Santa Barbara County Community Comes Together to Grant Holiday Wishes for 677 Children in the Foster Care System

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SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. (December 23, 2025) — At a time of year that can be especially difficult for children in foster care, the Santa Barbara County community came together in an extraordinary show of compassion, fulfilling the holiday wishes of 677 children and youth, from newborns to age 20, through CASA of Santa Barbara County’s annual Project Wishes gift drive.

With the support of 19 community giving groups—including local companies, service clubs, and faith-based organizations—along with 49 individual wish granters, CASA ensured that every child currently served by the program received meaningful, personalized gifts. The effort also extended to children on CASA’s waiting list and those identified by county social workers as especially vulnerable, ensuring no child was overlooked during the holiday season.

“The extraordinary way our community shows up year after year is deeply moving,” said Kim Colby Davis, Executive Director of CASA of Santa Barbara County. “For children in the foster care system, the holidays can amplify feelings of loss and uncertainty. These gifts send a powerful and lasting message: you are seen, you matter, and your community cares about you.”…

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