By Rochelle Rose
Board president Craig Case opened the 25th Annual Kids Auction at Bacara Resort & Spa by announcing that the event had raised $5 million over the years to support youth development programs at the local Boys & Girls Clubs.
It was reunion of sorts with some of the original Kids Auction committee members in attendance and still supporting the clubs, including myself, Bob and Ruth Kallman, Ed Chelini, George Chelini and Sal Rodriguez. Other longtime supporters and Kids Auction Committee members in later years were there, too, including Elmer Koonce, Jim Crook, Anne Vierra, Anne Dalley, Vicki Young, Mike Pfau, Carol Kallman, Tom Brooks and the dedicated event co-chairs Cathy McFarland and Nina Terzian.
Also credited were the late Bob Bernstein, George Castagnola, Orval Bond, Milt Weinstein and Bernie Litchfield!
The inaugural Kids’ Auction (benefiting the Westside Boys Club) took place in the summer of 1982 at the Miramar Hotel. Tickets were $25 — which included free wine! (The price tag in 2007 was $250 per person.) The auction moved to UCSB for a couple of years under the leadership of Bob Boyd. Other important volunteers with Kids Auction during these years were Bev Hellman, Leslie Lund, Connie Los, Doug and Sharon Ewins, Tim and Louise Casey, Louise Cruz and Judy Ricker.
This year’s honoree was Robert Bryant, who had recently returned from his “Summit for Danny” trek to raise funds to fight substance abuse. A standing ovation greeted Bob as he accepted the award on stage.
A burgundy-tuxed John Palminteri of KEYT-TV handled the live auction, which was followed by the rousing Soul City Survivors, who had almost everyone on the dance floor. Spotted in the crowd were Mike Rattray, Bill McCluen from Edward Jones, Supervisor Janet Wolf, Tom Sneddon, Bob McFarland, Tom Brooks, Chip Turner from Damitz Brooks, Bill Muncaster, Paul Menzel, Kris Kallman, Paulette and Arthur Posch, Ray Seider, Jan Helsel, Dr. Stephen Young, Robert and Gwen Thompson, Judy Brooks, Lad Handelman, Rich Medel, Mike and Theresa Bryant, Patty Bryant, Dan and Jane Litchfield, Gail and Mike Pearl and Randy Weiss.
Sponsors included Precision Auto Body, BFI, Bob Bryant, Caesar & Seider Hubb International, Craig Fuher, Deckers Outdoor, Hollister & Brace, Marborg, Goldman Sach Philanthropy, Santa Barbara Chrysler Jeep, Northern Trust, Invest West Financial, the McFarlands and many more.
Chocolate de Vine begins first year for Rape Crisis Center
Way across town at the Maritime Museum, the Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center held its first Chocolate de Vine fund-raiser, “a celebration of chocolate and wine.” The chocolate creations by local chefs were competitively judged by chefs Jason Vishnefske, James Sly and Verite Mazzola of Los Angeles. Chocolatiers included Bacara Resort & Spa, Bella Dolce Bakery, Chocolate Maya, Elements, Fresco, Jessica Foster Confections, Rincon Beach Catering and Wine Cask.
The Magic of Brazil combo provided live music for the event which was sponsored by the Hutton Foundation, Hager & Dowling Charitable Foundation, Venoco Inc., Margot Roseman, Marborg, Nett & Champion Insurance, Charlotte Ellen, Cox Communications and many others.
We especially enjoyed the eclectic selection of wineries that were pouring, including Thorne Wine (its first public tasting event), Scott, Rideau, Michael-David, Pedroncelli, Mid-Life Crisis, Jessie’s Grove, Imagine, Gisessinger and Casa Cassara.
Dedicated committee members were Christina Prejean Coppola, Cindy Clark, Sheila Caldwell, Arcelia Sencion, Paris Rose, Michelle Emery, Carol Mosely, Hilary Kleger and others. Board member support was provided by president Sylvia Hendlin, Sherrill Nickerson, Susan Alexander, Debby Aceves, Charlotte Ellen, Barry Levine and Kris Miller-Fisher.
Rape Crisis Center Executive Director Elsa Granados was pleased with the large crowd and the bidding at the silent auction. Later she said, “We raised $25,000 at his first-time event. We definitely will do it again next year. That is a great result for the first year!”
The Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center was established in 1974 and works to support sexual assault survivors and their loved ones and to build a just community free from sexual violence. For more information call 963-6832.

Contact Rochelle Rose at 448-8338 or rochellerose6@yahoo.com.