Wyatt siblings and their spouses: Top row Cliff Wyatt, left, Geof Wyatt, Mark Horowitz. Bottom row: Crystal Wyatt, left, Laura Wyatt, and Monica Wyatt.
Wyatt siblings and their spouses: Top row Cliff Wyatt, left, Geof Wyatt, Mark Horowitz. Bottom row: Crystal Wyatt, left, Laura Wyatt, and Monica Wyatt.

In a transformational investment in community health, Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics (SBNC) has received an historic $5 million gift from the Wyatt family of Santa Barbara, the largest philanthropic contribution from an individual family in the organization’s history.

In recognition of this generosity, SBNC’s flagship facility, now under construction, will be named the Wyatt Family Health Center.   

Over the past several months, members of the Wyatt family immersed themselves in SBNC’s work, participating in meetings, touring clinics, and meeting staff and patients firsthand, the clinic said.

“My husband and I, and our family, were truly inspired by the quality of care and the number of lives touched by SBNC,” said Monica Wyatt. “It is the community’s ‘little engine that could,’ powered by dedicated physicians and staff who lead with compassion and respectfully treat everyone who crosses their threshold.

“We were deeply moved by how seamlessly SBNC is woven into the fabric of this community, a place where families can access care close to home, where children and seniors are treated with dignity, and where high-quality healthcare is available to all, regardless of income or race.”

Rendering of Westside Clinic building to be named Wyatt Family Health Center.
Rendering of Westside Clinic building to be named Wyatt Family Health Center.

“After thoughtful consideration, they shared how deeply they believe in our mission,” said Dr. Mahdi Ashrafian, CEO of SBNC. “This is not only the largest family gift we’ve ever received, it represents something even more meaningful: a long-term partnership.

“The Wyatt family is committing to the health and well-being of our community for generations to come.”

For the Wyatt family, the decision was both personal and unanimous.

“We made our pledge hoping it would shine a light on SBNC’s incredible work and inspire others to join us,” said Geof Wyatt. “Our family doesn’t always share the same interests; we each have different passions and causes we support. But when we learned about this project, we all agreed: this matters.”   

And the impact will be profound. The three-story, state-of-the-art Wyatt Family Health Center will expand access to comprehensive medical care for more than 8,300 local children, adults and seniors every year.

Designed as a central hub, the facility will strengthen and coordinate services across SBNC’s neighborhood clinics in Isla Vista, the Bridge Clinic, the Westside, Eastside, and Goleta locations, as well as its dental offices.

Scheduled for completion in December, the new center is expected to increase SBNC’s overall patient capacity from 20,000 to 28,300 — a 41.5% increase in patients annually.

“Thousands of people in our community go without regular checkups, struggle to manage chronic conditions, or miss preventive care because they are uninsured or underinsured,” said Laura Wyatt. “This new facility will provide dignified access to the same high-quality care that insured patients receive. That’s something we believe everyone deserves.”

But this project is about more than expanding square footage — it’s about redefining what community healthcare can look like, the clinic said.

“We are building more than a clinic,” said Dr. Ashrafian. “We are building a sustainable model for community health, one that removes barriers and ensures care is there when people need it most.”

The new center will house medical, behavioral health, and dental services under one roof, embodying SBNC’s whole-person approach to care. By integrating services in a single, accessible location, the Wyatt Family Health Center will make healthcare simpler, more coordinated, and more compassionate, the clinic said.

“We’re honored to support SBNC as a heartfelt thank you to the community that helped raise my brothers and me,” said Monica Wyatt. “There is something profoundly meaningful about giving back to the place that shaped us, where the streets hold memories, and the community reflects rich and vibrant diversity.

“We hope to play a small part in ensuring future generations receive exceptional support and medical care. When we invest in the health of our community, we invest in its future.”

“My wife and I have always felt strongly that our community must have a robust medical safety net for our underinsured or non-insured populations,” said Cliff Wyatt. “SBNC provides Santa Barbara County with this critical safety net, thereby creating a strong foundation for a healthy and vibrant community.

“We look forward to inaugurating, with the rest of the community, the new Westside flagship facility.”

Today, Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics serve more than 20,000 people each year — about one in 10 residents in the community. Ninety-two percent of patients are low-income, and nearly one-quarter are children and adolescents.

“With this landmark investment, SBNC is poised to deepen its impact and ensure that every Santa Barbara resident — regardless of income or insurance status — can receive the quality of care they deserve,” the clinic said.