Edhat Reader
By One805
During its annual Honorary Board Cocktail reception at the Montecito Club, One805 officially announced their First Responder grant recipients.
One805’s Advisory Council, made up of the heads of all 11 First Responder departments in Santa Barbara County, makes the recommendations for allocation of funds for these grants. The Advisory Council ensures all funds raised by One805 are directed where they are most needed at any given time, regardless of the department. Many of the funds go toward equipment, mental health services and resources, and disaster preparedness.
“We are taking our lead directly from the Advisory Council as they know, better than anyone, what their specific needs are,” said Richard Weston-Smith, COO of One805. “It is also important to note that many items are shared across the various organizations in Santa Barbara County. Mental health support is another critical category of support that helps to ensure that we are taking care of those who take care of us,” said Weston Smith.
The organization hosts special events to raise funds throughout the year including its One805Live! Fall Concert in September of 2023 at Kevin Costner’s estate in Summerland with headliner Maroon 5 and special guests including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Oprah, Ellen DeGeneres and many others. Events serve to raise funds to support Santa Barbara County first responders.
Some of the equipment items include:
- 2 x Water Rescue Jet Skis (Jean Perkins Foundation)
- 30 Defibrillators: one for each Santa Barbara Police patrol car.
- Three Self Contained Breathing Units for Sheriff Dive Teams.
- Drone-Fly 3D Topography Mapping Software
- SCUBA tank fill station for Search and Recovery/Dive Teams
- Thermal Imaging Equipment 2Aircraft Tug/Tractor for Sheriff Air Support Unit
- Night Vision Goggles for Sheriff Air Support Unit
- Jaws of Life for Ontare Fire Station
- Updated Crime Lab Equipment for Police
- CMC Clutch Rope and Rescue System for Helicopter Rescues
- Open Water/BackCountry thermal Rescue Drones (Jean Perkins Foundation)
Equipment for all Eleven First Responder Departments totals: $392,000
One805 Mental Health Grant for ALL county Fire Departments $190,000
One805 Grants for 2024 TOTAL: $582,000
The One805 Mental Health Fund Reserve total, including $190,000 this funding cycle, is $443,000.
About One805
In the aftermath of the Thomas fire and subsequent mudslides “One805” was created, hosting the largest non-profit event in Santa Barbara History – The Kick Ash Bash! It brought together actors, entertainers, singers, performers, and most of all, our community in a spirit of healing. First Responders and their families were treated to an amazing day where we were able to put the tragedy behind us. Thanks to the efforts of many, over $2 million was raised to provide counseling support to First Responders and purchase equipment to directly support victims of the tragedy.
All who would like to contribute to One805 to assist our local First Responders may do so at One805.org. Please know that 100% of all contributions go to first responders and related supportive services. Visit www.One805.org for more information and to donate.
Great, I guess? Second only to military, this is no doubt the most well-funded sector of our society. Any equipment deemed necessary, is already funded by taxpayers. Some of the best mental health benefits you can get, already funded. I don’t “get” this charity. Imagine if celebrities threw their money at education instead.
ANON – absolutely. While 1st Responders are absolutely critical, they’re funded well. It would be great to see this amount of passion and charity for our teachers who are paying for their own classroom supplies out of their already small paychecks. Of course, we can do both.
Agree completely with both of you. This 805 group looks like a pay to play cash dollars effort to have the firefighters save their homes from the next wildfire – hey, here’s a big check and also, here’s my address, wink wink…
Sacjon, Good point. First responders are critical and well funded. I would love to see teachers at SBUSD get the cost of living increases they have missed and a raises that will make them competitive with Goleta and Oxnard that pay 20K more. The only thing about giving more money to the district leadership is that there is very little transparency to where the monies go. What happened to the vast Covid funds.? What are we specifically spending the 23,000,000. LCAP ( local control accountability plan.) It is frustrating not to be able to see a transparent budget with simple things like a who got paid for what amount for LCAP. Instead the COO, who makes 274K annually ( the new position Maldonado created to do what is typically the Superintendent role) keeps everything vague. Instead of specifics, he states the goal, like school climate and then an amount that was spent. But we never know who received it or if it made any difference for the vulnerable students groups it is intended and legally required to help. Sadly it rarely makes it to the teachers or classroom. The cabinet has bloated salaries whil para educators and many teachers do not have a living wage. Hope our community pushes for transparency.