10th Heroes of Hospice of Santa Barbara Honors Local Heroes Live

By Bonnie Carroll

After two years of virtual events, Hospice of Santa Barbara’s (HSB) Heroes of Hospice (HOH) came back big with their in person awards luncheon, and silent auction honoring local heroes at Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort’s Plaza del Sol.

HSB’s Heroes of Hospice Luncheon honored the people and organizations that bring compassion and care, at all levels, to those in need in and near the Santa Barbara community. Throughout these past two years, the demand for HSB’s services has been growing. Fundraisers like HOH allow the organization to continue to reach our community members struggling with grief or life-threatening illness, free of charge.

This year, Heroes of Hospice What Matters Most honored Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics with the MEDICAL HERO AWARD, Santa Barbara High School with the PARTNERSHIP HERO AWARD and Hospice of Santa Barbara Bereavement Staff with the STAFF HERO AWARD.

 “It is very exciting for us to be back in person this year for this event as the past two years were “virtual”,” said David Selberg, CEO of Hospice of Santa Barbara. “Heroes of Hospice is important for us to come together because it lets us give those who help our community the recognition they deserve.”

Hospice of Santa Barbara

Hospice of Santa Barbara provides professional counseling, support groups, and patient care services free of charge to individuals and families who are grieving the death of a loved one or experiencing the impact of a life-threatening illness. Hospice of Santa Barbara also provides counseling in our offices and on fifteen local junior and high school campuses to children and teens who are grieving the loss of a loved one. For more information about Hospice of Santa Barbara, including volunteer opportunities, call (805) 563-8820 or visit www.hospiceofsantabarbara.org.

2022 HERO AWARD WINNERS

Dr. Charles Fenzi, CEO of SB Neighborhood Clinics

Yessenia Marroquin, Dir of Clinic Operations, SB Neighborhood Clinics

Dr. Elise Simmons, Principal, Santa Barbara High School

Michael Cruse, Bereavement Service Manager, Hospice of SB

Special Guest Speakers included:

 
William Peters

  
Mari Hernandez

 
Rolf Geyling

William Peters is recognized by many as a leading authority on the shared death experience (SDE). William conducts workshops and presents internationally. His innovative work has been featured on CNN, among other media outlets around the world, and he is the author of At Heaven’s Door, published by Simon & Schuster. 

Rolf Geyling has dedicated his life to serving organizations that lift people out of poverty and addiction and currently heads Santa Barbara Rescue Mission. He is regularly engaged as a pulpit preacher, conference speaker, workshop facilitator and organizational consultant. He was awarded the Westmont Medal in 2015 for Santa Barbara leadership.

Mari Hernandez is a licensed Clinical Social Worker and has a private counseling practice. Her life’s mission is to build a social enterprise that supports and inspires Conscious Living and Conscious Parenting. After the death of her son, Mari created Vida Center, a nonprofit organization formed to help youth, families and communities build and develop the skills and resources needed to live, succeed and thrive.   

 “We are very excited to be back in person this year and to focus on What Matters Most to us,” said David Selberg, CEO of Hospice of Santa Barbara. “This will be a very special event honoring amazing heroes in our community with great special guest speakers.”

It was an amazing and loving coming together of so many who were unable to gather until now. So many medical professionals, organization leaders joined together with sponsors, staff, volunteers and supporters and invited guests to celebrate the fine work being done, and special programing presented to assist and inspire those in need during such a difficult time of separation. The auction was filled with beautiful items, the speaker lunch in the Rotunda was beautiful and delicious.

Beth Farnsworth Ward and C.J. Ward, KEYT 3 TV News Anchors, once again did a delightful job as Emcees, and the award recipients, as well as special guest speakers took everyone into their hearts with gratitude and inspiring stories on life changing experiences. The What Matters Most speakers gave everyone, including me a moment to pause and ponder what does matters most. Kudos to the wonderful HSB board, volunteers and supporters who made this yet another memorable Hospice of Santa Barbara gathering.

Hospice of Santa Barbara

Hospice of Santa Barbara provides professional counseling, support groups, and patient care services free of charge to individuals and families who are grieving the death of a loved one or experiencing the impact of a life-threatening illness. Hospice of Santa Barbara also provides counseling in our offices and on fifteen local junior and high school campuses to children and teens who are grieving the loss of a loved one. For more information about Hospice of Santa Barbara, including volunteer opportunities, call (805) 563-8820 or visit www.hospiceofsantabarbara.org.