Ice in Paradise proudly presents not one, but two Frank Anderson Volunteer of the Year 2024 Awards to Gregoire Jacob and Charlie Batsford.
The Frank Anderson Volunteer of the Year Award, named after our first ever Volunteer of the Year Award recipient, Frank Anderson, is presented to those who have had a positive impact on our community and encourages others around them to do their best. Award recipients are seen as excellent role models and have repeatedly showcased their dedication in their support of Ice in Paradise throughout the year and beyond. Ice in Paradise wants to recognize Gregoire Jacob and Charlie Batsford, we thank you both for your hard work.
GREGOIRE JACOB
French-born Gregoire Jacob, who has provided a wide range of assistance since coming to Ice in Paradise in 2017, has been named one of the rink's two Volunteer of the Year for 2024. Gregoire assists with the weekly Learn to Skate classes and has volunteered his time for events such as the Goleta Lemon Festival, the ISI Competition, our Annual Holiday Show, and Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer.
After leaving France 14 years ago, he made his way to Central California to attend UC Santa Barbara, where he earned a PhD in Engineering in 2010. Gregoire, who serves as secretary of the American Riviera Figure Skating Club (formerly the Ice in Paradise Figure Skating Club), has served on its board for three years. He lives in Santa Barbara with his wife, Melissa.
We appreciate Gregoire's unwavering dedication to the rink, and look forward to his efforts for years to come. As his countrymen would say, "Merci beaucoup pour toute votre aide" thank you for all your help!
CHARLIE BATSFORD
Charlie Batsford, one of the original contributors who helped launch Ice in Paradise, has earned honors as one of the rink's two Volunteer of the Year for 2024. In addition to being the very first father to offer to coach our in-house Minors 3 hockey, he enticed three other dads to help guide the program. As head coach of our Junior Hawks Minors 3 squad — which doubles as our 8U Ice Hawks tournament team — his enthusiasm and expertise have instilled a solid foundation for our youth hockey programs, where he has been instrumental in creating the coaching plan. Charlie also serves as a board member for the Ice Hawks.
As a member of the SB Boys who were key to making Ice in Paradise a reality in 2015, he rallied community members who raised more than $200,000 of financial support for the rink's construction. Charlie, a UCSB graduate who lives in Santa Barbara with his wife, Lindsay, and their three kids, can also be seen applying his hockey skills as one of the top forwards on the Variant squad in the D3 division of our Santa Barbara Adult Hockey League. We're grateful to "Chuck" for the growth of our youth hockey programs, and know that the parents of our youngest skaters also appreciate his efforts.