It began on Dec. 8 when more than 20 volunteers gathered at the Soboba Springs Golf Course to unpack the truckload of boxed toys delivered from the Walmart Supercenter in Beaumont.

Sponsorship Coordinator Andrew Vallejos said in April, Soboba Foundation members were trying to find a way to make this year’s toy distribution process easier and the Beaumont store stepped up. “They discounted a lot of nice toys and actually gave us more,” he said. “They have been amazing. They were able to just take everything we wanted and send it to their warehouses, have everything separated and distributed. They made everything very easy.”

This is the first year for the Beaumont store to partner with Soboba. Store Lead Julio Ortiz, who has worked at Walmart for 21 years, said it took 10 associates two days to pull the 5,000 toys to fulfill the order that was broken down by age group and gender. It took about three weeks to coordinate everything before the delivery could be made.

Ortiz said other Walmart employees who were instrumental in making this happen were Store Manager Jessica Lewis and Coaches Daniel Lemus and Geovanny Contreras.

During the week of Dec. 8, a team of volunteers met at the Soboba Springs Golf Course to unpack toys that were purchased in bulk from Beaumont’s Walmart Supercenter. It took three days for the team to sort the toys by age groups and designated recipients so their scheduled pickups could be seamless.

“I’d have to say this year a highlight was the amount of volunteer help we had the first day unboxing the toy shipment from Walmart,” Soboba Foundation Secretary Joseph Placencia said. “Not only was it my usual crew, but the Soboba Fire Department and Soboba Department of Parks and Recreation came by to help out. It was nice to see everyone lending a hand and showing they cared.”

At 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 8, at least 150 community volunteers gathered at the San Jacinto Unified School District to participate in the 12^th annual Unstuff the Bus event, presented by the Soboba Foundation. Stefany Curiel is the Family & Community Engagement Specialist at the district’s Parent Center and she explained how the process works. The toys are passed along a human chain that stretches from the parked bus to a warehouse where they stayed until the district hosted their holiday party on Dec. 13 when the toys would be given to those families identified by school site liaisons.

Superintendent David Pyle welcomed everyone and said a few words while awaiting the arrival of the stuffed bus. “I want to give an especially big shout out to our friends from Soboba,” he said. “This event obviously wouldn’t be possible each and every year without them; having their support means so much. This program for our community is just one single reminder about how many ways Soboba gives back to San Jacinto and the whole valley. So, let’s please have a big round of applause for our partners at Soboba. And Happy Holidays to everyone.”

Pyle also noted that each school site shared with their families that the distribution of toys would not have been possible without the support of Soboba. “We are truly grateful for our continued relationship,” he said.

After less than 30 minutes, all 800 toys were sorted and stacked on tables inside the warehouse, and everyone was asked to assemble inside for a group photo.

Soboba Foundation President Andy Silvas acknowledged and thanked all the Soboba Tribal members who were there. “I want to thank all the team members who came out to volunteer to help us give back to the community and to everyone who showed they care for the people of this community. It’s a great event, and I enjoy being here every year.”

Soboba Tribal Council Treasurer and Soboba Foundation Board Member Adona Salgado said, “Attending the toy distribution for the first time was especially meaningful as it coincided with my older sister’s birthday. After celebrating with family and friends, we ended our day by giving back. Witnessing how our Tribe is able to bless others during the holiday season makes my heart happy.”

Early the following morning, Soboba Tribal members and other volunteers were at the Soboba Springs Golf Course once again to meet with selected nonprofits, Tribal organizations and other surrounding Tribes who came by to pick up toys that were allocated for their holiday events.

Haily Perez is a member of the new Aspiring Leaders at Mt. San Jacinto College. She said community service is the goal of the club, and this event was the first opportunity members had to participate. Soboba’s Tara Placencia and several of her family members are steadfast volunteers at many Tribal events and this year was no exception. She said the previous day was the hardest part, having to unpack all the boxes. “Today is fun, seeing all the groups come by to pick up the toys that are being donated to them for the holidays,” Placencia said.

Tribal member Josh Lala stayed busy loading vehicles with toys. He also supports the Kids of Anza nonprofit who received 100 toys for their Dec. 20 party. Executive Director Russell Kitchen said the rural population benefits from the organization’s car shows, food drives, a Valentine’s Day dance, plus Christmas and Easter parties held at different venues in the community. They also sponsor sports and scholarships for the youth. “I like to help out when I can,” Lala said.

The evening of Dec. 10 was when a Soboba bus filled with 1,000 toys arrived at Tahquitz High School to be emptied out by a dedicated team of volunteers. Many students, as well as Hemet Police Department officers and Explorers also pitched in.

HUSD Superintendent Christi Barrett said, “The generosity of the Soboba Foundation makes Unstuff the Bus such a powerful demonstration of our community’s commitment to students. Their support ensures that Hemet Unified students experience the joy of the season through thoughtful gifts and heartfelt generosity. I’m deeply grateful to our partners, families, and especially our students who participate with such energy and heart.”

