This year marks The Lobero Theatre Associates’ Golden Jubilee. In honor of the milestone and the Lobero Theatre’s 150th Ovation Celebration, the Theatre Associates will host its annual fundraiser 5-9 p.m. Friday, April 28 at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club.

Dubbed Dinner & Divots, this year’s event will feature an exhibition polo match showcasing some of the intercollegiate players, with all proceeds benefitting the Lobero Theatre’s Youth and Community Outreach Programs.

The Lobero Theatre Associates is a women’s auxiliary group whose members view the historic theater as a community treasure. Their mission is to aid the Lobero financially in whatever way they can to help keep the architectural and cultural icon vibrant for future generations.

Established in 1972, the auxiliary has raised more than $1 million for the Lobero over the last five decades. The group’s partnership allows patrons to enjoy improvements to the Lobero’s courtyard, a new ticketing system, the Steinway grand piano, an updated ladies’ restroom, holiday décor on the esplanade, replacement of the theater’s curtain, and youth outreach programs.

The Lobero Theatre’s Youth and Community Outreach Programs are an integral part of the Lobero’s mission to operate and maintain the Lobero Theatre as a performing arts center and local cultural asset, and to present top-notch productions in music, dance and theater.

The fundraising portion of the evening includes a raffle, live auction, and paddle raise. Paige Beard and Heidi Merrick are co-chairs of this year’s benefit.

Contributions this year will help cover the cost of three residency performances with Santa Barbara Vocal Jazz Foundation; underwrite live performance field trips to Nebula Dance Lab and Boxtales Theatre Company; pay expenses for performances of the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony on the Lobero stage; cover the cost to bring the Derek Douget Band to a local high school/junior high school jazz bands for hands-on masterclasses; provide subsidies for a variety of youth organizations performing at the Lobero (such as AHA! Santa Barbara, State Street Ballet Academy, Santa Barbara Center for Aerial Arts, and the Spirit of Fiesta auditions); and underwrite ticket scholarships for students to attend performances at the Lobero, including Jazz at the Lobero series for music students and It’s Magic! for children affiliated with social services partners, like Boys & Girls Club, Transition House, and CASA.

For tickets to the event, visit https://www.lobero.org/events/dinner-divots/.