Keynote Speaker of Sept. 27: #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Cheryl Strayed
Dr. Fred Kaas Courtesy photos.
SANTA BARBARA — Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) is honored to announce the 2026 Heroes of Hospice award recipients, recognized for their outstanding service and dedication to the health and well-being of our community. The honorees will be celebrated at Hospice of Santa Barbara’s 14th Annual Heroes of Hospice (HOH) luncheon on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. Inspired by poet Mary Oliver’s timeless question, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”, this year’s Heroes of Hospice luncheon will be a celebration of the people we love, the ordinary moments that give life meaning, and the simple joys that become our most treasured memories. This year’s Heroes of Hospice Award recipients are:
Dr. Fred Kass — Medical Award
A longtime friend and champion of Hospice of Santa Barbara, Dr. Kass has supported our work for decades. As an oncologist, he was an early supporter of HSB’s Patient Care Services program and has referred many patients and families for its compassionate, non-medical support.
Partners for Kids — Partnership Award
This innovative collaboration brings together healthcare and community organizations across Santa Barbara County to surround children facing serious illness—and the families who love them—with coordinated care and support. HSB has been part of this extraordinary effort from its earliest development.
Partner Award: Voice Magazine.
Voice Magazine — Partnership Award
Led by publishers Mark Whitehurst and Kerry Methner, Voice has championed Santa Barbara’s nonprofits, arts and community life for more than three decades. A longtime promotional partner of HSB, Voice has generously helped connect our programs and services with the community.
“Our 2026 Heroes embody what is so special about this community—the willingness to care for one another, to collaborate, and to use our individual gifts in service to others,” said David Selberg, CEO of Hospice of Santa Barbara. “Dr. Kass, Partners for Kids, and Voice Magazine have each made a meaningful difference in the lives of others, and we are honored to celebrate them.”
In addition to recognizing this year’s outstanding honorees, Hospice of Santa Barbara is thrilled to welcome #1 New York Times bestselling author Cheryl Strayed as this year’s keynote speaker. Through works including her acclaimed memoir Wild, Strayed has written powerfully about love, loss, resilience, and finding our way through life’s most difficult passages. Few writers speak to the theme of this year’s event with as much authenticity and grace as Cheryl, and we are deeply honored to host her in Santa Barbara.
Event Details
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2026
11:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort
For more information and tickets, visit hospiceofsb.org/heroes
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.