Miriam Ortiz, Coordinator for the district’s School, Family & Community Partnerships, said most of the toys would be given out at the Christmas Party to be held at Tahquitz High School on Dec. 13 while others were going to the Wellness & Community Outreach Center for its holiday event. Ortiz likes seeing and hearing the families who are so grateful for Soboba’s generosity. She finds these words of gratitude to be powerful, showing the impact this event has on the community. She shared a few comments received after last year’s event. “Thank you so much for supporting my boys. We appreciate you so much.” “We’ve had a very rough year, and you are giving us a much-needed miracle!!” “Thank you for helping me this Christmas, it is truly a blessing. I promise to pay it forward.”

Soboba Foundation Treasurer Dondi Silvas eagerly helped at both district events, riding on the bus and being one of the first in a long line of bucket, or rather toy, brigade participants.

“Being part of the Tribe’s outreach—particularly during the holidays—reminds us how powerful compassion and community can be,” Silvas said. “I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to support these efforts and to help share the spirit of giving that defines our Tribe.”

Vallejos said all events were a lot of fun for those involved and that the buses were unstuffed in record time at both district locations. “Everything has been smooth. You can’t say much more about this except it was perfect,” he said. “It warms my heart to see so many people come out to support this Soboba Gives Back event that provides such a positive impact on the kids in these communities.”

Joseph Placencia said, “For me this event is about knowing that children who might have been going without are going to have a present to open on Christmas.”

The post Soboba Gives Back with tons of toys appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Soboba Foundation President Andy Silvas said the annual turkey distribution is one of those events that truly captures what the Soboba Foundation is all about—giving back, supporting families, and strengthening the community.

“I love seeing our team, volunteers, and partners come together to make sure every family can enjoy a warm meal during the holidays,” Silvas said. “It’s more than just turkeys; it’s about connection, gratitude, and caring for one another. The Foundation is proud to continue this tradition of generosity and unity that our Tribe and community has built over the years.”

The Hemet Unified district office parking lot was the site for distribution of 1,000 turkeys on Nov. 19. About 70 volunteers were on hand to welcome recipients, direct traffic and place 20-pound turkeys into vehicles. A combination of HUSD staff, Hemet Police Department members, officers from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and several Soboba Foundation members helped make the afternoon event run smoothly.

 “So many people play a key role here,” Coordinator of School, Family and Community Partnerships Miriam Ortiz said. “Our Family & Community Outreach Liaisons, Nutrition Services team, Security team, and several other departments who show up on the day of the event are all essential to making this happen.”

San Jacinto Unified set up its drive-through program for its 800 recipients and plenty of volunteers to interact just ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday break. A steady stream of vehicles was guided through the San Jacinto High School stadium parking lot from 3-5 p.m. on Nov. 21. Selected families received a letter informing them that they had been chosen to receive a free frozen turkey thanks to the generosity of the Soboba Foundation.

SJUSD School, Family & Community Liaison Sheila Blythe said site liaisons at the district’s 16 schools were told how many families they could give vouchers to for planning purposes.

An additional 200 turkeys were provided to various nonprofit organizations and food pantries.

Joseph Placencia, a Soboba Tribal member who has volunteered at these events for several years, was elected to the Foundation board earlier this year and serves as secretary. “This time around as an actual board member made things all that more special,” he said. “We have a good group, a good board, we do our duty with some laughs, and great company.” Placencia added that a highlight was seeing the look on people’s faces as they picked up their turkeys, smiling because they have one less worry for the holiday.

Ortiz, who has been at HUSD for nine years, said site liaisons don’t base their choices on income alone. “Site staff are often aware of circumstantial challenges that create hardship,” she said.

“For me, the highlight is seeing how the holiday season brings out the best in our community,” Ortiz said. The volunteers not only shared their time but served with so much joy. Even a few of our former liaisons, who have since transitioned into new roles, came back to help. That kind of continued support is truly special and speaks to their heart for serving families.”

HUSD staff members commented that the event gets more and more organized each year and that plenty of the parents said the line ran very smoothly and it was a quick in-and-out process.

Families who responded to a survey about the event commented, “The coordination was amazing,” “Everything was well organized with everyone kind and in great spirit,” and “I wouldn’t change anything; the staff outside were very pleasant. Thank you for the turkey!”

Another parent appreciated the helpful traffic guards who kept all lanes of traffic orderly and safe. “The inflatable turkey costume was a nice touch, too,” they said, referring to the HUSD staff member who wore an inflatable turkey costume throughout the afternoon.

SJUSD Superintendent David Pyle, who was working the distribution line said, “We are so thankful to the Soboba Foundation for their continued generosity and support of our families.”

