Count Basie Orchestra Benefit for Rona Barrett Foundation

The Count Basie Orchestra and Paula Cole, courtesy Rona Barrett Foundation.

The Count Basie Orchestra and Paula Cole, courtesy Rona Barrett Foundation.

The Rona Barrett Foundation hosts a special benefit concert on July 8 at the Lobero Theatre with the legendary Count Basie Orchestra directed by Scotty Barnhart and special guest, Paula Cole. Between them, Count Basie and Paula Cole are the embodiment of jazz and have 19 Grammys to prove it!

Headquartered locally, the Rona Barrett Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to providing affordable housing, Alzheimer’s care, assisted living and wellness programs for underserved senior citizens in the Santa Barbara County area. Founded by former entertainment journalist, Rona Barrett, who was inspired to become a senior advocate after caregiving for her Dad, Harry, who was afflicted with Alzheimer’s and eventually succumbed to the disease.

In 2016, The Rona Barrett Foundation was the catalyst for the establishment of The Golden Inn & Village in Santa Ynez, an independent living community for in-need and vulnerable seniors and veterans who are financially challenged.

In 2018, The Foundation, along with its partners, will establish “Harry’s House at the Golden Inn & Village,”—a home for Alzheimer’s and assisted living.  This campus will be an innovative, scholarship-sponsored model.

For more information, please visit ronabarrettfoundation.org or call 805/688-8887.

The Lobero Theatre is located at 33 E. Canon Perdido St.

Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on July 2, 2017.