Feel Good News

179 Local Nonprofit Organizations Receive Community Dividends® Awards and Share of $1.2 Million at Montecito Bank & Trust’s 17th Annual Luncheon

People’s Self-Help Housing received a gift of $5,000 from Miner’s Ace Hardware that supports the education program Camino Scholars with new computers for students in Guadalupe.

A story of gratitude for the local community’s support of families battling pediatric cancer during Thanksgiving.

More than 200 native California island oaks and live coast oaks will be planted along Jerry Harwin Parkway in Elings Park as part of a collaboration with Santa Barbara and Channel Islands Restoration.

Work with the Mental Wellness Center leads to local student Sophie Suh's appointment to California’s Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission.

Ron Gaston celebrated his 100th birthday with a proclamation from the City of Goleta and Birthday Cake.

The Land Trust reports that in 2021, more than 4,000 acres were conserved, the single biggest year in conserved acreage in the last decade—for a total of 31,511 protected acres in its history.

The Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce, from Goleta to Carpinteria, is excited to announce the 2021 Goleta’s Finest Award Winners.

Brothers and San Marcos High School students will receive the Youth in Philanthropy Award by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

With the need for affordable housing facing communities across the globe, People’s Self-Help Housing was approached by the United Kingdom Government to share their 50+ years of experience in affordable housing. 

It took teen brothers 28 triathlons, ten years, and the support of one local community to provide one million local meals countywide.

A Good Samaritan and California Highway Patrol officers rescued an injured owl near Refugio Road today.

Assemblymember Steve Bennett, Senator Monique Limón, and Santa Barbara Supervisor Gregg Hart joined the board of the Foothills Forever nonprofit to present a check from the State of California. 

100 students at Franklin Elementary School received backpacks filled with school supplies compliments of City National Bank in partnership with United Way of Santa Barbara County.

The Santa Barbara Education Foundation hosted the Love of Literacy Luncheon to highlight the need for support for students struggling with reading in the Santa Barbara Unified School District. 

Santa Barbara Humane received a $25,000 grant from PetSmart Charities to increase access to affordable veterinary care in Santa Barbara County. 

Senator Monique Limón and Assemblymember Steve Bennett presented a check to Carpinteria and Santa Barbara County to decommission the abandoned Venoco oil and gas pipelines.

Santa Barbara-area teachers welcoming students back to their classroom this fall will do so buoyed by over $62,000 raised by the local non-profit Teacher’s Fund.

Over 1,287 volunteers showed up for Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday at 28 sites throughout the County to clean up 6,104 pounds of trash.

On Saturday, Cate School and Friends of Bates Beach coordinated the cleanup of North Rincon (Bates) Beach as part of the annual California Coastal Cleanup Day.

Community Environmental Council and Electric Drive 805 Coalition Partners Invite Public to Learn About Benefits of Driving Electric

The Community Environmental Council is proud to announce the addition of two bottle-filling hydration stations in Alameda and Shoreline parks.

Last week the JOIN JACOB triathlon team competed in the 2021 Santa Barbara Triathlon to benefit the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County. 

Kevin is a senior toy poodle who had been in several homes and shelters before he arrived at Santa Barbara Humane.

Local music teachers are kicking off the school year with instruments and a $16,000 gift.

[Update]: Dos Pueblos Little League and partners raised $30,000 in four days to replace the contents inside the shed that caught fire at Girsh Park.

A back-to-school fund drive organized by The Teacher’s Fund aims to raise $60,000 to support local educators.

Future Leaders of America has received a grant from The Fund for Santa Barbara for the "State of BIPOC Youth Project" on the Central Coast.

The Assistance League of Santa Barbara awarded 49 student scholarships through its collaboration with the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara City College Foundation Promise Program. 

Family Service Agency of Santa Barbara County announced that it is providing bilingual social services and case management for Carpinteria residents aged 60 or older.