Angel Trees are decorated with cards listing names and wish lists of children whose families cannot afford to buy holiday gifts. Shoppers are invited to take a card from the tree, buy the gifts and return them to the Angel Tree volunteers. The program runs through Dec. 22.

Angel Trees are available at the Inland Center Mall, 500 Inland Center Drive, San Bernardino, and at local Walmart stores, according to a news release from the Salvation Army.

Angel Tree donations will provide toys to children from 400 families in the area including San Bernardino, Colton, Bloomington, Rialto, Grand Terrace, Highland, Redlands, Mentone, Loma Linda and Yucaipa and mountain communities including Big Bear Lake, Blue Jay, Crestline and Lake Arrowhead, according to the news release.

“Legos, board games and clothes are just a few items on the children’s wish lists,” Major Adam Morales, commander of the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps, said in the news release.

“Shoppers who participate in the program are encouraged to shop for more than what is needed on the list. I can’t think of a better way for local people, including business owners and managers, to help the community and spread the spirit of Christmas,” Morales said.

For information on the Angel Tree program, call Steven Pinckney at 909-792-6868 or visit the Angel Tree in the Inland Center Mall in San Bernardino.

In addition to the Angel Tree program, the Salvation Army needs donations of turkeys, hams and canned foods, as well as cash, checks and gift cards. These can be dropped off at the Salvation Army’s corps office at 838 Alta St., Redlands, or at the Hospitality House at 925 W. 10th St., San Bernardino.

Donations can also be made at sanbernardino.salvationarmy.org.

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The fire, reported on Thursday, Dec. 5, just before 2 a.m. destroyed a one-story house near the area of Canal Street and Pacific Avenue.

Firefighters pulled the teenager from the home with severe burns and smoke inhalation before he was taken to a hospital in critical condition.

A family member identified the teen as Zakaria Diaz, a student at Central Middle School in Riverside.

The school’s principal also confirmed Zakaria’s death in a statement to the community that was shared with KTLA.

“It is with profound sadness that we must inform you of the passing of a Central Middle School student. Eighth grader, Zakaria Diaz, died on Saturday, December 7 after being injured in a house fire in Jurupa Valley,” a portion of the statement read. 

The principal went on to describe Zakaria as “a profoundly kind student who enjoyed all aspects of school life. As a 7th grader, he played in the Intermediate Band and his bandmates from last year are still his closest friends. As one of the tallest students at Central, you should see him above all the other kids but he was truly a gentle giant with a quick smile and an easy laugh.”

The vigil for Zakaria will be held at 6091 Mission Boulevard at 1 p.m. on Dec. 20.

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Club President Bill Misner hosted the Dec. 7 banquet honoring the valley’s high school fall athletes at the Hidden Hacienda in Hemet. “We are now honoring three scholarships per season, this one will be for best football player, best all-around boy (non-football) and best all-around girl,” he said.

The Most Outstanding Female Athlete Award was created in 2019 to honor the most outstanding athlete in the San Jacinto Valley for the entire school year. In 2021, the Sportsman’s Club expanded this award to recognize a female MVP for each of the three sport seasons. The award comes with a $1,000 scholarship to be used towards a post high school education.

Madison Pastorius from San Jacinto Valley Academy took the top honor. Other Fall 2024 Award Finalists were Evalina Hernandez, Hamilton High; Ava Cozart, Hemet High; Kylie Herrera, Noli Indian School; Allison Norman, San Jacinto High; Vanessa Garcia, Tahquitz High; and Deonys Ioane, West Valley High School.

The Most Outstanding Male Athlete Award was implemented this school year to honor the most outstanding male athlete for sports other than football, basketball and baseball. This award is given for each sports season (fall, winter and spring) and includes a $1,000 scholarship to be used towards post high school education.

Jackson Lorch from West Valley High School earned the top award. Other Fall 2024 Award Finalists were Jesus Rodriguez, Hamilton High; Evan Marshall, Hemet High; Marco Polo Morales, San Jacinto High; Noah Padilla, San Jacinto Valley Academy; and Christian Gardea, Tahquitz High School.

The 12^th annual Bob Stangel Award, honoring the most outstanding prep football player in the San Jacinto Valley, is named for the late head coach at Mt. San Jacinto College from 1974-1999 after a successful stint at Riverside Notre Dame High School where he won a CIF championship. During his tenure at MSJC, Stangel was named Conference Coach of the Year seven times and Region III Coach of the Year three times. When he retired after the 1999 season, the MSJC Eagles were ranked ninth in the nation and fourth in the state. Stangel’s 154 victories make him the winningest football coach in MSJC history. Coach Stangel is a member of the California Community College State Football Hall of Fame and a charter member of the Mt. San Jacinto College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Draven Lopez from Hemet High School received the Bob Stangel Award and a $1,000 scholarship toward his post high school education. Other 2024 Bob Stangel Award finalists were Cole Haley, Hamilton High; Robert Valencia, Noli Indian School; Daylen Love, San Jacinto High; Nahamani Hamala, San Jacinto Valley Academy; Romeo Evans, Tahquitz High; and Nathan Hutton, West Valley High.

