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A Night to Make a Difference
Join ShelterBox USA for A Place to Call Home, our signature annual benefit and most unforgettable evening of the year. Together with community leaders, philanthropists, supporters, board members, and special guests, we will celebrate the lifesaving impact of ShelterBox and raise critical funds to help families displaced by disaster and conflict.
The evening will feature an immersive reception, inspiring stories from the field, live entertainment, remarks from ShelterBox USA President Kerri Murray, members of the ShelterBox Response Team and global partners, a live auction, and a powerful Fund a Need appeal.
What We Believe
Shelter is the foundation for life – for survival, stability and dignity. It offers a place to feel safe, stay together, stay healthy, earn a living and help children get an education.
We’re a global community that believes shelter is a human right, enabling people to take steps towards recovery.
A Tradition of Coming Together
What began as an intimate gathering at the Carpinteria estate of longtime ShelterBox USA supporter fondly remembered by many as Tacos and Tequila has grown into one of ShelterBox USA’s most anticipated nights of the year.
Over the years, the Annual Benefit has evolved into an elegant evening at the Montecito Club, reflecting the growth of ShelterBox USA and our shared vision for what’s possible when a community comes together with purpose.
From Kenny Loggins, Andrew Firestone, Kevin Costner, Jordana Brewster, to other distinguished guests who prefer to remain anonymous, the Annual Benefit has welcomed inspiring voices and memorable moments while staying rooted in what matters most: the people and communities ShelterBox serves.
Today, the Annual Benefit is more than a fundraising event, it is a tradition. It is a night to gather with friends, meet fellow supporters, engage new supporters, hear stories of resilience, and experience firsthand the life-changing impact of your generosity.
As ShelterBox USA’s premier in-person fundraising event, the Annual Benefit offers an experience that is both meaningful and memorable, an evening of inspiration, surprises, connection, special guests, and giving.
And while our November Global Virtual Experience brings the ShelterBox mission directly into homes from our headquarters, the Annual Benefit offers something uniquely powerful: the opportunity to come together in person, celebrate what we have accomplished, and help shape what comes next.
Join us for the next chapter of this tradition.
An Evening with Purpose
When disaster or conflict strikes, families can lose everything, including a safe place to sleep.
ShelterBox works around the world to provide emergency shelter and essential relief to people facing unimaginable circumstances. A Place to Call Home brings our community together for one meaningful evening to celebrate that work and help make an even greater impact.
Our goal for this year’s Annual Benefit is to raise $1 million to help ShelterBox reach even more families, building on the more than 3 million people we have already supported around the world and ensuring more families have access to shelter, safety, and hope when they need it most.
Every gift helps provide shelter, protection, and the possibility of rebuilding a life after disaster.
The Program
Immerse yourself in an unforgettable evening hosted by ShelterBox USA President Kerri Murray, as we come together to celebrate ShelterBox’s lifesaving work around the world. Beginning at 5:30 PM with cocktails, conversation, a silent auction, and an immersive gallery experience, the evening invites guests to connect with the people and stories behind ShelterBox’s mission. Kerri will welcome guests and lead an inspiring program featuring stories and videos from the field, perspectives from ShelterBox Response Team members, dinner, live entertainment, a live auction, and a Fund a Need appeal. Together, we’ll experience the impact of ShelterBox firsthand and celebrate the power of providing shelter, safety, and hope to families affected by disaster and conflict. The evening will conclude with closing remarks and acknowledgments.
Silent & Live Auction and Fund a Need
The Annual Benefit’s Live Auction and Fund a Need appeal are essential to helping ShelterBox fulfill our mission that no one should be without shelter after disaster or conflict.
This year’s Live Auction will feature a select collection of exclusive, one-of-a-kind experiences curated especially for ShelterBox supporters.
For the first time, our Online Silent Auction will open after Thanksgiving, giving supporters near and far the opportunity to participate, bid on special experiences, and help provide emergency shelter to families around the world.
Host a Table
Bring together friends, family, colleagues, or clients for an unforgettable evening in support of ShelterBox.
With only 17 tables available, becoming a Table Host is a special opportunity to gather your community around a cause that matters.
If you are unable to attend you can still make a meaningful impact through tax-deductible underwriting, in-kind sponsorship, or a Matching Gift campaign.
For questions, please contact Jennifer Kocian at [email protected]
Be a Part of the Place to Call Home
Whether you host a table, join as a guest, become a sponsor, participate in the auction, or make a gift, your support helps ShelterBox provide families facing disaster and conflict with something every person deserves: a safe place to call home.
For questions, please contact Jennifer Kocian at [email protected]
Table Hosts Experience
Each table offers a meaningful way to bring together friends, family, colleagues, or clients in support of ShelterBox’s mission.
- Host a full table for 12 guests
- Personally invite and confirm your guests
- Serve as an ambassador for ShelterBox leading up to and during the event
- Help inspire generosity and engagement throughout the evening
For questions, please contact Jennifer Kocian at [email protected]
In-Kind & Sponsorship Opportunities
Sponsorship offers individuals, businesses, foundations, vendors, in-kind supporters, and community partners an opportunity to stand alongside ShelterBox while helping make this extraordinary evening possible.
