{"id":6562,"date":"2014-05-20T17:27:02","date_gmt":"2014-05-21T00:27:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=6562"},"modified":"2014-05-20T12:28:59","modified_gmt":"2014-05-20T19:28:59","slug":"nonprofits-wow-and-woo-at-fast-pitch-sb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=6562","title":{"rendered":"Nonprofits Wow and Woo at Fast Pitch SB"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"(L-R)<\/a>

(L-R) Chief Energy Officer Seth Streeter, Mayor Helene Schneider, Fast Pitch SB Winner Bethany Markee of Solvang Viking Kitchen, Jose Hutton of Hub 81, courtesy photo<\/p><\/div>\n

Organizers from Social Venture Partners say inaugural event will become an annual opportunity for local nonprofits to gain exposure, refine messages and win money.<\/h4>\n

Thursday night’s inaugural Fast Pitch SB\u2014a\u00a0Shark Tank<\/em><\/a>\u00a0style competition for nonprofits to make three-minute pitches to a panel of judges and a live audience for cash awards was an exciting, successful event for all concerned, but\u00a0Solvang Viking Cafe <\/a>was the big winner of the night. Founder Bethany Markee\u2014a former professional chef who took over the lunch program at the local elementary school cafeteria at Solvang School\u2014now has an additional $26,000 in prizes to expand her program to feed more students.<\/p>\n

Social Venture Partners Santa Barbara<\/a>\u00a0(SVPSB) chose the ten\u00a0finalists out of \u00a0a field of more than 100 applications from nonprofits looking to receive personal coaching and communications training from experts in the field.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Enthusiastic<\/a>

Enthusiastic Fast Pitch audience, courtesy photo<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

The award winners are:<\/p>\n

$5,000 Mission Award: Angels Foster Care<\/a><\/p>\n

$5,000 State Award: A Different Point of View<\/a><\/p>\n

$10,000 Audience Award: Solvang Viking\u00a0Caf\u00e9<\/p>\n

$15,000 Grand Prix Award: Solvang Viking Caf\u00e9<\/p>\n

Plus, each of the ten finalists received a $1,000 SVP Award:<\/p>\n

A Different Point of View<\/p>\n

AHA!<\/a><\/p>\n

Angels Foster Care of Santa Barbara<\/p>\n

\"Talented<\/a>

Talented teen Jamey Geston entertained the crowd. Photo by Leslie Dinaberg<\/p><\/div>\n

CASA of Santa Barbara County<\/a><\/p>\n

Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara<\/a><\/p>\n

Santa Ynez Fruit and Vegetable Rescue<\/a> (“Veggie Rescue”)<\/p>\n

Sarah House Santa Barbara<\/a><\/p>\n

Solvang Elementary School’s Viking Cafe<\/p>\n

The Center for Urban Agriculture at Fairview Gardens<\/a><\/p>\n

Sanctuary Centers of Santa Barbara<\/a><\/p>\n

For more information about the program click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2014Leslie Dinaberg<\/p>\n

Originally published in\u00a0Santa Barbara SEASONS<\/a>\u00a0on May 17, 2014.<\/p>\n

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