The BOLD FUTURES BRUNCH on June 4, 2026 from 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. is a new format for Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara’s annual community fundraiser. Over 150 attendees will gather at the Santa Barbara Club for a morning of connection and conversation featuring a panel of local women leaders on a mission to build a bold future for girls.

Please join us for this meaningful gathering.

This fundraiser will play a key role in supporting our Equitable Access Fund. This fund reduces financial and transportation barriers to our award-winning programs for over 500 girls in our community each year.

For more than 68 years, Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara has been a champion for girls and young women, equipping them to overcome gender, economic, and social barriers, and preparing them to thrive in every stage of life. The Bold Futures Brunch is more than a fundraiser—it is a celebration of resilience, courage, and the limitless potential of the girls we serve. It is also a joyful gathering of those who believe, as we do, in the power of investing in girls.

Our Strong, Smart, and Bold Honorees:

Dr. Daina Ramey Berry is the Michael Douglas Dean of Humanities and Fine Arts at the University of California, Santa Barbara. An internationally recognized scholar, she is a specialist on gender, slavery, and Black women’s history in the United States.

Dr. Berry is also the award-winning author and editor of six books, including A Black Women’s History of the United States, which won the 2021 Susan Koppelman Award for the Best Book in Feminist Studies, was a 2021 NAACP Finalist for Literary Non-Fiction, and received honorable mention for the 2021 Darlene Clark Hine Book Award sponsored by the Organization of American Historians.

A frequent media contributor, her insights have been featured in documentaries on NBC, PBS, and National Geographic, and her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Time, and The Washington Post.

Mona Miyasato has devoted more than 30 years to public service and currently serves as County Executive Officer for Santa Barbara County, leading an organization of more than 4,700 employees and overseeing a $1.6 billion budget. Since 2013, she has guided the County through significant challenges, including natural disasters and the COVID‑19 pandemic, while advancing innovation and organizational excellence through initiatives such as the award‑winning Renew program. Mona is widely respected for her steady, collaborative leadership and her dedication to mentoring future leaders, particularly women in public service.

Michelle Apodaca is a recognized leader in corporate philanthropy and social impact, spearheading Deckers Brands’ global giving program with a focus on meaningful partnerships, employee engagement, and lasting community benefit. Since joining Deckers in 2005, she has helped shape a multifaceted approach to corporate giving—including grants, volunteerism, and product donations—that has positioned the company as a model for corporate responsibility locally and globally. A Santa Barbara native, Michelle is deeply committed to advancing opportunities for women and children and has been widely honored for her leadership and community impact.