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2007 Award Recipient:
The Larry Crandell Family
 Providing
an introduction for Larry Crandell, a 47 year native of Santa
Barbara, is both a challenge and a blessing. It’s a challenge
to summarize his decades of philanthropy, the hundreds of millions
of dollars total that he’s fundraised over the years, and
the litany of organizations and gatherings to which he donates
his time and vigor, some of which currently include the Westmont
Foundation, Parks and Recreation Community Foundation, and the
Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table. But it’s also a blessing,
because there’s no way to separate Larry’s philanthropy
resume from the wonderful stories and anecdotes that make Larry
special, stories that have already filled a book. His supercharged
personality is always on display, whether at charity auctions
before huge crowds, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars in
a matter of minutes for the Douglas Family Preserve, crashing
a Valentine’s Day gala with a bouquet of roses, or livening
up his favorite waiter who’s having a bad day.
For
those who know him, Larry Crandell is charismatic, friendly, and
has spent at least 40 years graciously serving our community.
Larry has used his extraordinary charisma not only to inspire
others to give, but to bring joy and levity to everyone around
him. He offers laughter and happiness to strangers and friends
alike. “I consider Larry to be my friend,” writes
a basketball buddy of Larry’s, “but then again, I
think everyone who comes into contact with Larry thinks of him
as a friend.”
Larry
has three sons - Larry Jr., Michael, and Steven – and still
lives in the same house he bought with his wife Marcy back in
1960.
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