Bonnie Carroll
A huge crowd of Santa Barbara Rescue Mission supporters and admirers celebrated Rob Fredericks as he received the 2024 Leni Fe Bland Award for his distinguished leadership in affordable housing over the past two decades. As the Executive Director of the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara he has led the way in providing safe, stable, and affordable housing options in our community.
While thanking Rolf Geyling and the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission for his award Rob Fredericks shared an inspiring few moments repeating some heartwarming lines from the poem of one of his dear friends Grant House that took the celebration to a deeper personal level for everyone.
The annual fundraiser at the historic Rancho Dos Pueblos featured a Passport to the Bayou theme this year and was a casual outdoor experience with music by the Idiomatiques under the beautiful arbor, a lively online auction that is renowned for its amazing items, and a delicious dinner by Lorraine Lim Catering. Emcee Catherine Remak again kept the program moving with grace, and the Women’s Auxiliary deserve major kudos for presenting yet another outstanding and fun afternoon filled with color and style by designer Dianne Davis that brightened up a slightly overcast day.
The funds raised at this annual event allow the Mission to offer a successful 12-month residential drug and alcohol treatment program and provide emergency and transitional services for homeless guests. Last year, the Bayou event raised over $680,000 to assist people seeking shelter and recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, and from the looks of it I would expect they topped that this year. The Mission has helped over 963 people achieve recovery in the last 27 years.
Rolf Geyling, the Rescue Mission president, said, “Together, we are not only transforming the lives of individuals, but we’re also changing and saving entire families. Generations from now, people will be living in hope and freedom because of the Mission and our donors who make it possible.”
Many thanks to the generous and caring sponsors and donors who give so freely to support this event, and to all the outstanding past honorees from 2002 to 2024. Past recipients include Leni Fe Bland, John & Cathy McGrath, Jim Anderson, Ron Werft, Rodney Melville, Penny Jenkins, Cam Sanchez, Peter MacDougall, Bill Cirone, Bill Brown, Bob Bryant, Joyce Dudley, Betty Rosness, Ron Gallo, Silvio Di Loreto, Denny Wayman, Dave & Anna Grotenhuis, Janet Garufis, Lori Luhnow, Gerd Jordano, Karl Willig, and Barney Melekian.
About Santa Barbara Rescue Mission
Established in 1965, Santa Barbara Rescue Mission, a 501(c)(3) organization, brings physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual resources to individuals and families in need. It is the only organization between Oxnard and Santa Maria that provides hot meals and overnight accommodations to homeless guests 365 days of the year. The Rescue Mission offers men’s and women’s 12-month residential treatment, family support, relapse prevention, men’s sober living, academic instruction, and job skills training. The Mission receives no government funding.
Sort of discouraging: “The Mission has helped over 963 people achieve recovery in the last 27 years.” That’s about 3 a month. I know the primary mission of this mission is religious conversion so maybe saving people from addiction is just a sideline which should be appreciated. That being said, nice that they do charitable work in the true model of Christ.