News Release
October 1, 2010
Contact: Alixe Mattingly
(805) 963-1873 ext. 123
Santa Barbara Foundation and KEYT Announce the
68th Annual Man and Woman of the Year:
Dr. Robert Emmons and Jane Habermann
The Santa Barbara Foundation and KEYT honored two exceptional individuals
for their long-standing commitment to community volunteerism on Thursday, September
30, at the 68th Annual Man & Woman of the Year Awards. A large crowd gathered at the
Four Seasons Biltmore to recognize Dr. Robert J. Emmons and Jane Habermann for
the significant impact they have had throughout the community. Both recipients have
been active supporters of a variety of nonprofit organizations. Selected from a diverse
pool of candidates, Emmons and Habermann join the ranks of Santa Barbara's most
dedicated civic leaders who have received this honor, a part of Santa Barbara's history
since 1942. Previous award winners include David Anderson, Pearl Chase, Léni Fé
Bland, Lotte Lehman, Eli Luria, and Thomas M. Storke, all of whom were recognized for
volunteer service and involvement.
Both recipients were genuinely surprised by the honor, which was kept a closely
guarded secret until being unveiled in front of hundreds during a dinner and gala affair at
the Coral Casino. Awards were presented by KEYT Evening Anchor, Paula Lopez, and
Santa Barbara Foundation President & CEO, Ron Gallo. “Jane Habermann and Robert
Emmons are true volunteer leaders whose selfless actions have inspired many to do more
to help others. Volunteerism is crucial to keeping people, communities and businesses
healthy and productive. We should all be proud to have people like Robert Emmons and
Jane Habermann in our midst,” said Ron Gallo.
Former Man of the Year, Larry Crandell, was honored by Chuck Slosser, retired
president & CEO of the Santa Barbara Foundation, and Tom Parker, president of the
Hutton Foundation, for tirelessly volunteering his services as emcee for the Man &
Woman of the Year Award events over the past decade.
(Biographies provided below)
About the Santa Barbara Foundation
The Santa Barbara Foundation is a high impact community foundation with over 80
years of success in strategically enhancing our communities by providing funding to area
nonprofit agencies and college bound students. Through partnership and personalized
philanthropic services, the Foundation supports the day-to-day charitable passions of
hundreds of fund holders and assists others in creating philanthropic legacies.
With over $250 million in assets under management, the Santa Barbara Foundation is
top ranked for investment performance and financial stewardship. A leader in providing
rigorous evaluation in distributing funds, the Foundation awarded over $20 million in
grants and $2 million in student loans in the 2009 fiscal year.
About KEYT
KEYT-TV serves as the ABC affiliate for California’s Central Coast, serving over
500,000 homes from Thousand Oaks to San Luis Obispo with quality news, sports, and
entertainment broadcasting. KEYT is involved with youth-oriented community service
projects, and produces several local telethons every year, as well as two weekly
programs focusing on local news and community service. KEYT is now celebrating more
than 50 years of service to Santa Barbara County.
Contact:
Alixe Mattingly, Vice President
Communications and Marketing
(805) 963-1873 ext. 123
amattingly@sbfoundation.org
# # #
Dr. Robert Emmons
A New York Stock Exchange company CEO, a well-respected international
management consultant, university professor, avid art enthusiast and collector, and
published poet, Dr. Emmons has accumulated a wealth of leadership qualities and
financial acumen that he shares without hesitation with the Santa Barbara community. He
has received a number of honors for his philanthropy and community service efforts,
including the Herbert Hoover Humanitarian Award, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s
Wright Ludington Lifetime Achievement Award, the City of Hope Community Leader
Award, and the Los Angeles Boy Scouts Distinguished Citizen Award.
Dr. Emmons brought his experience in the areas of development, marketing and
finance to Lotusland’s Board of Trustees. Board President from 2000-2006, Dr. Emmons
led the effort to create a 10-Year Master Plan, the creation of the cactus garden and the
pavilion renovation. For his great efforts, the board named him a Lifetime Honorary
Trustee. He and his wife, Christine, are also charter members of The Lotus Society,
Lotusland’s planned giving program. Dr. Emmons’ consistent support helped the
organization offer programs for the community, including internships and tours for public
schools. “Lotusland would not be what it is today without Bob's wisdom, devotion and
energy,” said Gwen Stauffer, executive director of Lotusland. “Bob is a Renaissance man
with a passion for gardens, art and poetry. Combined with his business savvy, this made
him the perfect person to lead Lotusland into the future.”
