The Santa Barbara Foundation and sponsoring partners Montecito Bank & Trust, Noozhawk, TVSB, and Bryant & Sons, Ltd. announced Monday that the 76th Man & Woman of the Year honorees are David Boyd and Jelinda DeVorzon.
The two will be honored for their contributions and service to the community at a reception at the Four Seasons Biltmore, Coral Casino, on Sept. 4.
“It is an honor to recognize David Boyd and Jelinda DeVorzon as recipients of the 76th Man & Woman of the Year awards,” said Ron Gallo, president & CEO of the Santa Barbara Foundation. “Each year we look for extraordinary individuals whose kindness, generosity, and dedication are creating meaningful change in our community.
“David and Jelinda exemplify this spirit of volunteerism and service that the award seeks to recognize.”
The first Man & Woman of the Year were Harold Chase in 1942 and Pearl Chase in 1956. Recent recipients include Ernesto Paredes and Joni Meisel, Steve Lyons and Carol Palladini, Bill Cirone and Anne Smith Towbes, Ken Saxon and Patricia MacFarlane, Clifford W. Sponsel and Gerd Jordano, as well as Ed Birch and Vicki Hazard.
David Boyd – 76th Man of the Year
David Boyd has dedicated most of his adult life to the service of others, first in the defense of his country as a U.S. Navy officer for 30 years, and more recently serving those most vulnerable in Santa Barbara County.
Boyd lived in Santa Barbara for part of his youth and graduated from Santa Barbara High School in 1945.
He retired from the Navy as a captain, USN in 1980, and during the last 20 years he has been an active volunteer for various outreach programs and projects working with and for All Saints-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, Montecito Emergency Response and Recovery Action Group (MERRAG), Transition House, Casa Esperanza/PATH, Cleveland Elementary School, Habitat for Humanity, People’s Self-Help Housing, Carpinteria Children’s Project, Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, Santa Barbara County Elections, and St. Brigid Fellowship of St. Athanasius Orthodox Church.
Boyd emphasizes that he has the time required for this outreach only because of enthusiastic support and frequent involvement by Alyce, his loving wife of 68 years.
In addition to his personal volunteering, Boyd encourages fellow All Saints parishioners with church announcements and newsletter articles to be, as he says, “the hands of Jesus” and help with outreach activities like providing and serving dinner for homeless families at Transition House and giving free food to those in need in Carpinteria.
“David serves with clarity, compassion, wit, honesty, integrity, strength of character and loving heart.” said Robert Brown, All Saints Parishioner, “He truly walks the talk of accepting every human brother or sister, regardless of background or circumstance. The man is always good to his word, and he gently invites others around him to join him in the deep joy of serving others.”
During the December 2017 Thomas Fire and before and after the January 2018 debris flow, Boyd was a member of MERRAG teams who staffed a kiosk in Montecito with information, maps and handouts to help the public deal with these disasters.
Immediately following the debris flow, Boyd helped give care and shelter to victims who made their way to All Saints Church. Later he was among MERRAG volunteers who supported the Bucket Brigade with two-way radio communications at different work sites.
“David does the unseen work for the nonprofit world. He completes the dirty jobs that no one recognizes but everyone needs,” said Jeffrey Bochsler, branch manager of the local Guaranteed Rate office. “He’s the 91-year old man staying late doing the dishes after he feeds the homeless. He’s the guy carrying the groceries, greeting you by name, with his head down to get tasks done. In fact, David is a nonprofit in and of himself.”
Jelinda DeVorzon – 76th Woman of the Year
Montecito resident Jelinda DeVorzon is known for her prominent volunteer roles with a versatile group of organizations in the Santa Barbara area. DeVorzon is extraordinarily passionate about education, the arts, and helping families in need, and her passion has been the driving force behind many significant community improvements.
“Jelinda is a remarkable person and has given her time, talents, and support to many nonprofits agencies and events to help her community,” said Barbara Tellefson, director of operations at the Unity Shoppe.
DeVorzon has been an active community volunteer for over 30 years, assisting numerous organizations, including the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF), the Unity Shoppe, and Cottage Health.
She has also served on the Montecito Union School Foundation Board, the Santa Barbara City College Foundation Board, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art Board, and has served in volunteer roles with over a dozen other local organizations.
A longtime advocate of SBIFF, DeVorzon previously served as the Festival’s President of the Board and Events Chair. She has volunteered with the Unity Shoppe since 1989, and when Unity lost its building, DeVorzon found an angel funder to cover the down payments for the current Family Services building, allowing their important work to continue.
DeVorzon is particularly devoted to increasing community access to health care, holding several roles with Cottage Health, including co-chair of the Philanthropists & Individuals of Wealth Task Force and chair of the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Foundation’s Tiara Ball Committee.
She currently co-chairs the Campaign Task Force for Reaching Higher Together, the Cottage Health Campaign for Excellence.
“Jelinda is a natural wonder: charismatic and intelligent, tireless and laser-focused, she is the consummate volunteer and philanthropist,” said Ron Werft, president & CEO of Cottage Health. “She is also humble and cares deeply for others – especially those living on the economic margins.
“Her natural interest and curiosity about other people, her listening skills, authenticity, and warmth draw people to her and to the causes that are important to her. Jelinda shares her passion and leadership skills generously with many organizations, including Cottage, and because of her, Santa Barbara is a healthier, kinder, and more cultured place to live.”
To join in the celebration and purchase tickets for the 76th Man & Woman of the Year Awards luncheon please go to SBFoundation.org/MWAwards.
For more information about the awards please contact Jordan Killebrew, Santa Barbara Foundations Communications Manager, at 805.963.1873 or JKillebrew@sbfoundation.org.
About Santa Barbara Foundation:
The Santa Barbara Foundation, the largest community foundation in the region and the county’s go-to resource for investment and capacity-building, strives to mobilize and elevate residents of all ages, races, genders, and socio-economic backgrounds to thrive. Nearly every Santa Barbara County nonprofit organization and essential community project has been supported by the Foundation during its 90 year history.
The Foundation is working to improve areas that affect quality of life in Santa Barbara County including childcare, workforce development, and workforce housing through connecting those who give with those in need – and all who dream of stronger communities. To learn more, please visit SBFoundation.org.