Mountain View High School and Mountain Heights Academy Principal Ken Swanson typically volunteers his time directing drivers through the lines. He arrived a little later than usual this year because he was busy delivering a handful of turkeys to families that did not have any transportation to pick up their turkeys.

“I enjoy doing this every year,” Swanson said.

Tribal Council Sergeant-at-Arms and Soboba Foundation Board member Daniel Valdez said, “Volunteering for the turkey distribution each year is something I genuinely look forward to. It’s a chance to connect with our community in a meaningful way and be part of an effort that brings real comfort to families during the holiday season. I believe it’s important for the Soboba Foundation to participate because it reflects our commitment to giving back and supporting families. Highlights for me this year were seeing the excitement on faces; moments like that remind us of why this work matters.”

The Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians allocates funding to the Soboba Foundation for charitable giving purposes that are distributed to various organizations or nonprofit groups. The efforts to achieve the mission and vision of the Soboba Foundation are driven by the commitment and dedication of the Soboba Foundation Board of Directors and staff.

The post Families are thankful for Soboba turkey distribution events appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

When notified they were selected to be part of this year’s event, nonprofits did not waste any time choosing what to perform and scheduling practices for those who were willing to volunteer to help them earn some money for their very deserving causes.

At the start of the sold-out event, Soboba Foundation President Dondi Silvas said, “This is a great way for the community to come together and have some good clean fun.”

Tribal Council Chairman Isaiah Vivanco welcomed everyone to the Soboba Casino Resort on the Soboba Indian Reservation. “This event is an opportunity for charities to raise money needed to continue their efforts and we’re just honored and grateful to be in the position to provide that opportunity.”

Emceeing the event with his undeniable wit, humor and co-host Catherine “Cat” Modesto, was Andrew Vallejos, Sponsorship Coordinator for the Soboba Foundation.

Vallejos thanked the many sponsors and supporters for their generosity. “But we know this event wouldn’t be what it is without the real MVPs—our nonprofits, families, and individuals who hustle hard, sell those tickets, and show up strong to support,” he said. “We see you and we appreciate you!”

“The stage is set, the mics are fake, and the competition is very real,” Vallejos said before introducing the first act of the night. “Let’s do this!”

Each of the following groups received $500 for coming out on top in different categories. Black Voices of the Valley featured Kendrick Lamar’s “They Not Like Us” and were recognized for Best Song. Best Choreography went to the Boys & Girls Club of Menifee Valley, known as Boys & Girls Club of Inland Valley, for their rendition of the Outkast classic “Hey Ya!” and shaking those Polaroid pictures. Count Me In, formerly EEK Fitness, was deemed Most Entertaining for Walker Hayes’ “Fancy Like” recreation. The Greater San Jacinto Valley Chamber of Commerce was considered Most Creative as they paid homage to ABBA. Valley Community Pantry got Best Cast/Ensemble for their performance of The Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine.” The Soroptimist San Jacinto Hemet Valley Club and Youth for Truth (My City Youth), tied for Best Costume. The former took on Luke Bryan’s “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” and the latter did “Summer Nights” from Grease. Hemet Valley Recovery Center Alumni was Most Original with a mashup of several different genres of songs. It was a performance fueled by resilience, rhythm and recovery.

“This set is more than entertainment—it’s a celebration of strength, second chances and support,” Vallejos said as an introduction.

HVRC Program Manager Benjamin Wahl said this was the first time the group had done anything like this, adding that Alumni Liaison Ryan Irwin is always looking for ways they can volunteer in the community.

“We decided that we as staff would be the ones to perform to show our appreciation of the alumni—how hard they work, what they do for each other and for addicts still suffering,” Wahl said. “And we knew we wanted to do something that wouldn’t take away from the message of recovery and community.”

Their first number in the mashup was the Affirmation Song, featuring Snoop Dogg. Performing with Wahl and Irwin were Bill Ferro, Jonah Villegas and Christina Wood. “It was fun, and we thought the (dog) masks were funny with affirmations that we actually encourage for the clients struggling with negative self-talk, low self-esteem, or feeling alone, anxious or depressed. The first time you start telling yourself affirmations in a mirror feels silly, but it helps, and for sure not as silly as getting in front of 600 people in dog masks.”

This was followed by “Footloose” dancers Jace Stewart, Brandy George, Nicole Fox, Jonah Villegas and Clinical Nurse Manager Kaci Rodocker, who then appeared as Katy Perry for Swish Swish with Counseling Coordinator Bill Ferro as Floss Boy.

Chelsea Irwin and Teresa Walker assisted with costumes and coordinating the supporters to come through the audience while the “choir” ended their act with “Lean On Me.” Wahl said, “Being in recovery, Lean On Me was really the song we wanted to tell the alumni, and perhaps those out there still suffering from addiction, that you aren’t alone and there’s actually people like us out there who will love and support you until you’re able to do it for yourself. When I witnessed all those candle lights turn on and then the rows of them come to the front…that was incredible and powerful to me.”

