“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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Before driving out, Soboba Tribal Council Chairman Isaiah Vivanco welcomed all attendees. There were 42 foursomes on the first day, 50 on day two and 36 on the final day.

“We can’t be more grateful for your support; we couldn’t do this without our sister Tribes as well as our corporate partners,” he said. “On behalf of the Tribe and Foundation, we thank you.”

Soboba Foundation President Andy Silvas said he knows how much goes into organizing this event and thanked all those who made it happen.

Soboba Casino Resort General Manager and Tournament Director Jason Cozart reminded players of the rules and told them to have fun. He said, “The success of this annual event is evident by its growth over the past 14 years and that would not have been possible without you. Your generosity has allowed us to help local nonprofi­ts meet their goals and fulfill their missions.”

More than 40 nonprofits submitted a qualified written application as well as a 30-second video detailing why they should be considered as a beneficiary by the Soboba Foundation Board of Directors. Since each selected group had the potential of receiving $10,000, they also were asked to describe how the funding would be utilized.

“The videos were an important part of the process, as they helped put a face to the name and gave the Board a more personal connection to each applicant,” Sponsorship Coordinator Andrew Vallejos said.

All chosen organizations were required to promote the tournament in addition to providing 10 volunteers for the tournament on a designated day. Tara and Joey Placencia were co-coordinators for the volunteers once again this year. They were joined by six immediate family members who also donated their time for the event and helped with pre-tournament duties such as preparing gift packages for the players.

Arriving each morning before 6 a.m., Tara and Joey made sure everyone knew their station and what they needed to do for the day. Some were assigned to the beverage station while others were set up at different holes around the course for golfers to have fun with other games such as football pass or cornhole craze. Scoring high in these contests gave players an opportunity to win fabulous prizes at the evening’s banquet at the SCR Event Center.

“The new beverage station at golf check-in worked very well, and it was very well received by everyone,” Vallejos said. “Guests really enjoyed it, and it helped create a welcoming experience at the start of each day. We liked it very much and would definitely consider using it again in the future, while continuing to look for ways to improve efficiency.”

Tara Placencia agreed and welcomed the opportunity to assign required volunteers to the beverage station. This ensured it was fully staffed throughout the check-in process and gave volunteers the opportunity to connect with the players on their assigned day.

“We ask the organizations to provide 10 volunteers so we had some who could help when different casino resort departments requested extra help,” said Tara, who has been part of the charity golf tournament for the past 10 years.

Everyone in attendance was given the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for some amazing prizes housed in a room adjacent to the banquet room. There was also a grand prize winner of $14,000 in cash each night for those who purchased $50 or more in raffle tickets.

This year’s deserving nonprofits were 7G Foundation, Care-A-Van Transit Systems, Daughter of Soboba, Dream the Impossible, EXCEED, Hemet Youth Wrestling, Lifeworks ATP, Native American Land Conservancy, Oak Grove Center, and San Jacinto Lions Club.

The 7G Foundation is a collection of entrepreneurs, coaches and Tribal leaders building on the strength of their ancestors to mold the next seven generations of Native leaders through education, athletics, culture, and real-world support. Funding will support their annual Indigenous Bowl.

Care-A-Van offers free transportation for elderly and disabled individuals to access critical services and resources. Volunteers from the transit systems’ partner agencies included Teresa Suarez and her daughter Angelica. “Everything ran smoothly,” said Teresa, who helped make sure all coolers were filled throughout the day. Czaia Velazquez and Jessica Lacayo worked the Dartboard Chip game at Hole 1. Their enthusiasm got players off to a good start. “I love it, I’m having a good time,” Care-A-Van dispatcher Velazquez said.

The Daughter of Soboba ($ovóova Po’$wáamay) seeks to strengthen the cultural connections between elders, young women, and girls in order to create a cycle of learning, connecting, and sharing with one another. Dream the Impossible encourages Native youth to dream big and engage in new experiences and provides Native youth exposure to college campuses.

EXCEED provides services and supports that empower individuals with disabilities to explore opportunities, make informed choices, and achieve greater independence. Funds from the charity golf tournament will support its year-round Art in the Park community-based creative arts program. “Everyone is so nice and the players are respectful and having fun,” said volunteer Jennifer Herrera.

