The holiday season is more than just a time for celebrations—it’s a chance to make a real difference. This Giving Tuesday, let’s focus on the power of local generosity and how it can transform lives in our community.
At Noozhawk, we believe that every act of kindness counts. Our Giving Guide is your gateway to discovering local organizations doing incredible work and in need of support. Whether it’s a small donation or volunteering your time, your contribution can spark positive change as we wrap up the year.
Explore our Good for Santa Barbara Nonprofit Section today and help brighten the season for those who need it most!
In this interview, Noozhawk spoke with Lori Goodman, Executive Director at LEAP: Learn. Engage. Advocate. Partner., to learn more about the nonprofit’s vision of a community where children are loved, valued, and respected and families are supported to reach their highest potential.
LEAP
Question: What is the name of your nonprofit, and what is its mission?
Answer: LEAP: Learn. Engage. Advocate. Partner. LEAP mitigates the effects of poverty, racism, and trauma by providing high-quality, trauma-informed childcare, comprehensive, culturally-sensitive family support, and visionary community leadership.
Q: What motivated the creation of your nonprofit?
A: LEAP (formerly Isla Vista Youth Projects) was founded in 1971 in response to the riots in Isla Vista. At that time, Isla Vista residents recognized that there were no services meeting the needs of families and children in Isla Vista.
The founders were both UCSB students and community members who were dedicated to creating a vibrant, thriving, and supportive community in Isla Vista. In the wake of riots and the burning of the Bank of America, the children and families who lived in Isla Vista needed support, strength and resilience.
By creating a community that valued children, that enabled families to work and access the social services and support they needed, LEAP sowed the seeds for a resilient, creative and thriving community. Over the years, our work has expanded to serve children and families across Santa Barbara County. But, our purpose remains the same.
We exist not only to provide direct services to families in need, but also to convene community members and stakeholders for the benefit of all. We believe that by nurturing authentic, trusted relationships, we create the conditions for resilience and growth.
Q: How is your nonprofit primarily funded, and what are its biggest needs right now?
A: Approximately 80% of our funding comes from government sources including the California Department of Social Services, the California Department of Education, the City of Goleta, and Santa Barbara County Human Services commission.
The remainder of our funding comes from local foundations and individuals. Our greatest needs are to find sustainable support for the programs that do not receive dedicated governmental funds, but are nevertheless vital to the well-being of the children and families in our community.
As we expand our impact, including the opening of our new Children’s Center in Lompoc, we are committed to addressing emerging community needs. Each new initiative reflects the evolving needs of our community, and we work to secure the funding necessary to sustain these vital programs, which include our diaper bank, our immigration informational webinars, our financial literacy classes, our monthly food distribution, and our vaccine clinics.
Q: How do you allocate your funding to support your mission?
A: Governmental funding allows us to provide childcare and preschool to low-income families at no charge. Private (individual and foundation) funding allows us to respond to community needs in ways that go beyond the contract.
In particular, we need funds to sustain and grow our diaper bank, which is the only one in Santa Barbara County. We use our funding to pay our staff equitably and to expand our services across the county to the areas of greatest need.
Q: What types of events or programs do you run to engage your community and raise funds?
A: Each year LEAP holds the LEAP Awards, a free virtual event honoring remarkable individuals in our community. Join us on March 13 at 4PM as we honor Dr. Lynn Fitzgibbons, Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and Medical Director for Infection Prevention and Control; Ernesto Paredes, Executive Director of Easy Lift, and Amir Abo-Shaeer, a LEAP Children’s Center Alumnus and the Co-Founder of Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy.
Our event is FREE and virtual. To register click here.
Q: How is your team structured? Have there been any major changes in your operations since you started?
A: LEAP has grown tremendously since our birth in 1971. Our management is very lean. We invest heavily in staff that work directly with children and families. Our Children’s Center currently employs over 35 excellent teachers and teaching assistants who work directly in our classrooms, caring for our students ages 0 – 5 year-round.
To support this team, we also have a small office staff managing enrollment, parent communications, and our facility. Our Family Resource Center is staffed by several excellent Family Advocates who provide more than 12,000 services to more than 2500 individuals every year.
Q: How can people get involved with your nonprofit or volunteer?
A: Volunteer at our monthly healthy food distribution. Each month, we provide healthy groceries to over 250 families. To learn more and sign up, visit our website.
Host a Diaper Drive! Our Diaper Bank provides thousands of diapers and wipes to babies in need. By hosting a diaper drive at your home, workplace, or community event, you can help ensure no baby goes without the essentials. To get started, contact Kara Shoemaker at Karas@leapcentralcoast.org.
Join us at our Virtual and Free 2025 LEAP Awards on March 13, 2025.
Q: Can you share a fun fact or little-known detail about your nonprofit that would surprise people?
A: One fun fact about LEAP is that we’re the only organization in Santa Barbara County with a registered diaper bank, which distributes over 6,000 diapers each month! We’ve provided over 200,000 diapers since 2021, ensuring that families have one less thing to worry about. This humble yet essential service is a hidden gem in our community, and it’s just one example of how we go above and beyond to support families in need.
Q: Could you share a story or two about individuals whose lives have been positively impacted by your organization?
A: Unexpected challenges can change our lives in an instant. As a devoted grandmother, Ada* didn’t hesitate when a family crisis resulted in her becoming the primary caregiver for her two-year-old grandson, Noah. Having already raised three children of her own, Ada never expected to be doing it all over again. Turning to a close friend, she confided, “How can I keep up with a two year old? How will I afford to send him to school, let alone diapers if I can’t work?” Fortunately her friend knew where to point Ada: LEAP.
When Ada visited our Diaper Bank, she was offered support beyond diapers. We provided affordable childcare for Noah and helped Ada find a part-time job. They continue to receive healthy food each month at our free food distributions, diaper for a growing boy, and support whenever they need it.
Today, Noah is thriving at our Children’s center, making friends and exploring new activities every day, while Ada has found stability and peace of mind, knowing she’s not alone.
Q: How do you share your nonprofit’s impact and updates with the public?
A: LEAP has a monthly email newsletter, Facebook page, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on our social media!
Q: Can you highlight one immediate goal and one long-term vision your nonprofit aims to achieve in the next year?
A: We are excited to share we are opening a new Children’s Center in Lompoc at the beginning of 2025! This exciting expansion will allow us to bring LEAP’s high-quality childcare and family services to more families across Santa Barbara County, providing essential support for children and parents in the Lompoc community.
Click here to support LEAP’s mission to mitigate the effects of poverty, racism, and trauma by providing high-quality, trauma-informed childcare, comprehensive, culturally-sensitive family support, and visionary community leadership.
Check out Noozhawk’s Guide to Giving for a full list of nonprofits to donate to this giving season.
If you would like to include your nonprofit in our Good for Santa Barbara section and Giving Guide click HERE.