Heroes of Hospice
Our 2025 Event was SOLD OUT!
Thank you so much for your generous support!
Our 13th annual Heroes of Hospice luncheon took place on Sunday, September 14th, 2025, in person, from 11am to 1:30pm at the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort
“Children are often the forgotten grievers, together we remember them.”
We hope you will join us for this year's Heroes of Hospice luncheon to celebrate the people and organizations doing outstanding work in our community, as well as the accomplishments here at HSB.
The luncheon will take place on Sunday, September 14th, 2025, in person, from 11am to 1:30pm at the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort.
David's experience with thousands of people on the edge of life and death has taught him the secrets to living a happy and fulfilled life, even after life’s tragedies. He is the author of six books, including the bestselling book Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief. His books and work have received praise by so many, including Saint (Mother) Teresa.
David's personal experience as a child witnessing a mass shooting while his mother was dying in a hospital helped him begin his journey. For most of his life, he has taught physicians, nurses, counselors, police, and first responders about the end of life, trauma, and grief.
We are also thrilled to announce this year’s Heroes of Hospice Honorees:
CenCal Health, recipient of the Medical Award for their leadership in championing healthcare for children.
YouthWell, recipient of the Partner Award for their critical role in coordinating mental health and wellness services for youth.
Angel Flight West, recipient of the Volunteer Award for providing free medical transportation to families and children in need.
This year’s luncheon will once again be held indoors & outdoors at the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort. We had such a heartfelt and lovely time there last year – we hope you will come and enjoy it with us this year.
Thank You So Much to Our Sponsors!!!
Luminary Star Sponsor
Guiding Star Sponsor
Leslie Sinclair von Wiesenberger, in memory of Zander von Wiesenberger
Robin & Roger Himovitz
Jill Kitnick
Barbara N. Rubin Foundation
Mark & Nicole Romasanta
Shooting Star Sponsor
Nancy Barasch
Melinda Goodman Kemp
Francie & Ken Jewesson
Law Office of Cristi Michelon Vasquez
Suzanne Von Drehle
Linda Yawitz
Toni Yeagle & Christine Diberardino
Lucky Star Sponsor
Emma Bridges
Doedy & Don Galloway
Dr. Fred & Sarah Kass
Marlene Klamt
Carey Pearlman
John & Ellen Pillsbury
Gary Simpson & Jill Nida, Santa Barbara Home Improvement Center
Anne Smith Towbes
Randall & Dana VanderMey
Village Properties
Volentine Family Foundation
Bright Star Sponsor
Assisted Home Health & Hospice
Fred & Cheryl Barbaria
Debra Brandon
BrightStar Care
Nigel & Connie Buxton
CenCal Health
Cottage Health
Donna M. Dawson CPA
Richard De Maria
Chris & Mindy Denson
Easy Lift Transportation
Elizabeth Faoro
Eileen & Kevin Finnegan
Mary Graham Fleischauer
Patricia Heller
Betsy Ingalls
Kristi King FNP-BC
Jeff & Nicole Martinez
Angie & Christian McGrath
Nicholson & Schwartz
Claude Raffin
Muriel Ross
Susan Ryan
Santa Barbara Foundation
Santa Barbara Senior Living Consultants
Christiane Schlumberger & Tony Allina
Cynder Sinclair & Dennis Forster
Stevens & Associates Insurance Agency, Inc.
VNA Health
Yoga Soup
Dawn Star Sponsor
American Riviera Bank
Jeremy Bassan
Dream Foundation
Friendship Center Adult Day Services
Judy Robertson
Carol Spungen
Katherine Van Meter
Past Events
2024
Our 12th annual Heroes of Hospice luncheon took place on Sunday, September 15th 2024, at the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort. Thank you to all the supporters who joined us to make the event such a record success!
2024 Heroes of Hospice - Legacy of Compassion Campaign - HSB’s 50th Anniversary
Dear Friends,
At this yearʼs Heroes of Hospice, we are excited to celebrate our 50th Anniversary with you and honor many of the past heroes from the community. I hope you can join us to celebrate! The luncheon will once again have a special focus on Celebrating Those We Love and remembering the legacy of loved ones who have passed away and their continued impact on our lives.
When we opened our doors in 1974, we were at the forefront of a visionary movement, and I believe we still are—helping children, families, and seniors through the crippling grief of losing a cherished loved one or struggling with the fear and confusion that comes with a life-threatening diagnosis.
Thank you for all that you do to support our work! It is a remarkable privilege to witness the difference HSB makes for those we serve on a daily basis. It is only through your support and generosity that we accomplish all that we do and will in the future.
