Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County, celebrated a year filled with mission moments and milestones at its sold-out Denim & Diamonds gala that raised more than $300,000 for local affordable housing initiatives.
Habitat Santa Barbara is dedicated to building and repairing homes for low-income individuals and families.
The annual fundraising event, held at the Carriage and Western Art Museum, brought together nearly 200 supporters from the South County, and provided a time to look back at what the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate had accomplished in the past year.
“This past year at Habitat has been a year like no other,” said Jessica Wishan de L’Arbre, Habitat Santa Barbara CEO, in an introductory video.
Wishan de L’Arbre listed all of the milestones Habitat Santa Barbara has reached over the last year, including selling an affordable home; breaking ground on two more; publishing a comprehensive housing innovation white paper; and signing a lease on a new ReStore location.
Guests heard directly from the families currently enrolled in Habitat Santa Barbara’s affordable homeownership program. The two local families have been working on their sweat equity hours, and an announcement that both families had recently completed their 250 hours was met with applause and cheers.
Tony and Sierra, one of the two families currently preparing to purchase a Habitat home, shared the details of their journey.
“We now have this wonderful opportunity to buy a home in Santa Barbara, even just saying that out loud sounds unreal,” Tony said.
Tony said he and Sierra are expecting their first child later this year. “Because of this amazing Habitat program and all of you supporters, my wife and I will be able to welcome our sweet little baby boy not only into this world, but into a place we can call our home.”
The evening culminated in a paddle raise, led by Janet Garufis, Montecito Bank & Trust CEO/chair. Guests made pledges totaling more than $225,000 in support of Habitat’s local work.
The 2026 Denim & Diamonds gala was sponsored by Foley Family Charitable Foundation, Rachel Kaganoff, U.S. Bank, AppFolio, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation, Cox Communications, Farmers and Merchants Bank, Glen Annie , Central Coast Community Energy, Citizens Business Bank, Community West Bank, Hayes Commercial, and Montecito Bank & Trust.
Habitat’s homeownership model is a program in which homeowners build alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage.
Habitat Santa Barbara has built or rehabilitated 23 homes for 86 people, 50 percent of whom are children, as well as helped rebuild and repair more than 230 homes on the South Coast, and contributed to nearly 500 homes developed internationally through partnerships.
Habitat Santa Barbara is currently working on its fifth affordable housing development in Santa Barbara.