Leading Voices

Glean insights from this diverse cadre of leading minds in philanthropy.

Endless Opportunities to Make a Difference

Luz Reyes-Martín comes from a family with a tradition of public service. Her father was a mail carrier for over 25 years, and her mother worked for the City of Los Angeles for more than two decades. Growing up, she developed a strong sense of community and commitment to public service that continues to influence her work as an elected official on the Goleta City Council. It was in high school, though, when Reyes-Martín’s career goal in public government solidified. She credits a high school teacher who assigned the class to go to a city council meeting. At that meeting, [...more...]

Learning From the Past: Preserving California’s Mission History

Under the leadership of David Bolton for the last 12 years, the California Missions Foundation has raised millions of dollars to preserve the state’s collection of historic Spanish missions and made their priceless collection of colonial and native art and artifacts an education destination for hundreds of thousands of visitors each year including tens of thousands of elementary school students. Beginning in the mid-1700s, the Spanish built 21 missions from San Diego to Sonoma that today provide a unique trail of history across California or what was then called Alta California. Bolton, who grew up in Santa Barbara – which [...more...]

Preserving Santa Barbara’s Environment

Susan F. Petrovich, an expert in environmental law, land use, and real estate at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck in Santa Barbara, has dedicated nearly five decades to the dual mission of preserving the environment’s beauty and resources while safeguarding the livelihoods of farmers and ranchers.  Petrovich’s love for the land and commitment to those who work it were ingrained during her childhood. As a “free range” child, she explored the wonders of nature, galloped on horseback, and swam in the creek waters. With a deep affection for animals and an interest in biology, Petrovich would have pursued a career as [...more...]

The Unexpected Challenges of Philanthropic Women

Philanthropists are frequently viewed as privileged individuals who donate large sums of money to charity. However, the reality is more complex – particularly when the giver is a woman. It goes without saying that women are often overlooked as leaders. The societal pressures facing women are formidable, especially the expectations placed upon philanthropic women that many men in similar positions don’t face. Gabriella Taylor knows something about these pressures. Having experienced a traumatic early life, Taylor set out on a global adventure, guided at first by her own healing. This journey led her into the fields of Psychology, Spirituality, and [...more...]

Upholding Community and Faith in Santa Barbara

In Santa Barbara, the Reverend Dr. David Moore, Jr. is a well-known figure at the crossroads of faith, advocacy, media, and community service. He stands out as one of the few Black leaders in a county that has witnessed a significant exodus of its Black population to more affordable cities. With a doctorate in theology from the University of South Africa, Moore plays a pivotal role in the community, serving as pastor for Santa Barbara’s Beloved Community Church and Jesus Collective. Additionally, he holds the position of vice president at the Santa Barbara affiliate of the NAACP, while also contributing [...more...]

The Story of Santos, Taqueria El Bajio, and the Holiday Lights on Milpas

If you’re wondering where to have Forbes-rated authentic Mexican food or where the holiday lights on Milpas and its roundabout come from, you can look no further than the heart and soul of Santos Guzman, owner of Taqueria El Bajio at 129 North Milpas Street. Guzman was born in Guanajuato, México, the location of his restaurant’s recipes for dorados, menudo, caldo de pollo, caldo de res, gorditas, chile rellenos, and beef tacos. It is also the home of his faith and cultural traditions. Starting up Taqueria El Bajio in 1996, little did he realize that the restaurant would become such [...more...]

Christian McGrath Just Got Here and Already Knows His Way Around. How?

Once upon a time, an attorney from the Windy City (Chicago, for the uninitiated) decided to move on from the slings, arrows, and less definable rigors of the storied private equity firm in whose glass tower he’d long toiled. That is, he retired. Seeking greener pastures, sandy beaches, and maybe a low-slung, non-intimidating mountain range, Christian McGrath chose Santa Barbara as his new headquarters. Long an advocate and engaged participant in the not-for-profit world of Chicago, he knew he would likewise seek out and immerse himself in that community in Santa Barbara. But where to start? To his mild surprise, [...more...]

Fulfilling Philanthropic Journeys

Tammy Johnson, Santa Barbara Foundation’s Vice President of Philanthropic Services since April of 2022, didn’t set out to work in philanthropy. The daughter of a 35-year Southern California Gas Company employee, Johnson grew up in La Puente in the San Gabriel Valley, attending the public school system through high school. It was there that a guidance counselor pointed her toward what she thought might be her career. “He encouraged me to think about journalism because I was a school leader always doing the announcements over the PA, and I was a pretty strong writer,” Johnson recalls. “But I was still [...more...]

Growing Up with Philanthropy

For Yvette Birch Giller, president and COO of Santa Barbara’s Mosher Foundation, philanthropy is a family affair. Working alongside both her father, Ed Birch, the Foundation’s chair and CEO, and her mother, Suzanne Birch, a trustee and education program specialist, Giller, after 13 years at Mosher, is preparing to take the reins from the man she calls her mentor, her role model, and her biggest cheerleader. Today, Giller finds herself at the nexus of the gradual sunsetting of Santa Barbara’s legendary philanthropic foundation trailblazers, and the dawn of a new generation of foundation leaders. And Giller has the benefit of [...more...]