The Santa Barbara Museum of Art also benefited from Dr. Emmons’ time and
interest. A member of the Board of Trustees for almost 20 years, he chaired the
Exhibitions and Acquisitions and Long Range Planning Committees. He created and
funded the Robert and Christine Emmons Gallery and currently supervises the display of
California art in the gallery. Though no longer a trustee, Dr. Emmons continues to serve
on the Investment Committee.
The impact of Dr. Emmons’ generosity has been felt throughout the Santa
Barbara community. He is a supporter of CAMA, Cottage Hospital Foundation, Santa
Barbara Center for the Performing Arts, Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, Visiting Nurse
& Hospice Care, Serenity House, the Unity Shoppe, and the Arts Fund. A fierce
advocate for education, Dr. Emmons has shared his time and talents with Westmont
College assisting them with planning a major symposium. Westmont College awarded
Dr. Emmons and his wife Christine with the Westmont Medal for Community Service in
2008. Dr. Emmons also helped establish the Emmons Art Center for music, art, and
ceramics at Laguna Blanca School and led a capital campaign that raised more than $3
million on behalf of Marymount School. Dr. Emmons also has been a longtime member
of the Santa Barbara Foundation’s Board of Trustees. He improved the Foundation’s
investments and helped formulate its current strategic plan. He established a poetry prize
(awarded as part of the Foundation’s Creative Writing Scholarships) and played a major
role in the hiring of the current president & CEO. Dr. Emmons is the Foundation’s chair
emeritus.
Jane Habermann
The daughter of a country doctor in North Dakota, Jane Habermann learned firsthand about the importance of home health care by accompanying her father on house
calls. This experience laid the groundwork for a lifetime commitment to health and
human services. She is considered a community treasure and known as a passionate
advocate for the underserved in Santa Barbara County.
Ms. Habermann combines the discipline she developed as a former champion
barrel racer and the compassion she gained watching her father work with patients and
health care issues and applies both to the nonprofit world. Shortly after college at
Colorado State, she moved to Santa Barbara and began her work with nonprofits. She
began with the Junior League of Santa Barbara to improve the Santa Barbara community
by promoting effective volunteer action and leadership.
A 20-year board member and past board chair of Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care
(VNHC), an agency that provides home health and hospice care to residents of Santa
Barbara, including those unable to pay, Ms. Habermann co-chaired the capital campaign
for an expanded Serenity House. She also chaired the Development Committee for five
years, helping to increase fundraising income from less than $1 million to $5.6 million.
Lynda Tanner, VNHC president and CEO, said, “Jane is an exceptional and active
volunteer for many important Santa Barbara nonprofit organizations. VNHC would not
be where it is today were it not for her 20 years of extraordinary service. The depth of
her outstanding commitment to hospice care in our community is unsurpassed. Jane’s
dedication of time, energy, expertise and finances to our new Serenity House is a
testament to her passion and devotion for hospice and the Santa Barbara community.”
Ms. Habermann also devotes time to serving on the board of the Santa Barbara
City College Foundation where she has participated on several important committees,
including the MacDougall Fund for Excellence and the capital campaign for the School
of Media Arts Committees.
In the late 1970s, Ms. Habermann was responsible for conducting training on
values and decision-making for UCSB Panhellenic, which is part of a national
organization that attracts women from various religious, socioeconomic, and ethnic
backgrounds for the pursuit of higher education, service to the community, and
development of leadership skills.
Ms. Habermann’s volunteer efforts have been recognized by several local
organizations. She was voted “Volunteer of the Year” by the Association of Fundraising
Professionals at the 2007 National Philanthropy Day and named 2008 Health Care Hero,
an honor given by Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics to those who contribute greatly to
improving access to health care in the community.
Jane Habermann is currently a member of the Santa Barbara Foundation Board of
Trustees.