Edhat StaffFollowing the extraordinary success from earlier this month of its Benefit Concert featuring the legendary Count Basie Orchestra and celebrated vocalist Paula Cole, the Rona Barrett Foundation received another funding lift as it becomes a recipient of The Santa Barbara Foundation’s $5,000.00 Express Grant.
As the Rona Barrett Foundation projects growth and looks ahead to solidifying all facets of its operation, the grant will be earmarked for board development, governance and a strategic growth plan with the assistance of a professional facilitator. Rona Barrett, CEO/Founder for the Rona Barrett Foundation was grateful for the continued collaboration, “I have nothing but admiration for the Santa Barbara Foundation. They have been big supporters of The Rona Barrett Foundation from the first time I met its President Ron Gallo and shared with him our story of the vision and then the birthing of the Golden Inn & Village. Just saying ‘Thank You’ doesn’t seem to be enough . . . so, Thank You . . . Thank You and Thank You!”
In December 2016, in partnership with the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara, the Rona Barrett Foundation completed The Golden Inn & Village, an affordable independent living senior campus in Santa Ynez Valley which at present, is fully occupied with 63 residents and has a long and coveted “Waiting List” for underserved seniors to become future residents. The Santa Barbara Foundation, a longtime partner of the Rona Barrett Foundation’s ground-breaking senior initiative, provided major funding support for the installation of a multiple elevator project within the Golden Inn & Village Campus.
The Santa Barbara Foundation’s mission, articulated by Kathy Simas, North County Director for the Foundation, “to strategically align the Express Grant investments to strengthen the organizational and programmatic capacity and effectiveness of organizations,” compliments the Rona Barrett Foundation’s mission as it moves forward on its next project, “Harry’s House at the Golden Inn & Village” – A home for Alzheimer’s and Assisted Living. Construction of “Harry’s House” will complete the Campus vision and is expected to break ground in 2018.
Founded over 17 years ago, through the extraordinary efforts of entertainment news pioneer and journalist and longtime senior advocate, Rona Barrett, along with other community leaders, the Rona Barrett Foundation’s mission is to provide solutions to affordable housing, supportive services for in-need and at-risk seniors including Alzheimer’s care.
To learn more about the Rona Barrett Foundation or to make a donation to facilitate the growth of the Foundation and “Harry’s House at The Golden Inn & Village,”please log onto www.ronabarrettfoundation.org
