Ash Kicking Continues

Yardi Recognized for Fundraising Support

By Leah Etling on May 17, 2019 in Giving

Editor’s note: With the mobile command unit on site at Yardi corporate headquarters today, we wanted to share this blog from August 2018 with our audience, which details the history of the command center project and Yardi’s contributions to emergency response in the Santa Barbara area.

August, 2018 – Yardi was recognized for its contributions this week as the lead corporate sponsor for the Kick ASH Bash, which raised $1.3 million for distribution to local first responder agencies.

Among the purchases with those funds are three new mobile command units to be used during onsite response to events like fires, floods and other public safety crises. The first MCU has been received by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department and was on display at a press conference this week.

According to Eric Peterson, Fire Chief for the Department, the unit has already been put to good use.

“The trailer had its maiden voyage during the recent Holiday Fire.  It provided a perfect place for the team to work, and allowed a level of collaboration that we have not had before. Having a place to work and discuss tactics and planning immediately during an incident makes a huge difference,” Peterson said.

The Kick ASH Bash was the largest local philanthropic event held in the aftermath of the Thomas Fire last December and deadly Montecito mudslides that followed the fire in January. In addition to financial support, many Yardi employees served as volunteers at the event, held in February at the Nesbitt Bella Vista Estate in Summerland.

Yardi and Executive Vice President Gordon Morrell were singled out for their efforts in supporting the fundraising efforts.

“(Yardi) jumped up big time from day one. We really appreciate their support,” said Eric Phillips, co-chair of the event.

Funds are being distributed through the non-profit Santa Barbara County Firefighters Alliance, an organization that raises money for public safety equipment that is outside of departmental budgets.

“Our goal is to protect the firefighters’ safety, just as they protect our safety every day,” said Susan Petrovich, president of the Alliance. “We want to ensure that they have safe, start-of-the-art, high tech equipment so that they can do their jobs.”

Petrovich said that it had been the goal of the Alliance to provide a mobile command unit for some time, but wasn’t sure where the funds would come from. “This is amazing for us. We are so grateful for this event and for the proceeds.”

“These units will benefit every single resident in Santa Barbara County. Wherever there is an emergency, this will help our first responders collaborate and communicate more effectively,” said Richard Weston-Smith, an executive board member of ONE 805, the organizing force behind the fundraiser. “Our first responders don’t just need support occasionally. They need it year in and year out.”

Learn more about ONE 805 and their efforts to help Santa Barbara County first responders here.

Learn more about Yardi’s philanthropic and volunteer efforts here.