Bonnie Carroll's Life Bites

Helping Underserved Students Succeed through Squash, Education and Mentoring

Board member Jacqueline Duran's table of friends and SBSOS Supporters enjoying the Magic 2025

The 2025 Santa Barbara School of Squash lovely family style dinner and auction in La Arcadia Courtyard began with magic hour cocktails as guests visited the impressive silent auction area, took family photos at the photo booth, or enjoyed fun encounters with the roaming magician before sitting down around the La Arcadia fountain to savor a delightful candle-lit family style dinner.

Welcome speeches and updates were given by Robert Graham, Executive Director and Frank Huerta, Board Chairman, followed by inspiring student testimonials from Jennifer Pocheo, San Marcos High, Jesus Arriego, Laguna Blanca, and Sofia Vargas, Santa Barbara High, and special thanks were given to the evening sponsors David Quintero & Advenir Azora, Fidelity National Title, event partners, auction co-chairs and board of directors.

According to Jacqueline Duran, SBSOS Board Member “SBSOS is quite special in that they provide squash, education and mentoring to students through the age of twenty-five, taking them through high school, college/university, and mentoring them to find careers. SBSOS goes beyond and that is what is so impressive.”

The highlight of the beautiful evening was a spectacular paddle raise led by emcee/auctioneer Courtney Rainwater that raised major donations from generous and enthusiastic donors to benefit the SBSOS. Funds raised will support a YMCA Racquetball Court Conversion, New Minivans, Full Support for One Student for A Year, Six Month Support for a student, Squash Tournaments & Travel, and more.

The Magic menu of the SBSOS family style dinner included tri-color salad, delicious choices of salmon or

short ribs accompanied by pasta and a variety of vegetables and a sinful but delicious dessert ending of flourless chocolate cake with gold dust. Along with trips and SB Bowl concert tickets, and a $5,000 event at Courthouse Distillery to raise funds. Guests enjoyed group photos at their table and applauded the sponsors, staff, and volunteers for a magical evening.

About SBSOS
SBSOS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit year-round sports, education, and mentoring program serving committed Santa Barbara youth (5th-12th grade) who qualify for the Federal Free Lunch Program. SBSOS pillars include squash/exercise, academic tutoring, community service, enrichment opportunities, and mentoring. We operate after school, on weekends, and during holidays. By using squash as a motivator, we guide students to realize their academic, athletic and personal potential. Our goal is for each student to graduate from high school prepared for their next step: college or to launch a career. We stay in contact with graduates as they work toward their post-high school goals and offer guidance and support through age 25. We are closely involved with each student on many levels and describe the program as “an inch wide but a mile deep”. For information or to donate visit: wwwsbsos.org or emailing “@sbsos.org.

AMERICAN IRISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF SANTA BARBARA TRADITIONAL ST. PATRICK'S DAY DINNER 2025

It was yet another grand night at a private club in Santa Barbara, California for the 2025 American Irish Historical Society of Santa Barbara Traditional St. Patrick's Day Dinner attended by members in good standing and their guests.

President Frank McGinity and the charming board of directors welcomed guests at the door with a choice of wine, which was followed by a rousing performance by the singing McDermott Brothers, straight from Los Angeles, in the music room, and then the beautiful Irish dinner that offered something wonderful for every specific taste. After a scrumpious dessert cake the McDermott Brothers lead an Irish sing-a-long that included "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling."

The Santa Barbara branch of the American Irish Historical Society was founded in 1992, and continues to attract those who are Irish and those who wish they were. The St. Patrick's Day Dinner is an annual event, and the origanization holds additional special events throughout the year. Their next event is a talk by Colette Kavanaugh, PhD on April 1st, at a location to be announced, 5:30-7 p.m.

AIHS will be holding a special speaker's meeting in May. For tickets visit: www.AIHS.org.

"The American Irish Historical Society is the custodian of an

invaluale archive and collection of Irish and Irish-American history and literature located in New York City." Founded in Boston and in continuous operaton since 1897 the Society has been non-partisan and non-sectarian since its inception, and moved its headquarters from Boston to New York City in the early 20th century. In 1940 it moved into it's current home at 991 Fifth Avenue in New York. They offer free and public events and extend use of the library and archives to researchers, writers and scholars.

Notable past members of AIHS included Theodore Roosevelt, US President, William Bourke Cockran, Politician, George m. Cohan, Composer, John McCormack, Tenor.

For Santa Barbara membership information contact: www.cal-aihs.org. For New York information and membership please contact www.AIHS.com. .