Who We Are

Who we serve

Although The Turner Foundation was originally established to serve the needs of the elderly, the Turner Foundation has since then expanded its vision of service to include five key demographics: youth, families, seniors, those with special needs, and those in need of financial support.

Low-Income Apartment Complexes

Today, the Turner Foundation owns and operates two low-income apartment complexes–The Village and The Lighthouse–that have been transformed into family-friendly communities and now shine as beacons of light within the Westside of Santa Barbara, California.

Community Learning Centers

The Turner Foundation takes pride in its unique model of operating out of onsite Community Learning Centers, from which a multitude of high-quality programs and services are offered. We firmly believe that the close, daily interactions of staff and residents allow for a genuine culture of community and fellowship that is hard to duplicate. At the Turner Foundation, our mission is to uplift the community by equipping individuals with the tools necessary to be positive contributors and leaders within the community. 

History

1958

1987

2005

2014

Today

The Turner Foundation (formerly the Rose Garden Village Foundation) was founded by Reverend Dr. Albert J. Turner in 1958 with the mission of serving the needs of the elderly. When Rev. Turner first arrived in Riverside, California in 1956, he felt a strong calling to develop a home and community for seniors. His vision – in combination with faith, prayer, and the generosity of donors – transformed an empty 7-acre plot of land into a thriving 214-unit village community. This housing project became the first to be insured by the U.S. government under Section 231 of the Federal Housing Administration. And, as a result, he was invited to the home of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, under whom the act became law.

Both housing communities – the Rose Garden Village and the Royal Rose – flourished under the stewardship of Rev. Turner. He was known for walking around the community, ministering, praying for, and consoling residents in times of loss or suffering. Rev. Turner – the promoter, the evangelist, the pastor, and the friend of the elderly – continued these acts of service until he passed away in 1987. Rev. Turner’s dedication to a life of service is immortalized through his simple outlook on those he served: “Anything I can do for them, I want to do it.”

Since 1987, the Turner Foundation has blossomed under the leadership of Executive Director Rev. Dr. Jonathan H. Wilson and his wife Patty Turner Wilson.

In 2005, the Turner Foundation sold both properties to California Baptist University and relocated to Westside Santa Barbara, California, where the board elected to purchase a 70-unit housing complex renamed the Village of Santa Barbara (formerly Casa Perdido). The Turner Foundation staff began to clean up and rehabilitate the previously unsafe, drug-infested complex in order to introduce a more family-friendly atmosphere to the community. As they recognized the unique needs of the Westside community, the Turner Foundation expanded their vision to serve youth, families, those in need of financial support, and those with special needs – all while maintaining the original vision of serving the elderly.

The Village of Santa Barbara was renovated with new landscaping, revamping of apartment interiors, new laundry facilities, a new community garden, a brand new playground, and much more. In addition, two 3-bedroom apartments were converted into the Community Learning Center with ever-evolving, need-based programs offered to residents including, but not limited to: after-school tutoring, music and dance lessons, art and cooking classes, finance classes, food bank, and more. The Turner Foundation also began an internship program with Westmont College undergraduates, and began the Summer Reading Club from which a book of poetry written by residents is published every year.

In 2014, the Turner Foundation purchased a second Westside apartment complex – a mile away from the Village of Santa Barbara. The 45-unit apartment complex (formerly San Pascual Apartments) was renamed the Lighthouse to be another beacon of hope for those in need. Over the past few years, the Lighthouse has undergone much-needed renovation, including the addition of a new playground and another on-site Community Learning Center. The same programs and services offered at the Village are now available for the residents at the Lighthouse, and both centers are utilized by residents for community events and bible studies.

The Turner Foundation continues to maintain the integrity of Rev. Turner’s original vision of serving the elderly, while expanding the populations they serve in order to accommodate the needs of the Westside Santa Barbara Community. Today, the Turner Foundation serves the community of Santa Barbara by providing services for five key demographics: youth, families, seniors, those with special needs, and those in need of financial support. The Turner Foundation owns and operates two low-income apartment complexes from which they offer high-quality programs and services via their onsite Community Learning Centers. The Turner Foundation strives to continue Rev. Turner’s legacy of service and stewardship by equipping underserved populations with the tools necessary to be positive contributors and leaders within the community.