Spring in our county is an amazing time, poppies and lupine are starting to bloom, and the mild weather is perfect for enjoying outdoor activities, whether along the coast or in the Los Padres forest. Spring is also when we celebrate one of our community’s most beloved holidays, Earth Day, which got its start right here in Santa Barbara 51 years ago. As such, it seems like wonderful timing to announce the launch of a new grant cycle in support of the environment, conservation, and public trails, which you can read more about in the story below. It is thanks to the kindness of our donors that make grant programs like this possible. In this case, the donors, who wish to remain anonymous, have made a gift that will ensure that the beauty of Santa Barbara is preserved and made accessible for generations to come. That is quite a legacy!
Symbolically, Spring is also time for renewal, regrowth, and reflection. We faced tremendous challenges last year, but thanks to support of people like you we were able to accomplish some truly remarkable feats, including awarding $500,000 to restaurants in need in Santa Barbara and the Santa Ynez Valley, $830,000 to 121 small businesses county wide, and $3,096,087 to 223 nonprofits through our COVID-19 grants.
While we reflect on where we’ve been, we continue to march ahead in service of our community. Our nonprofits are still in need of financial support to meet increased need as a result of the pandemic, and our COVID-19 grant cycle will continue as long as support from our community of donors allows. Through our regular annual grant cycles, we are working to address behavioral health challenges, access to health care, food insecurity, and shelter and safety. As we continue to navigate the COVID-19 recovery period, we remain committed to our vision of creating a thriving, resilient, and equitable Santa Barbara County.
Thank you for being a friend to the Santa Barbara Foundation and allowing this work to continue.
The Santa Barbara Foundation has been one of the primary funders of the Atlas. Learn how this free tool is being utilized by organizations around the county to address pressing issues around climate change, agriculture, fire resilience and planning, and more.
As part of its mission, the Botanic Garden seeks to model environmentally sensitive stewardship in all aspects of its operations. In support of this effort, SBF recently awarded the organization a $5,000 Small Capacity Building Grant to help with the Gas to Electric Landscaping Equipment Conversion Initiative. Click here to learn more.
Last Thursday, Foundation staff got into the Earth Day spirit by participating in a beach clean up at East Beach, organized by FUNdation. It was a wonderful opportunity to give back to the community, and spend time with colleagues in-person for the first time in over a year.
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