The annual “Global Day of Giving” is upon us this holiday season and what better way to give back to your community then joining in on #GivingTuesday by donating to the organizations that make Santa Barbara a place we are proud to call home. Our Good for Santa Barbara Nonprofit Section provides all the resources you need to give the gift that keeps on giving!
It is no secret that this year has been full of challenges. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, now more than ever, local nonprofits need your support. Our annual Noozhawk Guide to Giving lists local nonprofits in need of donations this holiday season.
In this interview, Noozhawk spoke with Christina Songer for the Santa Barbara Foresters, to learn more about how the organization’s Hugs for Cubs program supports children with cancer and other serious illnesses.
Santa Barbara Foresters, Hugs for Cubs
Question: What is the name & mission of your nonprofit?
Answer: Santa Barbara Foresters, Hugs for Cubs; The Santa Barbara Foresters is a community-owned summer baseball program with an unparalleled national success, including eight national titles.
The baseball is just a jumping-off point, however, for the Hugs for Cubs, its year-round program supporting children with cancer and other serious illnesses. Through hospital visits, baseball clinics, surf camps, outings to baseball stadiums, and bowling nights, Foresters players, coaches, staff, and volunteers provide hope and encouragement to young patients and their families.
The mission of the baseball team is to develop college athletes to become better players and better people through these works. The mission of the Hugs for Cubs is to bring that winning attitude to those fighting something much tougher than a curveball in the bottom of the ninth. Bringing smiles and cheer to young cancer victims means more to us than bringing home another trophy.
Q: How long has your nonprofit been in service and whom was it started by?
A: Hugs for Cubs was started in 1994 by Bill Pintard and his son Eric Pintard
Q: What was the inspiration behind your nonprofit?
A: Eric Pintard, one of our Forester players, was diagnosed with terminal cancer. His affliction brought to light the battle of countless others especially the pediatric victims. Eric saw the need to bring their battles to light and to shed some joy and hope amongst them and their families. Thus our Hugs for Cubs program was born.
Q: How has COVID-19 impacted your nonprofit?
A: The biggest impact has been the financial impact on our organization along with our donors, advertisers, game revenue, etc. While we were able to have games we were unable to have fans at our games but did have our Hugs for Cubs recipient, Henry Miller at the BMW Hugs for Cubs day to throw out the first pitch. Henry’s initial on the back of every players hat. We were unable to visit the local and Wichita hospitals and other activities we usually host during the summer. The Hugs for Cubs Holiday Program will take place this year. Our two major fundraisers will be postponed due to ongoing Covid restrictions.
Q: How is your nonprofit primarily funded and what are your greatest needs?
A: Our program is mostly funded by donations and grants plus revenue from games, specifically game and event advertising, merchandise, fan attendance and radio advertising sales. Our greatest needs are funding are our Hugs for Cubs programs such as the Holiday program where we will deliver Christmas Trees, Gingerbread Houses and lights to children going through treatment.
Q: What types of fundraisers and/or programs does your nonprofit run?
A: We have two major fundraisers each year, the Turkey Shootout Golf Tournament and the Hall of Fame Dinner. We have many summer programs where we support children and their families while they undergo treatment giving them a “normal” during a very difficult time. Surf Day, going to a Dodger or Angel game, etc.
Q: What is one best kept secret or fun fact about your nonprofit that not everyone knows?
A: The Hugs for Cubs starts in Santa Barbara, but each year it ripples throughout the country. Each summer, players come to Santa Barbara from schools and cities in the Midwest, the South, and the West. They learn about the Hugs for Cubs, take part in many activities with kids and their families, and then—the players take that spirit back home with them.
Numerous former players have started Hugs for Cubs or similar groups at their colleges and universities; former Foresters who have played pro ball have worked with their minor and Major League teams to help kids battling cancer.
The inspiration of the Hugs for Cubs work has even led some former Foresters to wear Eric Pintard’s No. 19 in his honor as they carry on his work of using baseball to create smiles, solidarity, and hope. Just as the work of local volunteers continues year after year, the effects of the Hugs for Cubs spread far and wide with each summer’s new crop of players.
Q: Can you share one or two stories of individuals whose lives have been changed because of your organization?
A: Each summer, one or more children is specially honored as the Foresters Hugs for Cubs Kid for that season. Their initials grace the players’ hats and they are treated like royalty at select games—they spend time in the dugout and even throw out the first pitch! Two of the most memorable Hugs for Cubs Kids are solidly in the “success story” category.
Wyatt Taylor was battling leukemia when he connected with the Foresters. Even as he underwent treatment, this baseball fan found his summer family at the ballpark. Wyatt’s courage was an inspiration to everyone who met him, and his recovery was hugely celebrated. He later became a team batboy and even became a regular volunteer meeting with other Hugs for Cubs kids with whom he could truly sympathize. Wyatt later helped the Foresters and HFC program as an intern and helped raised funds.
Another HFC Kid-turned-batboy is Sam Helfand. Regular Foresters volunteers watched as Sammy arrived on our “team,” became close to everyone, and then battled a terrible illness. At one point, coach Pintard and others showed up at the ballpark with shaved heads to show Wyatt, then undergoing chemotherapy, just how much he was loved. Sam’s battle continued for years until at one memorable Foresters event, he was able to tell us all that his doctors had declared him a cancer survivor.
Sammy and his family and his medical staff did the hard work; but the Foresters were there every step of the way. As an organization, we could not be more proud to be associated with such amazing young people as Wyatt and Sam.
The question asks about lives changed: Well, Wyatt and Sam’s lives were changed, but so were the hundreds of people they met through the Foresters—many of whom were inspired to go out and change more!
Q: How does the work of your nonprofit get communicated to the public?
A: We communicate with the public via email newsletters, social media ie FaceBook, Instagram, and Twitter. The local news outlets also help us advertise our events.
Q: Can you tell us one short-term goal and one long-term goal that your nonprofit has for 2021?
A: Our short-term goal is to get all of our programs going again, Dodger games, hospital visits, surf day and United Way Fun in the Sun. Our long-term goal is to assist families with housing needs in Santa Barbara while their children undo treatment at Cottage Hospital.
Click here to support the Santa Barbara Foresters, Hugs for Cubs program.