On April 28, about 240 supporters of the American Heart Association (AHA) gathered at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort (formerly Fess Parker) for the annual Heart Ball, which netted about $75,000 for the AHA’s research, advocacy, and patient support programs.
Guests mingled in the Grand Ballroom and Grand Foyer before being seated and welcomed by Event Chair Sarah Jaimes. She emphasized the importance of AHA’s work given that heart disease is still the number one cause of death for Americans and stroke is the number three cause in Santa Barbara County.
Montecito Bank & Trust Chair and CEO Janet Garufis expressed her deep gratitude to the AHA for its work and then introduced the event honoree, Renee Grubb. Garufis praised her dear friend, a business leader who co-founded Village Properties and a dedicated community leader. Garufis shared how Grubb’s passion for excellence carries over from her business life to her community service. Grubb co-founded the award-winning Teacher’s Fund to fund classroom supplies, was president of the S.B. Association of Realtors, chaired the Chamber of the S.B. Region, and is the newly elected board chair of AHA Central Coast. Garufis thanked Grubb for being one of the most extraordinary people she has ever known. Grubb graciously accepted the honor, shared how she has loved being part of the AHA for the past 20 years and praised all the staff and physicians who work with the organization.