The holiday season is about more than celebrations—it’s an opportunity to create meaningful change. This Giving Tuesday, let’s shine a spotlight on the power of local generosity and its impact on lives within our community.
At Noozhawk, we know that every act of kindness makes a difference. Our Giving Guide connects you with local organizations making a profound impact and seeking support. Whether you choose to donate or volunteer, your efforts can inspire positive change as the year comes to a close.
Visit our Good for Santa Barbara Nonprofit Section today and help bring joy to those who need it most this season!
In this interview, Noozhawk spoke with Leonor Reyes, Development Director at The Starfish Connection to learn more about their Crisis Funding and Community Storytelling.
The Starfish Connection
Question: What is the name of your nonprofit, and what is its mission?
Answer: The Starfish Connection’s mission is to build thriving communities by empowering individuals and fostering connection through Crisis Funding and Community Storytelling. Dedicated to empowering individuals and fostering a thriving, connected community, our nonprofit delivers hope, and essential support through two core programs: Crisis Funding and Community Storytelling.
Q: How long has your organization been serving the community, and who founded it?
A: The Starfish Connection has been serving the Central Coast and the Tri-counties since 2022. The Starfish Connection was founded by Virginia Benson Wigle. Virginia has passionately served in the nonprofit sector throughout Santa Barbara County for over thirty years.
Before devoting her work full time to the Starfish Connection, Virginia spent twenty years at Planned Parenthood of Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo in varying positions from clinic staff to education, and administration, ultimately serving as Vice President of Education before retiring in 2015. She also served two terms on the California State legislative committee for Planned Parenthood affiliates in Sacramento.
Q: What motivated the creation of your nonprofit?
A: After Virginia retired in 2015, she planned to enjoy spending more time with her husband, John Wigle, but life had other plans. In 2017, John was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and passed away in 2018. Virginia and John had dreams about creating a nonprofit where shared life experiences and storytelling come together to help others feel connected.
John believed that by making a difference for one, we can affect all. These guiding beliefs helped shape the mission of the Starfish Connection. It is through the Starfish Connection and OurStory Connection that Virginia is fulfilling their dream and honoring her beloved John.
Q: How do you allocate your funding to support your mission?
A: Currently all funds raised go directly to support the Crisis Funding Program. The Starfish Connection offers Crisis Funding of up to $2,500 to individuals and families navigating unforeseen and life-altering events like illness, loss, or job insecurity.
We provide direct financial assistance to cover basic needs—rent, transportation, food, clothing, and more—when every other option has been exhausted. Each request comes from our network of trusted nonprofit partners, ensuring that our funding reaches those with the greatest need swiftly and effectively, usually within 24-48 hours.
Through these partnerships, we’ve been able to work closely with organizations such as:
- Peoples Self-Help Housing
- Mental Wellness Center
- SBCC Basic Needs
- LEAP
- Hearts Aligned
- Friends of Fieldworkers
- Hospice of Santa Barbara
- Carpinteria Children’s Project
- Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation
With these partners, we address crucial service gaps, respond to urgent needs, and alleviate the stress of community members facing extraordinary challenges.
Q: What types of events or programs do you run to engage your community and raise funds?
A: Polar Plunge for a Purpose in the spring and Transformational Tales Anniversary Event in the fall are TSC’s major fundraising and community events. The 2nd Annual Polar Plunge for a Purpose is scheduled for March 8, 2025 at Leadbetter Beach and the Anniversary Transformational Tales event will be held in October.
Both events have a low ticket price to allow for community members from all demographics to participate – it is our goal to host inclusive events so that anyone who chooses can participate in philanthropy, help their neighbors, and be included in the nonprofit work being done in The Tri-counties.
We believe Storytelling can improve lives, help us heal, build community, and regain agency over experiences. Our community storytelling program consists of three opportunities to participate: TALK-O-TRUCK (TOT) is our mobile recording studio and allows us to meet community members where they are and receive stories from a diverse sector of our community.