San Jacinto Unified School District re-created the pop group TLC and won over the audience, receiving 321 votes for the People’s Choice award. With Doris McCoy as T-Boz, Autumn Clark as Chilli and Tiffany White as Left Eye, they transported the audience to the music era of the 90s and had a great time doing it.

 “Between all of our schedules, we had time for only four 90-minute practices to look at videos of TLC to come up with some signature moves and choreography,” said McCoy, who is the Payroll Supervisor for Business Services at SJUSD. “At our last practice together, we filmed ourselves so we could practice on our own. All of this in less than a three-week window.”

She said the winnings will be put toward hosting an athletics banquet at the end of the next school year and also to contribute to the “HOCO Boutique” where there are dresses, shoes, jewelry, and other items for the students to find things to wear to the Homecoming dance without the expense of purchasing them in stores.

“I loved the decor this year,” McCoy said. “We love the Lip Sync Contest. It is so much fun, and it feels great to be able to get a few extra dollars to support our students in any way possible.”

The San Jacinto Education Foundation brought great props to the stage as Scott Cozart did his lip sync magic to Bob Dylan’s “Lay, Lady, Lay” while Jerry Peebles put on quite a comedic show in the background. The nonprofit earned $1,500 for their fourth-place win.

This is one of the only groups that has participated every year since the event was started by Tribal member Rose Salgado to assist local nonprofits. They took first place 17 years ago.

The Global Society for Female Entrepreneurs made quite an impression with “Barbie Girl” by Aqua and earned a third-place finish worth $2,500. Showing the global power of Barbie, there were back-up “singer” Barbies representing foreign countries, as well as Ken, played by Fleet Easton. Charmaine Summers starred as Glamour Barbie and was the one who orchestrated the performance. Others were Barbara Berg, Vegas Barbie; Jennifer Blake, U.S. Barbie; Tina Casen, Japanese Barbie; Elizabeth “Liz” Celis, Mexico Barbie; Cynthia Nemelka, German Barbie; and Cheri Reynolds as Barbie in Red.

“We at GSFE know we are ONE and we don’t compete, we complete each other, and this team worked beautifully together and were excited to make this stand out and to represent GSFE,” Founder and CEO Robbie Motter said. “They gave up their time and many drove great distances to show up for the practice.” She said the winnings will help the organization provide more technology training classes since GSFE is all about educating its members so they can soar higher in their businesses.

“Soboba does an amazing job and when you compete, you’re competing against lots of great talent,” Motter said. “Win or lose, it’s a fabulous event with great food and great people showing up.”

Sonia Ramos, founder of Boxing for Christ, also known as Another Better Chance, was the only solo act of the night, but she had enough energy for an entire group as she strutted the stage to Jennifer Lopez’s “Let’s Get Loud!” And the audience did just that, resulting in a second-place win and $5,000 for her nonprofit.

“I liked the words of the song and also, I could dance to it,” she said. “I practiced at home with my grandkids being the audience.”

She said the prize money will help with the program, taking youth to boxing competitions. “These youth love to eat; we travel for sparring and competing and it gets expensive to feed them. If my boxers could get in the ring to compete, then I need to show them that I could also get on stage and win for them to keep the program going. I have to lead by example. I had a great time.”

Taking home first place and $10,000 was the Hemet-San Jacinto Valley Chamber of Commerce performing flawlessly as Prince and The Revolution, featuring Sheila E. Vallejos introduced them by saying, “Grab your glow sticks, rewind your mental VHS, and let’s make some noise for the crew that proves you can close a deal by day and still tear up the stage by night!”

Kevin Saunders, Veronica Vergne, Brenda Romero and Alicia Alvarez brought the house down with their mashup of “Little Red Corvette,” “Kiss” and “Love Bizarre.” The idea came from the Chamber’s Chairwoman Patricia Scott.

“Practicing was conducted after working hours at the Chamber office,” HSJVC Executive Director Saunders said. “We danced in front of reflective window coverings to perfect our routine steps.”

He said the winnings will be used to create more resources for Chamber members.

Some of the judges’ comments were just as entertaining as the nonprofits. Andrea “Auntie Candy” Candelaria from the Cahuilla Band of Indians, Soboba Tribal Information Officer Mike Hiles, Director of Hotel Operations for Soboba Michelle Woodfin, and SCR Director of Marketing Cara Cohan, didn’t hold back their praise or their emotions.

Cohan told the cowboys with Count Me In, “You put line dancing to shame; very entertaining.” Woodfin said she really loved the costumes from Greater San Jacinto Valley Chamber of Commerce, who “matched the vibe” of the ABBA songs they acted out.

Candelaria told the San Jacinto Education Foundation, “I enjoyed the setup almost as much as I enjoyed the performance.” Woodfin added, “I loved the creativity, and the audience definitely enjoyed it.”

