Staff Report
A sold-out crowd of 295 guests attended the 55th annual Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Holiday Gala on Dec. 2, raising more than $18,000 for the hospital to support community services.
“Not only do we celebrate 55 years of the founding of the hospital’s auxiliary, it’s also the 55th anniversary of the Holiday Gala, known back then as the Christmas Ball,” SYVCH Vice President Wende Cappetta remarked at the event, which was held at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott Hotel in Buellton. “It’s a testament to this community to have 295 people at the gala, including donors, employees and auxiliary members to celebrate this milestone with a silent auction, dinner and dancing.
“We are so proud of all that the auxiliary has accomplished,” she added.
“The 55th anniversary theme of this year’s gala refers to the fact that starting in 1962, Santa Ynez Valley Hospital was funded through a grass-roots community effort spearheaded by 68 women who formed the Auxiliary Charter Members,” added auxiliary president Barbara Anderson. “Over a two-year period, $352,391 was raised to make the vision of a hospital based in Solvang a reality. The hospital opened on November 9, 1964, and has been in continuous service since then.
“Today, we have more than 200 women and men in the auxiliary who volunteer their time, treasure and talent to the hospital,” she added.
Auxiliary volunteers provide more than 18,000 service hours annually to the hospital. Among other tasks, they operate the “New to You” thrift shop at 1689 Oak St. in Solvang, where all money earned supports the hospital.
To get more information about the auxiliary, or to volunteer, call 805-691-9509.