Nancy Sheldon Sets a Large Philanthropy Table Nancy Sheldon Sets a Large Philanthropy Table

When Nancy Sheldon was a little girl growing up in Milwaukee, her mother, Muriel, hosted dinners for Russian immigrants. It […more…]

Saying Yes to Santa Barbara’s Nonprofit Needs Saying Yes to Santa Barbara’s Nonprofit Needs

When Monte and Maria Wilson moved to Santa Barbara in 2010, the idea was that this beachside community would be […more…]

Extended Family Extended Family

Palmer Jackson Jr. comes by his fondness for philanthropy honestly. In fact, the concept of giving back through donating dollars […more…]

Two Epiphanies Lead to a Life of Service Two Epiphanies Lead to a Life of Service

When she was young, Charlotte Gullap-Moore had two epiphanies that she felt would define her destiny. The first came at […more…]

Tragedy Inspires Innovation and Passion-Driven Philanthropy Tragedy Inspires Innovation and Passion-Driven Philanthropy

Dr. Michael Brinkenhoff’s professional “aha” moment came at the nadir of his personal life, an invention born of tragedy. When […more…]

For the Love of the Channel and the Life Teeming Through It For the Love of the Channel and the Life Teeming Through It

It sounds like a question my daughter would ask me: “What’s your favorite whale?”  Still, I couldn’t help myself, after […more…]

The ‘Other,’ Kalyan Balaven The ‘Other,’ Kalyan Balaven

As the first person of color to serve as Head of Dunn School in Los Olivos, California, Kalyan (“Kal”) Balaven […more…]

Wilma Melville: Dogged Determination Wilma Melville: Dogged Determination

Wilma Melville is the most inspirational person I’ve ever met. She has done more during her retirement than most people […more…]

Jackie Carrera Puts the ‘Community’ in Santa Barbara ‘Community’ Foundation Jackie Carrera Puts the ‘Community’ in Santa Barbara ‘Community’ Foundation

Jackie Carrera’s powerful sense of community started with her family, long before she moved from Maryland to California and eventually […more…]

Lisa Greer’s Message to Philanthropy: Revolutionize Lisa Greer’s Message to Philanthropy: Revolutionize

While she had built a successful career, Lisa Greer wasn’t born into wealth. But when her husband Josh’s company, RealD, […more…]

From Local Kid to Social Sector Leader From Local Kid to Social Sector Leader

Easy Lift Transportation Executive Director Ernesto Paredes remembers his earliest experience volunteering as a young kid in Santa Barbara. Growing […more…]

Giving Back What Was Given to Him Giving Back What Was Given to Him

As a child growing up on the Santa Ynez Chumash Reservation, Kenneth Kahn never felt neglected. His neighborhood was filled […more…]

My Rich Experiences Thomas Rollerson

Thomas Rollerson is a natural-born empathizer and philanthropist – a condition that literally harks back to his birth. Driven by […more…]

A Force for the Arts A Force for the Arts

Kai Tepper knew from a young age that she was destined for the arts. Along with her sister – who […more…]

Santa Barbara’s First Lady of Philanthropy Looks Back Santa Barbara’s First Lady of Philanthropy Looks Back

Born and raised in a leafy suburb of Detroit, Michigan, located near the city’s zoo, Anne Towbes grew up surrounded […more…]

For Janet Garufis, Giving Is Not Only a Responsibility, But a Privilege For Janet Garufis, Giving Is Not Only a Responsibility, But a Privilege

Sometimes, life’s lessons emerge from the most unlikely places. For Janet Garufis – Montecito Bank & Trust’s dynamic chairman and […more…]

Treasure, Time, and Talent Treasure, Time, and Talent

Warren Ritter says that he was born with the passion to give back. By building a career in private wealth […more…]

Money as Medicine Money as Medicine

As told to Daniel Heimpel In 2018, a Native American philanthropy professional dropped a bomb on the industry. In his […more…]

Untangling Self-Interest from True Compassion by Nick Schou Untangling Self-Interest from True Compassion by Nick Schou

The winding path of Santa Barbara philanthropist Kevin Brine – from near-broke college student obsessed with Sanskrit studies to living […more…]

‘What Good Is a Platform if You Don’t Use It for Good?’ ‘What Good Is a Platform if You Don’t Use It for Good?’

As told to Daniel Heimpel I have known CNN host Lisa Ling for nearly a decade now. I never saw her […more…]

Philanthropy is a Family Business Philanthropy is a Family Business

As told to Brian Rinker Charlie Casey inherited the family business, Pacific Foundation Services (PFS), and turned it into a […more…]

Shining a Light on the Power of Community College Shining a Light on the Power of Community College

As told to Brian Rinker Geoff Green’s mantra is “of, by, and for.” Having learned the value of both activism […more…]

Building a More Equitable UC Santa Barbara Building a More Equitable UC Santa Barbara

Other than a brief stint in New York City in 1989, Katya Armistead has spent almost her entire adult life […more…]

From the Heart of Compton to the Soul of Santa Barbara From the Heart of Compton to the Soul of Santa Barbara

He grew up in Compton, but Guy Walker has deep roots in Santa Barbara County going back to the 1970s, […more…]

A Strong Family Tradition of Giving Back A Strong Family Tradition of Giving Back

When Ginger Salazar, along with her husband and four children, moved back to Santa Barbara 16 years ago, she was […more…]