TOT can be found at community events throughout the year and is available to rent for private events – all funds go to directly support Crisis Funding. OurStory Connection is an online hub for story sharing from anywhere in the world. Transformational Tales live storytelling events will be held monthly beginning in 2025 at public spaces and is free to attend.
In 2024 We were gifted over 100 stories from community members. TOT stories are hosted on our Youtube channel.
Q: How can people get involved with your nonprofit or volunteer?
A: Talk-o-Truck events, our annual Polar Plunge for a Purpose, and our monthly Live Storytelling events are fun ways to volunteer with TSC. To learn more about our programs and to volunteer please reach out to our Program Coordinator, Sophia Lake, sophia@thestarfishconnection.org
We are building our board and advisory board. If you are interested in leadership with The Starfish Connection please contact board chair, Lindsay@thestarfishconnection.org or Executive Director, Sarah@thestarfishconnection.org
Q: What sets your nonprofit apart from similar organizations?
A: The way The Starfish Connection gives Crisis Funding to our neighbors on the central coast is unique. We don’t focus on a certain need or demographic – instead we rely on our partners who know their communities well, who are doing the hard everyday work of connecting with people who need immediate help meeting their basic needs. By partnering with other agencies and trusting them to identify those who are truly out of options, we are able to offer funding to a broad range of people from a diverse spectrum of communities.
Because of our trusted relationships with partnering organizations, when they apply to us for funding on behalf of their clients, we are generally able to approve and fund within 24-48 hours of receiving the application. We can almost immediately keep someone housed, make past due car payments, provide food, fuel, appliances, or even furniture to people enduring the unimaginable.
Q: Can you share a fun fact or little-known detail about your nonprofit that would surprise people?
A: Our offices are tucked away in a hidden gem in the heart of Old Town Goleta. It’s a pink-ish horseshoe building and we have 2nd story views. The Placita de Goleta building is our home base but our services reach throughout the Central Coast and Tri-Counties. Come and find us and we would love to connect with anyone interested in meeting our team and learning more about what we do!
Q: Could you share a story or two about individuals whose lives have been positively impacted by your organization?
A: The loss of a child is unfathomable and yet it happens everyday. For some the loss is compounded by an inability to pay for the funeral. We gave a $2500 gift to the family of a sweet boy who lost his battle. A small, gentle act to support his family through the incomprehensible. Our love and blessings to that family. We hold you and your little in our hearts.
At only 31 years old, Katie received the shock of her life this March. She was diagnosed with Type 2 invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. Katie has had to take unpaid time away from work for many appointments and procedures. She is a self employed pet sitter and is uninsured, her finances have become stressful. A recent surgery is proving to be successful and she is almost in the clear. Katie has one more procedure and will miss an additional two weeks of work. She needed assistance to cover next month’s rent. The Crisis Funding Program provided funding to help her complete her rental payment and allow Katie to focus on her healing.
Q: What makes your organization trustworthy for donors, and are there other ways people can support your cause beyond donations?
A: From our core staff, board of directors and advisory board members we are grateful to have a strong and diverse leadership team with extensive community, business, and nonprofit experience.
Our program staff includes Executive Director, Sarah Abrams, Program Coordinator Sophia Lake and Development Director, Leonor Reyes. Our leadership team: Lindsay Soleimani, Isis Castaneda, Dianne Kirkwood, Alana Griffin, Leslie Jain, Adam Stempel and Rocio Pacheco, David Selberg, Marybeth Carty, Laura Capps, Zoe Williams, and Katherine Feuerstine. Our leadership team reflects our collective commitment to service in our community.
Beyond donations we welcome volunteers to assist with Talk-O-Truck events, Polar Plunge, Transformational Tales-Live Storytelling and joining a committee. Please reach out to Leonor Reyes, Leonor@thestarfishconnection.org with any questions!
Click here to support The Starfish Connection’s mission to to build thriving communities by empowering individuals and fostering connection through Crisis Funding and Community Storytelling.
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.