The Santa Barbara native returned home for a special concert dubbed, Witness: Coming Home – A Benefit For The Community: Our Neighbors, Our Heroes. The sold out-show will benefit charities that are assisting those impacted by the Thomas fire and the subsequent flooding and debris flow. Proceeds from the evening, which is being presented by Firework Foundation will support the Santa Barbara Foundation, 93108 Fund, Cold Spring School and 805UNDOCUFund.
“It’s about the spirit of the community and coming home and letting them know they have a friend in me, an ally in me and I’m their neighbor just like anyone else,” Perry said. “Real change starts right outside your doorstep.”
The night’s performances weren’t limited to Katy. The show’s finale featured Mudslide survivor Lauren Cantin, backed by the Santa Barbara Youth Ensemble Theatre, singing Perry’s hit Firework, which Perry says is a song of redemption.
The Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade, a non-profit working to dig out, clean up and re-beautify Montecito from the the ground up, was also present at the show, and were thanked in a video tribute by Montecito resident-Oprah Winfrey honoring their tireless efforts.
“You know I still see them. It’s amazing driving around, I get to see them in their lines with their buckets,” Perry said. “I spoke with Oprah and she spoke specifically about The Bucket Brigade and how inspirational it was for her.”
Katy Perry went above and beyond to make sure her audience was having a good time. Towards the end of her performance, Perry offered to buy the crowd a drink. “There’s a lot of guys who are there ’cause I think they want to be, but I know that they’re usually there to support their wives or girlfriends or kids,” Perry explained. “I’m like, ‘You know what? I’m opening up the bar and buying everyone a beer!’ So all the men — even my own sister’s husband — left and they all came back double fisting.”
“It was amazing”.
All ticket sales were donated to the cause, including Perry’s cut.
