Our flags are flying on State Street in Santa Barbara! Make sure to visit and snap a photo by Tuesday, October 6! Dine at Mendocino Farms on Wednesday, October 7 and 50% of sales to be donated to Friendship Center.…
I am writing this letter whilst attending the National Adult Day Services Association conference with our Program Director (recently promoted!), Nerely, and Lead Program Specialist/Volunteer Coordinator, Mary. We are thrilled to be here learning about ways to further improve and expand FC’s programs and services, but do forgive any lack of cohesion in this letter, as traveling to Providence took us more plane time than my trips to and from school in Australia. Four legs of flight, a cross-state-lines Uber, and we are here!
Friendship Center is 50! Wow!
For 35 years this September, I have the joy of being part of this very special community. Many of you receiving this email, I know personally. I’ve had the privilege of connecting with so many members, families, and friends through my many roles at Friendship Center, from directing our buses and taking members on field trips to leading our Connections program, working at our Montecito and Goleta locations, running the Gold Program, and now serving as our Membership Liaison.
This year, we’re celebrating 50 years of serving our community, and this week marks another special milestone in our journey.
Forty-seven years ago, Friendship Center officially became a registered nonprofit organization, laying the foundation for the organization we know and love today.
For five decades, Friendship Center has been a place of care, connection, and community for older adults living with dementia and their families. Through the years, our programs have grown and changed, but our commitment to creating a welcoming, compassionate, and dignified place for our members has remained at the heart of everything we do.
A Letter from the Director
I love playing tour guide.
I’ve had quite a few out-of-town visitors stay with me this summer, and I can’t help but feel proud showing them the beauty of our coastal community.
From strolling our beaches and admiring the Spanish architecture to ending the day over a hearty dinner at Harry’s, I’m reminded every time just how fortunate we are to call Santa Barbara, and surrounding communities, home.
I think Santa Barbara has mastered something that many destinations try so hard to create: a quiet confidence. It isn’t flashy or overwhelming. It doesn’t compete for your attention. It simply offers beauty, nature, fresh air, good company, and the space to enjoy them. Sometimes the best things in life aren’t the most complicated. They’re simply done well.
This year, as we celebrate 50 years of service, we’ve combined our Summer Polo Soirée with our Summer Campaign to make an even greater impact. Join us in making a difference. Whether you attend the event or make a donation, your support helps ensure local seniors living with dementia and their families receive the care and support they deserve.
I don’t know where to start with this intro letter. As much joy as we have in our programs on a daily basis, behind the scenes has been a bit tough for us over the last few months with our renovations, seasonal membership changes, fundraising efforts in what is typically a “slower” season, and so on. Well, April surely gave us the thumbs up that what we are doing is working, and I am so excited I might just jump through your screen as you read this!
For starters, I’m jazzed to share that we have officially launched our 50th Anniversary webpage! Throughout the year, this page will serve as the home for announcements, stories, celebrations, and special events commemorating Friendship Center’s first half century of impact in our community.
Ahh… the sweet smell of almost-spring air, and fresh paint, is here!
Over the past several weeks, our spaces have had quite the makeover. New floors, refreshed walls, updated furnishings, and reimagined workspaces. It has been a major overhaul, made possible by the final funds from the Department on Aging’s Bridge to Recovery grant- resources originally designated to help organizations like ours strengthen infection control and safety in the wake of COVID (ie. removing carpet and fabric surfaces, improving airflow and spacing… yes, please!).
It’s 2026! I don’t know about you, but I was ready for 2025 to come to a close. Something about the end of the year always makes me a little antsy; and this year especially, as we step into something monumental here at Friendship Center: 2026 is our 50th anniversary year.
It’s incredible, and honestly a wee bit impossible, to imagine the thousands of people who have been reconnected to our community through our programs, the families who have found relief, and the moments of pure joy that mattered more than anyone could have known at the time. We aren’t taking this anniversary year as an opportunity to only look back, but rather as a chance to honor the love and care that built something lasting, something that continues to endure.
PURCHASE TICKETS DID SOMENONE SAY PRIZES!? Be ready to enter the silent auction and raffle drawing at the Halloween Disco! Prize opportunities include: ?? 1 RAFFLE TICKET: $25 ?????????? 5 RAFFLE TICKETS: $100 ????? SILENT AUCTION: PRICES VARY DEPENDING ON…
Dear Families & Friends,
So, I have some news….
We didn’t hit our $50,000 goal for the 2025 Spring Appeal…..
WE SURPASSED IT by raising $52,000! You surpassed it! This was one of our most successful spring campaigns to date, and it couldn’t have come at a more important time. With membership levels and activity scheduling at an all-time high, your support is helping us meet the immediate, growing needs of our community. We received gifts from 106 generous donors, including:
… Did you know many employers will match your donation to Friendship Center? ?
That means your gift could go twice as far! Check with your HR department to see if your company matches charitable donations, then follow their process to request the match.
Friendship Center serves a diverse background of seniors. No matter their age, or the stage of their condition, we provide dignified, compassionate care catered specifically to each individual’s needs. This quality and compassion enables us to not only be a helpful service, but a family in which every senior, caregiver, and loved one is seen and heard.
Just like anything worthwhile, this dignified care comes at a cost. It costs us roughly $220 per member, per day to provide support for our seniors living with dementia.
Many of the seniors served through Friendship Center’s programs are at the intersection of aging, poverty, and dementia, with few additional resources for support.
Every day costs Friendship Center more than $200 per person, and most of the program’s members pay less than $100. Will you help us fill that gap?!
Below is a real-time snapshot of how many members we serve at each contribution level.
You can pick a tier and match what they can’t cover, day by day.
With sunshine peeking through the trees and filling our courtyard with energy, it’s the perfect time for something exciting—and Friendship Center is ready to welcome it with bells and whistles!
On March 18th, we’re officially opening the Carpinteria Healthy Aging Hub! This innovative satellite program captures our day program expertise and brings it right to the heart of town. Hosted at the Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center on Tuesdays and Fridays, this program will offer connection, support, and engaging activities for older adults and caregivers in this special seaside community. We can’t wait to welcome new friends through our doors!
