Residents Rock Out with Richard Simmons
 The music was pounding, arms were waving, and everyone was laughing and having a great time. Four of our residents--Moselle, Charlie, Ingelise, and Sue F.--travelled with
staff members Nikki and Natasha to Richard Simmons' "Slimmons Studio" in Los
Angeles last month and took his workout class.
Quite a few of our residents are big fans of Richard Simmons, and it
was a dream come true to meet him.
He was so warm with the residents, inviting them into the middle of
the dance floor for the class, and dancing and working with each one, giving
them hugs and kisses and singing to them at the end. They were enthralled. As
Nikki says, "It was an experience not easily forgotten." Staff are
planning another trip this month so more residents can share in the experience. Meanwhile, Richard writes:
"What fun we all had. Please say hello to everyone for me. And please come back to see us soon. I miss you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love, Richard"
To watch a short video of residents at the class, click here. Funds
from the Nancy Read Life Enrichment Fund are being used to make
these trips possible.
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A Serene Day in the Garden Nets $59,000 for Hillside House
 It was a beautiful day in the gardens of El Mirador Estate. Dazzling flower arrangements adorned the tables with their white umbrellas. The music of the harp floated in the air amid the laughter and happy chatter of 150 people. The 7th annual Women of Purpose Benefit Luncheon was a day to remember. What made it special are the people who contribute.
A volunteer since the beginning, Joyce Shaar provides the lovely flower arrangements for the tables, and this year she decided to add an extra touch. "I bejeweled them," she says. "I love to contribute with the flowers. It's an expression of something I love, and it adds beauty."
Joyce enjoys bringing her standard poodle Lucia to visit the residents at
Hillside House. And each year she gathers a whole table of 10 friends to attend the luncheon. Though she is active with several other local non-profits, Joyce says that the Hillside House luncheon is unique. "It has such a serene, gentle quality. There doesn't need to be a lot of fanfare, because we all know we want to go and why we are there. The garden casts a spell, the speaker is always good, but we never forget the real reason we are there--to nurture Hillside House. There is such a quality of loving and giving."
About this year's speaker, Roger Crawford, Joyce says, "He was amazing, so motivated. If he can be as accomplished as he is, if he can do what he has done despite his disabilities, then the sky is the limit; there are no boundaries. That was an education we all need to hear."
Thanks to the generosity of this year's donors to the luncheon, we brought in nearly $59,000 after expenses for the residents of Hillside House. Thank you to all who helped in so many ways to make this luncheon a success.
Special thanks to Tita Lanning, who so generously lets us use her beautiful estate, to the tireless volunteer event committee, and to our sponsors: Hutton Foundation, Marborg Industries, Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, Bryant
& Sons Jewelers, Chapman Financial Group, Venoco, Inc, and also Herban
Essentials, Debbie's Delights, Best Western Pepper Tree Inn, Brighton
Collectibles, Por La Mar Nursery, Ferrara Air Conditioning, Valley
Flowers, and Parameters Custom Framing, as well as our auction donors: Jim and Marcia
Wolfe, Joan and Laurie Tilson, and Ruth Ellen Hoag.
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Residents Get Their Hands in the Dirt
Tom D. had the idea to start a vegetable garden, and other residents quickly joined in.
So we bought and assembled a new raised planter. Residents had fun helping to tear apart the old rickety planter, particularly Morgan and Frank, our resident handymen. Tom S.and Sue F. helped plant the seeds: zucchini, tomatoes, summer squash and green peppers, already bursting with life. They are good about reminding everyone to water. The veggies will be used in the residents' cooking class, so they can enjoy the fruits of their efforts from ground to table.
Residents also planted sweet peas and hydrangeas in the flower garden, replanted the mums used in Lynn's memorial service, and Sue, Moselle and Michael have helped start two new petunia planters. Others of the residents just love to get their hands in the dirt and play.
A lot of wildlife has been spotted, including a Great Blue Heron, Coyote and Bobcat, causing great excitement.
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Community Partner: Artwalk
 Kerrie Kilpatrick-Weinberg was a Theater and Set Designer with the
Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. As a Set
Designer Kerrie collaborated with at risk youth through the Lyric
Theatre in London. From there, her passion for helping others through art blossomed.
Kerrie's younger brother, Nigel, was autistic and epileptic. Though he couldn't speak, he loved to watch Kerrie draw and create art, and the two siblings shared a powerful bond. Kerrie says, "We had a beautiful relationship." When he passed away, Kerrie founded Art Walk for Kids/Adults to share the joy of making art with people with disabilities and at risk youth.
Now the non-profit runs Chagall House, a weekly program for autistic adults, introducing them to famous artists and artistic styles of the last 100 years and engaging them in making their own projects, and even selling their art at an annual show. But that's not all, Art Walk runs a weekly art program at Hillside House, Sarah House and for Devereux, as well as art programs for at risk youth and for women recovering from breast cancer.
Brandon runs the program for Art Walk at Hillside House, where the focus is on success and accessibility for everyone, whether that means painting with your feet, or using adaptive art tools. The residents work with a lot of vibrant colors, cut outs and collage, and get to play, express and have fun. Residents have sold their work in the annual art show as well.
www.artwalkforkids.org
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