Philanthropy & Nonprofits
Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino Seeks to Rise above Hunger at the Million Meals Gala in Riverside on November 2, 2019
Tickets Available Online Through October 25, 2019
(Riverside, CA – September 9, 2019) – Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino (FARSB) will host the much anticipated and not-to-be-missed 7th Annual Million Meals Gala – Rising Above Hunger at the Grier Pavilion on top of Riverside City Hall in Downtown Riverside, CA on Saturday, November 2, 2019.
The 7th Annual Million meals Gala will honor Dr. Anil Garde and Mrs. Gigi Garde of Riverside, and will feature live music, silent and live auctions, a gourmet dinner, passionate speakers, and a special award ceremony to honor some of the Inland Empire’s most passionate hunger advocates. Proceeds from the event will help to provide one million meals to food insecure children and families in the Inland Empire this holiday season.
Sharing her journey as a formerly homeless and hungry college student at UC Riverside, Melina Reyes, an Inland Empire native and hunger advocate, will join the gala as a guest speaker to share her experience dealing first hand with food insecurity.
In 2016, Melina Reyes, a fourth-year Political Science major at UC Riverside went on a 5 day (115 hour) hunger strike to raise awareness for food-insecurity that she, and many of her classmates, faced while attending the university. UC Riverside is rated the highest amongst all UC campuses for food-insecurity, with 62% of students experiencing it on campus. Now having graduated and strengthened her ties to public policy, Melina Reyes will join FARSB at the 2019 Million Meals Gala on November 2, 2019, to share her story and inspire others in her community to do more for the causes they most care about.
“Melina Reyes represents an age group and demographic that people often ignore when they think of hunger,” said FARSB Philanthropy Director, Lori Butler. “We are honored to have Melina join us to share her truth about facing hunger to pursue an education, while simultaneously advocating for her fellow college students.”
During the evening, winners of the community voted ‘Hunger Hero Awards” will be announced. Those nominated as Partner Charity of The Year include Inland Vineyard Christian Fellowship, Lake Hills Christian Center, and Reaching the Unreachable. Nominees for Media Partner of The Year include Spectrum News 1, Inland Empire News, and KVCR. Key Community Champion nominees include Big Bear Rotary, Eagle Scout Candidate Eric Roberts, and Volunteer Cheryl Tavaglione. Key Corporate Champion nominees include Hendrick Automotive, DHL Supply Chain, and Enterprise.
An additional President’s Choice award, whose recipient will be chosen by FARSB CEO, Stephanie Otero, will also be awarded to an individual in the community whose inspirational service to FARSB best represents the idea that together we can end hunger in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.
In the Inland Empire, more than 400,000 people struggle with hunger and may not know where they’ll find their next meal. That number includes 1 in 5 children.
Sponsors of the Million Meals Gala include: Target, Hodgdon Group, Walmart, Molina Healthcare, Wells Fargo, Kaiser Permanente, Mike and Clara Vanderpool, the Majestic Realty Foundation, Inland Empire Business Journal, Alaska Airlines, and more.
Ticket may be purchased, donations accepted, and sponsorships submitted for the 2019 Million Meals Gala – Rising above Hunger at https://www.feedingIE.org/gala.
About Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino
Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino (FARSB) is leading the fight against hunger in the Inland Empire by providing food access, emergency relief, education, and advocacy to families in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. FARSB opened in 1980 as Survive Food Bank in response to the increasing concern about the dual problems of hunger and food waste in the Inland Empire. Today, FARSB is the primary source of food for over 300 local nonprofit organizations, distributing over one million pounds of food monthly to emergency food pantries, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, high-need elementary schools, halfway houses, senior centers, residential treatment centers, shelters for the abused, after school programs and group homes. With the help of these charity partners, we make up the largest hunger relief organization in the Inland Empire, making food security a reality for over 1.2 million people every year.
Philanthropy & Nonprofits
Spectrum Awards $15,000 Spectrum Digital Education Grant to Hope Through Housing Foundation
Hope Through Housing Foundation Will Use the Funds to Provide Digital Technology to Low-Income Families and Seniors
Spectrum today awarded Hope through Housing Foundation with a $15,000 Spectrum Digital Education grant for their Resident Empowerment Through Digital Access program. In 2023, Spectrum awarded $1.1 million total to 46 nonprofit organizations through Spectrum Digital Education, which supports broadband technology programs, education and training in unserved and underserved communities throughout the company’s service area.
Hope through Housing is dedicated to breaking the generational cycle of poverty by providing an array of quality health and social services programs to low-income residents within National CORE affordable housing communities throughout Southern California. By delivering programs that empower individuals and change communities, Hope impacts the lives and futures of thousands of children, adults and seniors each year.
The grant was presented at Mission Village, a housing community for seniors ages 55 and over in Riverside that holds digital literacy classes for its residents. Jurupa Valley Mayor Guillermo Silva and Spectrum executives participated in the celebration. The organization will use the funding to provide computers with broadband access for their residents to connect with online resources needed to increase their social and economic mobility.
