Design House Event to Benefit The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara
The Santa Barbara Design House event was the brainchild of its lead sponsor, Ferguson Bath, Kitchen and Lighting Gallery. Its architectural collaborators, Blackbird Architects and The Carey Group Inc., hosted exclusive tours on March 17th and 18th, welcoming more than 400 visitors, along with members of the Bartron Real Estate Group who served as docents and sponsors. Visitors were able to see the latest, greatest in appliances, lighting, finish materials and more.
All proceeds will benefit the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara. As a longtime Foundation Board Director, I chose the Scholarship Foundation to receive the Design House proceeds, as I am a strong believer in the organization’s mission to help Santa Barbara County students access postsecondary education through scholarships and financial aid counseling.
Founded in 1962, the Scholarship Foundation originally raised money through bake sales. The organization has since become the nation’s largest community-based provider of college scholarships, having cumulatively awarded more than $140 million to some 60,000 county students since its founding. It has come a long way since pies!
Last year the Scholarship Foundation awarded college scholarships to 2,146 students countywide, with awards for undergraduates at four-year schools averaging $3,132. The Foundation helps students apply for other financial aid as well. Foundation scholarships for the 2023-24 academic year will be announced in May. The organization’s annual scholarship awards ceremony at the Courthouse Sunken Garden continues to be a wonderful event if you haven’t attended.
Eligible students can receive five years of undergraduate funding and four years of medical/graduate-level funding. The Foundation also supports vocational studies. The primary criteria for award selection are financial need, academic potential, and motivation.
The organization currently manages approximately 500 scholarship funds, and receives support from more than 1,000 individuals, foundations, corporations, and community organizations.
Given the ever-rising cost of education and housing, local students need our help more than ever.
Each eligible first-time applicant is personally interviewed. It takes many volunteer hours to conduct these interviews, but it is probably one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. The Scholarship Foundation accepts donations of all sizes. To volunteer, donate, or for more information, please visit www.sbscholarship.org.
I would like to thank everyone who attended the March tours. We were able raise over $27,000 for scholarships!
Trudi
