Comedian Jay Leno coming to help the Turner Foundation with funds for low income housing

MONTECITO, Calif. – Using laughter for fundraising, The Turner Foundation is bringing in comedian Jay Leno to a gala Thursday night at the Rosewood Miramar Resort in Montecito.

Executive Director Dean Wilson welcomes about 400 people to the fundraiser. He is hoping they all have a few laughs with Leno, the former host of the Tonight Show. "Who better to make us laugh than Jay Leno, so I think it will be a great time." At the same time, Wilson will be encouraging ongoing donations to the Turner Foundation projects.

Currently, two of the Turner properties for low income residents provide about 120 units on the Santa Barbara westside.

There are also transitional homes for young people over the age of 18, including those coming from foster care.

Wilson said they are looking to add more buildings in the future where they can find collaboration for funding and the staff to provide the on site services.
"Lifting people up is what we are made to do as human beings,  I really believe," he said.

 The Turner Foundation has what's called hopeful housing. "We have multi family communities  on the west side and we now have three  houses for transitional age youth that have been homeless which I didn't know what a big problem this was until recently," said Wilson.

The event at the Rosewood Miramar is sold out.

Past gala's have featured former President George W. Bush and basketball stars Magic Johnson and Jerry West.

In the last event Johnson auctioned off two special group dinners with him at the Crypto arena in Los Angeles and tickets to a Laker game.