“We are so grateful to Spectrum for this opportunity to enhance our digital connectivity for residents of affordable housing,” said Alyssa Cotter, Hope through Housing Foundation, Vice President. “By providing quality computers in onsite community centers, combined with individual coaching and group workshops, this support will help to increase access for children, parents and seniors to critical resources. Increasing the physical, economic and social well-being of low-income families and seniors will be achieved through this generous grant.”
“I am pleased to congratulate Hope through Housing Foundation on being awarded a $15,000 Spectrum Digital Education Grant,” said Jurupa Valley Mayor Guillermo Silva. “Their work connecting seniors and families to digital technology and critical online resources is a tremendous asset to our community, and will improve the quality of life for many people. I appreciate Spectrum for supporting their mission and addressing digital and broadband inequality with this grant.”
Spectrum’s Commitment: $9 Million and Counting
Hope through Housing Foundation is one of 46 nonprofit organizations across 14 states that Spectrum is supporting through the 2023 Spectrum Digital Education grants. Since the program’s 2017 launch, Spectrum has committed more than $9 million total to the initiative and has awarded 261 grants to 143 unique partners. As of September 2023, Spectrum Digital Education has helped to fund more than 30,000 digital education classes, distribute over 13,000 devices including laptops and support the creation of 157 tech labs.
“The importance of expanding access to essential broadband technologies, education and training is profound in our increasingly digital world,” said Rahman Khan, Group Vice President of Community Impact, Charter. “Through the Spectrum Digital Education grant program, Charter is partnering with valued nonprofits that share our commitment to create better opportunities for the communities we serve.”
Business
Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce Welcomes Hawaii Chamber as Honorary Global Member
Empowering Future Generations: IERCC and Chamber of Commerce Hawaii Forge Partnership for Youth Development
In a landmark meeting that signifies the growing collaboration between regional chambers of commerce, the Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce (IERCC) proudly welcomed the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii as an Honorary Global Member. This momentous occasion was marked by a ceremonial presentation led by Eddy Sumar, MBA, CCE, CICE, a distinguished member and Chair of the Education and Youth Skills Development Liaison at IERCC.
Eddy Sumar, renowned for his passionate advocacy for youth education and skill development, met with Sherry Menor-McNamara, CCE, President & CEO, and Tyler Hunt, Associate Vice President of Membership Services, of the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii. The meeting was not just a formal presentation but also an opportunity to share the innovative approaches IERCC is employing to champion youth development.
In a unique and inspiring gesture, the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii representatives were introduced to IERCC’s youth initiatives through a trilogy of educational books authored by Eddy Sumar himself. These books – “A Treasure Hunt With OTIS,” “The Hidden Dreams,” and “The Cutting Edge” – are a testament to Sumar’s dedication to empowering the youth. Each book addresses critical areas of youth development:
- “A Treasure Hunt With OTIS” provides wisdom to guide young lives.
- “The Hidden Dreams” unlocks the potential of identifying and pursuing youthful aspirations.
- “The Cutting Edge” offers vital insights into understanding credit and financial literacy.
Edward Ornelas, Jr., President & CEO of the Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce, expressed his enthusiasm for this new partnership, stating, “This collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii represents a significant step in our ongoing commitment to foster the leaders of tomorrow. By combining our resources and expertise, we can more effectively prepare our youth for the dynamic world they will inherit. Our shared vision for youth development and education is the cornerstone of this partnership.”
The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii expressed its enthusiasm for the collaboration, recognizing the value of the resources provided by IERCC. This partnership is a significant step towards a shared goal of fostering a brighter future for youth through education, skill development, and empowerment.
The Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce is enthusiastically developing plans to launch a summer internship program exclusively for students from the Inland Empire, offering them the opportunity to travel to Hawaii for this enriching experience. This initiative, which stems from the IERCC’s recent collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, is focused on providing Inland Empire students with a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the diverse business and cultural environment of Hawaii. The program aims to equip these students with invaluable hands-on experience in various industries, enhancing their skills and broadening their perspectives. This visionary approach underscores the IERCC’s dedication to fostering the professional and personal growth of its youth, preparing them for successful careers in an increasingly interconnected world.
The IERCC is committed to continuing these collaborative efforts and looks forward to a fruitful and impactful partnership with the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, collectively striving to nurture the leaders of tomorrow.
Philanthropy & Nonprofits
A Great Milestone Reached! The Otis Dream Project Has Been Recognized in Zambia, Africa!
A Great Milestone Reached! The Otis Dream Project Has Been Recognized in Zambia, Africa!
Have you been wondering what happened to the establishment of the NGO (Non-Governmental Organization), the Otis Dream Project in Zambia, Africa? Well, wonder no more! As of August 10, 2023, the Otis Dream Project has become a reality! Yes, the government of Zambia has recognized the Otis Dream Project as a legal entity. Thanks to our incredible team on the ground and all the hard work they put into the project, the Otis Dream Project has become a legal NGO in a much shorter time frame than most NGOs in that country. This is a BIG milestone, the first of many more! Again, thanks to our hardworking team: Derby Chipwande, Chali Ezra Mwansa, and Edwin Mukwamba.
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