The SB Foundation 70th Annual Man and Woman of the Year
A large crowd gathered at the Four Seasons Biltmore to recognize Ken Saxon and Patricia MacFarlane for the significant impact they have had throughout the community. Both recipients have been active supporters of a variety of nonprofit organizations. Selected from a diverse pool of candidates, Ken and Patricia join the ranks of Santa Barbara’s most dedicated civic leaders who have received this honor, a part of Santa Barbara’s story since 1942. Previous award winners include David Anderson, Pearl Chase, Léni Fé Bland, Lotte Lehman, Eli Luria, and Thomas M. Storke, all of whom were recognized for volunteer service and community involvement.
Both recipients were genuinely surprised by the honor, which was kept a closely guarded secret until being unveiled in front of hundreds of community supporters during a gala dinner at the Four Seasons Biltmore. The awards were presented by KEYT Evening Anchor, Paula Lopez, and Santa Barbara Foundation President & CEO, Ron Gallo. “Patty MacFarlane and Ken Saxon are true volunteer leaders whose selfless actions have inspired many to do more to help others. They are the current representatives of a 70-year-long tradition of celebrating voluntarism, joining exceptional men and women who have combined their experience and talent with a deep concern for the welfare of others to enrich our community. It is because of their efforts that today we can all enjoy a clean environment, a rich and vibrant arts community, and an intricate safety net for all citizens young and old. Volunteerism is crucial to keeping people, communities, and businesses healthy and productive. We should all be proud to have people like Ken Saxon and Patty MacFarlane in our midst,” said Ron Gallo.
“The Santa Barbara Foundation is honored to be the steward of this tradition, as it belongs to every resident of Santa Barbara who understands that what makes this place so beautiful and so vibrant is our connectivity,” added Gallo. “For the 70th consecutive year, we gather to honor two of our neighbors who the community believes represent the highest values and best practice of caring and giving. Santa Barbara is well known for its special and powerful connectivity that comes from community engagement, wherever one chooses to get involved. It is not the subject matter that counts most, but rather the energy, the ingenuity, the commitment and the compassion one brings. Voluntarism and philanthropy are the most enduring and honorable platforms for citizen engagement.”
About the Santa Barbara Foundation
The Santa Barbara Foundation is a community foundation established in 1928 to enrich the lives of the people of Santa Barbara County through philanthropy. As one of the largest private sources of funding for area nonprofits, agencies, and college bound students, the Foundation builds and facilitates philanthropy through donor partnerships; invests in nonprofits to strengthen the nonprofit sector; and identifies and strategically addresses important community needs to solve problems. Guided by compassion for the most vulnerable and those most in need of help, excellence in what it supports and with whom it partners, and integrity with a focus on stewardship and transparency, the Santa Barbara Foundation is invested in a more vibrant, engaged, and meaningfully connected Santa Barbara County…for all.