Welcome To Our New Executive Director   

After eleven years of dedicated service, Pam Flynt Tambo is retiring as Executive Director of Hillside House. The Board of Directors has conducted a search process and selected Craig Olson to be the new Executive Director.

Craig is no stranger to Hillside House, having served as our Director of Administrative Services since 2005. His primary responsibility in that role has been to be in charge of Hillside House's financial services, and he has also served on the Leadership Team, playing a key part in the management of all of Hillside House's operations. Craig has done an admirable job of helping Hillside House through a time of financial crisis into a much more secure and sustainable position.

Before working for Hillside House, Craig worked at Devereux Foundation, a leading provider of services for people with developmental disabilities, for 21 years. While at Devereux, Craig held leadership positions in operations management, program development and restructuring, marketing, and long-range planning. His broad-based experience, combined with his knowledge of Hillside House, made him the obvious standout among our applicants for the position of Executive Director.

The Board believes that Craig possesses the leadership abilities and knowledge, as well as the vision and persistence, to lead Hillside House through its next phase of growth.

Please join me in welcoming Craig Olson to his new role. He has already begun his new responsibilities. The Board of Directors also extends our deep gratitude to Pam for her dedication to Hillside House.   

Jim Wolfe

President, Board of Directors

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New Technology Supports Better Care for Our Residents         

Thanks to generous funds from the Assistance League of Santa Barbara, Hillside House is implementing a major upgrade to our record-keeping systems. This may not sound exciting at first glance, but it is. What's the big deal?

From its inception in the 1930s to the present day, Hillside House has kept track of its residents' data on paper. Even with the advent of computers to help us in our administrative work at Hillside House, the vast majority of client information has still been recorded on paper. Imagine all the paper required to track a single client from their initial admission to Hillside House through all of aspects of their care-nursing, medical, behavioral and social, nutrition, as well as speech, occupational, physical and recreational therapies, case manager reports, and coordination with the day program and with families. Some reports are filed daily, some weekly, some monthly and some every six months. That's a lot of paper!

Not only is it a lot of paper, there was no way to cross-reference it easily. Our case managers (QMRPs), Client Services Manager, and Director of Nursing all did an excellent job of keeping track of our residents' progress and needs. Nonetheless, it was obvious we could all benefit from a change, most of all our residents.

We are now purchasing new software and hardware that allows every aspect of our residents' records to be kept and coordinated by computer. Nurses will carry iPads to keep daily reports. The iPads also allow for photos to be taken of various procedures, like bandaging a wound, to allow for more training and oversight. What we are most excited about is a higher quality of care and greater coordination and communication between all departments in delivering that care. What does it mean? Better lives for our residents-and that's always been and always will be our primary goal.

Sunset Soirée Garners Record-Breaking Support for Hillside House               

On Saturday, May 19, Hillside House hosted its ninth annual fundraising event. It was a gorgeous day in the famed gardens of El Mirador estate in Montecito. Participants entered through a vine-covered arch and eagerly perused the long tables of silent auction items so generously donated by local business and artists. We had more items than ever before-a wonderful array of everything from luxurious vacations to gorgeous paintings to rare wines, spa days, gift certificates to local restaurants, kayaking packages and more-and bidding was lively at both the silent and live auctions.

Our featured speaker was bestselling author Rachel Simon, an award-winning speaker on disability issues. Rachel spoke about the perspectives of people with developmental disabilities and the need for greater integration for them into our communities.

This year for our 2012 Person of Purpose award, we recognized the contributions of Tita Lanning, who has generously provided the gardens of El Mirador estate for our event for 8 years. Tita spoke movingly about the gifts that Hillside House has brought to her life, bringing a deep sense of meaning and connection. We also heard from Jessika Cardinahl, mother of long-time resident Sophie.. .

The day netted over $80,000 for the residents of Hillside House. Our deepest gratitude goes out to all who made this such a successful and enjoyable day-to all who attended and donated, to our business sponsors, to the tireless volunteer work of our Soirée committee, and to Tita Lanning. Many thanks from all of us at Hillside House.

To watch a brief slideshow of the day, please click here. 

A list of our event sponsors is at the end of this email.

Garth Brings Us to a Full House     

For the first time in more than six months, every bed at Hillside House is filled. Our enrollment is at its capacity of 59 residents! The latest resident to arrive is Garth. Garth came to us from Lanterman Regional Center in Pomona, though he was born and spent his childhood in Santa Maria.

Garth loves the outdoors and takes at least one walk a day around the Hillside House grounds. He loves food and quickly made friends with the kitchen staff. And Garth came with two rocking chairs, one of which he had placed in the resident lounge, and the other outside where he can rock and enjoy the beautiful Santa Barbara weather. Garth is adjusting well and we are glad to have him at Hillside House!

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Gold Sponsors  

Channel Cat Charters  

Tita Lanning 

Marborg Industries

Santa Barbara Bank & Trust

Jim & Marcia Wolfe

Silver Sponsors

Silvio DiLoreto

Norris & Barry Goss

John & Laurie Tilson

Ray Hunter

Young America's Foundation

Bronze Sponsors Business

Bryant & Sons Jewelers

Federal Drug

Parameters Custom Framing

Venoco, Inc

Sarah Medical Equipment

Bronze Sponsors Individuals

David & Louise Borgatello

Hank & Maureen Bowis

 Susan & Jim Chapman

Mary & Dick Compton

Antonio Gardella

Jeanne & David Hoffman

Lynn K. Jones

Dr. & Mrs. Richard Kahler

Chuck & Deborah Klein

JK & Robin Leason

Janet & Norman Pease

Cecille Raleigh

Nancy Read

Bernie Sapiro  

Pamela Flynt Tambo    

Event Sponsors

The Beachside Bar Cafe, Best Western Plus Pepper Tree Inn, Eckard & Ingrid Brandes, Jeff Bridges, Brophy Brothers Restaurant, Jessika Cardinahl, Channel Island Outfitters, Chris Chapman, Condor Express, Evolutions Medical Spa, Four Seasons Biltmore Resort, Gainey Vineyard, Herban Essentials, Terry Honikman, Inn on Summer Hill, John Iwerks, Magellan's, Maggie Day, Melville Vineyards & Winery, Montecito Café, Montecito Hills Winery, Mountain Air Sports, Niner Wine Estates, Olio E Limone, Omni Fresco Catering, Por La Mar Nursery, San Ysidro Ranch, Simpson House Inn, Surf to Summit, Trader Joe's, Valley Flowers, Wayne Kjar Cakes, Westerlay Orchids, Parm Williams

Event Committee

Susan Chapman, Silvio DiLoreto, Norris Goss, Jenny Hernadi, Lynn K. Jones, Ernesto Paredes, Jim Wolfe