HISTORY
Welcome > History

Against a grim and uncertain backdrop of America's Great Depression, a small group of people in southern California made a courageous commitment: To build an organization for older adults that would enhance the physical, social, and spiritual dimensions of their lives. Our founders dreamed of providing a secure, friendly home, the best in healthcare, enriching activities with a caring, supportive hand to retired citizens.

The dream of those determined pioneers has endured through the challenges of the 1930's and 1940's up to the present day, nurtured by the efforts and generosity of thousands. Over the decades, our family has grown to become today's Southern California Presbyterian Homes (SCPH). We're a robust and expanding organization, a valued resource for retired citizens regardless of race, color or national origin. We provide a multitude of high quality services and options for enhancing the lives of older adults while keeping true to our founding ideals.

By 1948, Milton Berle began his comic career on television's Texaco Star Theater and the organization that was to become SCPH was already occupying a couple of desk spaces in the old downtown Los Angeles Presbytery Headquarters office. There were no freeways yet, but you could take a leisurely drive to the retirement home in Glendale that would one day become Windsor Manor. Originally known as the United Presbyterian Home of Glendale, Windsor Manor had been founded in 1937 by the United Presbyterian Women's Association of the West. Although Windsor Manor was not formally acquired by SCPH until 1959, we still consider it our birthplace.

The 1950's and President "Ike" Eisenhower ushered in an era of unparalleled expansion. It was easy to buy a ticket on a DC-7 propeller-driven commercial airline. Or you might prefer to see the USA in your Chevrolet and drive the nation's first freeway, the Hollywood 101. At SCPH, we too were heralding an era of expansion. We acquired the 18.5 acre Hillhaven Ranch in Bradbury, California on March 7, 1955 and christened it Royal Oaks Manor (ROM). This was the first FHA financed, non-profit project in Southern California.

March 23, 1955, as our records state, we gave birth to the SCPH Corporation. Every bit of it was volunteer work. Soon after, we dedicated White Sands of La Jolla and the first residents moved in July of 1956.

At the start of the new millennium, SCPH could look back on decades of progress. From our humble beginnings of a borrowed $25,000, we have grown to over 30 communities, 1400 employees and serving over 3,000 residents. We offer specialized care in the form of three Assisted Living Communities (AL), two Skilled Nursing communities (SNF), Home Care, Adult Day Care and two Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE). And because we are passionate about serving all retired persons, regardless of income, SCPH owns and manages 15 Housing and Urban Development (HUD) - subsidized independent living retirement homes to meet the needs of those who require a more affordable living.

As we move ahead, we are always mindful of the many people who have devoted countless hours over these five decades to building and sustaining our SCPH family. It is their dedication that forms the foundation of tomorrow's growth.