“We are here today to celebrate people who do good things.”
The Rev. Dr. Brian T. Parcel of First United Methodist Church was talking to the 240 guests at the inaugural Celebrate Philanthropy! Luncheon held Nov. 6 at the Santa Maria Country Club. Tickets were $20.
The event honored three local couples well known for their generosity to the community: Joe and Jean Olivera, Mark and Dorothy Smith, and Ann Will and her late husband, Jay.
Kathy Simas, Lynette Muscio, Tim Flemming, and Judy Frost were mainstays of the planning committee. Each is affiliated with a local foundation.
The audience was a veritable who’s who of the nonprofit world and Santa Maria. Harriet Tower, Joyce Howerton, and Judy Markline were there, as were Judge Rodney Melville, Tom Rodriquez, the Santa Barbara Foundation’s Jim Rivera, and Eric Frost.
At each table setting there was a blue envelope, which Rev. Parcel instructed us all to open simultaneously. Inside each was a brand new $5 bill. We were asked to give the fiver to our favorite charity, either singly or as a table. We were also asked to write the reasons for our choices on a post card and send it in to the Celebrate Philanthropy! office.
The Santa Maria Times underwrote the food cost. Publisher Cynthia Schur hosted a table that included Executive Editor Tom Bolton and Boys and Girls Club Executive Director Bill Libbon.
Noontime Rotary holds Harvest Gala
If you’re ever stuck in an elevator with orthodontist Ken Nelson, not to worry. He won’t lecture you on flossing, but the current president of Noontime Rotary will likely waste no time in telling you that Rotary is the largest non-political volunteer service organization in the world, and that his Santa Maria club recently collected funds to buy wheelchairs for disabled citizens in the Ukraine. He beams with pride when he explains that the wheelchairs allow the recipients to hold jobs, gain mobility, and be independent.
Nelson’s club holds an annual Harvest Gala, which was on the evening of Nov. 1 at the Fairgrounds Park Plaza Building this year. It was a glamorous gathering of the generous—a little more than 300 filled the room—and there was lots of razzle dazzle with the women’s clothing: long dresses and beaded jackets.
The Rotary chose the North County Foodbank’s Backpack Program to be the recipient of the evening’s proceeds. This program targets children who live in transitional housing and who are at high risk for malnutrition. The backpacks are filled and delivered to the children on Fridays, so they can have food over the weekend.
The Foodbank’s community relations manager, Kerry Main Aller, handed out brochures and info, while Food Bank honcho Eric Talkin circulated.
Event chairperson Susan Reese, owner of the Image Factory Design Graphics, greeted Rotarians and their guests as they entered the building.
For the first time at their annual fundraiser, the Rotary Noontimers recognized and honored a longtime member for his many contributions to the community. Farmer Jack Adam, whose family settled in the Santa Maria Valley in 1869, was the first recipient of the Rotary honor.
Bottom line: Rotarians aren’t kidding when they let you know you that “Rotary is humanity in motion.”
If you want to hobnob with Helen, you may contact her at helenthom232@yahoo.com.
This article appears in Nov 20-27, 2008.