The 2026 Heroes of Hospice Annual Awards Luncheon will once again shine a light on unique individuals who have shared their experience, strength and hope to inspire everyone around them through their individual, personal and professional contributions around the corner and around the world. 

Dr. Fred Kass — Medical Award

A longtime friend and champion of Hospice of Santa Barbara, Dr. Kass has supported our work for decades. As an oncologist, he was an early supporter of HSB’s Patient Care Services program and has referred many patients and families for its compassionate, non-medical support. Dr. Fred Kass is renowned in his field and served at the Santa Barbara Cancer Center from it's inception until recently as he prepared for retirement.  His loving and outstanding care of area cancer patients makes him an outstanding candidate for this award.

Dr. Fred Kass is recipient of the 2026 Heroes of Hospice Medical Award (Courtesy Hospice of Santa Barbara)
Partners for Kids — Partnership Award

A longtime friend and champion of Hospice of Santa Barbara, Dr. Kass has supported our work for decades. As an oncologist, he was an early supporter of HSB’s Patient Care Services program and has referred many patients and families for its compassionate, non-medical support.

The organization Partners for Kids is a 2026 Heroes of Hospice Partnership Award recipient (Courtesy Hospice of Santa Barbara)
Voice Magazine — Partnership Award

Led by publishers Mark Whitehurst and Kerry Methner, Voice has championed Santa Barbara’s nonprofits, arts and community life for more than three decades. A longtime promotional partner of HSB, Voice has generously helped connect our programs and services with the community.

Kerry Methner and Mark Whitehurst, publishers of Voice Magazine, are recipients of this year’s Heroes of Hospice Partnership Award. (Photo courtesy of  Bonnie Carroll LBN)
Bestselling author, Cheryl Strayed, is the keynote speaker at this year’s Heroes of Hospice Awards. (Courtesy Hospice of Santa Barbara)
In addition to recognizing this year’s outstanding honorees, Hospice of Santa Barbara is thrilled to welcome #1 New York Times bestselling author Cheryl Strayed as this year’s keynote speaker. Through works including her acclaimed memoir Wild, Strayed has written powerfully about love, loss, resilience, and finding our way through life’s most difficult passages. Few writers speak to the theme of this year’s event with as much authenticity and grace as Cheryl, and we are deeply honored to host her in Santa Barbara.

“Our 2026 Heroes embody what is so special about this community—the willingness to care for one another, to collaborate, and to use our individual gifts in service to others,” said David Selberg, CEO of Hospice of Santa Barbara. “Dr. Kass, Partners for Kids, and Voice Magazine have each made a meaningful difference in the lives of others, and we are honored to celebrate them.” 

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2026
11:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort
For additional information and tickets, visit hospiceofsb.org/heroes