THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR

Earlier this month, the members of REO Speedwagon—whose lineup includes several local residents—and several fellow veteran musicians put on a benefit concert at the Kavli Theatre in Thousand Oaks. Its purpose was to help heal those affected by the mass-shooting at the Borderline Bar & Grill, and the loss of life and property from the devastating Woolsey and Hill fires.

The two sold-out benefit concerts featured special guests Richard Marx, John Ondrasik of Five for Fighting, Eddie Money and support act Sir, Please (featuring REO frontman Kevin Cronin’s sons, Josh and Shane), with opening act The Troy Tones (Cronin’s daughter Holly).

This Thursday, Cronin and his wife Lisa presented a check for $360,513 to Thousand Oaks Mayor Rob McCoy and Ventura County Community Foundation President & CEO Vanessa Bechtel on behalf of the Ventura County Community Foundation’s Conejo Valley Victims Fund and the Hill Fire and Woolsey Fire Sudden and Urgent Needs Effort.

CLASS ACTS (l-r): REO manager Tom Consolo, Ondrasik, Money, Lisa Cronin, Kevin Cronin, Bechtel, McCoy, T.O. Police Chief Tim Hagel, Ventura County Fire Department Battalion Chief Darin Anderson and T.O. Cultural Affairs Director Barry McComb