Garden Court Endowment Fundraiser Honors Michael Towbes
5th Annual Benefit for Garden Court Endowment to Benefit Frail, Low-income Seniors
Funds raised at the Garden Court Endowment Fundraiser will support the independent living community for frail, low-income seniors. The event will honor Michael Towbes for his lifetime commitment to affordable housing.
The “HOME” event will feature a fun and festive down-home western theme and will directly benefit the Garden Court Endowment, which is dedicated to assisting frail, low income Santa Barbara seniors to live independently for as long as possible. The event encourages community members to commit to making a difference in the lives of low-income seniors, and celebrates Michael Towbes for his philanthropic and “home” building efforts that have so greatly benefited our community. Thanks to the event sponsors and underwriters, 100% of the donations raised at the event will go directly to support the Garden Court Endowment and the seniors it serves.
“It is an honor to recognize one of the community’s most generous philanthropists, Michael Towbes, for his significant contributions to affordable housing,” said Detty Peikert, Garden Court Endowment Board President and architect of Garden Court on De La Vina.
The Garden Court Endowment provides grants for housing, medical and other needs so that frail, low-income Santa Barbara seniors can enjoy independent living for as long as possible. The Endowment is also working to raise capital for a second Garden Court facility that will include a licensed assisted living component. There is a critical need for affordable assisted living care, as local frail, low-income seniors who need certain supportive medical services are all too often placed in skilled nursing because no other options exist.
“With his development career spanning over 60 years, Mr. Towbes has been committed to providing Santa Barbara area residents with a broad range of housing opportunities, including housing and support for our local seniors in need,” said Christopher Tucker, Executive Director, Garden Court on De La Vina.
The event will take place Thursday, February 23, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at The Canary Hotel, 31 West Carrillo St., Santa Barbara. Tickets are $100. For tickets or more information about the Garden Court Endowment, call (805) 884-0095 or visit www.gardencourt.org.
Who are the Low-Income Seniors at Garden Court and in Santa Barbara?
The Garden Court Endowment has supported over 150 low-income, frail seniors in critical areas of health and well-being, including crisis intervention for mental health, providing assistive devices for visually impaired residents, emergency medical treatment for beloved pets of residents, on-site health and wellness programs, ongoing support for housekeeping and companionship, and other critical needs that low-income seniors in Santa Barbara could not otherwise afford. In 2011, dental care was the top health assistance need funded through the Endowment’s individual scholarships. The Endowment also helped provide individual residents with assistance in accessing social services, organizing bills and cleaning.
Residents of Garden Court include laborers, nurses, business owners, teachers and others—all who deserve to enjoy their golden years as active members of the community they helped to shape and tend.