After the Hemet San Jacinto Valley Chamber of Commerce completed their act, Candelaria said, “I’m a diehard Prince fan and you guys made my night.” To the San Jacinto Unified School District, she said, “I loved the outfits, and your facial expressions were so on point!”

Jerry Peebles, who performed earlier with the San Jacinto Education Foundation, enjoyed Sonia Ramos’ solo act as J-Lo. “That was one of the best performances I’ve ever seen,” he said.

All the judges seemed enthralled with the performance by Hemet Valley Recovery Center. Candelaria commented that she loved that the act ended in such a great positive way. Vallejos told the group, “First of all, sobriety never looked so good. I’m totally impressed.”

Emcee Vallejos was not off limits to comments from judge Hiles, who told the nonprofit group when they finished, “That was so good even Andrew’s Botox smiled.” Later on, he quipped to the Boys & Girls Club, “That was a great way to end the evening. I thought your act was tighter than Andrew’s Spanx at brunch.”

The post Soboba Lip Sync performers wow the crowd appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Each year, deserving nonprofit organizations benefit from the tremendous outpouring of support shown for the tournament. After completing the application process that included a video presentation of why they should be chosen, ten were selected by the Soboba Foundation board members to receive $10,000 each.

But they are not just given a check – they are required to volunteer their time at the tournament itself and are assigned certain tasks. Volunteers play a key role in making sure that all participants enjoy themselves from the time they check in until they leave at the end of the day.

Sponsorship Coordinator Andrew Vallejos hosted an orientation for the nonprofit representatives about 10 days prior to the event to make sure everyone was on the same page and knew what was expected. Volunteer Coordinators Tara and Joseph Placencia were also there to answer any questions about what volunteers needed to do on the day they were assigned to help.

There were six holes that offered “Fairway Frenzy Games” where players could try their hand at winning additional prizes if they got the best score of the day among all the golfers that passed through. Volunteers from the various nonprofits were stationed at these holes to oversee the game play and record the names and scores of each participant. Most of the games were set up adjacent to vendors offering snacks, drinks, food and/or swag, which enticed the golfers to take a break from the greens and interact with the nonprofits that were there.

Each of the course games were explained at the orientation so that information could be shared with their group’s volunteers. This definitely helped the event go smoothly.

Aside from the ones representing the nonprofits, there are other volunteers who are always eager to help. Tara said, “Our main recruits have been the Placencia family, Maria Vivanco and Sierra Mendez; mostly Tribal members.”

Tara, who is married to Soboba Tribal member Patrick Placencia, has been volunteering her time at the event for the past 10 years. She got involved when her husband was on the Soboba Foundation board. She started with registration but that expanded into other areas. She and her nephew Joseph have overseen the volunteers for about three years. They coordinate assigning duties to each organization to be sure all positions are well covered. Tara also traverses the course in a golf cart to make sure all the vendors and volunteers stationed at several of the holes have what they need.

“I love this tournament, and this year went pretty smoothly,” she said. “I love getting to know the team members that work so hard for the Tribe. Everyone worked very hard to make this a successful event. I thank Andrew and the Soboba Foundation for letting me be a part of it.”

The 10 beneficiaries from this year’s charity golf tournament are Boxing for Christ, Care-A-Van Transit Systems Inc., Friends of Valley-Wide Foundation, Haven Pet Center, Hemet Youth Wrestling Club, Inter-Tribal Sports, My City Youth, Oak Grove Institute Foundation, San Jacinto Unified School District’s Rose Salgado Elementary School and Valley Community Pantry.

This year, the groups were assigned a specific day to provide several volunteers to also help with vendor check-in, greet guests to the banquet and other tasks throughout the day that started at 6 a.m. with the arrival of vendors. Several groups had enough volunteers to split them into shifts for the 12-hour day that ended at 3 p.m. at the golf course and then continued at the Soboba Casino Resort Event Center until after 6 p.m.

Tribal Council member Michael Bentiste said, “The whole team does an awesome job on the organization of this event each year – it is top notch.”

DJ Mike Nevarez energized the players in the morning with his tunes emanating from the outdoor loudspeakers. He continued the entertainment at the banquet each night.

“I figure everyone comes ready to party, so I play something for everyone,” he said, adding that this is the third year he has provided music and announcement services for the charity golf tournament.

Prior to the 10 a.m. shotgun start of the scramble style play, Soboba Tribal Council Chairman Isaiah Vivanco thanked all the participants for their support before introducing other members of the Council and the Soboba Foundation to the crowd who were seated in their golf carts, ready to roll.

“I also want to thank Andrew Vallejos and his team for making sure this goes off without a hitch each year,” he said.

