“People will recognize Captain Sheila because she was the spokesperson during the L.A. fires and was on the news giving press briefings every day,” Snow said. “She became the face of the fires for almost a month.”

Indeed, Berkoh presented Beyoncé with the Album of the Year award for Cowboy Carter at the 2025 Grammys – the first time the superstar singer who has been nominated for 99 of the record industry’s Oscars had claimed the prestigious prize. Berkoh, a Texas A&M alum, gasped as she opened up the envelope, and paused dramatically before announcing Texas-native Beyoncé’s triumph. 

At the Green Gala, Captain Berkoh will share inspiring stories from the frontlines of how communities including Santa Barbara provided resources and refuge during the devastating fires.

“Fire may test us, but resilience defines us,” Berkoh said in a CEC press release about the Green Gala. “Every challenge is an opportunity to rebuild stronger, to reconnect with each other and the environment, and to move forward with purpose.”

The L.A. County Fire PIO will be introduced on the podium by one of our local heroes who will be part of a special table honoring Santa Barbara first responders, a large number of whom provided critical assistance during the L.A. fires. The table is hosted by Pat McElroy, the retired Santa Barbara City Fire Chief.

“You’ll hear more about the concept of mutual aid,” Snow said. “In these times of crises, it’s going to take everybody helping each other. So we want the night to be inspiring about resilience and the importance of the community.”

The 2025 Green Gala is a seated dinner of climate-smart cuisine by Seasons Catering, complemented by curated cocktails and local wine. The evening will include a live auction offering exclusive and one-of-a-kind experiences, and ample opportunities for guests to connect and network with like-minded individuals, including at a pre-event cocktail party and VIP reception. 

Among the reasons why CEC is bringing the Green Gala back to the Funk Zone for a second consecutive year involves a concerted effort for the veteran nonprofit to skew a little younger in its signature fundraising event. 

“The Green Gala is our opportunity to introduce the cause to a different audience, some of the up-and-coming or emerging community leaders, as well as the younger philanthropists who are committed to supporting social causes,” Snow said. 

While CEC Board Member Geoff Green served as last year’s MC and auctioneer, those roles will now be handled by recent Santa Barbara resident Duane Henry, the British actor known for his role as Clayton Reeves in the hit TV show NCIS as well as appearances in The Dark Knight Rises and Captain Marvel, who believes in using his voice and celebrity for causes he cares about. His partner Tina Ballue will serve as auctioneer. 

“They’re highly engaging and they tag team really well,” Snow said. “They bring in a different energy, which is part of making the Green Gala the fundraising event of the season, the fun and chic event that’s appealing and engaging for the next generation of philanthropists.”

Along those lines, CEC has added an after party, a “big blowout” after the formal program ends, with live music by The Academy, the young Santa Barbara-based band founded by Augustine and Jake DeTar of DeTar Music Studios. Attendees at the Green Gala can seamlessly roll into the after party, and people can also buy tickets to the after party separately, Snow said. 

The $35 suggested donation is a way to make the event more accessible.

“It’s a great way to get introduced to the Community Environmental Council and the Green Gala,” Snow said. 

All funds raised go to support CEC’s vital work, including its climate leadership programs, such as CEC’s Climate Stewards course, youth workshops, and free public events at its Environmental Hub as well as wildfire resilience projects designed to prevent and reduce the risk of wildfires, heat action plans to ensure outdoor workers are safe from extreme heat events, and personalized assistance through CEC’s Electrify Your Life program to ensure disadvantaged communities have access to affordable EVs and green technology, and advocacy for an oil and gas phaseout in Santa Barbara County.

CEC – which was recognized as a 2020 California Nonprofit of the Year and a City of Santa Barbara Climate Hero – also walks its talk at the Green Gala: This year’s event will be powered by a Solaris Trailer, a battery powered, solar generator on wheels.  

For more information and tickets to the 2025 Green Gala, visit https://cecsb.org/green-gala