Coaches from area schools were asked to submit names of athletes who were recognized by the Hemet Sportsman’s Club as Fall Sports Team MVPs. They were, from Hamilton High School: Naakai Yazzie Watson (Cross Country Girls), Jesus Rodriguez (Cross Country Boys), and Evalina Hernandez (Girls Volleyball). From Hemet High School were Gabriella Loza (Cross Country Girls), Ryanne Womack (Girls Golf), Brooklyn Benson (Girls Tennis), Ava Cozart and Julia Valenzuela (Girls Volleyball), and Evan Marshall (Boys Water Polo). From Noli Indian School was Kylie Herrera (Girls Volleyball). San Jacinto High School chose Alondra Cuevas (Cross Country Girls), Erik Diaz (Cross Country Boys), Valerie Chavez (Girls Golf), Allison Norman (Girls Tennis), and Eternity Fiaseu and Keyera Cameron (Girls Volleyball). From San Jacinto Valley Academy were Emman Zkukov (Cross Country Girls), Noah Padilla (Cross Country Boys), Madison Pastorius (Girls Volleyball), and Kaahliya Lacy (Girls Flag Football). From Tahquitz High School were Kimberley Luna (Cross Country Girls), Renaldo Mendoza (Cross Country Boys), Morgan Graham (Girls Golf), Bella Johnson (Girls Tennis), Vanessa Garcia (Girls Volleyball), and Christian Gardea (Boys Water Polo). Those honored from West Valley High School were Jenna Murphy (Cross Country Girls), Austin Gillmore (Cross Country Boys), Jade Gastelum (Girls Tennis), Kyla Schneider (Girls Golf), Deonys Ioane (Girls Volleyball), and Jackson Lorch (Boys Water Polo).

For more information, https://hemetsportsmansclub.com.

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“Fresh footwear, a new backpack stuffed with school supplies, a stylish haircut, a dental cleaning and exam, and an overall health physical” for the children comprised the two back-to-school fairs along with more than 2,300 community members who attended, according to the Office of Education. The first fair was held July 30 in the Lake Elsinore Unified School District at the Jean Hayman Training Center, and the other event was Aug. 3 in the Alvord Unified School District at La Sierra High School.

“The rising costs of school supplies and the student and parent expectations ahead of a new year can be stressful for families,” Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Edwin Gomez said in a statement. “A sense of physical and emotional wellness, and even a new pair of shoes or a backpack, can help build confidence for students and set a positive tone for the first day of the school year. We are grateful for our district partners who hosted these events for their communities, along with all of our partners who have generously donated time, services, and supplies.”

The free-admission resource fairs were open to students in foster care and families experiencing homelessness or at risk of being unhoused.

Participating service providers were GeriSmiles, All Kids Health and cosmetology students from Advance Beauty Techs Academy, and 32 community agencies attended to provide information to families and students.

Soles4Souls, an international nonprofit that fights poverty, donated 1,750 pairs of shoes and 4,000 pairs of socks. Soles4Shoes volunteers had a pop-up “shoe store” at the fairs working toward the organization’s goal of providing a new pair of shoes for every child.

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc. conducted a backpack giveaway at the company’s three medical centers in Riverside County. Over 1,800 backpacks filled with school supplies were received from employees, patients and Kaiser’s vendors.

Bombas Socks, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and Supply Bank also provided donations.

More information on accessing services or other back-to-school needs is available from McKinney Vento Homeless Youth Services at studentservices@rcoe.us or Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program Unit at the Office of Education at 951-826-4700 or FYSCP@rcoe.us.

PSUSD Foundation announces $20K grant for students’ shoes

The Foundation for Palm Springs Unified School District received a $20,000 grant to buy new shoes for students for the upcoming school year, the organization announced Monday.

An Impact Grant from the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation and News Channel 3 will help about 2,500 students who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, the foundation reported.

Over 97% of PSUSD students are disadvantaged, with approximately 12% living in unstable conditions and at least 2% confirmed to be experiencing homelessness, officials said.

“The Shoe Distribution Program is a simple yet powerful way to help the next generation in our community rise above their circumstances,” PSUSD Foundation Director Ellen Goodman said in a statement. “This type of support lays the groundwork for students to reach their full potential.”

This is the third annual Shoe Distribution Program, which is a partnership involving the PSUSD Board of Education, the district superintendent and the foundation, a nonprofit “that pilots and underwrites existing, underfunded initiatives,” foundation officials said.

A study found that 100% of students who received new shoes were “confident to express opinions with classmates,” compared with 35% who felt confident prior to receiving the gifted shoes, according to the foundation. The same study, which was not identified, also noted modest gains in academic confidence, social engagement and athletic confidence in just the first several weeks.

“Well-fitting shoes are a back-to-school essential, as important as backpacks and pencils,” Catharine Reed, vice president of charitable programs for the Berger Foundation, said in a statement. “The Foundation for PSUSD is addressing a fundamental need that is necessary for both physical health and psychological well-being.”

More information about the foundation and the Shoe Distribution Program is online at psusdfoundation.net/shoes.

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