Soboba Casino Resort General Manager and Tournament Director Jason Cozart welcomed everyone to the event and gave a rundown of how the day would proceed. He then invited everyone to attend the much-anticipated banquet each night

“I felt the tournament was a resounding success,” Soboba Tribal member Cozart said. “It brought together brothers and sisters from Tribes near and far, as well as partners of the Soboba Band. Together we supported many deserving charities and furthered the common goal of giving back to the communities that mean so much to the Soboba Foundation, Soboba Casino Resort, and the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians as a whole.”

The post Volunteers get into the swing of it at annual Soboba Charity Golf Tournament appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

The Soboba Foundation is now accepting applications from nonprofit organizations to be considered as beneficiaries of this year’s tournament. The Foundation board will choose 10 organizations to receive $10,000 each in funding.

To be eligible for consideration, the entity must be a nonprofit or Tribal organization located within the San Jacinto Valley or one that provides services for the Hemet and San Jacinto communities.

Organizations must complete and submit a nonprofit beneficiary application that can be found at soboba-nsn.gov/sponsorship and submit it via email to Sponsorship Coordinator Andrew Vallejos at avallejos@soboba-nsn.gov.

Along with a completed application, each organization must prepare and submit a 30- to 60-second video detailing why the Foundation should consider the organization as a beneficiary and what the funding will be utilized for, if selected.

It is highly recommended that the video be completed as soon as possible because upon submission of a completed application and ensuring all criteria are met, the Sponsorship Coordinator will email a link to the Dropbox. Video submissions must be uploaded to that link by 5 p.m. on Feb. 1, no exceptions.

Submitted applications and videos will be reviewed by the Soboba Foundation Board of Directors. The Board will choose 10 organizations they deem appropriate to receive $10,000 in funding. All eligible organizations will be notified in writing whether or not they were chosen to be a beneficiary of the 13th Annual Soboba Foundation & Soboba Casino Resort Charity Golf Tournament.

All chosen organizations will be required to promote the tournament in addition to providing volunteers for the days of the event for which they will be assigned. This year’s tournament will be April 7-9 at the Soboba Springs Golf Course.

For those that would like to offer support to the selected nonprofits, there are multiple sponsorship opportunities available. “As we continue to grow, we are thrilled to offer the tournament over three days once again this year, providing even more flexibility for your team,” Tournament Director and SCR General Manager Jason Cozart said. Participation will be on a first-come, first-served basis with only 36 teams accepted each day.

An awards banquet at the SCR Event Center will follow each day’s play, where a grand prize winner of $13,000 in cash will be announced as well as winners of on-the-course games. This is in addition to a huge array of outstanding raffle prizes.

All participants are eligible for a reduced room rate at the Soboba Casino Resort Hotel, providing the perfect opportunity to enjoy the course, festivities and everything SCR has to offer.

Available sponsorships include the Premium Package that offers for each of four players tournament entry, a $500 Amazon gift card, a $100 SCR gift card, a $100 free slot play voucher for the casino, a 13-year anniversary premium gift package and a Tee sign to advertise your support.

A Pair Package includes all the same fantastic items for each of two players. Tee and Green Sponsorships are also available as well as outright donations and/or raffle items. To sign up, please visit www.soboba-nsn.gov/sponsorship.

All sponsorships will support the many charitable organizations that are served by the Soboba Foundation throughout the year. The 13^th annual Charity Golf Tournament is just one way that local nonprofits can be rewarded for the selfless work they do on behalf of their communities. Providing them with much-needed funding is a great way to promote goodwill and help them with the meaningful causes they represent.

The post Soboba seeking nonprofits and sponsors for charity golf tournament appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Families identified by school site parent liaisons received a voucher that enabled them to drive through the distribution area after checking in. When the program first began several years ago, families were treated to a 20-plus pound turkey. As inflation increased in recent years, Soboba Foundation board members decided it was important for families to be given more, and all the fixings were added.

Along with the large frozen turkey, each family also received a large package of cornbread stuffing, a huge can of turkey gravy, cranberry sauce, corn, green beans, rolls and seasoned mashed potatoes and a pumpkin pie.

The San Jacinto High School stadium parking lot was transformed into a two-lane pick-up station for 700 families who have students attending San Jacinto Unified School District schools. Items were sorted by dry and frozen and bagged by a steady stream of helping hands. Thanks to the efforts of volunteers from the Soboba Foundation, Soboba Tribal Council, Soboba Casino Resort, Soboba Tribal Environmental Department, the school district and the community, as well as Tribal members Bianca Machado and Alex Vallejo, vehicles were safely and swiftly loaded with all the essentials needed for a delicious Thanksgiving feast in just a couple of hours.

The day before this event, 300 meal fixings were distributed to local organizations that reach families that do not have children attending schools in either district. One nonprofit that received 125 of the 300 turkey meals was Valley Community Pantry.

SJUSD registered nurse Kim DeWald was helping out for the first time. “I made it a point to be out here this year,” she said. SJUSD Superintendent Dave Pyle was on turkey duty, taking them out of big boxes to place one on each rolling cart where bags of other items were added. He said the event gives district employees an opportunity to step away from what they do on a daily basis and make an impact on the community in a different way.

