Spirits were high on the evening of January 28 as Women’s Fund members, new members, and prospective members came together to kick-off another year of giving. We enjoyed refreshments, thoughtful comments from our leaders and past grantees, and each other’s company. Board Chair Carolyn Jabs started us off, drawing applause at the announcement that our 1,450+ members make the Women’s Fund the largest giving circle in the country by membership.
Up next, Santa Barbara Public Library Executive Director Brandon Beaudette highlighted the library’s role in the community. In 2020, a Women’s Fund grant helped fund the Library on the Go van which draws a crowd at events all over the community.
- In 2025, the van was present at every back-to-school night, staff issued over 500 new library cards, and the van continues to create a celebrity-like presence at Shoreline Park every Thursday morning. Beaudette remarked that the library is “government at its most efficient”, and that with every checkout comes “…learning, creativity, and community. And the best part—it’s free.”
Then we heard from Dr. Gabriella Garcia, Executive Director of Storyteller Children’s Center, who shared the organization’s deep gratitude for three Women’s Fund grants over the past 20 years – the lead gift for a capital campaign, a food program for low-income children, and support services for families of at-risk preschool children. Questions from the audience prompted Dr. Garcia to share:
- The cost of providing comprehensive services to at-risk children between six weeks and five years of age and their families is about $26,000 per child but no fees are charged.
- 100% of the children served live in families with earnings below the federal poverty line; and 130 children are currently on the waitlist for assistance.
Organizations like Santa Barbara Public Library and Storyteller Children’s Center remind us why the Women’s Fund is so necessary and impactful. Where we invest our resources, there fruit will grow – making a difference in the lives of women, children, and families in south Santa Barbara County.