United Way’s 26th Annual Red Feather Ball to Be Held to Support Families in need

The Oct. 13 event will celebrate United Way’s 100th anniversary in Santa Barbara County

Join United Way for a celebration that will support local families in need at its 26^th annual Red Feather Ball. This sparkling event will also be a celebration of United Way’s 100^th anniversary. As such, this year’s theme is: A Diamond Celebration. 

This year’s event will be held on October 13^th at the Montecito Club in Santa Barbara and will benefit the children and families served through United Way’s Academic Achievement Initiative. It will also honor the role the organization has played in the community’s longstanding tradition of care and commitment to local families and students.

Each year, all proceeds from the Red Feather Ball go to benefit United Way’s community education programs and initiatives. These programs include Fun in the Sun, a national award-winning summer learning program, and the United Learning Center, which provides essential academic support and resources to our community’s littlest learners. These initiatives have grown to serve over 10,000 local children and their families each year.

United Way programs provide life-changing educational tools to children and families throughout Santa Barbara County, creating safe and enriching spaces for students to learn and grow.

The Red Feather Ball was created in 1997 and was so named in honor of the symbolic red feather which the Community Chest campaigns, a precursor to the modern United Way network, used during its giving campaigns during the Great Depression. Every year since then, the event has provided an opportunity for donors to come together to provide for vital assistance programs. 

United Way is proud of the impact it has in Santa Barbara County. More than 40,000 students have received essential academic support and resources to combat pandemic-related learning loss through its programs and $53 million has been raised or managed for COVID-19 response efforts. Meanwhile 8,800 individuals and families have received funding for individual, rental, relocation, utilities and general disaster assistance from United Way crisis response programs.

The Red Feather Ball is an opportunity to support the vital work United Way does to lift up those in need. Tickets and sponsorships are available.

We are looking forward to gathering with friends and supporters at the gala this year.

About United Way of Santa Barbara County

Since 1923, United Way of Santa Barbara County has been a key leader in local efforts to empower children, families, and communities through its own unique collaborative programs and initiatives, partnership convening efforts, volunteer development, and funding. United Way’s mission is to enrich the lives of children and families and build resilient communities by leading local programs and partnerships that improve school readiness and academic achievement, financial empowerment, and crisis response and recovery. To learn more, please visit unitedwaysb.org.