Legacy Society member Debbie Arnesen talks to SBEF’s Nina Dunbar about a friendship and other events that led her to a much deeper involvement with public education in Santa Barbara.
Last December, the Santa Barbara Education Foundation’s Legacy Society welcomed Debbie Arnesen as a new member. A former board member, Debbie was already familiar with SBEF’s mission, leadership, and programs. When she confirmed her plans to leave an estate gift, we wanted to learn more about Debbie, how she found our organization, and what motivated her to invest in the future of public education in Santa Barbara.
ND: How did you come to Santa Barbara and get involved with the Education Foundation?
At 18, I moved to Santa Barbara from Toledo, Ohio, to attend UCSB. Fortunately, I found work here after graduation and have been in Santa Barbara ever since. My first exposure to Santa Barbara schools was for my student teaching placement at Santa Barbara High, and later, both my sons attended school there.
After a brief time as a high school teacher, I transitioned into fund development work for nonprofits and met Margie Yahyavi (SBEF’s former executive director) at various events around town. We became friends and, through the years, discussed fundraising efforts for public education. Margie’s passion for SBEF and Santa Barbara’s public schools, along with her enthusiastic recruiting, convinced me to join SBEF’s board when I retired.
ND: Can you share a public education success story that resonates with you?
One of my most positive experiences concerns my two goddaughters, who are sisters. They come from a lower-income family with hard-working parents, neither of whom attended college. Their parents were determined that their daughters would have the opportunities afforded by a great education that neither of them had. With a ‘won’t take no for an answer’ persistence, their mother secured a ‘transfer’ from their neighborhood school, and both girls were enrolled in the Gate Magnet program at Washington Elementary. The sisters’ love of STEM subjects was identified early, and they both went to La Cumbre Junior High with an ‘eye’ toward qualifying for the Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy. As Dos Pueblos, both became part of the tight-knit, rigorous ‘Academy’. They also benefited from participation in the Mission Scholars Program (a program fiscally sponsored by SBEF at the time), which provides comprehensive college admissions guidance to high-performing, underrepresented students. Today, both my godchildren are attending the colleges of their choice—UC Santa Cruz and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
At each step of their public education journey, these young women were nurtured, mentored, and challenged by caring adults—teachers, tutors, counselors, parents who believed they could and would achieve their dreams. This is what quality public education can look like when we all (teachers, administrators, parents, nonprofits, philanthropists) focus on what our children need to succeed.
ND: Santa Barbara is a generous community and home to hundreds of great nonprofits that support important causes. What motivated you to prioritize TK-12 public education in your estate plans?
I believe education can change the trajectory of a child’s life in a powerful and positive way. Quality public education can be the great equalizer, giving every child the opportunity to reach their potential. It is something that every child deserves and that we, as a society, can and should provide. In “wealthy” Santa Barbara, one in five children lives at or below the poverty level. Designating SBEF as the beneficiary of a percentage of my 401(k) plan enabled me to give more than my annual gift. I feel great knowing that my support can help change children’s lives.
ND: Why should someone less familiar with our work consider getting involved with the Santa Barbara Education Foundation?
When my kids were growing up, we gave to their individual schools and the activities they were involved in, as many parents do—sports teams, theater, dance groups, band, field trips, etc. SBEF takes the macro view of SB Unified Schools by developing and supporting programs that impact all students.
ND: SBEF Legacy Society members are a vital sounding board for our organization’s work. Do you have any suggestions, questions, or advice that I can take back to our board and staff?
Every member of SBEF’s board and staff is responsible for the friend and fundraising efforts. You can all contribute to these efforts in a way that works for you and benefits the organization—by giving an annual gift that is meaningful to you, by introducing others to the organization, and by being an informed advocate in the community about the power of giving to SBEF.
Debbie and Jim Arnesen and their children.
