Building Bright Futures
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate and support the incredible work of the Channel Islands YMCA Youth & Family Services at our 24th annual Reaching for Stars fundraiser! This year's event was a spectacular success, and it's all thanks to you. We’re already bursting with excitement for next year’s event. Let's take a moment to revel in our shared accomplishments: This year, we were thrilled to welcome 160 guests, marking our most attended event ever. It was a joyous sight to see so many faces—both familiar and new—coming together for a cause that means so much to us. Your presence and enthusiasm created an electric atmosphere that carried us through the evening.
We are also proud to announce that we secured 21 sponsorships, a record-breaking number for us. The support from our sponsors is a testament to the community’s belief in our mission. Your contributions provide the foundation for our work, enabling us to reach even more youth and families in need.
Our live and silent auctions were a resounding success, raising over $30,000 in contributions. This amount, combined with the generosity of our donors, led to our highest day-of contributions yet. Every bid and every donation represents a commitment to making a difference, and for that, we are profoundly grateful.
In total, we brought in an astounding $114,000—funds that will directly support vital programs and services for our community youth. This achievement reflects the collective effort and generosity of everyone involved.
We owe a debt of gratitude to our stellar Reaching for Stars Committee of volunteers: Marsha Roberson, Carolyn Williams, Wendy Scott, Susan Morris, Dawn Bokman, Victoria Lindstrom, Joaquin Gonzales, and Adrienne Schuele. Your dedication and hard work behind the scenes made this night possible. The countless hours you devoted to planning, organizing, and executing this event did not go unnoticed. Thank you for your unwavering commitment and tireless efforts.
A special shoutout goes to our culinary stars, whose delicious creations were the talk of the night. Chefs Owen Hanavan (Santa Barbara Yacht Club), Paul Osborne (Santa Barbara Fish Market & Restaurant), Humberto Perez (Santa Barbara Club), Christine Rosell (Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage), and Colby Silva (Toma Restaurant), your culinary artistry delighted our guests and added a gourmet touch to the evening. Your generosity in lending your time and talents to our cause is deeply appreciated.
Our gratitude extends to our Honorary Chair, DA John Savrnoch, whose leadership and support were invaluable. We were also honored to have Jill Sharkey, PhD, as our inspiring guest speaker. Your insights and passion for the cause resonated with everyone in attendance. And who could forget our dynamic live auctioneer, Andrew Firestone? Your passion and energy helped make the evening unforgettable, driving the excitement and contributions to new heights. Your energy and enthusiasm took Reach for Stars over the top!
We also want to thank our sponsors. Your support ensures that we can continue the important mission of Youth & Family Services YMCA. To each and every one of you who attended and cheered us on from afar: thank you! Your support has a profound impact on the lives of youth and families in our community. It is your belief in our mission and your willingness to invest in our future that empower us to continue our work.
Suzie's Story
Suzie, 18, was connected with the Haley St. Navigation Center by her high school social worker to help her secure housing. Suzie’s family had a history of homelessness. Upon meeting with outreach staff, Suzie was also referred to a program for employment support and received a meal, clothes and hygiene items. The outreach team supported Suzie in getting “document ready,” a process of collecting important documents to be eligible for rental assistance. Within a month, Suzie was approved for rental assistance and was referred to the Turner Foundation, a partner that supports housing, for a potential move-in to a single room of a shared space. By the end of last month, Suzie completed a financial assistance plan and was moved in! Suzie is looking to continue her education with the Running Start program at SBCC. Suzie was supported with her goals with a phone, a YMCA gym membership, and on-going weekly case management from the YMCA TAY staff.
Christine and Brianna's Story
Christine and Brianna came to the Navigation Center looking for support with housing after sleeping in a rented U-Haul truck for over a month. A few weeks into connecting with our services, the couple got into a motor accident and sustained injuries that prevented them from maintaining their employment and wrecking the truck where they had been sleeping. This was a huge physical and emotional blow to the couple, who had to separate during this difficult time. Luckily, our program was able to work quickly with a partnering housing authority property to refer the couple and get them a housing interview. The ladies were able to sign a lease within a day of Brianna’s release from recovery. The program also provided rent while they both healed and worked on employment goals. Lease signing proved to be an emotional step in this couple’s journey as we saw them hold hands and shed a tear while getting a glimpse of their new home.
Youth Testimonials
“I feel like everyone’s stay and experience at Noah’s is different according to their situation and what led them here. For me personally, Noah’s has helped me tremendously with the situation and everything. When first coming to Noah’s I thought this wasn’t going to be homey, more like a facility, but after being at Noah’s and living here, it is super homey and I just feel safe. The staff here are so helpful and patient that it’s hard to feel anything but safe and cared for. My favorite thing about Noah’s is that staff are always around if I need to talk and when I do, I feel heard.”
“Noah’s staff have helped me in more ways than I can count. Noah’s has been there for me more than other people. Being here has made me more independent as well. I love Noah’s and am sad to go, but love that I can still drop in whenever I need support.”
“I have felt a great sense of community while staying at Noah’s, I have made great connections with youth and staff here and will miss this place, I am thankful for everything Noah’s has done for me.”
We hope you enjoyed exploring all of the wonderful stories from YFS. All proceeds from the event and auction support local underserved youth.
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