“It is so fulfilling to be part of this program every year that helps so many families in our community who wouldn’t otherwise have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner,” Pyle said. “It’s great to be working with Soboba again. This is always one of my favorite days of the year.”

Upbeat music played on loudspeakers as cars were ushered into the parking lot and a long line of representatives from each school, including mascots, stood along the route cheering and wishing them a happy holiday.

Anthony Segura has been teaching for 10 years, spending the last three at the state preschool program near the Edward Hyatt World Language Academy campus.

“I love to give back; it’s awesome to be the change,” he said. “It’s exciting seeing all the employees working together. It brings us all together and I think that meets our concept of ‘The San Jacinto Difference.’”

The following day, many of the same volunteers were at the parking lot of Hemet Unified School District’s administration offices on Acacia Ave. to serve families of students who attend HUSD schools. Soboba Foundation President Dondi Silvas stayed busy both days directing traffic at San Jacinto and helping to load cars at Hemet.

“We are truly blessed that we are able to do so much for the families in the neighboring communities that surround the Soboba Indian reservation,” Silvas said. “Hearing the heartfelt thank yous from the families as we load their cars, especially from the tiniest voices, gives us all a warm and joyous feeling.”

Soboba Tribal Council members Mike Bentiste and Daniel Valdez also serve as board members for the Foundation and always volunteer to help out and Vice Chairwoman Geneva Mojado also volunteered at both locations.

“Soboba gives back in many different ways throughout the year but during the holidays we get to see firsthand who benefits the most,” Mojado said. “It is very humbling to know that we can provide something that seems so simple but means so much to each individual family that is served by this program.”

HUSD’s Nutrition Services department assembled 1,000 boxes and bags a few days prior to the event. The dry goods were placed into a box with a “Happy Thanksgiving” sticker while the bags contained the frozen items.

Claudia Aguilar, who works at the district’s warehouse, brought a festive twist to the event by wearing a turkey costume as she greeted participants driving by. “We’re delivering love right now,” she said.

Hemet-San Jacinto Valley Chamber of Commerce Chair Patricia Scott enlisted the help of many members to join her to pitch in. She herself has been a member since 2014 and volunteers every year. “The board has always been supportive of this event and our partners are very responsive to coming out to serve the community every year,” she said. “I will take any opportunity to serve; I love it.”

CR&R Sustainability Coordinator Derik Fields, who heard about the volunteer opportunity from Scott, said, “I used to work in a grocery store so I’m kind of used to the busy holiday season.”

To keep the area clear of clutter, several helpers stayed busy breaking down the boxes as they were emptied of their contents and loading the cardboard into large recycling bins.

Refrigerated trucks were constantly being unloaded by forklifts with the pallets delivered to the nearby canopied distribution area for easy access. The process went smoothly, with everyone working together like a well-oiled machine to keep the rows of vehicles flowing.

Miriam Ortiz, Coordinator for School, Family and Community Partnerships at HUSD, said, “We are super grateful for the opportunity to be included in this program and to be able to share this with our families. We have such a great team of parent liaisons and a lot of cross collaboration to ensure that each individual family gets what they need.”

Marisol Inda is a parent liaison at West Valley and took on traffic duty to guide cars into the parking lot from the public streets. She has worked for Hemet Unified for 12 years, the last eight as a parent liaison. For the past 10 years she has also assisted as an interpreter throughout the district as she is fluent in English, Spanish and ASL. Inda said vouchers are given out based on referrals from staff, other students or the families themselves. The school was given 110 this year.

She has been helping with the Soboba Gives Back turkey distribution since it began. “I love helping others and being part of the community,” Inda said.

Ortiz said families were asked to complete an online survey following the event about what went well, and the overwhelming response was that it was “excellent.” Comments included, “Very quick and efficient. Everyone was very kind,” while another wrote, “It was so well organized. All the smiling faces were so wonderful to see. We are beyond blessed to be part of something so amazing.”

One family commented, “Thank you so much, my children are so excited. We had experienced multiple passings in the last few months.” Another one wrote, “They were very well-organized regarding traffic, and everything went very fast. And I am now going to be able to have a Thanksgiving dinner for my family. Thank you.”

The post Soboba gives 2,000 reasons for families to be thankful appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Peon games for men, women and children, horseshoes, tug-of-war, greased pole climbing and other competitive games were offered. A fun cake walk for all ages saw lots of sweet treats won with help from announcer Joe Ontiveros, Soboba’s Tribal Historic Preservation Officer and DJ Mike Nevarez. Salsa and tortilla contests produced lots of delicious entries with Vincent and Vanessa being voted as top salsa makers and Elizabeth Russell winning for the tastiest tortillas.