Hemet Youth Wrestling introduces San Jacinto Valley area youth to the sport of wrestling within a safe, fun and challenging environment. Lifeworks ATP is a Hemet Unified School District transition program for special education students ages 18-22 that strives to equip every adult student with skills towards independence. Teachers Abby Smith, Kazryn Gess and Sharyl Adams Williams were among the 10 volunteers who spent day two on the course on behalf of the Lifeworks program. Several of the volunteers began their shift at 6 a.m., helping with check-in. Funding the organization received will help with field trips to museums and local workplaces, along with overall program operations.

Native American Land Conservancy is an intertribal nonprofit founded in 1998 to acquire, preserve, and protect sacred lands. Funds from their participation in this year’s event will support the Land Back Initiative project to return state school lands to Tribal communities.

Oak Grove Center rebuilds the lives of at-risk children and their families through education, healing, restoring relationships, building character, and instilling hope. Being a recipient this year will help them expand their mental health treatment services. Development Director Romy Fazeli spent the first day at Hole 12 with colleague Erick Montejo cheering on those taking part in the Football Pass game. “Everyone has been great; we’re excited to be here,” Fazeli said. Jean Bacher has been a youth support worker at Oak Grove for 10 years but was at the charity golf tournament for the first time. “I love it,” she said. “This is a great opportunity to engage with the community and see everyone supporting nonprofits.”

The San Jacinto Lions Club has a long-standing commitment to community service, with a strong focus on supporting the blind and visually impaired. Past District Governor Ken Reed said being one of the lucky recipients from this year’s event will be a big help to the club whose services are provided to those less fortunate in the community. Funds will be used to support the “Dance for Fun” program that offers a free social and inclusive event for individuals with disabilities.

The energy was at an all-time high level out on the golf course and at the Event Center, thanks in part to the upbeat tunes spun by DJ Mike Nevarez aka Da Chef who also kept things on schedule by making important announcements at both locations.

Vendors dotted the course with a huge variety of food and drinks. Roadrunner Express store manager Tony Brimer and Assistant Manager Ruby Arrietta were set up at Hole 4 with a snack station. Offering plant-based Yerba Mate drinks with organic caffeine and grab and go snacks, visitors were also treated to a lip balm delivered in the shape of a golf ball. Soboba Tribal member Arrietta said she was happy to be part of the tournament. “I like to represent and do for my people,” she said. Sergio Ramon, founder of Grips on the Go, replaced club grips for those who asked. He offered all colors and designs, including one that was customized for the tournament.

Charles Berglund is SCR’s Executive Director of Facilities and Public Works. He said the event is always a highlight for him because it brings together so many people they don’t get to see often. “Our vendors, sponsors, along with the Soboba Foundation and the Soboba Casino Resort team, join forces to create an event that’s top tier in every way,” Berglund said. “It’s always rewarding to hear positive feedback about the event and our course, and it reinforces why it’s so special to be a part of it.”

Another attraction was the opportunity for players to interact with one of Soboba’s newest employees, Pond Manager Hitch. Already a social media star, the border collie from North Carolina has found a beautiful home at Soboba Springs Golf Course. Handler Aaron Kelsey is the superintendent of the golf course and said Hitch traverses water features three times a day to chase away waterfowl such as ducks and geese. “He has become a little rock star,” Kelsey said. See Hitch in action on Instagram at www.instagram.com/reel/DUouFlVj7jn.

SCR Promotions Manager Corryn Salgado Flores said the tournament went very smoothly for the team this year. “The vibes on the course were calm all around and it really did make for a great experience. The highlight for me was seeing my team work in sync with all the other departments, vendors, volunteers, and golfers,” she said. “Hearing all of our vendors and guests say, ‘Everyone is so friendly and nice here,’ multiple times lets us know we’re doing something right. There is a lot of prep for this event and as long as the guest experience is amazing, all of the hard work is worth it.”

Soboba continues to strengthen the community, one swing at a time. Always rooted in the tradition of giving back, this signature event has everyone playing for purpose year after year.

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MacKenzie Scott’s quest to give the bulk of her wealth to charity continues.

So far this year, 24 nonprofits have announced they’ve received unrestricted donations from Scott through her Yield Giving fund, according to a Chronicle of Philanthropy tally. The gifts total $146 million and range from $1 million to $15 million.

