For 79 years, Mental Wellness Center (MWC) has been the quiet backbone of mental health care in Santa Barbara County — providing free, bilingual services to thousands of community members regardless of their ability to pay.

This May, in honor of National Mental Health Awareness Month, MWC invites the community to celebrate that legacy, and support its inaugural Wellness Weekend May 30-31.

One Shining Night Gala on May 30, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Alma Rosa Estate

The centerpiece of the weekend is One Shining Night, an elegant evening set against the stunning backdrop of Alma Rosa Estate in the Santa Rita Hills. The gala will honor two extraordinary families whose passion, philanthropy, and dedication embody what it means to create wellness for others: Belle Hahn and Lily Hahn Shining, and three generations of the Kelly Family.

All proceeds will support MWC’s essential services, including mental health education for youth, families, and adults, and safe and affordable housing for adults living with mental illness.

“One Shining Night is more than a gala — it is a celebration of what this community has built together over nearly eight decades,” says MWC CEO, Annmarie Cameron. “When we come together to honor families like the Hahns and the Kellys, we are affirming that mental health is not a crisis to be managed in silence but a cause worth championing out loud. Every dollar raised will directly support residents in our community.”

Peace of Mind: 10,000 Steps in the Right Direction on May 31, 9 a.m.

The following morning, Alma Rosa Estate & Vineyards hosts the seventh annual Peace of Mind walk — a beloved community tradition launched in 2020 by proprietors Bob and Barb Zorich.

Participants traverse approximately 4.5 miles across the winery’s breathtaking 628-acre hillside estate off Santa Rosa Road, with a sparkling wine or non-alcoholic refreshment stop at the summit overlooking the sweeping Santa Rita Hills.

An intimate wine tasting reception with current releases from Alma Rosa and several neighboring wineries, live folk music by Tina Dabby and Jim Rankin, and an assortment of gourmet food trucks follows.

“What began as a simple idea — to walk together and spark conversation around mental wellness — has grown into a powerful annual tradition,” says Stefan Matulich, president of Alma Rosa Winery. “Expanding to a full Wellness Weekend with One Shining Night allows us to deepen that impact and bring even more people into the cause.”

All proceeds of the walk benefit Mental Wellness Center and One Mind, a leading brain research nonprofit.

Registration is $70 per person and is open through Friday, May 29. To register, donate, or launch a fundraising campaign, visit almarosawinery.com/peace-of-mind.

Light Up Green

Throughout May, MWC is joining Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness in inviting other nonprofits, businesses, and local residents to illuminate their building, offices, and homes in green — the official color of mental health awareness — as a powerful, visible show of community solidarity.

Mental Wellness Center has provided free, bilingual mental health services to Santa Barbara County residents for 79 years. MWC also provides a residential services program, which offers a home to nearly 120 community members across seven residential sites. For more information, visit https://mentalwellnesscenter.org.

One Mind is a global nonprofit committed to funding research on the causes, treatment, and potential cures for brain illness, including anxiety and depression. For more information, visit https://onemind.org.

Alma Rosa Winery is a leading Santa Barbara County producer of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Rhône variety wines rooted in the Sta. Rita Hills. Founded in 2005 by Sta. Rita Hills pioneer Richard Sanford, the winery is owned today by Bob and Barb Zorich and led by winemaker Samra Morris — the first Bosnian winemaker in California. For more
information, visit almarosawinery.com.