> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Past the Turning Point - URL: https://www.smdp.com/past-the-turning-point/ - Published: 2003-06-05T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T02:17:12.000Z - Author: John Wood - Tags: Community, Santa Monica, #archive-import, Homeless, Homelessness *Former homeless man turns his life around with local charities* Tom Donovan used to be homeless and spent the better part of two decades in and out of jail, racking up drunk driving and drug possession charges. But after the 49-year old ex-carpenter was paroled from a 32-month sentence at Avenal State Prison in 1997, Donovan decided to try a different approach. Thanks to the help of two Santa Monica charities — the Salvation Army and Turning Point — Donovan got back on his feet, landed a secure job and rented a small apartment in town. “For the first time in my life, I even have a 401(k),” said Donovan, who now volunteers at the two charities he once depended on. “I have to say, it feels wonderful to be in a position to give something back.” He hesitated to mention the tragic accident because he said it sometimes makes other people with legitimate problems, but without one defining tragic moment, somehow feel less entitled to help. Plus, Donovan said he had a problem with drinking and methamphetamines before his wife, 11-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter were taken from him. “I was devastated,” he said Wednesday. “It truly escalated the problem and it made it harder to grab a hold of anything of value in my life. “It’s been almost 20 years now and it almost gives me credence or justification, when in fact (my problem) was not having good life-coping skills.” Donovan, who was born in Compton and grew up in Glendale and San Fernando, now works as a mold-maker at the Sanford-Papermate pen factory in Santa Monica. He credited Gary Galazka, his department supervisor at the plant, and the people at Salvation Army and Turning Point for helping him change his life. “We don’t see ourselves as changing people or fixing people,” Maceri said. “We’re empowering people to rebuild their lives.” > “We don’t see ourselves as changing people or fixing people. We’re empowering people to rebuild their lives.” — — JOHN MACERI Ocean Park Community Center executive director For 20 years, Turning Point has run a 55-bed operation that takes people from a variety of shelters and recovery centers and helps them blend back into society as productive citizens. The facility is located at 1444 16th St. In Donovan’s case, he was coming from the Salvation Army, where he spent six months immediately after he was released from prison. He then stayed at Turning Point for 9 months, landed a full-time job at Sanford-Papermate and saved 80 percent of his salary, as per the charity’s rules. Without the transition, Donovan said he might have slipped back into drug and alcohol abuse. Turning Point honored a handful of volunteers for their service and commitment on Sunday at a brunch and silent-auction fundraising event titled “Blues by the Sea,” which was held at Loew’s Hotel. The shoemaker Skechers received the “Brilliant Star Award” for giving free shoes to Turning Point, as well as for the actions of Brian Kimball, a marketing executive at Skechers who serves on the Turning Point Resource Board and cooks breakfast once a week at the facility. Irene Romero, Kyre Carsey, Shannon Wilcox and Sophie Kidian received the “Open Heart Award” for establishing “Irene’s Place,” a mock restaurant at Turning Point that dishes out generous portions of home-cooked food spiced with love and affection. And Becky and Michael Neidorf won the “Generous Spirit Award” for their ongoing commitment to Turning Point during the last seven years. Donovan, wearing his Salvation Army volunteer uniform, addressed the crowd of roughly 250 who gathered for the event. “I’m a life that was saved,” he said. “It was five years ago. It ended a cycle of homelessness and it ended a cycle of incarceration.” > “I’m a life that was saved. It was five years ago. It ended a cycle of homelessness and it ended a cycle of incarceration.” — — TOM DONOVAN Turning Point alumnus ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/060503-02_01-7.jpg) Tom Donovan leads a hymn for about 100 people Wednesday during a church gathering at the Salvation Army on 11th Street. (Photo: John Wood/Daily Press) *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 5, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/060503.pdf?ref=smdp.com)