Gratefully,
David Selberg
Chief Executive Officer
Thank You So Much To Our Sponsors!!!
Guiding Star Sponsor
Kim And Andrew D. Busch Family Foundation
Linda Lorenzen
Luminary Star Sponsor
Robin & Roger Himovitz
Jill Kitnick
Mark & Nicole Romasanta
Barbara N. Rubin & Family
Steve Warner & Vince Turano
Shooting Star Sponsor
Central Coast Hospice
Mullen & Henzell L.L.P.
Rosewood Miramar Beach
Vista Del Monte
Carey Appel Pearlman
Christine Diberardino
Perri V. Harcourt
Patricia Heller
Law Office of Cristi Michelon Vasquez
Marlene Veloz
Linda Seltzer Yawitz
Lucky Star Sponsor
Channel Islands Fiduciary Group
Nasif, Hicks, Harris & Co., LLP
NS Ceramic Incorporated
VNA Health
Emma Bridges
Paul & Julie Capritto
Amy & Eric Marston
Ellen & John Pillsbury III
Claude Raffin in the memory of Jon Gathercole
Susannah Rake
Muriel Ross
Anne Smith Towbes
Dr. & Mrs. Randall Vandermey
Dick & Anna Zylstra
Bright Star Sponsor
Arosa Care Elevated
Assisted Home Health and Hospice
BrightStar Care
Cottage Health
Julie Allen
Nancy Barash
Debra Brandon
County Supervisor Laura Capps
Elliott & Linda Dell
Richard DeMaria
Anna DiStefano & Deb Karoff
Fauver, Large, Archbald & Spray LLP
Dennis Forster & Cynder Sinclair
Friendship Center Adult Day Services
Jeanette Iwatsuki
Karine Wegrzynowicz Estate Planning
Dr. Fred & Sarah Kass
Maia Kikerpill & Daniel Nash
Marlene Klamt
Natasha Marston MD & Jesse Swanhuyser
Nicole & Jeff Martinez
Christian & Angie McGrath
Santa Barbara Estate Planning & Elder Law
Christiane Schlumberger
Eryn & Craig Shugart
Kate Silsbury
Gary Simpson and Jill Nida, Santa Barbara Home Improvement Center
Tana Sommer-Belin
Valle Verde Retirement Center
Ronie Vandergrift
Yoga Soup
Dawn Star Sponsor
American Riviera Bank
Dream Foundation
Quinn Fiduciary Services
Santa Barbara Senior Living Consultants
Barbaria Family In Honor Of Bruce & Joyce Seaton
Natasha Marston MD & Jesse Swanhuyser
Charles & Eileen Read
Carol Spungen
Table Host
Stephen Aizenstat & Dianne Travis-Teague
Virginia Benson Wigle
Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics
Media Sponsor
Noozhawk
Remembering Our Lifetime Hero, Charlie Zimmer. In loving memory of our greatest hero and champion.
Charlie Zimmer was a constant presence and advocate for Hospice of Santa Barbara since serving as its Executive Director from 1979 to 1990. He helped establish HSB’s Foundation and was a mentor to other HSB leaders including Gail Rink, Steve Jacobsen, Tina Frontado (interim) and David Selberg. His impact was immeasurable and HSB is grateful for his enduring compassion and commitment to the organization.
2023
Our 11th annual Heroes of Hospice luncheon took place on Sunday, September 10th, 2023, in person, from 11am to 1:30pm at the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort
2023 Honorees Include:
Charlie Zimmer - Lifetime Hero Award
Santa Barbara Foundation - Philanthropy Hero Award
HSB’s Patient Care Services Team - Staff Hero Award
The event honors the people and organizations that bring compassion and care, at all levels, to those in need in and near the Santa Barbara community. In recent years, the demand for HSB’s services has been growing. Fundraisers like Heroes of Hospice allow the organization to reach our community members struggling with grief or life-threatening illness.
This year’s event will have a special focus on Celebrating Those We Love and their ongoing impact in our lives. Guests will be provided with an opportunity to donate and support the wonderful work of HSB in the name of their loved ones, helping bring programs and services, completely free of charge, to adults, children and seniors who are struggling with grief or life-threatening illness.
Come gather with fellow supporters to celebrate HSB's wonderful work in the community and enjoy inspiring speakers, music, food and drinks.
