“This is our most entertaining event of the year, and this year was more exciting than ever,” Soboba Foundation President Andy Silvas said. “Fourteen nonprofits are benefiting from what we can do together as a community.”

Neon colors were everywhere as were the throwback vibes as groups “sang” and danced to tunes from Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, Wham! and lots of mashups of songs from that era. Emcees Andrew Vallejos and Joey Placencia kept the show flowing with their witty repartee and audience interviews.

“I just wish Andrew would try to keep up with me, honestly,” said Placencia, who also serves as Soboba Foundation Board Secretary. “We have known each other long enough that nothing is off limits, and I love working with him to present a night like this to our community.”

The organizations’ energetic and spot-on routines made it difficult for judges Andrea Candelaria, Mike Hiles, Alyssa Lauture and Raquel Williams to choose the best. Candelaria, better known as “Aunty Candy,” is a driver for Soboba and a longtime judge of the annual contest. As Tribal Information Officer for the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians, Hiles has been part of the annual Lip Sync Contest since it began. Lauture is a proud member of the Santa Rosa Band of Cahuilla Indians and is currently serving her fourth consecutive term on Tribal Council. Williams is a respected community leader and the proud Vice Chairwoman of Wilton Rancheria.

No contestants went home empty handed as 10 special awards were presented along with the top four finishers. Each of those award recipients received $500 for their amazing efforts with Fan Favorite winning $1,000.

The top four acts were separated by only one point each, just proving how great they all did. Taking home the $10,000 first place prize was The Global Society for Female Entrepreneurs (GSFE). Ending the evening with a moving recreation of “Love Can Build A Bridge” by The Judds, nine members dressed in Western gear stood in front of the judges providing movements that matched the lyrics while Joy Fairchild and Charmaine Summers did a spot-on recreation of the famous mother/daughter duo. They got the judges on their feet and the audience singing along. This nonprofit has empowered, inspired, mentored, educated, and connected entrepreneurs while helping build stronger communities and stronger leaders for the past 10 years. Plans for the winnings include revamping their website and providing their diverse members with more AI training.

“We’ve helped our members believe in themselves and know that nothing is impossible. They have learned we are all one,” founder Robbie Motter said. “We don’t compete; we complete each other.”

She said the song they chose became GSFE’s unofficial theme song several years ago due to its strong message of peace and love. Competing for their third year in a row, Motter said they were happy to be one of the nonprofits selected for this year’s competition. She said the girls rehearsed two to three times a week and were still rehearsing in the hallway on the night of the event. Showing total commitment, Summers is the one who coordinated the act and even dyed her blonde hair red to look the part of Wynonna Judd. Other performers were Barbara Berg, Elizabeth Celis, Nicole Farrell, Emiko Ishii, Emma Ocop, Christine Park, Cheri Reynolds, Briana Rice, and Violet Williams.

“We loved being last but would have been happy placed anywhere,” Motter said. “I saw great things in each act, coming together and sharing is what is so great. Each one you could see gave from their heart.”

Black Voices of the Valley took second place and also won the Fan Favorite award, giving them a total of $6,000. Also appearing for the third year in a row, the group nailed their performance during a Michael Jackson medley, led by TY-C Dance Studio owner Tyrone Barajas who was in the Soboba Lip Sync contest 10 years ago on behalf of the American Cancer Society. This year he was supporting BVOV, which is helping to build the next generation of leaders in the region through education, mentorship, advocacy, cultural awareness, and youth empowerment. The funds they earned from the contest will continue to support their mentoring and job shadowing youth programs.

BVOV Executive Director Stephanie Bruce said Barajas and his wife Sierra assisted with putting the routine together and the performers had three rehearsals, each lasting a few hours each; one was on the day of the event, outside in the Soboba Casino Resort parking lot. Bruce said they all worked hard and recorded themselves so they could practice on their own. Bruce, Sheila Diggs, and Kelly Smith served as backup singers and dancers for “Michael.” Bruce said it was a little nerve-wracking to be the second of 14 acts to take the stage, wondering if their performance was going to have a lasting impact that would make folks remember them at the end of the show, which lasted three-plus hours.

“We were hopeful but had no clue that the audience enjoyed our performance so much. We give all the glory to God,” Bruce said. “We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Soboba Foundation for their generous support and continued investment in our community. For the last three years, we have had the privilege of participating, and every experience becomes more meaningful than the last. Their commitment to uplifting organizations like ours makes a lasting impact, and we are truly honored to be a part of it. We would also like to express our deepest appreciation to every staff member and volunteer who worked the event. Their kindness, welcoming spirit, and countless acts of generosity did not go unnoticed. They made everyone feel valued, and their dedication is a beautiful reflection of what community is all about. From all of us at Black Voices of the Valley, we want to thank everyone involved for their compassion, hospitality, and for making this year’s experience one we will never forget. We are sincerely grateful.”

