Cal Poly students tap crowdfunding to build playground in South Africa
By Marlize van Romburgh / Friday, May 9th, 2014 / Nonprofits, Real Estate, Top Stories / Comments Off on Cal Poly students tap crowdfunding to build playground in South Africa

A group of Cal Poly landscape architecture students and alumni are working to make the world a better place, one playground at a time.
Power is knowledge as Unite to Light devices spread around the world
By Marissa Wenzke / Friday, May 2nd, 2014 / Green Coast, Nonprofits, South Coast, Technology, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Power is knowledge as Unite to Light devices spread around the world

Unite to Light has developed a solar-powered cell-phone charger that lets people the world over power their phones with the sun.
A dose of kindness: Vitamin Angels celebrates 20 years
By Erika Martin / Friday, April 18th, 2014 / Nonprofits, South Coast, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on A dose of kindness: Vitamin Angels celebrates 20 years

The 1994 Northridge Earthquake turned Howard Schiffer’s priorities upside-down. After spending years as an entrepreneur in the natural products industry, the earthquake’s aftermath, particularly among marginalized communities, left Schiffer feeling helpless. He was also forced to confront the broader impacts his merchandise could have on public health. Using his business connections to secure product Read More →
20 years of honoring innovation: Business & Technology honorees announced
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, April 11th, 2014 / Features, Nonprofits, Small Business, South Coast, Top Stories / Comments Off on 20 years of honoring innovation: Business & Technology honorees announced

The South Coast Business and Technology Awards, the largest business networking and educational fundraising event in the region, will honor a green packaging company, a drought-resistant seed company and a rescue equipment maker, among others, as it celebrates its 20th year.
Health leaders: ‘Ambitious’ Obamacare goals tough to implement
By Erika Martin / Wednesday, March 19th, 2014 / Central Coast, East Ventura County, Health Care & Life Science, Nonprofits, South Coast, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / Comments Off on Health leaders: ‘Ambitious’ Obamacare goals tough to implement
Uncertainties shrouding Obamacare implementation are leaving many health-care providers strained, and consumers are thus far seeing few of the cost cuts promised by the overhaul. That was the theme that emerged from a March 18 forum in Santa Barbara hosted by nonprofit Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care.
Michael and Anne Towbes give $5M to Granada Theatre group
By Staff Report / Monday, March 17th, 2014 / Nonprofits, Real Estate, Tourism / Comments Off on Michael and Anne Towbes give $5M to Granada Theatre group
Developer and banker Michael Towbes and his wife, Anne, have made a $5 million gift to the Santa Barbara Center for the Performing Arts. The gift is irrevocable, the organization said in a March 17 announcement, and is in addition to the $15 million the couple has previously given to SBCPA.
Artificial pancreas trials move forward with $2.3M grant
By Marlize van Romburgh / Friday, March 14th, 2014 / Health Care & Life Science, Nonprofits, South Coast, Technology, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Artificial pancreas trials move forward with $2.3M grant
With $2.3 million in recent federal funding, Sansum Diabetes Research Institute is moving forward with clinical trials of its artificial pancreas, a device that researchers hope will substantially improve the lives of people living with Type 1 diabetes.