Luminary Star Sponsor
Melinda Goodman Kemp
Jill Kitnick
Shooting Star Sponsor
Channel Islands Fiduciary Group
Mullen and Henzell LLP
NS Ceramic Incorporated
Rosewood Miramar Beach, Montecito
Kim And Andrew D. Busch Family Foundation
Rolf Geyling & Kristin Moore
Ken & Francie Jewesson
Carey Appel Pearlman
Susannah E. Rake
Mark & Nicole Romasanta
Suzanne Von Drehle
Virginia Benson Wigle
Lucky Star Sponsor
American Riviera Bank
Assisted
Bright Star Care
Citizens Business Bank
Nasif, Hicks, Harris and Co, LLP
Santa Barbara Estate Planning & Elder Care
Paul Cashman, State Farm
Quinn Fiduciary Services
Emma Bridges
Leigh & Paul Cashman
Judy & Rob Egenolf
Doedy & Don Galloway
Law Office Of Cristi Michelon Vasquez
Brenda Nancarrow-Garrison
Claude Raffin
Steve Warner And Vince Turano
Dana & Randy VanderMey
Linda Seltzer Yawitz
Katina Zaninovich
Bright Star Sponsor
Tony Allina & Christiane Schlumberger
Nancy Barasch
Debra Brandon
The Kelly Marsh Team| Cornerstone Home Lending
Donna M. Dawson, CPA
Anna DiStefano & Deb Karoff
Richard DeMaria
Easy Lift Transportation
Eileen & Kevin Finnegan
Dennis Forster and Cynder Sinclair
Nicole & Jeff Martinez
Muriel Ross
Deborah Sheehan & Dee Sheehan
Eryn & Craig Shugart
Valle Verde Retirement Center
Ronie Vandergrift
Dawn Star Sponsor
Dream Foundation
Christine DiBerardino
Maggie Lang, CMT, SEP
Bodywork & Movement Therapy
Sudi Staub
Table Host
Pacifica Graduate Institute Alumni Association & Dream Tending
Media Sponsor
Noozhawk
2022
Thank You To Everyone Who Attended Our Heroes Of Hospice Event On September 22nd, 2022 And To All Of The Sponsors Who Made This Year's Event Possible.
We also want to thank our What Matters Most Speakers as well as congratulate our 2022 Heroes of Hospice Award Recipients.
2022 Heroes
MEDICAL HERO AWARD
Dr. Charles Fenzi
CEO of SB Neighborhood Clinics
Yessenia Marroquin, Director of Clinic Operations, SB Neighborhood Clinics
PARTNERSHIP HERO AWARD
Dr. Elise Simmons,
Principal, Santa Barbara High School
STAFF HERO AWARD
Michael Cruse, LCSW, Bereavement Services Manager,
Hospice of Santa Barbara
Thank You To Our Sponsors!
Luminary Star Sponsor: Melinda Goodman Kemp, Jill And Barry Kitnick
Shooting Star Sponsor: Mullen & Henzell L.L.P., NS Ceramic, Inc., Central Coast Home Health and Hospice, Rolf Geyling , Perri Harcourt, Robin & Roger Himovitz, Kim and Andrew D. Busch Family Foundation, Northern Trust, Suzanne Von Drehle, Katina Zaninovich
Lucky Star Sponsor: American Riviera Bank, Montecito Bank & Trust, Nasif, Hicks, Harris & Co., LLP, Stevens & Associates Insurance Agency, Inc., Assisted Home Health & Hospice, William & Kathy Borgers, Emma Bridges, Courtney DeSoto, Charles and Vera Fenzi, In Memory of Joan and Ray and Captain Don, Law Office of Cristi Michelon Vasquez, Claude Raffin, Jennifer Rogers, Nicole & Mark Romasanta, Muriel Ross, Linda Seltzer Yawitz, Eryn & Craig Shugart, Stevens & Associates Insurance Agency, Inc., Dana & Randy VanderMey
Bright Star Sponsor: Quinn Fiduciary Services, Yoga Soup, Jesse Brisendine, Cornerstone Home Lending, Cottage Health, Donna Dawson, Richard De Maria, Easy Lift Transportation, Judy and Rob Egenolf, Robert and Mary Ehrmann, Elizabeth Faoro, Monica Lenches, Susannah Rake, San Ysidro Pharmacy, Christiane Schlumberger, Cynder Sinclair, The Sheehan Family, Evan Turpin, Valle Verde, Cynthia Withers MD
Dawn Star Sponsor: The Oak Cottage of Santa Barbara, Christine DiBerardino, Nicole & Jeff Martinez, Gerald and Claire Parent, Sandy Stahl, The Oak Cottage of Santa Barbara, Katherine Van Meter
Media Sponsor: Noozhawk