SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The YMCA’s Livestrong program for cancer patients is experiencing record growth in Santa Barbara, with participation nearly doubling over the past year.Kiki Wells of Santa Barbara is battling stage four cancer. But she isn’t backing down.

The Channel Islands YMCA Association is proud to announce the successful conclusion of its 6th Annual Backpack Give Back, a community-wide campaign that collected over 1,100 backpacks for local vulnerable youth in need, more than doubling the total collected in the past two years combined.

In July, our Operations Director, Amy Tovias, was featured on 805 Focus with Cynder Sinclair to highlight the transformative work happening across our core programs.

Lompoc Unified School District will continue its long-running partnership with the YMCA for after-school care, while also expanding services through the Boys & Girls Club, following board approval at its most recent meeting.

One week after 47 speakers persuaded Lompoc City Council to reverse a vote to slash the Chamber of Commerce’s economic development work, an impassioned crowd of 50 childcare workers overcame a Lompoc Unified School District staff recommendation to hire a for-profit, out-of-state corporation to replace them.

The Women’s Fund Celebration of Grants Awarded 11 Local Nonprofits a Total of $1.25 MillionJust a few months ago, Channel Islands YMCA opened the county’s first home for youth aging out of foster care.