More than 200 community members gathered recently for Santa Barbara Channelkeeper’s Blue Water Ball, which raised $170,000 to support the nonprofit’s ongoing and future efforts to protect and restore the Santa Barbara Channel and its watersheds.
Channelkeeper’s programs include monitoring creeks and coastal waters; organizing volunteers for community cleanups; providing educational experiences for local students about water quality and habitats; and advocating for strong policies to ensure clean water and healthy habitats.
The Blue Water Ball, which opened with a song by Mia Lopez, a member of the Coastal Band of Chumash Nation, featured a Channelside Chat with Ryan Gellert, CEO of Patagonia, hosted by Channelkeeper’s executive director Ted Morton.
Gellert spoke about the transformative power of local, grassroots efforts to protect the environment, as well as his experience with the initiative to protect Albania’s Vjosa River and Patagonia’s advocacy on behalf of the Ventura River.
“For more than two decades, Patagonia and Channelkeeper have worked together for healthy creeks, rivers, estuaries and oceans,” said Morton. “We are grateful for Patagonia’s environmental leadership within our local and global communities and for its steadfast support of Channelkeeper’s work to protect waterways and inspire the next generation of environmental leaders.”
Morton also spoke about Channelkeeper’s environmental education programs, advocacy campaigns, and volunteer efforts to help keep coastal watersheds and habitats healthy.
On exhibit for guests to view were water-inspired artwork donated for a silent auction by 14 local artists. The auction also included works by local artists Morgan Maassen, Michael Irwin and Mary Heebner; local dining experiences; ocean-adventures; and nature-based travel opportunities to Alaska and Chile.
“This year’s Blue Water Ball was a wonderful celebration,” Morton said. “We are grateful for this community of supporters who believe in Channelkeeper and make it possible for our work to have such a positive impact in our communities.”
Among the event sponsors were Patagonia, Montecito Bank & Trust, MarBorg Industries, and NatureTrack Film Festival.