Dear Friends,
At this yearʼs Heroes of Hospice, we are excited to celebrate our 50th Anniversary with you and honor many of the past heroes from the community. I hope you can join us to celebrate! The luncheon will once again have a special focus on Celebrating Those We Love and remembering the legacy of loved ones who have passed away and their continued impact on our lives.
When we opened our doors in 1974, we were at the forefront of a visionary movement, and I believe we still are—helping children, families, and seniors through the crippling grief of losing a cherished loved one or struggling with the fear and confusion that comes with a life-threatening diagnosis.
Thank you for all that you do to support our work! It is a remarkable privilege to witness the difference HSB makes for those we serve on a daily basis. It is only through your support and generosity that we accomplish all that we do and will in the future.
Gratefully,
David Selberg
Chief Executive Officer
Thank You So Much to Our Sponsors!!!
Guiding Star Sponsor
Kim and Andrew D. Busch Family Foundation
Linda Lorenzen
Luminary Star Sponsor
Robin & Roger Himovitz
Jill Kitnick
Mark & Nicole Romasanta
Barbara N. Rubin & Family
Steve Warner & Vince Turano
Shooting Star Sponsor
Carey Appel Pearlman
Christine Diberardino
Perri V. Harcourt
Patricia Heller
Law Office of Cristi Michelon Vasquez
Marlene Veloz
Linda Seltzer Yawitz
Lucky Star Sponsor
Emma Bridges
Paul & Julie Capritto
Amy & Eric Marston
Ellen & John Pillsbury III
Claude Raffin in the memory of Jon Gathercole
Susannah Rake
Muriel Ross
Anne Smith Towbes
Dr. & Mrs. Randall Vandermey
Dick & Anna Zylstra
Bright Star Sponsor
Julie Allen
Nancy Barash
Debra Brandon
County Supervisor Laura Capps
Elliott & Linda Dell
Richard DeMaria
Anna DiStefano & Deb Karoff
Fauver, Large, Archbald & Spray LLP
Dennis Forster & Cynder Sinclair
Friendship Center Adult Day Services
Jeanette Iwatsuki
Karine Wegrzynowicz Estate Planning
Dr. Fred & Sarah Kass
Maia Kikerpill & Daniel Nash
Marlene Klamt
Natasha Marston MD & Jesse Swanhuyser
Nicole & Jeff Martinez
Christian & Angie McGrath
Santa Barbara Estate Planning & Elder Law
Christiane Schlumberger
Eryn & Craig Shugart
Kate Silsbury
Gary Simpson and Jill Nida, Santa Barbara Home Improvement Center
Tana Sommer-Belin
Valle Verde Retirement Center
Ronie Vandergrift
Yoga Soup
Dawn Star Sponsor
Barbaria Family In Honor Of Bruce & Joyce Seaton
Natasha Marston MD & Jesse Swanhuyser
Charles & Eileen Read
Carol Spungen
Table Host
Stephen Aizenstat & Dianne Travis-Teague
Virginia Benson Wigle
Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics
Media Sponsor
Remembering our Lifetime Hero, Charlie Zimmer
In loving memory of our greatest hero and champion, Charlie Zimmer.
Charlie Zimmer was a constant presence and advocate for Hospice of Santa Barbara since serving as its Executive Director from 1979 to 1990. He helped establish HSB’s Foundation and was a mentor to other HSB leaders including Gail Rink, Steve Jacobsen, Tina Frontado (interim) and David Selberg. His impact was immeasurable and HSB is grateful for his enduring compassion and commitment to the organization.
Our 11th annual Heroes of Hospice luncheon took place on Sunday, September 10th, 2023, in person, from 11am to 1:30pm at the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort
2023 honorees include:
Charlie Zimmer - Lifetime Hero Award
Santa Barbara Foundation - Philanthropy Hero Award
HSB’s Patient Care Services team - Staff Hero Award
The event honors the people and organizations that bring compassion and care, at all levels, to those in need in and near the Santa Barbara community. In recent years, the demand for HSB’s services has been growing. Fundraisers like Heroes of Hospice allow the organization to reach our community members struggling with grief or life-threatening illness.
This year’s event will have a special focus on Celebrating Those We Love and their ongoing impact in our lives. Guests will be provided with an opportunity to donate and support the wonderful work of HSB in the name of their loved ones, helping bring programs and services, completely free of charge, to adults, children and seniors who are struggling with grief or life-threatening illness.
Come gather with fellow supporters to celebrate HSB's wonderful work in the community and enjoy inspiring speakers, music, food and drinks.
Thank you so much to Our wonderful Sponsors!!!
