Montecito Bank & Trust Provides $1 Million to Local Nonprofits
http://www.noozhawk.com/noozhawk/article/112309_montecito_bank_trust_provides_1_million_to_local_nonprofits/
By William M. Macfadyen, Noozhawk Publisher
Defying economy, bank renews commitment to community for seventh-straight year
Americans are languishing in the Great Recession. Unemployment has more than doubled since this time last year. In such an economy, one might assume a bank would be the last place giving away money.
On the contrary, Montecito Bank & Trust did just that Monday at its seventh annual Community Dividends luncheon at the Four Seasons Biltmore Resort. For the seventh straight year, in flush times and in lean, the bank distributed $1 million to local nonprofit organizations. This year, most definitely a lean one, the privately held bank spread its wealth among 150 groups filling critical needs in Santa Barbara, Goleta, Montecito, Carpinteria, the Santa Ynez Valley and Ventura County.
“For the second year, there’s been great financial stress in both the for-profit and nonprofit worlds,” said Michael Towbes, the bank’s chairman. “In fact,” he joked, “for-profits are looking a lot like nonprofits.”
Towbes said now is no time to pull back.
“Local nonprofit organizations contribute so much to our quality of life,” he said. “We are grateful to once again be able to take a meaningful share of our profits and distribute them to organizations in the communities we serve.
“We hope that others will join us in giving this year, particularly with the economic challenges upon us.”
More than 250 people were on hand for the celebration, and representatives of organizations receiving checks walked away with signature-blue Montecito Bank & Trust reusable bags filled with other goodies. Introduced by bank president and CEO Janet Garufis, Towbes was greeted by sustained applause.
“The checks have already been cut,” he wise-cracked. “You’re too late.”
Garufis emphasized the bank’s paths to prosperity as a convergence of its commitment to the community and the dividends program.
“It’s the best way to make that commitment come alive,” she said. “At $945 million in assets, we’re not the biggest bank ... but we’re at the top in terms of giving.
“Helping our communities grow and prosper is the essence of who we are,” she said. “And it is the patronage and loyalty of our customers who make it possible for us to continue this event.”
The importance of the Community Dividends was evident as stories of gratitude rippled through the ballroom.
Penny Jenkins, president and CEO of the Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse, said Montecito Bank & Trust has been very supportive of her organization and the community.
“Not only do they give their money, but they provide people,” said Jenkins, citing the innumerable bank employees who have volunteered over the years. “And (Towbes’ wife) Anne and Mike, and Janet, have always led by example in that regard.”
Jenkins said the bank’s donation would be used to provide scholarships for the Daniel Bryant Youth & Family Treatment Center, which provides outpatient treatment for youth with alcohol and drug problems.
Steven Sharpe, general director of Opera Santa Barbara, said the dividends are inspirational.
“Everybody’s had a difficult year, a lot of donors are struggling,” he said. “For the bank to be an example like this causes all of us to renew our commitments.
“Our community will bounce back but we have to support our local nonprofits.”
Patricia Alpert, development director of the Carpinteria Education Foundation, tied it all together.
“Montecito Bank & Trust has been with us since Day One — 16 years ago,” she exclaimed. “And we’ve been a happy customer since Day One, too.”
Recipients of Montecito Bank & Trust’s 2009 Community Dividends are:
» Adventures in Caring Foundation
» Alzheimer’s Association-California Central Coast Chapter
» American Heart Association of Santa Barbara County
» Angels Foster Care of Santa Barbara
» Boys & Girls Club of Moorpark
» Boys & Girls Club of Santa Barbara
» Boys & Girls Club of Ventura
» Boys & Girls Clubs of Conejo & Las Virgenes
» (CALM) Child Abuse Listening Mediation
» Cancer Center of Santa Barbara
» Carpinteria Beautiful
» Carpinteria Education Foundation
» Casa Esperanza Homeless Center
» Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families
» Community Action Commission of Santa Barbara County
» Community Arts Music Association of Santa Barbara
» Community Counseling & Education Center
» Community Environmental Council
» Community Home Health
» Conejo Valley Senior Concerns
» Cornelia Moore Dental Foundation
» Cornerstone House of Santa Barbara
» Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse
» Court Appointed Special Advocates of Santa Barbara County
» Creative Wealth International
» CSU Channel Islands Foundation
» Diabetes Resource Center of Santa Barbara County
» Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara County
» Endowment for Youth Committee
» Ensemble Theater Company of Santa Barbara
» Family Service Agency of Santa Barbara
» Food Share of Ventura County
» Foodbank of Santa Barbara County
» Friendship Adult Day Care Center
» Ganna Walska Lotusland Foundation
» Gay & Lesbian Business Association
» Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast
» Girls Incorporated of Carpinteria
» Girls Incorporated of Greater Santa Barbara
» Goleta Valley Historical Society
» Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County
» Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County
» Housing Trust Fund of Santa Barbara County
» Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara
» La Casa de Maria Retreat & Conference Center
» Laguna Cottages for Seniors
» Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County
» Mental Health Association in Santa Barbara County
» National Multiple Sclerosis Society
» New Beginnings Counseling Center
» Parks and Recreation Community Foundation
» Peoples’ Self-Help Housing Corp.
» Planned Parenthood of Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo Counties
» Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic
» Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation
» Sansum Diabetes Research Institute
» Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
» Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation
» Santa Barbara Center for the Performing Arts
» Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra Society
» Santa Barbara Choral Society
» Santa Barbara Community Housing Corp.
» Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Foundation
» Santa Barbara Education Foundation
» Santa Barbara Family Care Center
» Santa Barbara Firefighters Alliance
» Santa Barbara Historical Museum
» Santa Barbara International Film Festival
» Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
» Santa Barbara Meals on Wheels
» Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
» Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics
» Santa Barbara Partners in Education
» Santa Barbara Performing Arts League
» Santa Barbara Police Activities League
» Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center
» Santa Barbara Rescue Mission
» Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation
» Santa Ynez Valley People Helping People
» Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara
» Senior Programs of Santa Barbara
» Special Olympics Santa Barbara
» St. Vincent’s Affordable Housing Projects
» Storyteller Children’s Center
» Stuart C. Gildred Family YMCA of Santa Ynez
» Surgical Eye Expeditions International
» Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation
» The Foundation for Girsh Park
» The Foundation for Santa Barbara City College
» The Little Cottage
» United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County
» United Way of Santa Barbara County
» United Way of Ventura County
» Ventura County Community Foundation
» Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care of Santa Barbara
» YMCA Youth and Family Services at Noah’s Anchorage Youth Crisis Shelter
— Noozhawk publisher Bill Macfadyen can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk.
http://www.noozhawk.com/noozhawk/article/112309_montecito_bank_trust_provides_1_million_to_local_nonprofits/