WILD @HOME! Benefit to Support Local Public Lands, Wildlife, and Families in Need

One of the county’s largest nonprofit galas for land and wildlife protection is taking its auction and inspiring program online to meet physical distancing guidelines. Now in its sixth year, participants of this year’s WILD @HOME! event can double their impact by supporting both ForestWatch’s conservation-focused mission and families in need.

This year’s live-streaming event is free and open to all, and takes place on Friday, November 13 from 5-6pm. The wild and inspiring happy-hour celebration features a welcome by Annette Cordero of the Coastal Band of the Chumash Nation, along with Congressman Salud Carbajal, Intersectional Environmentalist founder Leah Thomas, Patagonia environmental campaigns director Hans Cole, and a special musical performance by Xocoyotzin Moraza with Todd Hannigan.

During the event, emcee Geoff Green will auction off four exciting travel packages, including a stunning oceanfront estate in Punta Mita, Mexico with a private chef; an exquisite Lake Arrowhead cabin; a winemaker dinner and vineyard stay in Los Olivos; and a luxury staycation at the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort in Montecito. All proceeds from the auction help ForestWatch protect the Los Padres National Forest in Santa Barbara’s backyard, and other public lands in the region.

“Nonprofits have a great opportunity to work together and support each other through this time,” said Los Padres ForestWatch executive director Jeff Kuyper. “This is our biggest annual fundraiser, and we’re keeping the tradition by gathering from home to support the protection of the Los Padres National Forest, and to give our neighbors a hand in a time of need.”

While the event is free, sponsorship begins at just $60 and has a double impact. Each Santa Barbara Wild! sponsorship supports ForestWatch’s advocacy, stewardship, and outreach programs and secures one month of food deliveries for a local family in need thanks to an innovative partnership with the Food Bank of Santa Barbara County. To date, the event has secured meals for 87 families for one month as we enter the critical holiday season.

Higher-level sponsors of the event will also receive a gift card for two, four, six, or eight meals from a local restaurant of their choice. ForestWatch has partnered with Restaurant Connection to funnel this much needed business to area eateries during this challenging time.

The virtual event has already gained the support of more than 87 early sponsors, including Figueroa Mountain Sponsors Leslie & Ashish Bhutani, Yvon Chouinard, Dick and Marilyn Mazess, the Welborn Family; Gaviota Peak Sponsors Carol Gravelle Graphic Design, Highwave, and Annica and James Newton Howard; and Sisquoc River Sponsors Griffin and Rachael Barkley, Brotheryn Studios, Environment Now, Peter Ford & Mary Howe-Grant, Kelly and Rich Hill, Morton Mediation, Russell Radom, Christian and Melissa Riparetti-Stepien, Ethan & Hilary Stone, and Jules Zimmer and Carolyn Cogan, amongst more than eighty other generous individuals and businesses in Santa Barbara County and throughout the Central Coast.

ForestWatch’s popular silent auction is open online all day and night, now through Friday, November 13th, featuring hand-curated gifts and adventures, both local and beyond. Browse or place a bid online—no ticket required.

Both events help raise critical funds for the protection of land, wildlife, and public access in the Los Padres National Forest. Visit SBwild.org to become a sponsor or join the events, or contact ForestWatch at 805.617.4610 for more information.