This luncheon celebrates the end of the annual Women’s Fund grant cycle, and recognizes and honors its newest grantees, voted on by the membership of nearly 600 women. Since it began in 2004, the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara has awarded grants now totaling more than $4 million to 55 nonprofits in Santa Barbara, Goleta and Carpinteria. The awards luncheon was held at Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort and was generously underwritten by Women’s Fund member Kathryn Calise.

The nonprofits receiving 2012-2013 Women’s Fund awards:

Catholic Charities of Santa Barbara – $50,000 for emergency supplemental food and case management to aid low-income families in crisis.

Doctors Without Walls – Santa Barbara Street Medicine – $50,000 for the Women’s Free Homeless Clinic to provide medical care and essential services to unsheltered and marginally sheltered women in a safe, female-only environment.

Future Leaders of America – $65,000 for training and academic support to promote responsible leadership development for community youth.

Girls Inc. of Carpinteria – $50,000 for the Eureka! Program, which prepares young girls to attend college and pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math.

Isla Vista Youth Projects – $50,000 for capital funds to improve the Isla Vista Family Resource Center infrastructure and playground.

Westside Boys and Girls Club – $75,000 for renovation and expansion of its clubhouse to create an educational resource center.

Women’s Economic Ventures – $100,000 for a micro-loan fund to assist low-income south Santa Barbara County women in starting or expanding their own businesses.

“The Women’s Fund provides a rewarding and effective way for women to combine our charitable donations and to make a bigger difference in our community than most of us would be able to do alone,” said Sarah de Tagyos, Steering Committee Chair. “Santa Barbara has so many generous women who open their hearts and check books to help change lives in our community – even when times are tough and the economy is slow to recover.”

In 2010, Women’s Fund member and local philanthropist Betty Elings Wells committed $250,000 in a 2-for-1 match for every dollar the Women’s Fund raised above $350,000. The Women’s Fund stretched that matching gift across two years, stimulating increases in the number of members and the size of the grant pools. The organization’s membership has grown from 68 women in 2004 to nearly 600 members. In addition, every dollar members donated in 2011 is going to meet critical community needs today because generous members underwrote all Women’s Fund 2011 expenses in addition to their memberships. The Santa Barbara Foundation has been a partner and fiscal home for the Women’s Fund since 2004.

The Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara is a collective group of volunteer donors focused on the needs of women, children and families in Santa Barbara, Goleta and Carpinteria. Committed to “Changing Lives Together,” Women’s Fund members pool their charitable donations, research critical community needs and then determine by vote which agencies will receive the funds collected during the year. For additional information about the Women’s Fund here

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