One 805: Feeling Stronger Every Day

The Thomas Fire and debris flows that plagued Montecito and the area in over a month spanning 2017-18 was an unprecedented tragedy that caused great devastation to the community. 

But out of the ashes and mud rose a brand-new nonprofit called One805, which has not only raised funds to support the First Responders who worked tirelessly during the fire and flows and continue to serve and protect the community year-round, but also brought together the heads of the 11 first responder agencies in the county. Through a uniquely cooperative and transparent process, the agencies work together to sort through grant applications to distribute the donations for purchasing much-needed equipment, essential resources, and public emergency preparedness that go beyond their normal budgets. 

One805 also produced the Kick Ash Bash, the now legendary concert in spring 2018 that featured rock stars, movie stars, survivors, and first responders coming together for a celebration that still resonates today, and first filled the nonprofit’s coffers to make a major splash.

Now the organization is back with a new event called One805 Live!, a festival-style gathering at a private oceanside estate in the late afternoon and evening of September 17. 

More modest, perhaps, but still plenty of fun for everyone, with lots of music and plenty of recognition for pillars of the community still at the forefront. 

The concert stars Danny Seraphine, the founding drummer of Chicago who now fronts a jazz-rock powerhouse group called California Transit Authority (CTA), who stepped in last year for One805’s much smaller gala event on just two days’ notice, said Richard Weston-Smith, the organization’s president and one of its co-founders.

“His daughter lives here, so he spends quite a bit of time in town and when we asked, he just said sure, absolutely,” Weston-Smith said. “His show was a huge success and everybody loved him, especially our first responders.” 

This time around, though, Seraphine and CTA will have a lot of musical friends along for the ride, including Wally Palmar, the lead singer and founding member of The Romantics; Elliot Easton of The Cars, who lives in Thousand Oaks; and David Pack of Ambrosia. Which means we’ll hear tons of Top 10 hits from the musicians who collectively comprise two members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and two Grammy Award winners. Dishwalla, the Santa Barbara band whose “Counting Blue Cars” was a massive hit in the 1990s, will also perform, as will rising stars Sofia Guerra and the band Glen Annie, plus DJ LeFunk Sounds.Don’t be surprised if other special guests also make an appearance. 

Heart of the Community Award

But One805 Live! isn’t just a concert, as the organization will also honor several Montecito residents with the 2022 “Heart of the Community Award” presented on stage at the September 17 event.  

Retired Santa Barbara City Fire Chief Pat McElroy will be recognized for his longtime service, including most recently his dedication to the installation of the nets above Montecito as Executive Director of the Partnership for Resilient Communities, a huge effort that makes the community safer. 

“He retired as fire chief and just took on the extraordinarily difficult task of getting the nets put in place, including spearheading raising the millions of dollars required,” Weston-Smith said. 

Travis Twining, Amanda Winn-Twining, and Alastair and Ann Wynn, of Giffin Equipment, are being honored for their instant response on the morning of the mudflows. Realizing Montecito had been cut off and many people were stranded, the family immediately called the managers at Giffin Equipment and instructed them to get every available piece of earth-moving equipment to Montecito, and leave it ready on the roadside for whomever needed it. 

“They just unloaded all the equipment with the keys in it and a full tank of gas for whoever needed it, which really made a difference,” Weston-Smith said. “It was so generous and an extraordinary sense of community.”

Alixe Mattingly, a longtime active advocate and board member for area nonprofit organizations including the MOXI, Direct Relief International, Storyteller Children’s Center, Hospice, Lotusland, the Alzheimer’s Association and many others, is also being recognized for her boundless energy, intelligence, and wise counsel. 

“She just embodies community spirit,” Weston-Smith said. “She’s also incredibly humble and doesn’t want the limelight, but here we are.”

Each of the “Heart of the Community Award” winners will receive a unique 3D printed ceramic award designed and created by Lynda Weinman. And while you can’t buy one of those awards, other unique items are up for bid through the One805 Live! online auction to raise additional funds for

Unlike a typical benefit, there are no trips, wine packages, catered dinners, or other such generic gifts – just seven one-of-a-kind treasures directly related to the entertainers and others taking part in the September 17 bash. 

Musical instruments up for bids are an Epiphone electric-acoustic guitar signed by Kevin Costner, a Telecaster autographed by Easton of the Cars, another electric guitar autographed by Robby Krieger, the Doors’ original drummer, and a Seraphine-signed snare drum authenticated with a Rock and Roll hall of fame inductee plaque. Bernie Taupin, the Santa Ynez resident who wrote the lyrics for nearly all of Elton John’s hit albums, will be joining the One805 Live! event as a special guest and contributed two hand-signed prints, one each depicting lines from the songs “Daniel” and “The Bitch is Back.” Russell Young, the American-British pop artist known for his large-scale silk screen paintings of cultural icons and a Santa Barbara resident who nearly lost his home during the Thomas Fire, donated a rare diamond dust print of Keith Richards.

What you’ll also find on the online auction page is a series of cleverly designed tabs that link to donations that go directly toward mental health services for first responders above and beyond the grants for equipment that will be distributed later in the fall once the coffers are again filled from proceeds from One805 Live! and other fundraising efforts. It’s a cause One805 has supported since its founding, but has recently taken over from another nonprofit the administering of ensuring free counseling is available to every one of the county’s firefighters and their families. 

“We’ve stepped in and committed to providing the significant cost because it’s just such an important thing to do for our first responders,” said Weston-Smith. “The things that they see and have to deal with is just devastating, which contributes to the fact that the suicide rate amongst first responders is ridiculously high. More die by their own hand than in the line of duty. It shouldn’t be that way. Firefighters look after us in our time of need. We need to look after them, too.”

It’s part of One805’s mission to include the entire community and offer access to everyone who wants to support our first responders. General admission to the September 17 festival costs just $89, and buying in bulk drops the per-ticket price to as little as $50. Donors who want the VIP experience will contribute significantly more, knowing the funds are going directly back to keeping the community safe and supporting our first responders.  

For details, tickets and more information, visit www.one805.org.