Despite the 85-degree day, Alpha Resource Center’s parking lot was overflowing once again for the Women’s Fund New and Prospective Member Reception.
Bookended by our current and incoming board chairs, Carolyn Jabs and Lauren Trujillo, we heard from two past grantees of the Women’s Fund. Our host of the evening, Jeff Henson of Alpha Resource Center, quipped that the AC we were enjoying was thanks to a Women’s Fund grant. Many participants of Alpha, who live with mental and/or physical disabilities, have only a few options for daily care in Santa Barbara. While our grants have improved the Alpha building itself, they have also helped fund a variety of programs within the center. As Jeff graciously sang the Women’s Fund’s praises, we could hear the theatre troupe finishing their rehearsal in the next room.
We later heard from Arianna Castellanos of SEE International, an organization bringing eyecare and sight-restoring surgery to Santa Barbara County. I learned that loss of sight can be completely crippling yet is often completely preventable. The Women’s Fund grants have helped SEE greatly expand their reach in Santa Barbara County by funding, among other things, their mobile care units. Arianna expressed her deep gratitude for the women behind the grant vote—“people like you choose to care.”
I love the meaning behind her statement.
I’ve found that many people who care deeply about a cause don’t know where to start or how to take action. As a member of the Women’s Fund, you have chosen to care. You’ve turned your heart and caring for others into more than a whim, more than a good intention. You took that step forward to be part of a force for good. It can be hard to accept praise, but take these testimonies from our grantees at face value. As a member of the Women’s Fund, we should take a moment to look in the rearview—with pride.