Santa Barbara Bowl Donates $112K to Local Charities from Benefit Concerts 

Jack Johnson, Katy Perry, and Brad Paisley sold-out benefit concerts supported residents’ needs after the Thomas Fire and Montecito Debris Flow.
SANTA BARBARA – Santa Barbara Bowl announced today that it has donated all organizational net proceeds from three benefit concerts held by Jack Johnson, Katy Perry, and Brad Paisley, respectively, to local charitable organizations. The total amount donated, $112,000, positively impacts the community by directly supporting residents’ needs from the recent Thomas Fire and Montecito Debris Flow.

In March 2018, Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors responded swiftly by granting approval for the Santa Barbara Bowl to host up to four additional concerts (outside of the approved annual limit), paving the way for maximum impact from the benefit concerts.

Musicians Jack Johnson, Katy Perry and Brad Paisley held three separate, sold-out concerts on March 18, May 12 and May 19. Individually and separate from the Bowl, each of the artists identified their own benefit organizations and the manner to donate to the community. The Bowl supported their efforts with staff, donated time, and general assistance.

The selected Santa Barbara Bowl beneficiaries are:

  • Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade
  • Carpinteria School District
  • Cold Spring School
  • Montecito Union School

The selection process for the charitable organizations placed greater focus on supporting schools impacted by fire and debris flow. This methodology is in sync with the Bowl’s mission and outreach programs focusing on supporting performing arts in local schools.

Due to pressing needs, the Santa Barbara Bowl Board of Directors chose the Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade as the recipient of funds from the March 18, 2018 Jack Johnson & Friends concert.  An ad-hoc committee comprised of Santa Barbara Bowl Board members was formed to determine how to disperse funds from Brad Paisley and Katy Perry benefit concerts.

Carpinteria School District, showing the greatest need, received funds to launch an arts program, including performing arts, for all schools in the district. Cold Spring School and Montecito Union School, also demonstrating significant needs, received the remaining balance of the net proceeds from both concerts.

“The Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation is honored to be a part of this great community and humbled by the amazing spirit everyone has displayed over these past months,” said Tobe Plough, Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation president.  “We are happy to be a part of the healing process and appreciative of the amazing opportunity these artists provided for us to help those in need.  We commend the County supervisors’ vision and thank the dedication of Bowl volunteers and leadership who made this a successful endeavor.”

Left to Right:
Anthony Ranii, Superintendent, Montecito Union School District; Amy Alzina, Superintendent/Principal, Cold Spring School District; Rick Boller, Executive Director, SBBF; Abe Powell, Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade; Tobe Plough, Board President, SBBF; Karen Kerns, Board Vice President, SBBF; Diana Rigby, Superintendent, Carpinteria Unified School District; Moss Jacobs, Goldenvoice; Gwyn Lurie, Board President, Montecito Union School District
About Santa Barbara Bowl
The Santa Barbara Bowl is a 4,562-seat outdoor amphitheater, located in Santa Barbara, California. Constructed in 1936 as a WPA project, the Bowl, as it is affectionately known, is one of the most scenic and intimate amphitheaters in the world, attracting the biggest names in music with its unique ocean and city views from its landmark stage, The Pavilion. Recently, the Bowl was voted Best Live Music venue in Santa Barbara by both the Santa Barbara Independent and Santa Barbara News-Press, respectively. To learn more, visit www.sbbowl.com.

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Photo credit: A Arthur Fisher, photographer