Giving Tuesday is a global day of generosity, but here in Santa Barbara County, it’s a chance to make a personal, local difference.
At Noozhawk, we believe in the power of community and the impact that even small acts of kindness can have when directed close to home.
Our Good for Santa Barbara County Nonprofit Section is designed to connect you with local organizations doing vital work. Whether it’s a donation, a few hours of your time, or simply helping spread the word, your contribution matters.
Explore our Giving Guide today and help brighten the season for those who need it most!
In this interview, Noozhawk spoke with Dodie Smith-McBroom, Development Director at LEAP: Learn. Engage. Advocate. Partner., to learn more about the nonprofit’s vision of providing high-quality, trauma-informed childcare, comprehensive, culturally-sensitive family support, and visionary community leadership.
LEAP: Learn. Engage. Advocate. Partner.
Question: What is the name of your nonprofit, and what is its mission?
Answer: LEAP: Learn. Engage. Advocate. Partner. 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: How long has your organization been serving the community, and who founded it?
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, and the City of Goleta.
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 expanding services to Lompoc with the opening of our Lompoc Children’s Center earlier this year, 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 children’s centers, our diaper bank, our immigration informational webinars, our financial literacy classes, our emergency food pantry, and much more.
Q: What types of events or programs do you run to engage your community and raise funds?
A: LEAP brings the community together each year at the LEAP Awards, our signature fundraising event. Our 2026 LEAP Awards will celebrate two big anniversaries: 55 years since the founding of the Isla Vista Youth Projects (now LEAP) and 50 years since the birth of our Children’s Center. We are planning a great event to celebrate LEAP’s impact on children and families across the Central Coast!
We hope you’ll join us on February 28, 2026, at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort for brunch as we honor Jackie Carrera, Ashley Costa, and Distinguished Alumnus Das Williams for their outstanding commitment to the children and families of the central coast.
To purchase your tickets, visit our website.
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 bilingual 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: We invite community members to take action by hosting a diaper drive to stock our Diaper Bank. A drive at your workplace, neighborhood, or community group goes a long way in ensuring babies have the basics they need.
Another great way to take action is by hosting a food drive to help stock our Emergency Food Pantry, which helps families experiencing food insecurity. Hosting a food drive is a simple, community-building way to make sure families have access to healthy, nutritious meals during difficult times.
To get started, contact Kara Shoemaker at Karas@leapcentralcoast.org.
Q: What sets your nonprofit apart from similar organizations?
A: LEAP is the only organization in Santa Barbara County with a registered diaper bank, which distributes over 6,000 diapers each month! We’ve provided over 240,000 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: Can you share a fun fact or little-known detail about your nonprofit that would surprise people?
A: A fun fact about LEAP is that many of the children who once attended our early childhood programs or afterschool activities still live, work, and serve right here in our community.
For more than 50 years, families have trusted us with the very beginning of their children’s educational journeys—and those early experiences often spark a lifelong commitment to giving back.
This tradition inspired the creation of the Distinguished Alum Award, first introduced at our 2025 LEAP Awards. At the 2026 LEAP Awards, we will honor Das Williams as our second-ever Distinguished Alumnus.
Das attended our afterschool program when we were still called Isla Vista Youth Projects and has since devoted more than two decades to public service.
His story is a powerful reminder of how early support, care, and connection can ripple forward for generations.
Q: Could you share a story or two about individuals whose lives have been positively impacted by your organization?
A: When three-year-old Mateo* came to class distracted and tearful, LEAP Teacher Samantha* noticed right away. She discovered that Mateo and his family were struggling with food insecurity, so she referred his parents to our Family Resource Center.
Our Family Advocates scheduled a private emergency food pantry appointment, provided diapers from our Diaper Bank, and helped enroll them in CalFresh. In addition, Mateo’s parents joined our parenting classes, and later enrolled in our mental wellness series.
Today, Mateo eats healthy meals at the Children’s Center, laughing and learning with his friends. And his parents know they’re not alone — they’re part of a community that truly cares.
*all names changed for privacy
Q: How do you share your nonprofit’s impact and updates with the public?
A: LEAP has a monthly email newsletter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on our social media!
Click here to support LEAP: Learn. Engage. Advocate. Partner.’s mission to provide 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.