Luminary Star Sponsor
Melinda Goodman Kemp
Jill Kitnick
Shooting Star Sponsor
Kim and Andrew D. Busch Family Foundation
Rolf Geyling & Kristin Moore
Ken & Francie Jewesson
Carey Appel Pearlman
Susannah E. Rake
Mark & Nicole Romasanta
Suzanne Von Drehle
Virginia Benson Wigle
Lucky Star Sponsor
Emma Bridges
Leigh & Paul Cashman
Judy & Rob Egenolf
Doedy & Don Galloway
Law Office of Cristi Michelon Vasquez
Brenda Nancarrow-Garrison
Claude Raffin
Steve Warner and Vince Turano
Dana & Randy VanderMey
Linda Seltzer Yawitz
Katina Zaninovich
Bright Star Sponsor
Tony Allina & Christiane Schlumberger
Nancy Barasch
Debra Brandon
The Kelly Marsh Team| Cornerstone Home Lending
Donna M. Dawson, CPA
Anna DiStefano & Deb Karoff
Richard DeMaria
Easy Lift Transportation
Eileen & Kevin Finnegan
Dennis Forster and Cynder Sinclair
Nicole & Jeff Martinez
Muriel Ross
Deborah Sheehan & Dee Sheehan
Eryn & Craig Shugart
Valle Verde Retirement Center
Ronie Vandergrift
Dawn Star Sponsor
Christine DiBerardino
Maggie Lang, CMT, SEP
Bodywork & Movement Therapy
Sudi Staub
Table Host
Pacifica Graduate Institute Alumni Association & Dream Tending
Media Sponsor
Thank you to everyone who attended our Heroes of Hospice event on September 22nd, 2022 and to all of the sponsors who made this year's event possible.
We also want to thank our What Matters Most Speakers as well as congratulate our 2022 Heroes of Hospice Award Recipients.
What Matters Most
AS WE GEAR UP for this year’s Heroes of Hospice of Santa Barbara luncheon event, we would like to share this year’s theme of What Matters Most and challenge everyone to ask themselves... “What matters most in my life?” “What marks a life well lived?” “Is it how much money I made, or things I acquired?” Or is it rather “How many lives I touched, and how much love I shared?”
We’d like you to consider those things that are most significant to you, personally. When grief or illness impact our lives, we are often reminded of what really matters most to us – the people we love, the meaningful actions we take, and the simple pleasures of life...traveling, family, spirituality.After a couple of challenging years which have given many of us a new perspective, our 2022 Heroes of Hospice event presents an opportunity to examine what really matters. So, as we celebrate the worthy achievements of this year’s Heroes, we will weave in this year’s theme: What Matters Most.
2022 Heroes
Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics
MEDICAL HERO AWARD
Dr. Charles Fenzi, CEO of SB Neighborhood Clinics
Yessenia Marroquin, Director of Clinic Operations, SB Neighborhood Clinics
Santa Barbara High School
PARTNERSHIP HERO AWARD
Dr. Elise Simmons,
Principal, Santa Barbara High School
Hospice of Santa Barbara Bereavement Staff
STAFF HERO AWARD
Also featuring Special Guest Speakers
who will discuss pivotal experiences and
moments in their lives that helped them realize
What Matters Most
William Peters
Mari Hernandez
Rolf Geyling
Thank you to our Sponsors!
Luminary Star Sponsor
Melinda Goodman Kemp
Jill and Barry Kitnick
Shooting Star Sponsor
Central Coast Home Health and Hospice
Rolf Geyling
Perri Harcourt
Robin & Roger Himovitz
Kim and Andrew D. Busch Family Foundation
Northern Trust
Suzanne Von Drehle
Katina Zaninovich
Lucky Star Sponsor
Assisted Home Health & Hospice
William & Kathy Borgers
Emma Bridges
Courtney DeSoto
Charles and Vera Fenzi
In Memory of Joan and Ray and Captain Don
Law Office of Cristi Michelon Vasquez
Claude Raffin
Jennifer Rogers
Nicole & Mark Romasanta
Muriel Ross
Linda Seltzer Yawitz
Eryn & Craig Shugart
Stevens & Associates Insurance Agency, Inc.
Dana & Randy VanderMey
Bright Star Sponsor
Jesse Brisendine
Cornerstone Home Lending
Cottage Health
Donna Dawson
Richard De Maria
Easy Lift Transportation
Judy and Rob Egenolf
Robert and Mary Ehrmann
Elizabeth Faoro
Monica Lenches
Susannah Rake
San Ysidro Pharmacy
Christiane Schlumberger
Cynder Sinclair
The Sheehan Family
Evan Turpin
Valle Verde
Cynthia Withers MD
Dawn Star Sponsor
The Oak Cottage of Santa Barbara
Christine DiBerardino
Nicole & Jeff Martinez
Gerald and Claire Parent
Sandy Stahl
The Oak Cottage of Santa Barbara
Katherine Van Meter
Media Sponsor