Nearly half went to charities focused on early-childhood education and early-childhood development. Scott has now given more than $14.1 billion to at least 1,621 charities since 2020. To encourage people to focus on the charities rather than on her, Scott has stopped announcing her donations as she had in the past. Now she leaves it up to the charities to decide whether to publicize her gifts. Given the scale of her giving in previous years, it is likely the 24 announced contributions represent only a portion of what she has actually donated so far this year.

Charity leaders say they appreciate Scott’s decision to let nonprofits choose whether to publicize the gifts because it lets them decide what’s best for the organization. “It was in our best interest to announce this donation and to share the victory with our peers in the movement,” says Sean McCarthy, who manages donor relations at the National Housing Trust.

The affordable housing group landed a $10 million gift from Scott last month, its largest donation to date. “We view this gift as a vote of confidence.” Still, there were pros and cons to consider. Trust officials wanted to announce the gift to show that a high profile philanthropist like Scott has faith in the trust’s mission and its ability to manage a gift of that size. They discussed the potential downsides to publicizing it, too, such as concerns that other donors would think Scott’s gift provided the trust with all it needs to carry out its mission. “The reality is that this is a very large problem that we’re trying to solve.

There’s a shortage of over 7 million affordable homes here in the United States alone, and so when we decided to publish this, we wanted to ensure that we weren’t sharing that we now have all the resources we need to pursue our mission,” McCarthy says. “We’re still in need of support from a variety of sources.” Patricia Lozano, executive director of Early Edge California, an early-childhood education advocacy group, had similar reasons for wanting to publicize the $3 million gift the organization received this summer. “It was a win for Early Edge to be recognized, and it’s the first time in our history that we got a gift of this size,” Lozano says. “It was a recognition of our work and all our successes.

Our work is very specifically around advocacy, so we thought it would be a good thing for us to show our funders and possible partners that we’re trusted and recognized.” Scott launched Yield Giving’s website in December to answer the nonprofit world’s call for more transparency. The site names groups that received gifts and, in some cases, the amount they got.

But it hasn’t been updated since last year, so it’s unclear exactly how many gifts she has made this year. That has left the philanthropy world wondering what to make of Scott’s latest donations. “Philanthropy as a whole would benefit from more knowledge about the organizations getting the grants and why they’re getting them,” says Joanne Florino, a Philanthropy Roundtable official who advises donors and foundations. Debate about transparency and privacy in the philanthropy world is nothing new, says Katherina Rosqueta, who leads the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for High Impact Philanthropy.

Some wealthy donors give anonymously because they want privacy and, like Scott, want people to focus on the work of the nonprofit they support. Others are willing to forgo some privacy because they know attaching their name to a large donation encourages their peers to support that charity.

Scott’s case is unique because of the size of her wealth, currently estimated at roughly $37 billion, and because her fortune was generated by her stock in Amazon, one of the highest-profile companies in the world, Rosqueta says. “There have always been wealthy people who have chosen to be quiet about their giving, who have chosen to give unrestricted gifts to grantees, who have trusted organizations,” Rosqueta says. “But what we have with MacKenzie Scott is probably the highest-profile version of it, and because of the level of wealth she has, she is able to give at a scale and a pace that those who have adopted the same practices can’t.”

Rosqueta says Scott is just one of many high-profile philanthropists who have attempted over the years to shift attention to the organizations they support. While Scott’s attempts to deflect attention haven’t worked, Rosqueta says, they have generated a healthy debate about where attention should be directed. “If you look at the media, if you look at institutions, the focus is on the wealthy individual and always has been,” Rosqueta says. “It should be no surprise that a wealthy, very high-profile individual who is pushing back against that quite intentionally is making people concerned or feel uncomfortable because it is not the way things have been.”

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One of those nonprofits is the San Jacinto Mountain Bike Team, led by Team Director Randy Wood, who is also a teacher at San Jacinto High School. The SJMTB Team provides students with coaching and camaraderie that will help them achieve both competitive and non-competitive cross country goals while promoting fitness, recreation and health.

