Dreams in Bloom Gala honoring Ron Werft and Marni & Michael Cooney at the Ginny & Tim Bliss Estate

Family Service Agency (FSA), one of Santa Barbara County’s oldest and most comprehensive human service organizations, and Gala Co-Chairs Scott Wester, Jon Clark, and Carole MacElhenny, will present awards at the annual Dreams in Bloom Gala on Wednesday, May 14, 2026, from 6 to 9 p.m. The event will be held at the Carpinteria estate of Ginny and Tim Bliss and will feature live music, a silent auction, and a live auction emceed by Andrew Firestone.

Three awards will be presented to honorees whose decades of service, philanthropy, and visionary leadership have helped shape FSA and the broader Santa Barbara County community: Ron Werft, recipient of the Partnership Award; Marni and Michael Cooney, recipients of the Founders Award; and Guy R. Walker and Molly Carrillo-Walker, recipients of the Champion’s Award.

Lisa Brabo, FSA’s CEO, says, “For 126 years, Family Service Agency has shown up for our community in schools, in homes, in hospitals and libraries, and at kitchen tables across Santa Barbara County.

This year, we have the privilege of saying thank you to the people who have shown up for us. People like Marni and Michael, Ron, and Molly and Guy are the reason FSA is what it is today, and we are honored to celebrate them.”

Dreams in Bloom is FSA’s signature annual fundraising event, bringing together hundreds of supporters each year in celebration of the agency’s mission and the people who make it possible.

This year’s garden party gala will be hosted at the Carpinteria estate of Ginny and Tim Bliss and will feature live music, a silent auction, and a live auction emceed by Andrew Firestone.

Gala Co-Chair Carole Macelhenny adds, “This is a year when showing up for FSA means something more than it might in quieter times. The people we are honoring on May 14th have spent decades demonstrating what sustained community investment looks like and their example is exactly what we need right now. We hope everyone who cares about the future of human services in Santa Barbara County will join us for this evening.”

Proceeds support FSA’s comprehensive services across Santa Barbara County, including mental health counseling, youth and family programs, older adults and caregiver services, and Family Resource Centers serving communities from Santa Maria to Santa Barbara, Lompoc to Carpinteria. Last year, FSA served more than 19,000 individuals from ages 0 to 109.

Individual tickets and table sponsorships are still available, and FSA warmly invites the community tojoin in a memorable evening of celebrating these remarkable individuals and their contributions to a healthier and more equitable Santa Barbara County.

Ticket and Table Information Event:
FSA Dreams in Bloom Gala Date: Thursday, May 14, 2026
Time: 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Location: Private estate of Ginny and Tim Bliss, Carpinteria, California
Tickets: $400 per person
Sponsored Tables: Starting at $3000 (limited availability)
TICKETS: https://give.fsacares.org/DreamsInBloom