ABOUT

About Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara

Since 1949, the non-profit Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara has been dedicated to ensuring the highest level of cancer care for everyone in Santa Barbara County regardless of means.

The Cancer Foundation is the exclusive fundraising partner of Ridley-Tree Cancer Center (formerly known as Cancer Center of Santa Barbara with Sansum Clinic). Thanks to the generosity of families and foundations, the Cancer Foundation ensures the Cancer Center stays in the vanguard of comprehensive, outpatient cancer care, retains highly trained and devoted medical personnel, acquires the latest technology and research protocols and integrates patient support and wellness programs into treatment plans.

The Cancer Foundation raises and distributes millions of dollars each year to Ridley-Tree Cancer Center and its parent Sansum Clinic allowing them to deliver a level of cancer care than would otherwise be impossible in a community our size, on par with many renowned cancer centers in the United States.

The Cancer Foundation is the leading fundraising and grant making non-profit dedicated to cancer in Santa Barbara County. The trustees of the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara focus exclusively on fulfilling its cancer focused mission.

History

Founded on a promise of superior care close to home, the Cancer Center has grown to become a regional powerhouse providing patients with exceptional, comprehensive cancer care. In 1948, Lillian Converse was treated for terminal cancer, and travel to Los Angeles for her treatments was difficult. Though she knew there was little chance of her own recovery, she wanted to help others with the disease. Her physician, Dr. Henry Ullmann, dreamed of having a one-million-volt x-ray machine—one of seven in the nation—to help treat cancer patients in Santa Barbara. Lillian’s husband, Elisha Converse, made this dream a reality by making a generous gift in memory of his wife, establishing the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara as the leading provider of cancer care on the central coast. The support initiated by Elisha has grown into a community tradition, and his pioneering vision for state-of-the-art cancer care in Santa Barbara has blossomed into a facility with a 72-year history of advancing the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure of cancer for patients in our community regardless of means. While the institution’s name has morphed over the decades (Memorial Cancer Foundation, Cancer Center of Santa Barbara and Cancer Center of Santa Barbara with Sansum Clinic, and now Ridley-Tree Cancer Center) the commitment to quality cancer care for all Santa Barbara residents never waned.

In 2012, the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara and Sansum Clinic forged a strategic partnership, and out of this union emerged the stand-alone Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara, the financial backbone of the Cancer Center since its inception.

In 2017, a new comprehensive cancer center was constructed that combined three locations into one. Philanthropist Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree provided the leading gift for the new facility and the name of the institution was changed to honor her support.

For the past 74 years, thanks to the generosity of patients, foundations and community members, the Cancer Foundation and its trustees have provided steadfast vision, leadership and support to ensure superior cancer care is available in Santa Barbara.


Mission

The mission of the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara is to ensure superior cancer care for all residents of Santa Barbara County regardless of means. The Cancer Foundation is the leading fundraising and grant making institution in Santa Barbara County dedicated to cancer care, and the largest contributor to Sansum Clinic and Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, the leading provider of outpatient cancer care on the central coast.

The Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara and Ridley-Tree Cancer Center work together to…

  • provide a comprehensive diagnostic, treatment, prevention and research program that allows cancer patients to receive the highest level of care without leaving Santa Barbara.
  • keep the Central Coast on the vanguard of modern cancer care by investing in cutting-edge medical equipment, the recruitment of highly trained medical personnel, active participation in clinical research, the integration of oncology services and the thoughtful introduction of promising new methods of treatment.

Board of Trustees

The volunteer Board of Trustees of the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara focus exclusively on fulfilling the Foundation’s cancer focused mission: to ensure superior cancer care for all residents of Santa Barbara County regardless of means.

Steve McHugh – Chair
Kristen Blabey – Vice Chair
Carola Nicholson – Treasurer
Katina Zaninovich – Secretary

W. Charles Conway, MD, FACS
Larry Dam
Raye Haskell-Melville

Patty MacFarlane
Bill Meeker
Denise Montell, PhD
Richard Nagler
Richard Nordlund
Charlie Petersen
George Tharakan
Rick Weber

Emeritus Trustees

Brier Turpin Allebrand
Brent Anderson
Denny Bacon
Philip L. Bernstein
Edward Birch, PhD
Sue Birch
Hugh M. Boss
David Bradford, MD
Les Charles
C. Michael Cooney
Shane Cotter, MD, PhD
Beverlye Hyman Fead
Frank H. Foster
Vicki Hazard
Priscilla Higgins, PhD
James H. Jackson

Morrie Jurkowitz
Fred Kass, MD
William Kimsey
Ronald Latimer, MD
Arthur J. Merovick
Tim Metzinger
Gene I. Miller
Val Montgomery
Robert W. Olson, MD
Amalia Priego
Joel Rothman, PhD
Kimberly Schizas
Janet Smith
Thomas H. Weisenburger, MD, FACR


Staff

Lori Willis, Executive Director

Stephanie Carlyle, Director of Philanthropy & Administration

Hannah Karlsrud Digital Communications Assistant


Careers

The Cancer Foundation is looking for a bright, motivated team member to help us fulfill our mission of supporting cancer care in Santa Barbara. The organization is committed to building an inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds and encourages candidates to apply below.

There are currently no positions available.


Locations

Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara

Philanthropy, Events & Administrative Offices
601 West Junipero Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Phone: (805) 898-2116
Fax: (805) 898-2184
Email: info@cfsb.org
Tax ID: 95-2158727

Ridley-Tree Cancer Center Locations

Main Office
540 West Pueblo Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
(805) 563-5800

  • Hematology and Medical Oncology
  • Radiation Oncology
  • Surgical Oncology
  • Support Services and Wellness Programs
  • Resource Library
  • Nutrition
  • Genetic Counseling

Solvang Office
Medical Oncology
2040 Viborg Road #140
Solvang, CA 93463
(805) 686-5370

Lompoc Office
Medical Oncology
1225 North “H” Street
Lompoc, CA 93436
Phone: (805) 737-8700

Nuclear Medicine
400 West Pueblo Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
(805) 682-7300

Kristy CooperHannah Karlsrud