Turner's heart, legacy project focused on homeless vets

LOS ANGELES -- Growing up in Los Angeles, Justin Turner didn’t need documents and data to know that his hometown had a significant homeless population. The Dodgers' two-time All-Star third baseman would drive around a city more commonly known for Hollywood glamour, and at nearly every freeway exit, see homeless people, particularly veterans, in need and asking for help.

Approximately 3,900 people who are unhoused in L.A. are veterans, making it the largest concentration of homeless veterans in the country (per capita). As part of his personal foundation, which he started with wife Kourtney in 2016, Turner has made it his mission to be of service to those who once served the nation.

On Friday morning, Turner was on hand as the first of MLB’s four All-Star Week legacy projects (a $6 million commitment in total) was unveiled in the middle of Skid Row in downtown L.A. MLB, the Dodgers, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and the Justin Turner Foundation came together to donate $500,000 to support the renovation and reopening of the Volunteers of America Transition House (T-House), a 20,000-square-foot facility that offers emergency shelter and individual service plans to help with the move to more permanent housing.

• MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard: Tuesday on FOX

“It means so much to Kourt and I to give back to this great community that's given us such a great life, being able to come here and play a game for a living,” Turner said. “One of our biggest goals, obviously, is to give back and help make people’s lives better, but also to continue to raise the bar for our teammates and realize the platforms that they have and the impact that they can make in our communities.”

Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten, Dodgers broadcaster Orel Hershiser, MLB vice president of social responsibility April Brown and VOA clinical operations director Taunya Taylor, along with Turner, took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the T-House, which accommodates more than 80 individuals at a time.

The new-look T-House includes privacy partitions in the living quarters, so each veteran has a dedicated space with electrical outlets, upgraded beds and a storage locker; a modernized commercial kitchen, a laundry room and an outdoor community space with cooking grills and workout equipment; a refurbished community room and dining area; and a new mural to beautify the exterior of the property.

“[This] is a blessing and an honor,” Taylor said. “The veterans here work hard to improve their circumstances, and to know they are being appreciated with a beautifully landscaped courtyard, a renovated living space and a remodeled common area is truly amazing. Here in the heart of Skid Row, we’ll be able to have a sanctuary for them to feel safe in.”

Added Kasten: “We think this is tangible evidence of thanking them for their service, especially with the veterans that are in this temporary state of need. This facility is extraordinary. It’s amazing that it’s in the middle of Skid Row because this could fit anywhere in our city.”

A veteran of the Vietnam War era by the name of Mr. James Walton was invited to speak on behalf of his fellow former servicemembers, joining the group on a tour of the revamped facilities. He marveled at the enhancements that had been made, certain that they would improve the quality of life of all the T-House residents.

“I didn’t know what to expect when I came in here today,” Walton said. “All I could do was say, ‘Wow, wow, wow.’ You guys did a great job. This is truly a place to refresh, to rejuvenate, to start anew. It’s a good starting point; I know it is for me. … I’d like to thank [you all] for helping us out, and we won’t let you down.”

Among the transformations to T-House’s community room, there was one more noticeable addition: a floor-to-ceiling wall mural of Turner himself, swinging a bat while wearing his home white No. 10 uniform, which was painted with dirt in the center to resemble how it might look after manning the hot corner.

After the rest of the VIPs had made their way out, Turner stayed behind to take photos with and sign autographs for the VOA staff in front of the mural -- a lasting symbol of the impact a player can make off the field as well.

“We want to continue to raise the bar for the guys that are coming behind us,” Turner said. “I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of a great organization that really, really, really puts the community first and leaves their mark on every single Angeleno.”