SANTA BARBARA — Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) is less than $110,000 away from meeting its $1 million goal for the Legacy of Compassion Campaign, which launched in celebration of the organization’s 50th anniversary. The campaign aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of HSB’s free compassionate care services, helping to meet the current demand and build a stronger foundation for the future.
Funds raised from this campaign will go toward reducing the counseling waitlist for grieving adults, expanding HSB’s presence in schools to support all children experiencing grief, assisting patients in navigating the medical system, developing new services to reach more families, and preparing for the rising wave of need in the years ahead.
In 2023, HSB served 795 grieving adults– a number that is expected to nearly double by 2030. As the demand for these services continues to grow, HSB is particularly focused on addressing the needs of the most vulnerable members of the community: seniors and youth. The organization is experiencing an unprecedented demand for their services and anticipates that this demand will only continue to grow as the average age of community members increases.
According to the Public Policy Institute of California, nearly one in five Californians will be aged 65 or older by 2030. This demographic shift, often referred to as the “Silver Tsunami,” will see the population of baby boomers expand from 13% to 18% of the nation’s total population, with Santa Barbara’s senior population nearing 20%, according to Pew Research Center.
It’s not just adults who are impacted by grief and loss in the community– children are too. According to the 2023 Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model, nearly 80% of children experience the loss of at least one close relative or friend, and one in 14 lose a parent or sibling. For many children, their grief goes unrecognized and unaddressed, which is why they are often referred to as “forgotten mourners.” Through the Legacy of Compassion Campaign, HSB will expand its presence in schools to ensure that children experiencing grief receive the vital support they need.
“The needs of our community are growing and we’re committed to meeting those needs with the same care and dedication we’ve shown over the past 50 years,” said David Selberg, Hospice of Santa Barbara CEO. “The goal of our Legacy of Compassion Campaign is to ensure that no one faces one of the most challenging moments in life, alone.”
Donations for the campaign must be submitted by December 31, 2024. To support the Legacy of Compassion Campaign or to learn more about Hospice of Santa Barbara, please visit www.hospiceofsb.org
Hospice of Santa Barbara provides professional counseling, support groups, and patient care services free of charge to individuals and families who are grieving the death of a loved one or experiencing the impact of a life-threatening illness. Hospice of Santa Barbara also provides counseling in our offices and on 17 local elementary, junior high, and high school campuses to children and teens who are grieving the loss of a loved one.