The Greater San Jacinto Valley Chamber of Commerce supports economic growth throughout the region. The organization was able to snag a fourth-place finish and $2,000 for their medley of 80s and 90s hits that were popular on MTV, which they recreated center stage with a giant television screen prop. Executive Director Veronica Hawkes said it was the group’s fourth year for the all-volunteer organization. She said the funds will be used towards operations and upcoming community events, such as their 18th annual Candy Corner Community Event Oct. 29 at Valley-Wide Regional Park in San Jacinto.

Taking to the stage during their medley of popular songs were Hawkes, Valerie Vandever, Stephanie and Richard Montoya, Brenda Kratz, Rick Baker, Louisa Alvarado, Ana and Sergio Acosta, and Esmeralda Sanchez. Sergio came up with the set design, and they all collaborated to bring the idea to life. The group held eight rehearsals to get things just right.

“Stephanie and Ana mainly came up with the songs and all together we worked on choreography,” Hawkes said. “There were times when it was very challenging, especially with so many opinions. There were 14 of us, including backstage personnel. But we were able to enjoy the rest of the awesome performances, once we were done with our show. I thought everyone did a wonderful job!”

She thanked the Soboba Foundation for putting on such an amazing event. “We look forward to participating every year,” Hawkes said, adding that it’s always a wonderful experience for them. “We all go home as winners. Whether you place in the top four or not, every participant at least goes home with $500, which is very rewarding. Soboba and all the amazing staff put on such a wonderful event!”

The Hemet Mom’s Adventure Club is all about getting families outdoors, building memories, and having fun. Taking home third place and $3,000 as first-time entrants was a result of a lot of fun and hard work.

President Amanda Lorei said the group started as an idea during COVID back in 2021. “We were a group of moms that craved togetherness and we were determined to get back outside,” she said. “We are now a community of more than 4,000 local moms dedicated to getting families outdoors, building friendships, and creating meaningful memories together, all without any type of personal gain or commitment. Access to our group is on Facebook.” As of this year the group is an official nonprofit branch club of the San Jacinto Lions Club.

“When we learned about the Soboba Lip Sync competition, we wanted to create something high-energy, fun, and reflective of our adventurous spirit, so we put together a custom medley with help from DJ Ditty, a local dad and HUSD substitute teacher,” Lorei said. “We had a concept of keeping a fun, light-hearted, but mom-centric theme for the performance while using some of our favorite clips from those decades. As major products of the 80s and 90s, we chose songs that represented the active lifestyle of the era while focusing on the pillars of our organization: adventure, motherhood, community, and fun.”

She said that everyone in the group provided input for their routine. Alongside Lorei, who is a self-proclaimed Adventure Junkie, she described other performers as Monica Franco Moore, Treasurer with all the Moves; Autumn Kennedy, Club Member and Lip Sync Director; Marci Lawry, Club Member with all the Snacks; Lori Goodrich, Club Member and Peter Pan Grandma; and Matthew Ditty, Club Member and Forced Support.

“None of us are dancers or performers, we just brought our determination and a lot of heart,” Lorei said. “We spent about two weeks building, editing, and fine-tuning the performance, with just over a week of evening rehearsals with needy kids in tow each time. In fact, our team didn’t fully master the entire routine until just two days before the event, making the win even more exciting.”

She said that despite this being the 18^th annual Lip Sync Contest, the event was new to all of the members. “It was all a much larger production than we anticipated, and it was such an amazing experience for all of us. It was well organized and we felt like VIPs.”

Lorei added that they were honored to be part of such a talented group of community organizations and definitely plan to show up next year with another winning performance.

“The $3,000 prize will help us continue providing family-friendly outdoor activities, community events, and opportunities that encourage children and families to explore nature, connect with one another, and make memories that matter. Zero fees, zero commitments and nothing but fun. At the heart of everything we do is our mission: getting families outside and creating experiences they’ll remember for a lifetime.”

Other nonprofits and their special awards which garnered them $500 each were Nostalgia Champion Boxing for Christ, who uses the art of boxing to teach discipline, confidence, and life skills while providing a positive outlet for local youth. TRL Superstars Boys & Girls Clubs of Inland Valley is an organization that helps young people reach their full potential.

EXCEED empowers individuals with disabilities to explore opportunities, make informed choices, and achieve greater independence and they earned the Best Cast/Ensemble award. Hemet San Jacinto Valley Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to attracting, developing, promoting, and retaining local businesses throughout the valley and had the Most Original act. The Historic Hemet Theatre keeps history alive while bringing arts and entertainment to the community and were deemed Most Creative.

The “All That and a Bag of Chips” award went to My City Youth Center, which is devoted to mentoring young people and strengthening families through faith, integrity, and service. Native Youth Foundation is dedicated to inspiring and uplifting Indigenous youth while strengthening cultural identity. They received Best Song Choice for lip syncing to “Give It Away” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The San Jacinto Education Foundation was established in 2001 as an all-volunteer organization dedicated to supporting students, teachers, support staff, and educational programs throughout the San Jacinto Unified School District. They were awarded Best Choreography for their tribute to heavy metal artist Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath.

