The Santa Barbara Lacrosse Association (SBLA) will support young players taking up the sport by holding its inaugural annual fundraiser on Thursday, Nov. 10, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the historic Villa de la Guerra in Santa Barbara.
The event will feature wine tasting and a silent auction, with items such as Sunday brunch at a five-star hotel, stand-up paddleboard lessons, a cooking class & luncheon for six taught by a top local chef, and, fittingly, a 100-year-old antique lacrosse stick. The Wine Cass is catering the event, featuring a menu of small plates, in a California casual setting at the stunning home of Mary and Rowland Hanson, and one of Southern California’s most sought after sites for private events.
“Lacrosse is a great game with a great history,” said Dr. Richard Lehman, president of the Santa Barbara Lacrosse Association. “We would like to raise enough money to sponsor 20 lacrosse players next year. It cost upwards of $400 to put a single youth player on the field, so this would require $8,000 in donations.”
Proceeds from this event will also allow the SBLA to expand its programs, through equipment purchases, field acquisitions, and training sessions for new coaches and officials. As an example, a portion of the donations will be used to purchase lacrosse gear for P.E. classes at cash-strapped local elementary and middle schools. The association also expects to underwrite the formation of lacrosse teams at local public high schools in the near future.
Representatives from SBLA’s board of directors as well as UCSB’s club lacrosse teams will address questions about lacrosse and SBLA’s efforts at the event. Many parents of lacrosse players involved in SBLA’s programs, such as Elings Park Summer Camps, Fall Ball, the Winter Clinic, and the Spring League will attend.
Tickets for this event are $25 per person when purchased online (http://www.sblacrosse.org/SBLA_Fundraiser2011.html) or $35 at-the-door. For more information or questions, please contact Rick Lehman at [email protected] or 805-886-1822.
