Santa Barbara County is blessed with a diversity of vital nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving the health, well-being, growth, civic leadership and compassion of our community.
Charitable giving and philanthropy are part of our identity, which is why Noozhawk is proud to support the nonprofit community through sponsoring local community organizations and events.
To showcase our support of the event, The MaryJane McCord Planned Parenthood Book Sale, Noozhawk spoke with Riley DeWitt, Special Events Coordinator for Planned Parenthood California Central Coast to learn more about their event.
Planned Parenthood California Central Coast
Question: What is the name and date of your event?
Answer: Mary Jane McCord Planned Parenthood 51st Book Sale September 11th-21st
Q: What is the mission, goal, and/or theme of this occasion?
A: The MaryJane McCord Planned Parenthood Book Sale has three main purposes.
The first is to raise essential funds for Planned Parenthood California Central Coast (PPCCC) six state-certified health centers, which offer a full range of services including pregnancy testing, breast and cervical cancer screening, contraceptive options, vasectomies, abortion care, gender affirming hormone therapy, menopausal care, STI testing and treatment, and more.
Secondly, the book sale helps promote literacy by providing the community with affordable access to over 56 book genres for any and all age ranges. All our books are priced well below market value, with some books priced as low as $1. Additionally, we sell CDs, DVDs, vinyl’s, puzzles and games at affordable prices.
Lastly, the book sale builds a sense of community for our book-loving PPCCC supporters and residents from our county and beyond. The book sale is made possible thanks to the incredible work of over 200 PPCCC volunteers who work tirelessly year-round to sort and price donated books and other items.
The sale continues to expand as our passionate volunteers use their expertise to reach more community members, brainstorm new ways to make the book sale more effective and efficient and dedicate more time to ensure the book sale is providing on-going funds to PPCCC through the online sale of donated items year-round.
Q: Have you held this event before?
A: Yes, this year marks our 51st sale – which means we were thrilled to celebrate its 50-year anniversary in 2024. The book sale has come a long way since its origins in 1973.
What started as a small sale that raised just over $4,500 with a few hundred books and a handful of volunteers in a tiny location, is now an event that offers over 200,000 books and raises more than $500,000 annually for PPCCC’s programs and services.
Q: Tell us some more details about your celebration?
A: The MaryJane McCord Planned Parenthood Book Sale is an 11-day event, taking place from September 11th – 21st in the Exhibit Hall at the Earl Warren Showgrounds.
Hours vary daily and can be found on our website. Opening night is on Thursday, September 11th, from 4-7pm, and costs $30 per ticket, which gives attendees a preview of the sale and first access to the inventory. The rest of the shopping days are FREE entry and parking is always free.
Additionally, this year for the first time ever, we will be hosting an After-Hours event on the second night of the sale. On Friday, September 12th for $25 per ticket, guests will have access to the sale after hours, from 7-9pm. The event includes book related crafts, a free mocktail (nonalcoholic beverage), and the music of DJ Darla Bea. All ages are encouraged to participate.
Q: How do people get involved with your event? (volunteer, attend, etc.) – If your event includes ticket sales, please note the price and include a link to purchase tickets.
A: Attending the event is the main way for our community to support the sale. With 200,000 options that are replenished daily and prices well below retail, this is by far the easiest way for the community to get involved.
Attending the event is FREE every day except for Opening Night (which is $30). Opening Night provides a first look at the offerings and will include music by the George Friedenthal trio.
Another way to support the sale is by sponsoring the event or a book category. For more information and to purchase opening night tickets and sponsorships, please visit our website.
Community members can also attend our After-Hours event on Friday, September 12th from 7-9 pm for $25. For more information on our After-Hours event and to purchase tickets, please visit our website here.
If you are interested in participating further, consider becoming a book sale volunteer. These volunteers have a wide variety of responsibilities, and choose their roles based on their interests. For more information on becoming a book sale volunteer, please visit our website. All volunteers must complete an application process and training.
Q: Is this a fundraising affair? If so, how will the funds raised help your organization?
A: Yes, this is a fundraising effort for PPCCC.
Fundraising for us is vitally important for the future of our organization due to the current administration and its continued attacks on sexual and reproductive health care. Funds raised by the Book Sale support our general operating budget. This includes a wide variety of things including our services, our programs, and helping us give access to care for community members that would not have opportunities otherwise.
As the most trusted provider of reproductive health care, we work toward a future where all people have equitable opportunity to experience health and wellness including high-quality sexual and reproductive health care provided with respect and without judgment. On an annual basis, we serve nearly 30,000 patients across the Central Coast at one of our six health centers.
Q: Who is sponsoring your event, and why is their support important?
A: While this is a year-round effort to support PPCCC, for our 11-day sale we have a variety of opportunities for community members to help support the book sale via an event sponsorship.
Sponsorships are an essential tool to ensuring that PPCCC can continue hosting this incredible annual community event.
Options to support include:
Sponsoring the overall sale in amounts ranging from $100 to $10,000. Your generosity will be recognized in prominent ways throughout the sale.
Sponsoring one or more of the 50-plus book categories for $100 each. All category sponsors will be recognized and honored at the sale with a sign posted at their chosen category’s table as well as a digital sign on the book sale website.
Sponsorship signs can display your name, an organization’s name, “anonymous,” a dedication to someone, a political or inspirational message or a quote of your choosing.
Q: Do you work with an Event Planner? If not, who are the key people who make it all happen?
A: We do not work with an event planner. The sale is put on annually with the help of dedicated volunteers and staff support from PPCCC.
Q: Does your organization have any other upcoming events this year?
A: Yes, on April 25th, 2026 we will be hosting our annual gala, The Birds and Bees Bash, at the Hilton Beachfront Resort in Santa Barbara. If you are interested in learning more about the event, please visit our event website.
Q: What are you planning as a post-event follow up?
A: We wrap the event with a celebration in honor of the hard-working volunteers who dedicate so much of their time to ensuring a successful sale. Additionally, we thank all our sponsors and celebrate the amount of funds raised.
Then the cycle begins anew, and our dedicated staff and volunteers immediately work on planning next year’s sale, donations are processed and sorted, and items are sold online throughout the year. If you are interested in donating books or other items for the 2026 sale, please visit us here.
To learn more about the Mary Jane McCord Book Sale click here.
If you would like to apply for Noozhawk’s 50/50 Match Sponsorship Program for your upcoming nonprofit event please click HERE to view our sponsorship application. The deadline for consideration is 30-45 days prior to the event. You can also contact our sales team at sales@noozhawk.com.