Nourishing the Community, One Harvest at a Time

In the heart of Summerland, a small farm is making a big impact on Santa Barbara County's food-insecure residents. Sweet Wheel Summerland Farm, operated by the Santa Barbara Agriculture and Farm Education Foundation (SBAFEF), continues to grow its mission of providing clean, chemical-free food to those in need while fostering community engagement and sustainable farming practices. Founded in response to the 2018 Montecito Debris Flow that left Summerland cut off from food supplies, Sweet Wheel Farms has evolved into a vital [...more...]

The Shortest Distance to Making a Difference

In 2000, Judy Koch learned something surprising about many of the workers in her sheet metal factory in Fremont, California: They didn’t read books with their kids. As a former junior high English teacher now [...more...]

 

Giving List Matching Challenges

 

Youth Development

Investing in Lompoc’s Youth Future for Lompoc Youth

FUTURE for Lompoc Youth was born from a passion to empower the next generation of Lompoc residents. Co-founded by Chuck […more…]

REACHing Students for a Life of Success REACH Fellowship

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 Future for Lompoc Youth

Chuck Madson knows a lot about the possible consequences of believing that your opportunities are limited. A Central Coast native, […more…]

The Arts

Your Seats Await – Experience Another Season of Symphony Magic Santa Barbara Symphony

It was just a year ago last November that the Santa Barbara Symphony first took the stage with a rock […more…]

Uniting Art Lovers of All Ages Santa Barbara Museum of Art

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art has a long-standing tradition of uniting people of all ages through a diverse range […more…]

Santa Barbara Museum of Art Santa Barbara Museum of Art

When Amada Cruz took over as Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s new Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Director and CEO about […more…]

Specialty Compassion Care

Parkinson Association of Santa Barbara Parkinson Association of Santa Barbara

April is always a big time of year for the Parkinson Association of Santa Barbara (PASB). That’s when the very […more…]

Camp Chit Chat RiteCare Childhood Language Center of Santa Barbara

Camp Chit Chat is a fun and socially interactive camp for children aged 3 ½ to 6 years old with […more…]

Providing Struggling Children the Building Blocks for a Lifetime of Communication and Confidence RiteCare Childhood Language Center of Santa Barbara

It’s hard to overestimate the importance of communication skills for success in life. It’s something most of us take for […more…]

Homelessness & Housing

A Lifetime Commitment of Care Housing Works

Deborah Leigh Stevens, 68, was living on the streets of West Hollywood in 2014, within blocks of her former apartment. […more…]

Scaling Up to Tackle Rising Homelessness New Beginnings

A man in his 40s with tears in his eyes walked into Santa Barbara’s New Beginnings Counseling Center late one […more…]

Supporting Vulnerable Mothers Through Pregnancy Villa Majella of Santa Barbara

Lauren was filled with anxiety the night she was discharged from the hospital. Six months pregnant, ill from past substance […more…]

Healthcare

Improving Health Outcomes in an Under-Resourced Community Lompoc Valley Community Healthcare Organization

In Lompoc, California, where resources are scarce and needs are great, the Lompoc Valley Community Healthcare Organization (LVCHO) has quietly […more…]

Everybody’s Well-Being Matters Savie Health

When Abe Lincoln, the executive director of the healthcare clinic Savie Health, gets stressed about running an organization, he sits […more…]

Little Clinics That Deliver Great Medicine Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics

Isabella Valencia has always cared for others, working as a domestic worker and caregiver for 20 years while raising three […more…]

For the Children

Storyteller Storyteller

Thirty-seven years after its founding in the parking lot at Transition House – where the goal was simply to create […more…]

Faith of a Child Foundation Faith of a Child Foundation

Just over a dozen years ago, the Sonrise Baby Home in Uganda was started by a young woman named Damali […more…]

Creating Unforgettable Experiences as Young Scouts Scouting America, Los Padres Council

Images of Boy Scouts and kids Scouting are as American as apple pie. But beyond those iconic, timeless images is […more…]

Family Well-Being

From Crisis to Hope: Changing the Mental Health Landscape for Santa Barbara Youth YouthWell

When Rachael Steidl’s daughter started struggling with depression and anxiety in 9th grade, her good grades, sports, charm, and active […more…]

Raising Children is Sacred Work Family Service Agency

In a world where the pressures of daily life can feel overwhelming, many families find themselves stretched thin – caring […more…]

Environment

Access to Nature for ALL Abilities NatureTrack

NatureTrack Foundation, founded by Sue Eisaguirre in 2011, began with a clear vision: to bridge the gap between K-12 students […more…]

Gratitude, Appreciation, Thankfulness Rolled Out to Docents Who Made a Difference for NatureTrack in 2024 NatureTrack

Sue Eisaguirre, founder and Executive Director of NatureTrack wanted to document and give a huge thank you to all the […more…]

White Buffalo’s Roots of the Future: Celebrating the Culture in Agriculture White Buffalo Land Trust

Eighteen months ago, White Buffalo Land Trust (WBLT) celebrated the culmination of its year-long pilot of the organization’s Artist in […more…]

Education

SBAFE/Sweet Wheel Farms Sweet Wheel Farms / S.B. Agriculture & Farm Education Foundation

For a nonprofit whose main asset is a modest seven-acre farm in Summerland known as Sweet Wheel Farms, the Santa […more…]

Nourishing the Community, One Harvest at a Time Sweet Wheel Farms / S.B. Agriculture & Farm Education Foundation

In the heart of Summerland, a small farm is making a big impact on Santa Barbara County’s food-insecure residents. Sweet Wheel Summerland Farm, […more…]

Closing the College Knowledge Gap for High School Students Matriculate

Imagine a high school student in the 90th percentile or higher of their class who is enthusiastic about learning and […more…]

Community Resilience

SBC Search and Rescue Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue

Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue (SBCSAR), established decades ago by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department to provide vital […more…]

Delivering Life-Saving Medical Aid During the World’s Toughest Crises Direct Relief

Direct Relief navigates the war zones in Ukraine to deliver cystic fibrosis medications, transports Mpox vaccines to clinics in the […more…]

The Everyday Heroes Behind Santa Barbara’s Most Dangerous Wilderness Rescues Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue

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

This Little Piggy Went to Greener Pastures: The True Story of How Kindness Saved a Little Pig Greener Pastures Farm Sanctuary

Dear readers, meet Dinkey, the potbellied pig with one hell of a story. Destined for an early date with the […more…]

Rescuing Abused Farm Animals and Teaching Kindness Greener Pastures Farm Sanctuary

If you like stories with humble beginnings told straight from the horse’s mouth, then look no further than the story […more…]

Canines at Home in the Ruins National Disaster Search Dog Foundation

How many times has a family stared in slack-jawed wonder as the adorable new family dog tears around and around […more…]

Advocacy

Making Abortion Care Access a Reality ACCESS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE

ACCESS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE has been helping people gain access to abortion and reproductive care for 30 years. As the only […more…]

Re-Balancing the Scales of Justice Legal Aid Foundation

Anybody who has seen a police procedural or legal drama on TV knows that criminal suspects not only have the […more…]

ACCESS RJ’s Impact! ACCESS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE

With the anniversary of Roe v. Wade having just passed on January 22, ACCESS Reproductive Justice wants to remind their […more…]