Sponsorship chair and sponsor Kathryn Dinkin, center, with Gina Brooke, left, and Cathy Bunnin of sponsor Bunnin Automotive Group — all in charming hats at Transition House’s 22nd annual Mad Hatter Luncheon. 
Event co-chairs Nancy Kazak, left, and Carolyn Creasey. 
Guest speaker and former Transition House client Kelsey Larson, left, with Transition House Executive Director Kathleen Baushke. 
Emcee Andrew Firestone. 
Auxiliary member and sponsorship committee member Jane Macedo de Veer at the silent auction tables. 
Transition House board president Jim Buckley, center, with auxiliary members Diane White, left, and Diana Kruze. 
Auxiliary members Ginger Rubsan, left, and Mary Penny. 
Transition House staff member Claire Frandsen, from left, raffle salesman Julio Veyna and auxiliary member and event decorations chair Mimi Veyna. 
Most Beautiful Hat award recipient Barbara Dixon. 
A record crowd of 350 at the Mad Hatter Luncheon. 
Scott Seltzer wears a headpiece stacked with vintage hats, earning him the Most Creative Hat award. 
Cookie Agnew dons a creative hat.
The Transition House Auxiliary, which helps homeless parents and their children move into permanent housing and gain financial stability, held its 22nd annual Mad Hatter Luncheon on May 1 at a new venue, the Rosewood Miramar Beach hotel in Montecito.
The revamped event attracted a record crowd of more than 350 but maintained its tradition of optional “mad” hat attire.
Event chairs were Carolyn Creasey and Nancy Kozak, assisted by auxiliary president Sally Stewart along with auxiliary members Becky Adams, Darlene Amundsen, Wendy Clapp, Judy Cresap, Sandy Dellanina, Kathryn Dinkin, Deborah Geremia, Felicie Hartloff, Andrea Katz. Jean Keely, Pita Khorsandi, Diana Kruse, Sharon Larson, Norma Leifer, Ellen Lilley, Jane Macedo de Veer, Lana Marme, Soosan Marshall, Rachel McKeone, Florence Michel, Judy Newland, Kathy Nobis, Mary Penny. Nancy Potter, Rochelle Rose, Ginger Rubsam, Joanell Scala, Missy Sheldon, Pat St. Clair, Mimi Veyna, Gayla Visalli, Lorraine West, Diane White, Anna Ylvisakerand and Beverly Zaleski.
After a leisurely social hour where ladies and gentlemen enjoyed champagne and mimosas, as well as silent auction bidding, emcee Andrew Firestone welcomed the 350 attendees back to the large ballroom. Some guests were just finishing up optional tours of the new hotel property or enjoying ocean views from the adjacent patio and lawn area.
Funds raised at the event provide vital program services to about 400 homeless children who reside in Transition House's homeless shelter each year.
“With the addition of the paddle raise at the Mad Hatter Luncheon, over $100,000 was raised,” Executive Director Kathleen Baushke told Noozhawk. “Homelessness is traumatic for children and can have lifelong negative consequences. Homeless children are three to four times more likely to end up homeless as adults than their housed peers; they experience more health problems, and struggle academically and socially.
“Transition House offers an array of children’s and youth programs to help break the cycle of generational poverty and bring hope for the future. While we strive to get parents back on their feet — into new or better jobs and back into housing — we work to prevent future homelessness for their children and to give opportunities for future success as adults.”
Major sponsors included Jeff and Kathryn Dinkin, Missy and Chuck Sheldon, Beverly and Jim Zaleski, Pete and Becky Adams, Mary Jane Baumgartner, Santa Barbara Home Improvement Center, Montecito Bank & Trust, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, State Farm/Jane Macedo de Veer, Mike and Nancy Sheldon, The Towbes Group, Jim Buckley and Patty Kelley, Bunnin Chevrolet & Cadillac, Casa Dorinda, Nasif, Hicks, Harris & Co. LLP, Northern Trust, Maryan Schall, Ron and Diane White, World Dance for Humanity, Don and Anna Ylvisaker, and others.
Mad Hatter Awards were presented to Barbara Dixon for Most Beautiful Hat, Scott Seltzer for Most Creative Hat and Sara Seal for Most Humorous Hat.
“I give credit to my mother-in-law for the hats,” said Seltzer, who wore a headpiece stacked with vintage hats.
Transition House’s history of community support continues with more than 40 service or faith-based organizations and 900 volunteers donating their time and talents each year. Area merchants help by donating time, materials and money to the agency’s efforts. Many businesses also offer employment with benefits to residents of Transition House.
Click here for more information about Transition House, or call 805.966.9668. Click here to make an online donation.
— Noozhawk contributing writer Rochelle Rose can be reached at rrose@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkSociety, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Become a fan of Noozhawk on Facebook.