Italian themed extravaganza raises money for low income senior housing in Santa Ynez
SANTA YNEZ, Calif.- Life just became sunnier for low income seniors in Santa Barbara county thanks to rona Barrett’s vision for the Golden Inn & Village in Santa Ynez.
“The work that the Rona Barrett Foundation is doing is extraordinary. And the partnerships that they managed to create around making this kind of housing and community a reality is really extraordinary,” said Rona Barrett Foundation Advisory Board Member Juliana Minsky.
Rona Barrett worked with Santa Barbara County’s Housing Authority to create affordable housing and supportive services for low income seniors.
Juliana Minsky’s deep love for her elderly mother and empathy for the senior community led her to contribute to Barrett’s vision.
“Imagine you've worked all your life and then you're at a point where you should be really enjoying those years that you've put in, really probably making this community or this country a better place to live for everyone else. “Here's a place where someone who has done that can just enjoy the things that every single senior and every single person in this country really deserves,” said Minsky.
Minsky wants to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to receive the care they deserve at the tail end of their lives.
The Golden Inn & Village offers several programs and services including medical screenings, arts and crafts, gardening, and field trips.
“What makes the Golden Inn& Village different than a typical nursing home or senior care is really the vision of the of the housing to really be a community create not just housing and a roof over people's heads, but a whole community with with focus on the entire being of the person, their their physical wellbeing, mental well-being, and having a community and a social world and a lot of stimulation and just really being a home, not just a roof,” said Minsky.
The Rona Barrett foundation brought back their annual benefit event after a 3 year hiatus in order to raise money to help sustain the Golden Inn & Village.
Tonight’s theme is “Love, Italian Style: A Celebration of Italian Film, Food & Fashion.”
“The fundraiser this year is really celebrating all things Italian style, film, fashion. It's very fun. But it also, if you think about it, the the the Italian culture is actually really well known for taking care of its senior sister. But seniors and families,” said Minsky.
The fundraiser took place at the Sunstone Winery Villa in Santa Ynez.
Minsky says that the Golden Inn & Village is already being looked at as a model that could be replicated in communities all over California and the country.
