[Noozhawk’s note: One in a series on the Santa Ynez Valley Foundation’s 2024 Champions of the Valley who will be honored for their volunteerism and community service Oct. 13 at Rancho Carmina in Los Olivos. Click here for more information, or click here to purchase tickets online.]
Donna Hinsbeeck, a longtime Santa Ynez Valley resident and passionate volunteer, has been a beacon of hope and a driving force behind numerous initiatives that touch the lives of countless local residents.
Born and raised in Santa Monica, her journey to becoming a pillar of the Santa Ynez Valley community began with her move to the area 35 years ago with her husband, Marcel.
It was here that she found her true calling in education and community service, a path that would shape not only her life but the lives of many others in the valley.
After settling in Santa Ynez, Donna pursued her teaching credential, embarking on a career that would allow her to nurture and support the community’s youth.
Her professional journey included roles as the After-School Child Care director at the Stuart C. Gildred YMCA and teaching kindergarten at Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Preschool.
Today, she continues to make a difference in children’s lives as part of the reading intervention team at Oak Valley Elementary School in Buellton and as a tutor for both private students and the Education Department of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.
But it’s Donna’s volunteer work that truly sets her apart. Her commitment to giving back is deeply rooted in her personal philosophy.
“Volunteering helps me fulfill my desire to help my community,” Donna explained. “Giving to those around me is important. I have received many blessings in my life and giving back is a natural response.
“I find that as I give, my joy and sense of purpose is strengthened.”
This sense of purpose has driven Donna to involve herself in a wide array of volunteer activities over the years.
Much of her efforts have been centered around Bethania Lutheran Church in Solvang, where she has served on the Church Council and various committees.
However, her impact extends far beyond the church walls.
In 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic began to grip the nation, Donna faced one of her biggest challenges yet. Along with Linda Marzullo, she was asked by the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County to run an emergency food distribution at the church.
What started as a response to an immediate crisis has evolved into a long-term commitment. Four years later, Donna and Linda continue to run a weekly food distribution program that serves more than 220 different households each week.
The scale of this operation is staggering, and Donna’s dedication to it is nothing short of remarkable. She’s involved in every aspect of the program, from packing and procuring food items to ordering from the Foodbank, setting up and cleaning up, distributing food and training volunteers.
Her commitment is so deep that she’s at the church every day, preparing for the next week’s distribution.
But Donna’s efforts don’t stop there. She meets with Veggie Rescue on Sundays to receive and bag bread for the coming week’s food packages.
She also fills the Blessing Box daily, an open “pantry on a post” that helps food-insecure households bridge the gap between weekly distributions.
Her constant presence and tireless work have led to a running joke that she secretly lives in the church basement.
Beyond food distribution, Donna serves on Bethania’s Endowment Fund Committee, which funds scholarships for local youth and supports nonprofit organizations in need.
Her advocacy recently helped secure $10,000 for the Solvang Senior Center when the City of Solvang cut its budget unexpectedly.
As head of Bethania’s Education Committee, Donna has spent years organizing and hosting lecture series, speakers and community outreach events.
From Halloween parties for youth to Vacation Bible School open to all children, she ensures that the church remains a vibrant center of community life and learning.
Donna’s volunteer spirit extends beyond the church. She has given her time to the California Nature Art Museum (formerly the Wildling Museum), bringing crafts and joy to children.
She’s taken dogs from the Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society to visit residents at Friendship House, bringing comfort and companionship to those who need it most.
What makes Donna’s contributions even more remarkable is the personal touch she brings to everything she does.
“Donna deserves recognition for the incredible amount of care and love she puts into everything she does for those around her,” Marzullo said.
It’s this genuine compassion and dedication that has made her such a beloved figure in the Santa Ynez Valley — and one of the Santa Ynez Valley Foundation’s Champions of the Valley for 2024.
“Donna exemplifies the heart and mission of the Santa Ynez Valley Foundation, dedicating herself to improving the quality of life now and for the future,” executive director Esther Jacobsen Bates said.
“A quiet hero in every sense, she works tirelessly behind the scenes, pouring her energy into the community with unwavering commitment and making a lasting impact through her selfless service.”
Champions of the Valley
Since 1995, the Santa Ynez Valley Foundation has been honoring exceptional local volunteers whose tireless community commitment enriches the Santa Ynez Valley and Los Alamos, their residents and a wide range of local organizations.
This year’s Champions of the Valley honorees are Charlotte Dicke Becerra, Dave Bemis, Donna Hinsbeeck, Ann Foxworthy Lewellen, and Debra and Brad Vidro
Youth Community Champions are Lizbeth Ortiz Aguilera, Rafael Beleski and Emma Tesdahl.
Sherry Musgrove will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award and the late David Crosby will be honored with the Stuart C. Gildred Senior Visionary Award.
The awards will be presented at 4 p.m. Oct. 13 at Rancho Carmina in Los Olivos. Click here for more information, or click here to purchase tickets online.
The Champions of the Valley celebration is sponsored by U.S. Bank Private Wealth Management, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, the Ann Jackson Family Foundation, Noozhawk, The Landsby, Allan Hancock College, Visit the Santa Ynez Valley and Montecito Bank & Trust.
The honorees were chosen by a panel of foundation board members and former honorees, based on nominations made by the community.
The honorees each receive a $1,000 grant to support a nonprofit organization of their choice. The Youth Community Champions each receive a $1,000 scholarship to further their education.
Santa Ynez Valley Foundation
The Santa Ynez Valley Foundation is dedicated to a mission centered around grant-making, extending financial support and resources to a diverse array of local organizations and initiatives in the Santa Ynez and Los Alamos valleys.
The grants are strategically channeled into key sectors, including health and human services, support for seniors, arts and culture, youth development, and education.
The foundation also administers a robust College Scholarship Program designed to empower ambitious college-bound local students.
More than 60 students are beneficiaries of this program, receiving scholarships to facilitate their pursuit of higher education and, in turn, contributing to the overall advancement of the community.
