Hospice of Santa Barbara’s (HSB) 9th Annual Heroes of Hospice (HOH) event to honor local community heroes, and featuring as its keynote speaker New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert, will be a totally virtual event this year. The program that starts at 6 p.m. Wednesday Sept. 22 will include honorees, and an online auction.
After consultation with local infectious disease experts, HSB decided to transition Heroes of Hospice of Santa Barbara to a completely online event this year, the health community members being its top priority.
Throughout this difficult time in the community, the demand for HSB’s services has been growing. Fundraisers like Heroes of Hospice allow the organization to reach community members who are struggling with grief or life-threatening illness, free of charge.
Each year, HSB recognizes the outstanding organizations and individuals who play a key role in service to the community, and/or support the organization’s mission of providing care to anyone experiencing the impact of a serious illness or grieving the death of a loved one.
HSB will honor Mi Vida, Mi Voz with the Partnership Award; the Beloved Bear Program with the Volunteer Award; County Public Health Director Van Do-Reynoso with the Medical Award; and Gary Simpson, owner of Home Improvement Center, with the Legacy Award.
Gilbert is best known for her memoir “Eat Pray Love,” chronicling the year she spent traveling the world after a shattering divorce. In the years since, readers have looked to Gilbert for guidance in leading brave, authentic, and creative lives. Her bestselling nonfiction book, “Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear,” shares her wise, witty insights into the mysteries of curiosity and inspiration.
Gilbert will share how to discover creativity, release fear, and become more resilient, especially during this tumultuous time of COVID-19.
“We are very excited to have Elizabeth Gilbert as our keynote speaker. Her messages of transformation and moving forward from what is holding us back will be powerful for our attendees,” said David Selberg, CEO of Hospice of Santa Barbara.
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities for the event are available. For more information and to buy tickets, please www.hospiceofsb.org/heroes or contact Cheryll Puyot, cpuyot@hospiceofsb.org, 805-770-5291.
Heroes of Hospice award recipients:
Partnership Award — Mi Vida, Mi Voz. In response to the pandemic, Mi Vida, Mi Voz (MVMV) pivoted to meet the need for timely, trusted information in Spanish — collating community resources in five basic categories: Health, Basic Needs (food, financial support, housing, legal), Mental Health, Children & Families, and Seniors; and sharing them in Spanish and English to a network of partners.
Since then, MVMV has been able to establish ongoing partnerships with 180 organizations, a network of some 550 community champions, and a reach of more than 10,000 Latino families countywide.
Volunteer Award — Beloved Bear Program. Started in 2009, Beloved Bear Program provides comfort to adults and children grieving the loss of a family member or friend. Using a favorite article of clothing belonging to the loved one, Hospice of Santa Barbara volunteers handcraft a stuffed bear or pillow to provide a tangible memory to be cherished.
A small heart is sewn inside each bear. The Beloved Bear Program has created more than 300 bears for the community.
Medical Award — Van Do-Reynoso. Do-Reynoso is the Public Health director for Santa Barbara County. Helping to coordinate the community’s response, she has led the county through the ongoing pandemic and is a leading spokesperson in the Public Health Department.
Her 12-to-15-hour daily shifts consist of coordinating response efforts, mitigating community needs, briefing elected officials, monitoring information from the state, and meeting with her response team.
Legacy Award — Gary Simpson. Simpson is the owner and president of the Home Improvement Center, where he has helped provide support to a number of local charities, including HSB. He is a long-time supporter and champion of HSB, as is his partner Jill Nida. They both are members of HSB’s Shining Light Society.
Simpson and his mother Eleanor Simpson both provided for Hospice of Santa Barbara in their estate plans and are members of HSB’s Legacy Society.