Celebrate the most joyous season of the year at the AWC-SB Holiday Party on Wednesday, December 1. This year, we are delighted to once again gather in person for wine and delectable appetizers. If you need more reasons to celebrate, in addition to celebrating the holidays, join us in honoring the recipients of the Founder’s Award and the AWC-SB Member of the Year Award.
Annual Holiday Party
Wednesday, December 1
5-7:30 p.m.
Villa Wine Bar
618 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara
AWC-SB Members $25; Nonmembers $40
$50 for all at the door on day of event
includes appetizers and a glass of wine
Purchase your tickets HERE
Suggested dress code: Festive
Lois Phillips Founder’s Award Recipient – Kristine Schwarz
Kristine Schwarz is the director for New Beginnings, a leading mental health and social services agency in the Santa Barbara community. Kristine is a former Hollywood film producer turned psychotherapist and a thought leader with regard to issues surrounding homelessness and mental illness. In her executive leadership role over nine years, she’s raised millions of dollars for New Beginnings and grown the organizationβs budget by more than 500 percent, thereby doubling the number of clients served.
As a communicator, she has provided a voice for vulnerable community membersΒ She has also leveraged her communication skills to share best practices with community partners, speaking both locally and nationally to destigmatize critical social issues that can be polarizing and misunderstood.
Notes Lois Phillips, founder of AWC-SB, βKristine Schwarz is the recipient of this award for communicating awareness of the challenges faced by the most needy in our community. She and her New Beginnings team change minds and heartsβand livesβevery day.β
AWC-SB Member of the Year – Amy Orozco
Amy Marie Orozco joined AWC-SB in 2012. Members may recognize her byline from Carpinteria Magazine, Coastal View News, Santa Barbara News-Press, Goleta Valley Voice, and many other South Coast publications. Today she serves as editor of Cannabis by the Sea, a magazine focusing on the health and wellness lifestyle, in addition to providing editorial, digital, marketing, and creative services to a variety of clients including print and online publications, social media influencers, government agencies, entrepreneurs, and public relations firms.
Amy balances her time behind a computer screen with acting (appearing in local stage and television productions) and improv (she founded the improv troupe at Carpinteriaβs Alcazar Theater). Amy also volunteers her publicity/media relations expertise to Catalyst for Cats, a Santa Barbara County-based nonprofit, and sits on the board of directors of the Carpinteria Valley Historical Society. She earned her degree in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University and an Executive MBA in Pacific Rim Management from USC.
***Proof of Vaccination or Proof of Negative COVID Test Required for Attendance. Read AWC-SB Covid Health Policy here