Edhat Staff
Source: The Coeta and Donald Barker Foundation
The Coeta and Donald Barker Foundation recently awarded over $70,000 in grant funds to five local nonprofit organizations– Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County, Alzheimer’s Association Santa Barbara chapter, Montecito Village 4th of July Celebration, and Young America’s Foundation, Reagan Ranch.
Foundation Trustee Dana Newquist handed out checks to representatives of the five charities at a presentation ceremony in the courtyard of the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum. The Rancho-Mirage based foundation gives primarily for educational, cultural, health care, and social services.
The Barkers established their Foundation in 1977 in Eugene, Oregon, which was their permanent home. After Don’s passing in 1980, Coeta purchased a second home in Rancho Mirage, California
After Mrs. Barker’s passing, the Foundation trustees, including Montecitan Dana Newquist, carry on the charitable work that Coeta and Donald Barker started.
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History President & CEO accepted the donation check from Newquist and said, “The Museum is very grateful to the Coeta and Donald Barker Foundation for their financial support of our outstanding Quasars to Sea Stars program for high school students. This program plunges local teens into a rigorous educational and service experience at Museum and Sea Center for students that are passionate about nature, science, exploration, and community students.”
Also on hand were two Quasars who benefited from the program, Bianca Campagnari and Diego Perez.
Quasar Perez said, “Bianca and I had the chance to tour all the Trustees of Foundation through the Museum last summer, and so we are really honored to be able to accept this wonderful gift on behalf of all of our fellow Quasars.”
About the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
Founded in 1916, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History reconnects more than 100,000 people each year (including 6,000 members) to nature indoors and outdoors. Uniquely nestled in nature, the Museum is located along Mission Creek in the Mission Canyon area. The Museum has ten indoor exhibit halls focusing on regional natural history including astronomy, birds, insects, geology, mammals, marine life, paleontology, plant life, and the Chumash Indians. Also, the Museum is home to the only full-dome planetarium on the Central Coast, a research library, and the John & Peggy Maximus Art Gallery.
For more information, contact the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol, Santa Barbara, phone (805) 682-4711 x117 or visit www.sbnature.org.
Photo: Caroline Grange (Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History), Mitchel Sloan (Alzheimer’s Association), Luke Swetland (SBMNH), Carla Leal (United Boys & Girls Club of Santa Barbara), Mindy Denson (Montecito Village 4th of July Celebration), Jim Crook (UBGCSB), Dana Newquist (The Coeta and Donald Barker Foundation), Steve Ortiz (United Way of Santa Barbara County), Caroline Corazza (Young America’s Foundation, Reagan Ranch), Amy Brooker (YAFRR), Diego Perez (SBMNH Quasars to Sea Star student), and Bianca Campagnari (SBMNH Quasars to Sea Star student).
