Staff Report

Because of an expanded budget for its Community Service Committee, Los Olivos Rotary increased its grants this year to Friendship House, the Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation, Santa Ynez Therapeutic Riding Program and the Santa Barbara County Food Bank.

The additional funding came from proceeds of the 2018 Los Olivos Jazz and Olive Festival, which is the club’s only fundraiser each year. This year’s festival is scheduled for June 8.

Led by Community Service co-chairs Alice and Steve Berg, the club and its foundation also donated bus passes for seniors and prepared dinners for the Buellton and Solvang Senior Centers.

“We supported ADCAP, which provides emergency assistance for abused family members, as well as Solvang Festival Theater, SYV Botanic Garden, Sunny Fields Park, Friends of the Solvang Library, Master Chorale, Valley Wind Ensemble, Pathpoint, Veggie Rescue and We Support the Troops,” club president Judy Canby said. “We also made donations for the first time to Sarah House in Santa Barbara, which provides end-of-life care, and to a memorial fund in honor of Doug Herthel to research Lewy Body dementia.”

The Los Olivos Rotary Club meets at 5:15 p.m. on Thursdays at the Community Center (formerly the Grange Hall) in Los Olivos.

“Please join us for a meeting or come to our Los Olivos Jazz and Olive Festival for great wine, food and live music,” Canby said.

Tickets are available at jazzandolivefestival.org. The net proceeds are returned to the community through Los Olivos Rotary’s Community Service, Vocational, Youth, and International committee grants.