Seen (Continued from 14 14)) (805) 962-7466 or visit www.teddybear cancerfoundation.org to learn ways you can help these families not just survive but thrive.
Women United Derby Luncheon Women United is an integral part of United Way. Together they advocate, support, and expand the ongoing work of United Way of Santa Barbara County’s educational programs. The need for investment in literacy could not be more clear and guides Women United’s activities and projects each year. In Santa Barbara County, 78% of economically disadvantaged third graders read below grade level. United Way’s literacy programs have been extremely successful in boosting reading grade levels and high
school graduation rates for students. About 150 interested folks came together at Plaza del Sol at the Hilton dressed in Kentucky Derby attire to learn more about Women United and United Way. Welcome remarks were given by chair Shari Liu Fellows. Dr. Liz Barnitz is principal of Hope Elementary School and spoke of their programs and partnerships. Some of the programs are Fun in the Sun and the United Learning Centers. Both give individual support to the child and the family. There are tutoring places inside the facility with satellite classrooms at local schools. There was special catch up for the kids who missed out on kindergarten because of COVID. During the pilot, all kids gained an average of 2.3 reading grade levels. The keynote speaker was Beate
Beate Chelette, Toby Donner, and Dennis Forster at the Women United event
Habitat CEO Jessica de L’Arbre and board president Lora Fisher
Habitat board members Jan Hubbell, Doug Wood, Das Williams with daughter Khaya, and Rhys Morris
Chelette, who calls herself a Growth Architect and is the founder of The Women’s Code, a business and leadership development company. Chelette is a first-generation immigrant who found herself $135,000 in debt as a single parent. Her passion for photography led to a hugely successful global business that she then sold to Bill Gates in a multimillion-dollar deal. She’s had several honors including “One of 50 Must Follow Women Entrepreneurs.” She is the author of the Amazon Best Seller, Happy Woman Happy World – How to Go from Overwhelmed to Awesome. Beate believes in Women United’s effective approach and has personal experience with the benefits of free, quality community education programs for children. “Having been a single mom immigrant intricately connected to difficulties of trying to do everything by yourself, United Way has a very subtle but effective community-driven approach to solving issues without looking down on the people they are trying to help… Never underestimate a group of committed women to change the world.” For more information call (805) 9658591 or visit unitedwaysb.org/women-united.
Women United committee Katie Hamdy, Kristen d’Offay, and Shari Fellows
rhinestone cowgirls and cowboys everywhere. I’m not sure any of them could wrestle a steer but they looked good. We were all there to raise money to support their mission of helping individuals and families in need build and improve a place to call home. There were many stories about the lasting impact of their new construction and home repair initiatives. President of the Board Lora Fisher welcomed the group, explaining, “Volunteers are the heart of our success.” Jono Shaffer from OceanHills Covenant Church gave the invocation. Habitat CEO Jessica de L’Arbre explained the excitement in building and what the Paddle Raise can do. “We are small but mighty.” After margaritas and a down-home, Western tri-tip buffet, CEO from Montecito Bank & Trust Janet Garufis banged the gavel for the Paddle Raise. She did a good job because the total raised was $80,000. Yeehaw! Donations started at $100 for tools and supplies to $10,000 for predevelopment costs for Cota Street housing. One $5,000 bid even came over the telephone. Kudos go to all the sponsors and event planners. For information call (805) 320 5744 or visit www.sbhabitat.org.
Denim and Diamonds
Julie Carr, Seamus Tuohy, and Andria Kahmann at the Women United Kentucky Derby luncheon
40 Montecito JOURNAL
A community staple for decades, Lynda Millner has helped the Journal, since 1995, keep its connection to the hundreds of events going on throughout the year
Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County invited everyone to their annual fundraising benefit, Denim and Diamonds, held at the Carriage House & Western Art Museum on Castillo Street. There was a passel of
“We honor the dead best by treating the living well.” – Jennifer M. Granholm
26 May – 2 June 2022