Your support provides visibility within the Santa Barbara community while directly advancing ShelterBox’s mission to bring emergency shelter and essential relief to families affected by disaster and conflict.
Paddle Raise
The evening will also feature a special Paddle Raise, giving guests an opportunity to make a direct, additional contribution to ShelterBox’s lifesaving work. Every gift, at every level, helps provide emergency shelter, essential supplies, and support to families facing the devastating impact of disaster and conflict. Together, sponsorships and Paddle Raise contributions can help turn an extraordinary evening into meaningful, lasting impact for families around the world.
For questions, please contact Jennifer Kocian at [email protected]
Questions and Inquiries
Jennifer Kocian, Director of Events and Community Engagement, ShelterBox USA
Email: [email protected]
OUR COMMUNITY
Please join us in thanking our Table Hosts, In-Kind Donors, and Sponsors for their generous support. We are equally grateful to our dedicated Board Members, Committee Members, and Volunteers, whose time, passion, and commitment bring this event to life. Their efforts are instrumental in advancing ShelterBox’s mission and creating a meaningful experience for our community.”
Kerri Murray, President, ShelterBox USA
Table Hosts
To be announced soon
In-Kind Winery Partners
Beckmen Vineyards, Brewer Clifton, Chappellet, Crown Point Vineyards, Fennell Family Wines, Hitching Post Wines, Horizon, Lavender Oaks, Native9 Wines, Rusack, Santa Barbara Winery, Strange Family Wines, Westerly Wine, and Zotovitch
In-Kind Partners and Sponsors
Montecito Country Club, SPARK Audio Visual & Lighting, Auctioneer DawnMarie, Oniracom Graphic Design & Website, Platinum Movers, WineDirect, Isaac Hernandez Photography & Video, and Montecito Inn
Host Committee
Pete Casson with Santa Barbara Limo Service, Susan Shand, and Cindy Prochot
Live Music By Steve Postell
STEVE POSTELL (Quarto Valley Records recording artist) is a producer, singer/songwriter, composer and guitarist,
Steve was the composer for the documentary “Dying to Know,” about Timothy Leary and Ram Dass, narrated by Robert Redford. Steve contributed guitar to David Crosby’s album, Sky Trails, and co-wrote a song for his last released record, “For Free”. Steve’s new CD, “Walking Through These Blues”, will be released this March on QUARTO VALLEY RECORDS. This CD features a host of guests, including David Crosby, Iain Matthews, Glen Phillips, Tony Furtado, Bekka Bramlett, Jeff Pevar, Greg Leisz, Steve Ferrone and many others. In addition to David Crosby, Steve has worked with John Oates, Jennifer Warnes, Kenny Loggins, Eric Andersen, Iain Matthews, Pure Prairie League, Dan Navarro and many others. He recently contributed engineering and mixing duties to the James Taylor/Carole King live concert film, “The Troubadour Reunion Tour”.
Steve performed on and co-produced a CD for renowned producer/guitarist and songwriter Danny (Kootch) Kortchmar. The CD features a star studded cast including guest appearances by James Taylor, Jackson Browne, David Crosby, and Michael McDonald. This CD led to the formation of a new band, The Immediate Family, which in addition to Steve includes legendary session men Danny Kortchmar, Leland Sklar, Waddy Wachtel & Russ Kunkel. The band has released numerous videos, a live record, 3 EP’s and 2 full length LP’s of new material on Quarto Valley Records. Their first single, Cruel Twist, reached top 10 on the blues charts. The Immediate Family is featured in an award winning documentary released by Magnolia Films, and directed by “Wrecking Crew” director Denny Tedesco. The Immediate Family recently released “Skin In The Game”, a new full length album of original material.
In the past few years Steve has performed on stage in benefits for The Lobero Theater, ONE805 Foundation, Get Together Foundation and Light Up The Blues Charity with many artists including Shawn Colvin, Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Joe Walsh, John Fogerty, Alan Parsons, and Maroon 5. Steve was in rehearsal to go on tour with David Crosby before David’s unexpected passing, and will cherish the time spent putting the show together. Subsequently Steve put together a group called “Our House” to honor the music of Crosby and his CSNY bandmates, which led to 2 multi city tours, with more to follow this coming year. “Lookout Mountain”, a new project with James Raymond (son of David Crosby) and renowned photography Henry Diltz, celebrates the music of the Laurel Canyon era.
Meet Our Live Auctioneer & Fund A Need Host, The Gavel Girl
DawnMarie Kotsonis discovered her passion for charity auctions in the 1980s while her nephew and best friend were battling Cystic Fibrosis. As a commercial, industrial, and real estate auctioneer, she found her true calling in inspiring generosity and supporting charitable causes. Since then, DawnMarie has helped raise millions of dollars for hundreds of organizations, from local schools to leading national nonprofits. She considers it an honor to represent organizations and help advance their missions through the power of fundraising and community.
Relive the 25th Anniversary Evening