Soroptimist International San Jacinto-Hemet Valley is dedicated to empowering women and girls through education and opportunity. Fittingly, they performed Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” and took home the Best Costume award. The Valley Community Pantry has been serving families throughout the San Jacinto Valley since 1965. The organization was first on the stage and earned the Most Entertaining award.

“The energy, creativity, enthusiasm, and community spirit each organization brought to the stage made for a truly unforgettable evening,” Soboba Sponsorship Coordinator Andrew Vallejos said. “We are so grateful for their participation and support.”

For more information, https://soboba-nsn.gov/sponsorship.

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Eight groups won $500 each, and the top four finishers shared $10,000 in prize money. Rose Salgado, who pioneered the Lip Sync Contest 12 years ago as a way to unite the community in a fun and competitive spirit of giving to those in need, was one of the judges. Others were Mia Basquez, who co-hosted the event last year with Andrew Vallejos, Catherine “Cat” Modesto, and Thomas Riesgo.

Michelle Modesto joined Vallejos as co-host this year, and their chemistry was a highlight of the evening. Michelle served as a judge last year and was recently elected to the Soboba Foundation board. She was raised on the Soboba Indian Reservation and works for Soboba Tribal Administration.

“This was so much fun,” said Modesto after the completion of the three-plus hour program. She had gotten the evening off to a strong start by lip-synching to Amy Winehouse’s classic hit “Rehab.”

Hemet Mayor Bonnie Wright said the contest, held at this year’s new venue, was a night to remember because of the fun and entertainment provided by the co-hosts and all the contestants. “We greatly appreciate the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians putting on this event for the past 12 years to help the nonprofits in the Valley,” she said.

First place and $5,000 was awarded to T.H.E. Center, Inc., which has been dedicated to improving the physical and psychological wellbeing of its students through its equine-assisted activities and therapies. A performance by “Lady Gaga” recreating her debut single “Just Dance” brought the house down as Kitt put on an incredible show.

“Your impressive death drop (dance move) was the best I’ve ever seen,” judge Cat Modesto commented. T.H.E. Center’s Executive Director Miguel Sarasa was a little shocked when his organization won because he felt all the other groups did so great.

“Kitt is a fun, up-and-coming drag performer from Palm Springs and I just reached out and asked if he would be interested in participating,” Sarasa said. “Drag culture is so different and big on lip-synching for entertainment so I figured what’s a lip-sync contest without a drag performer?”

Sarasa, who has entered the contest for the past six years, said it’s always a pleasure to support the Soboba Foundation after all they do for the Valley and nonprofits. “The major difference this year was being on a much bigger stage and having a larger audience at the beautiful Event Center,” he said. 

Second place and $2,500 was earned by last year’s first-place finishers Up, Down & Dirty 4 A Cure Mud Run. The organization puts on an annual 5K fun run and festival to raise funds for the mission of the American Cancer Society. Three talented guys performed a medley of 90s hits. “You did an amazing job,” judge Riesgo said. “You spanned everything from Art Leboe to my junior high school dance days.”

The Tahquitz High School Cheer Program, comprised of cheer moms, dads, and coaches, were decked out in Britney Spears costumes and earned $1,500 for a third-place finish. The Hemet-based group has become a recognized leader among area high school cheer programs. “That was lots of fun to watch,” judge Basquez said.

Divine Appointment Worship Center in San Jacinto delivered a powerful message with its performance of “Glory” by John Legend and rapper Common. It secured them a fourth-place spot and a $1,000 check. The impact church is focused on building a better community through its after-school and mentorship program for youth. “That song was really deep and moving,” judge Salgado told them.

The Hemet-San Jacinto Valley Chamber of Commerce, which works to attract, develop, promote and retain local businesses through communication, networking, training and program development won for Best Choreography.

Relay for life is the signature fundraising event for the American Cancer Society and raises money for cancer research, education, advocacy, and patient services. The group’s performers got the Best Song award. Kiwanis Club of Hemet is dedicated to serving children’s causes in the community. The local organization has been in existence since 1922. Its entertaining members received the Best Costume award.

The San Jacinto Unified School District is dedicated to educating and inspiring students to be college and career ready. Each year, they have a huge ensemble cast on stage and this year was no exception as they paid tribute to Soul Train with a medley of hits from various decades. This earned them the Most Entertaining award.

A Best Props award was granted to the Hemet Sunset Rotary Club, a service club that is committed to improving the quality of life for residents in the San Jacinto Valley. Most Creatives was earned by the Tiny Titans Cheerleading nonprofit organization. The youth group focuses on team building, respect, and positivity.

The San Jacinto Education Foundation is a voluntary organization that strives to enrich the educational opportunities of students in the San Jacinto Unified School District. They received the Most Original award. Most Dramatic was a solo performance by Joey Placencia on behalf of The Valley Queens Foundation, a scholarship program that supports young women.

Information, www.soboba-nsn.gov/sponsorship

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