Steve Lyons and Carol Palladini Honored as Man and Woman of the Year

Carol Palladini was named Woman of the Year. Courtesy photo.

Carol Palladini was named Woman of the Year. Courtesy photo.

Hundreds of friends and supporters gathered at the Four Seasons Biltmore to recognize Steve Lyons and Carol Palladini for their long-standing commitment to volunteerism and the significant impact they have had throughout the community.

The awards were presented by Ron Gallo, president & CEO of the Santa Barbara Foundation. “The landscape and sense of community we treasure in Santa Barbara was shaped to a great extent by the efforts of volunteers,” says Gallo. This year’s recipients of the Man & Woman of the Year award, Steve Lyons and Carol Palladini, continue this legacy of service. Their compassion and willingness to give back has touched the lives of thousands and clearly demonstrates the impact of committed volunteers.”

Lyons came to Santa Barbara with his family in the early 1980s. His local nonprofit involvement has included CALM (Child Abuse Listening Mediation), ADL (Anti-Defamation League), Family Service Agency (FSA), Cottage Hospital,  The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County, Laguna Blanca School, the Boys & Girls Club and AYSO, among others.

Steve Lyons was named Man of the Year.

Steve Lyons was named Man of the Year.

Palladini, who moved to Santa Barbara from Pasadena in 1996, has also been involved with a number of local nonprofits, including CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), Planned Parenthood of Santa Barbara, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, Rotary Club of Santa Barbara and Tres Condados Girl Scout Council. In 2004, she established the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara, which has awarded grants totaling $4.7 million to 64 local nonprofit programs impacting more than 83,000 local women, children and families in Santa Barbara, Goleta and Carpinteria.

The awards were presented by the Santa Barbara Foundation and Noozhawk, with special commendations by Mayor Helene Schneider and Rep. Lois Capps.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on October 8, 2014.

Glow in the Park Benefit for Doctors Without Walls – Santa Barbara Street Medicine

Glow in the ParkJust when you think we’ve had every kind of fundraiser you can imagine, someone comes up with something new. This time the creative group is Doctors Without Walls – Santa Barbara Street Medicine, a nonprofit dedicated to providing free, volunteer medical care for the homeless and underserved population in Santa Barbara.

Adventurous participants will assemble atop Elings Park to take healthcare to new heights on September 13. Doctors Without Walls – Santa Barbara Street Medicine (DWW-SBSM) invites the community to take part in an extraordinary experience, right in their backyard. The evening includes a memorable tethered hot air balloon rides, for those who attend the reception, as well as a relaxing meal overlooking the ocean before a dance party amongst the stars.

The evening commences at 4:30 p.m. with an exclusive VIP reception, complete with tethered hot air balloon rides, hors d’oeuvres, and bar. Hosts will be given the special opportunity to thank generous sponsors in an intimate setting as all prepare for the spirited evening ahead.

Glow in the Park opens to all members of the community at 6 p.m. where a gourmet, custom catered field dinner accompanied by signature drinks will be served. Several glowing hot air balloons will illuminate the celebration as the sun begins to set and dinner is savored.

The evening will continue with an AfterGlow dance party with a performance by Hollywood U2, a Los Angeles-based rock band known for their likeness to U2! A heavenly dessert bar paired with Champagne will bring the evening to its peak.

DWW-SBSM saves valuable community resource by providing free, humanitarian medicine for the most vulnerable in the Santa Barbara community. There is a communal understanding of the importance of taking responsibility for our neighbors. “[To combat homelessness] can’t be a cookie cutter approach, and it must be collaborative,” states Mayor Helene Schneider. “We are unique when it comes to our philanthropic community. I like to tease that there are only two degrees of separation in Santa Barbara.” It is this closeness that the DWW-SBSM team relies upon to enable their continued service to the underserved.

“We hope you’ll join us for this special evening in honor of the volunteer doctors in our community, in order to further the essential care that they provide,” invites DWW-SBSM Executive Director, Maria Long. “We are so fortunate to live in such an engaged and enthusiastic community!”

For more information on DWW-SBSM visit santabarbarastreetmedicine.org. For more information on Glow in the Park or to reserve your tickets, please visit sbglowinthepark.org.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on September 3, 2014.