As many of you know, the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara will soon have a new leader. Victoria Juarez, who currently serves as executive director of Girls Inc. of Carpinteria, will assume her new duties as president and CEO of the Scholarship Foundation on December 3.

Victoria comes to us with a wealth of relevant personal and professional experience. A first-generation college graduate, she began her nonprofit career as a service coordinator for Project Access in Garden Grove, California, before being named program director for the YMCA of Greater Long Beach. She went on to hold fundraising and leadership positions at Storyteller Children’s Center in Santa Barbara. As executive director of Girls Inc. of Carpinteria since 2011, she has increased revenue more than 20 percent in support of new programming, operations, and regional expansion into Ventura County, among other accomplishments.

I am confident that I speak for everyone at the Scholarship Foundation when I say I am very excited at the prospect of working with Victoria in the months and years ahead.

On a personal note, it has been a great honor and privilege to lead this exceptional organization on an interim basis since January. The Scholarship Foundation never ceases to amaze me, and I am exceedingly proud of all that we accomplish on behalf of students and families throughout Santa Barbara County.

Wishing you and your loved ones a joyous holiday season.