Santa Barbara Foundation

05/26/2026

The Santa Barbara Foundation recognizes the importance of supporting the mental health and well-being of children, youth, families, and the providers who care for them.

The Youth Mental Health Providers Recruit, Retain, Rest and Recuperation Fund (4R), established with clinical psychologist and philanthropist Carrie Towbes, invests in the staff working to improve youth social-emotional health and mental wellness in Santa Barbara County.

Thank you to our 2025 Youth Mental Health Providers 4R nonprofit partners. Together, we can help create more good days.

Indian Health Service Adopting Healthy Attitudes-AHA- Youth and Family Services CALM Casa Pacifica CommUnify Family Service Agency Freedom 4 Youth Girls Inc. of Carpinteria Goleta Education Foundation of Santa Barbara Mental Wellness Center Collective Diabetes Research Institute Together to End Sexual Assault Turner Foundation

05/20/2026

Celebrating the diversity, vibrant cultures, and impact of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities during AAPI Heritage Month. (Photo: Transform Through Arts, a Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts Grant recipient.)

05/15/2026

Flashback Friday to the 83rd Person of the Year awards, celebrating Dorothy Largay and Marybeth Carty, two extraordinary volunteers! Thank you for capturing the moment, Isaac Hernández de Lipa, Mercury Press International

05/06/2026

Thank you to all the partners, speakers, and participants who made the 2026 Summit for the Digital Equity Coalition for Santa Barbara County a successful step toward bridging the digital divide.

Speakers Dr. Jamshid Damooei (Cal Luthern University), Sunne Wright McPeak (California Emerging Technology Fund), Fred Luna (Santa Barbara County Area Governments), and Dr. Elizabeth Belding (UCSB), presented challenges and solutions to overcoming barriers to internet infrastructure and affordability, while a panel featuring Abner Fuentes (American GI Forum), Patti Bibby (California Emerging Technology Fund), Erika Terrazas (Partners in Education), Lisa Brabo (Family Service Agency), Lyiam Gallo (United Way of Northern Santa Barbara County), and Amy Gonzales (UCSB) discussed the key role that digital navigators play in helping community members access technology, resources, and opportunities.

Join us this summer for a virtual discussion on the State of the Digital Divide Report, to be released in June. Visit sbcdec.org for more information and to get involved.

05/01/2026

Thank you to everyone who celebrated Person of the Year with us, honoring two of our community's outstanding volunteer leaders, Dorothy Largay and Marybeth Carty. With special appreciation to the 83rd Person of the Year sponsors: Legacy Sponsor Montecito Bank & Trust, Premier Media Sponsor Noozhawk , Bartlett Pringle & Wolf LLP, Cox, The Kellogg Organization, Carrie Towbes & John Lewis, Cottage Health, Steve Lyons, Patty MacFarlane, U.S. Bank Private Wealth Management, and Katina Zaninovich!

05/01/2026

Thank you to all who joined in celebrating two outstanding volunteer leaders! We appreciate Noozhawk for attending and shining a light on community service as the Person of the Year premier media sponsor.

In times of uncertainty and need, two women have consistently stepped up to serve and give back to Santa Barbara County. That was how Jackie Carrera,

04/28/2026

Every three years, SBF partners with UCSB researchers to take a close look at the state of our local nonprofit sector. We're excited to share the findings from the 2025 report soon!

📅 May 12, Solvang—Executive directors & development professionals roundtable
📅 June 2, Santa Barbara—Cross-sector convening for business, civic, and philanthropic leaders
📅 June 4, Online—Webinar for the broader nonprofit community—highlights, themes, and recommendations

We hope you can join us for one of these conversations. Visit https://sbfoundation.org/thestateofnonprofits to learn more and register.

04/27/2026

Congratulations, Dorothy! We look forward to celebrating your exceptional service to the community, especially in improving the lives of women and families. Thank you Noozhawk for sharing Dorothy’s story!

When Dorothy Largay learned that she would receive the Santa Barbara Foundation’s Person of the Year award, her response was characteristically gracious.

04/27/2026

Congratulations, Marybeth Carty! We look forward to celebrating your extraordinary service to the community, especially in education and uplifting women and children. Thank you Noozhawk for sharing MaryBeth’s story!

Marybeth Carty will be honored at the Santa Barbara Foundation’s 83rd Person of the Year Awards luncheon, which recognizes extraordinary volunteers who

04/26/2026

Thank you Noozhawk for the historical look at the “Person of the Year” awards, a celebration of volunteerism and philanthropy, now in its 83rd year!

For more than eight decades, Santa Barbara's Person of the Year tradition has served as a kind of civic mirror, reflecting the values of a community