The SJMBT was founded in 2013 by two teachers at San Jacinto High School. These two teachers were very passionate about the sport of mountain biking and wanted to share the experience with kids. The team formed a High School Mountain Bike Team and later formed a Middle School Mountain Bike Team. The governing SoCal League was established in 2008.

“We are extremely honored to have been chosen as a beneficiary,” Wood said, who added that the team typically receives funding from fundraising, individual donations and business sponsorships. “Our goal is to grow and get as many kids on bikes as possible.”

He said the Charity Golf Tournament funding will be used for race fees, bikes, jerseys, transportation, overnight stays, equipment and insurance fees that are all ongoing expenses for the team. He said it will also help recruit new riders who may not have the means to purchase the necessary equipment to participate in the sport.

“Managing the costs and continued growth of the sport is difficult,” Wood said. “We do our best to find a way to get kids on bikes if they show an interest in riding.”

One of the requirements of the organizations that are chosen as beneficiaries is to provide volunteers to assist with all the logistics on and off the course during tournament days, which are March 21 and 22. Early morning check-ins, hosting games and resting points set up throughout the golf course, meeting the needs of all the players and helping out at the evening banquets at the end of each day are just some of the ways that volunteers are asked to contribute to the success of the tournament.

“My team of volunteers is looking forward to giving back,” Wood said. “A donation of $10,000 is a lot of money; we want it to be extra clear that we are very grateful for being chosen as a beneficiary.”

  Another first time recipient of the generous funding generated from this annual tournament is the Oak Grove Center, based in Murrieta. Chief Executive Officer Tammy Wilson shared the mission of the nonprofit, which is “to rebuild the lives of at-risk children and their families through educating, healing, restoring relationships, building character and instilling hope.”

Oak Grove Center was founded in 1989 to provide treatment and care for children and teens struggling with severe behavioral and emotional problems. It provides residential care, education and treatment to an average of 1,000 youths each year who are at risk or have special needs. Its programs touch families throughout Southern California. In 2022, 55 San Jacinto Valley children and teens were served through its multiple programs.

Development Director Kristi Piatkowski said the Center’s vision is “to be a premier treatment center that successfully prepares youth for healthy, productive and responsible lives.”

She said Oak Grove has a diverse funding stream with treatment, housing and educational costs paid through contracts that include school districts, insurance and Department of Social Services as well as adoptions.

Regarding the Soboba donation, Wilson said, “The funding will help us complete the replacement of two playgrounds. Playgrounds are important in a child’s physical and social development as well as mental health. Physically, outdoor playgrounds help improve overall health. Mentally, playgrounds support developing relationships with peers and encourage the discovery and development of other talents. They are especially important to children with special needs. It will provide a place to play, grow and thrive, and a special, safe environment where they can “just be a kid.” Additionally, partnering with a well-respected, impactful organization such as Soboba Foundation will bring attention to Oak Grove Center, spreading more awareness of what we do for the community and how others can help.”

Piatkowski said it is the fundraised dollars that go directly to the unique needs of the youth including art and music programs, sports and recreation, vocational programs and special campus needs, such as the new playground Soboba is helping build. She said that without Soboba’s help, it would have taken Oak Grove Center longer to raise the funds as $10,000 will cover a significant portion of the funds needed to build the playgrounds.

Wilson said that Oak Grove volunteers are excited to be a part of the two-day event. “It will be interesting to see how the event is organized, meet the other nonprofits and learn about those also benefiting, and being a part of this community,” she said. “We appreciate those that give back and greatly admire the generosity of Soboba.”

Rounding out this year’s selections are the 7G Foundation, Boxing for Christ, Carol’s Kitchen, Four Directions Club at San Jacinto High School, Friends of Valley-Wide Foundation, Grandfathers for Golf Inc. and Inter-Tribal Sports.

Soboba Foundation members voted on the nearly 50 qualified applications received this year to find those that matched best with the Foundation’s mission and vision to support education, health, economic development, and special projects within Southern California. Throughout the year, the Soboba Foundation provides financial assistance for educational and charitable activities that preserve the cultural heritage of the Soboba Band and support Native American and local community programs.

“It was difficult to narrow down our choices as all the nonprofits under consideration do such meaningful and valuable work in our communities,” Soboba Foundation President Dondi Silvas said. “We hope this year’s recipients will reap many benefits from this event and we look forward to them and others applying again next year.”

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