On October 6, the Fund for Santa Barbara hosted its annual Bread and Roses celebration to raise funds to support organizations pursuing progressive social change. Approximately 450 guests attended SBCC’s Great Meadow, including many nonprofit leaders, activists and politicians, with the event raising approximately $225,000.

Bread and Roses always has good energy, with palpable enthusiasm among supporters of the Fund’s work in awarding grants and hosting capacity-building workshops for community organizations. After a reception featuring popular musical performances by The Brasscals and Terrill Carter, guests were seated under a huge outdoor tent for the program.

Co-host Rich Sander highlighted how “the Fund is truly the thread that binds us all together, as we unite in our vision of a more just and joyful world,” and invited guests to “ greet each other and greet each other.” applause! which sparked warm cooperation and many smiles.

The Fund honored Jeanne Sparks and Ken Hough, who are co-executive directors of SBCAN, the SB County Action Network. Sander praised them as “a power couple known for their tireless commitment to community service and advocacy.” In addition to co-leading SBCAN, Sparks was recognized for her key roles in projects in the Cuyama Valley, the Dunes Center in Guadalupe, Santa Maria’s first dog park and the Santa Maria River Levee Trail. Sander recognized Hough’s expertise, with 30 years of experience in transportation, housing and regional planning.

The Fund also honored the nonprofit Future for Lompoc Youth (FLY) for empowering youth to participate in civic activities. FLY recently collaborated with UCLA to conduct a survey of young people’s post-pandemic experiences and is currently rallying support for a bond measure to modernize Lompoc schools, among other activities.

Fund for SB Executive Director Eder Gaona-Macedo, who took over as CEO last year, recounted how he came to the United States at age 4 and grew up on the Westside. He faced xenophobia, racism and low-wage jobs, he noted, and participated in projects and organizations funded by the Fund for SB. Her vision for the Fund is that it plays a crucial role in bringing communities together – to build a community where everyone feels like they belong. He praised Fund grantees and nonprofit partners as “true social justice warriors, who challenge the status quo every day and empower others to do the same.”

He further noted that, more than ever, the Fund plays a crucial role in funding grassroots groups due to the rampant xenophobia, homophobia and racism in our local community and national politics.

Each year, the Fund for Santa Barbara awards nearly $300,000 to local nonprofit organizations. Its grantmaking committee, made up of activists and community leaders, determines the allocation of funds. This year, funding was distributed among 21 nonprofit organizations. A separate teen-led program, Youth Making Change, has a council of North County and South County teens who make grant decisions for youth-led projects. This year, $20,180 in grants were distributed among eight organizations.

Additionally, this year the Fund distributed $233,750 in county funds through the Racial Equity Fund and $191,250 through the state-funded Stop the Hate Partners.