The recent Women’s Fund grant of $110,000 underwrites renovations of the Teen Center according to a youth-led design initiative, which was aided by a female architect mentoring a young woman interested in architecture, and other young contributors. The project includes installing an ADA lift to make the courtyard entry accessible and updating the entryway, office, bathrooms, computer room, and kitchen. These changes will make the Teen Center more inviting, attractive, and functional -- converting what is currently a snack area into a full kitchen and a small office into a room useful for group counseling. Funding from the city’s Parks and Recreation Department paid for a new roof for the building.

Currently, 263 young people, 93% of whom identify as Latino, participate in Teen Center programs. Of these, 95% are low- to very low-income, and 10% are unhoused. More than half of the participants indicate that the Teen Center programs are their only extracurricular activity.

The transformative effect of the Teen Center can be seen in its graduation rates: In 2023, all 32 SBPAL seniors graduated from high school and are now enrolled in post-secondary or other training. This is a remarkable achievement in that 80% of SBPAL graduates are the first in their family to pursue education beyond high school.

Judie Lugo, who has served PAL for 16 years, stresses that the Teen Center is more than just a building. It is a “cornerstone of inspiration, a place where our young people can access invaluable resources, mentorship, leadership, and academic support.”  With the renovations made possible by the Women’s Fund grant, the new roof, and a recently signed 36-year lease for the facility, SBPAL hopes it can increase participation in its programs so that its good work can have even greater positive impact. Lugo adds, “Because of you, our youth will continue to thrive in a place they can proudly call home.” 

Watch recent news coverage of SBPAL on KEYT News Channel 3-12.

Members also heard from grantees LEAP and Doctors Without Walls about the impact our collective giving has made on their efforts locally. 

Thanks to all the Group Captains and volunteers who turned out to make this event a success!

• Meet and learn from our 2024 grantees, SB ACT and City Net
• Tour the innovative FARO Center in a casual and informative atmosphere
• Explore City Net’s new Women’s Van, a safe, private service space for women only
• Network with members over light refreshments and mocktails

When:
Wednesday October 9th - 5:30-7:30 PM

Where:   
The FARO Center (Santa Barbara Daytime Navigation Center)
621 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara 93101

RSVP now for this very special event. We must limit attendees to 125, so don’t delay.

Members, register here. Bringing a guest? Then please use our guest registration.

Not yet a member? Then please register here.

• Finance evaluates the financial stability of agencies with promising ideas even before the agency is asked to apply. To be sure agencies are prepared to manage a grant, Finance looks at profit and loss statements, budgets, balance sheets, the most recent IRS 990, and the most recent audit if it’s available. Finance also verifies that agencies comply with state and federal rules for nonprofits. 
• Communications helps with the preparation and distribution of the Ballot Information Packet which includes all the information that you need to be ready to vote each year.  They also keep the website up to date, including the page that lists every grant we have given. 

• Information Technology distributes the ballot and tabulates the results. 

• Educational Events leads production of both the Ballot Review Meeting and the Celebration of Grants. They also integrate insights from Research into educational programs including the Grants in Action events. 

• Our Grantee Liaison becomes our primary contact with agencies that receive grants. She helps them publicize their grants and funnels mid-year and year-end reports to the Board with results the agencies achieve. Summaries of those reports, like this one from our last grant year, are also available on the website. 

All these committees are supervised by the Women’s Fund Board, which has overall fiscal and policy responsibility. The Operations Management Team (OMT) includes representatives from all the committees and is responsible for our day-to-day operations. Our all-volunteer board and committee leaders and members can be found on our website. New volunteers are always welcome so, if you would like to be more involved, please contact the Volunteer Engagement Committee. 

If you have more questions about this or any other aspects of Research, please email research@womensfundsb.org. We’ll try to answer your questions in future columns.