TGL Features

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 on a second career as a manufacturing CEO, Koch wanted to instill a love of reading in her employees. Her idea? Give away high-quality storybooks for free. This simple act created a tidal wave of expanded family literacy among the mostly Latino men who worked on the factory floor. Sterling Speirn, who was looking for innovative ideas as executive director of the Peninsula Community Foundation [...more...]

New Money New Money

Philanthropy, incorporated for the public good, can and should make all its investments accordingly. In 2021, Senators Angus King (I-Maine) […more…]

The Female Lead: Montecito Bank & Trust Montecito Bank & Trust

Michael Towbes, who founded Montecito Bank & Trust (MB&T) in 1975, struck a different tone than most bankers when he […more…]

Stepping up Then and Now: Santa Barbara Foundation Santa Barbara Foundation

With nearly a century of experience serving the Central Coast, the Santa Barbara Foundation (SBF) has always been there when […more…]

CSUN Shines on the Central Coast California State University Northridge Foundation

George Leis has been a prominent business and civic leader in Santa Barbara for decades. But he readily admits he […more…]

A Career of Giving A Career of Giving

Deb Langford:Head of Black Wealth Initiatives,J.P. Morgan Private Bank Deb Langford was mindful of the impact of giving long before […more…]

Financial Security and Community Support Financial Security and Community Support

Ayla Kalani: Westlake Village and Santa Barbara Market Team Lead,J.P. Morgan Private Bank When Ayla Kalani joined J.P. Morgan Private […more…]

A Donor-Advised Fund in Action A Donor-Advised Fund in Action

Eva RhodesBanker for J.P. Morgan Private Bank, Santa Barbara A Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) can be a great strategy for charitable […more…]

The Power of Volunteering The Power of Volunteering

Years ago, I was incredibly fortunate to attend a wonderful college in Northern California. I got a stellar education that […more…]

Offering Bread and Roses for Nearly 200 Years Offering Bread and Roses for Nearly 200 Years

The slogan “Bread, and Roses, too” is at the heart of every philanthropic organization and cause in the United States. […more…]

The Santa Barbara Philanthropy Pivot The Santa Barbara Philanthropy Pivot

Santa Barbara has been defined, all at once, as an enclave of the wealthy, a surf-bum beach town, and a […more…]