Santa Barbara Foundation announces 2009 Man & Woman of the Year

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Santa Barbara Foundation announces 2009 Man & Woman of the Year

The 67th Annual Man & Woman of the Year Award luncheon was held on March 26 at the Four Seasons Biltmore. Maryan Schall was named Woman of the Year and David L. Peri, the Man of Year.

The identity of this year's recipients, selected from a large and diverse pool of nominations from the community, remained a guarded secret until the actual moment the honor was bestowed. This prestigious award is given to one man and one woman who have made a significant impact on Santa Barbara through volunteer service and involvement.

The Man & Woman of the Year award, created in 1942 by the Santa Barbara Advertising Club, has historically recognized the community's most dedicated civic leaders. Today, the award is co-sponsored by the Santa Barbara Foundation, KEYT-Television, and the classical music station KDB FM.

The event was emceed by Larry Crandell (1988 Man of the Year) and Paula Lopez, evening news anchor for KEYT.

Maryann Schall
Santa Barbara Foundation, KEYT, and KDB FM have honored Maryan Schall as the 2008 Woman of the Year. The award was presented on Thursday, March 26 at the Four Seasons Biltmore before an enthusiastic audience of nonprofit community representatives, family and friends. Maryan Schall is a dedicated community volunteer who is extraordinarily generous with her time and talent. Maryan and her husband, Dick, both grew up in Minnesota and retired to Santa Barbara in 1990. The Schall name means "sound" in German, but Maryan Schall prefers an alternative translation: "noise" --because, as she points out, "We're a rather noisy family." Whatever one's linguistic preference, Dick and Maryan Schall's name and good works reverberate throughout the local nonprofit community. Maryan has worked hard to share her expertise in organizational management in the areas of higher education, youth and healthcare. She has offered consistent involvement and leadership to the following organizations:

1. Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara – 1990-present
- Active board member for 18 years
- Vice President of Student Aid
- Led committees in Development, Personnel and Membership

2. Sansum-Santa Barbara Medical Clinic – 1995-present
- Active Board member since before the “clinic merger” when the organization was known as the Santa Barbara Medical Foundation Clinic
- Chaired committee to raise money for equipment for state-of-the-art mammograms
- Continues to be active today as an honorary trustee
- Founding member of the Endowment Committee
- Continues to help recruit new Board members

3. CALM – 1989-1999
- Served as Board Vice-President
- Participated on multiple committees

4. SBCC Adult Education Advisory Committee – 1988-present
- Served on President’s Council
- Served on multiple committees with an emphasis on:
- Adopt-a-Student program
- Single Parent Program
- Childcare Issues
- Nursing Program
- Mesa Program for under-represented students

5. Planned Parenthood – 1988-present
- Offered significant advice and advocacy support at local, state and national levels.

6. Council on Alcohol & Drug Abuse – 1998-present
- Helped establish Summit High School a recovery high school that integrates support for drug or alcohol abuse with academic achievement and parental involvement.

David L. Peri
Santa Barbara Foundation, KEYT, and KDB FM have honored David L. Peri as the 2008 Man of the Year. The award was presented on Thursday, March 26 at the Four Seasons Biltmore.

A second-generation Santa Barbaran, David L. Peri was raised to appreciate his heritage and to use his skills for others. A member of the first graduating class of San Marcos High School, David’s interests lie in the areas of youth development, the promotion of cultural awareness, social justice and service to those in greatest need. He inspires by serving as a catalyst – planting seeds, articulating needs and giving encouragement to others to get involved themselves. He has offered modest, capable and collaborative leadership to the following organizations:

1. Casa Esperanza – 1999-present
- Board Chair & Committee Member
- Helped raise $8 million

2. Fund for Santa Barbara – 1980-1990
- Founding member
- Helped with fundraising, policy and organizational development

3. More Mesa Preservation Coalition – 2003-present
- Board Member
- Worked for natural resource preservation and public acquisition of More Mesa

4. California Missions Foundation – 2003-present
- Promoted public awareness and education of California’s heritage

5. Doctors Without Walls – 2005-present
- Founding Member
- Helped arrange provision of medical services to people living on the streets

6. Behrendt-Gildea Foundation
- President & Founding Member
- Helped low-income seniors and environmental needs

7. Old Spanish Days – 2000-2004
- Honorary Presidente for 2006
- Helped coordinate and fund Old Spanish Days activities