Vendors, sharing fun food items and lots of merchandise, dotted the perimeter of the Sports Complex’s large grassy area. A huge tent was erected with folding chairs underneath to provide shade and breezes during the sunny afternoon, and it got plenty of use. There were also traditional ramadas that were built for the occasion, providing additional shade and comfort for families that brought their own chairs and gear.

Several Soboba departments shared resources with visitors. Members of the Soboba Foundation, Tribal Council and Tribal Executive Offices joined together to offer lots of reasons for guests to stop by their booths. Representatives and volunteers with the Soboba Foundation gave every guest a free Maui rolling cooler that is perfect for picnics, tailgate parties, hiking or a day at the beach, just in time for summer.

A Tribal member-only raffle, giving away two Soboba-branded easy-up canopies, was sponsored by Tribal Council, who also provided frozen treats to those wanting to cool off with ice cream or popsicles. Tribal Council also encouraged Tribal members to scan QR codes to participate in a Luiseño Language Assessment, a Septic System Questionnaire for Soboba residents and an opportunity to sign up for Korbyt, the Tribe’s newest notification system.

Christian Aceves, Soboba Tribal Environmental Department Director, shared a demonstration of watershed and what his department is doing on the Soboba Indian Reservation to keep pollution out of its waterways. The most ambitious project is determining riparian zones where plants can be situated near roadways and other areas where runoff is common. “What happens upstream, happens downstream,” he said, adding that runoff after rainfall is how harmful items on solid ground find their way into water sources.

The Soboba Reservation riparian areas include many native species only found in this general area of the United States. STED, with the help of the Soboba Public Works Department , was able to plant more than 80 native species recommended by Soboba’s Cultural Resource Department, which included Coast Live Oak, California Scrub Oak, Western Sycamore, Sugar Bush and Red Willow. Riparian areas supply food, cover and water for a large variety of animals.

Soboba’s Public Safety, T.A.N.F., Family Services, Legacy Bank and Fire Department all offered information and fun freebies. Mikayla Mendoza, Emergency Services Coordinator, will be working with the Tribal Emergency Response Commission (TERC) and the Soboba Fire Department to present the next Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) basic training class, June 2-4. The course is being offered to Tribal members, reservation residents and Soboba employees at no cost.

The pool and splash pad were open for those that wanted to enjoy the water and the playground was filled with energetic children who wanted to climb and swing. Both baseball fields were open to host six teams playing co-ed one-pitch softball. In an early game won by team Beernuts, the fast action resulted in the required seven innings being completed in less than 20 minutes.

Steve Lopez, Assistant Director of the Sports Complex, oversaw the horseshoe tournament that promised more than $2,000 in payouts to the best players, making for some very competitive games.

The post Soboba’s annual Fiesta delivers fun for all appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

The Soboba Foundation reached out to a few department stores to help them with this large endeavor, and special elves from the San Jacinto Walmart stepped in to help out. Walmart’s Store Manager Sandy Cifuentes, Academy Lead Lisa Flores and GM Coach Irma Hernandez worked closely with the Foundation’s coordinator Andrew Vallejos in the true spirit of community and Christmas. Cifuentes said, “We appreciate this event and are here to give our support!

And support they did. Before the popular Unstuff the Bus events could take place, Walmart team members shopped, rang up and ensured toy inventory to help accomplish the mission. They also provided manpower to load 1,000 toys onto the Soboba bus for each day of delivery.

“It’s always the season for unity, inclusion and giving,” Vallejos said. “We are grateful to all those who said yes and asked how they could help.”

The first event took place at San Jacinto Unified School District’s main office parking lot on Dec. 5 where hundreds of community members waited for the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians’ bus to arrive. Forming a “toy brigade” from where the bus parked to the entrance of the DO’s warehouse, gifts were passed along one at a time. SJUSD’s School, Family and Community Liaison Sheila Blythe helped members of the San Jacinto High School cheer team and other volunteers sort each gift onto tables labeled for age groups and gender located inside the huge warehouse.

“We love to see everyone out here working together,” Blythe said. 

Soboba Tribal Council and Foundation members were on hand, as well as Soboba Fire Department personnel, working alongside other volunteers as toys were passed down the line. Tribal members were there to help, too.

“It filled my heart to see so many wonderful people come out and jump in to help and be a part of such a huge community giving event,” Carla Adame, Family and Community Engagement Specialist for SJUSD’s Student, Community and Personnel Support Department said.

She explained that each year, the school site family liaisons work with their principals and staff to identify worthy students. There were about 350 families who got selected this year. Plus, they always save a small stash for last-minute needs so there will be close to 400 SJUSD families that Soboba will help this Christmas with their generous donation. The toys were distributed during a Christmas-themed event on Dec. 10 and Adame said she was thankful to all the amazing liaisons, principals and staff who helped make it a great event by decorating beautiful stations.

“Soboba has been one of our biggest and most consistent blessings by far,” Adame said. “It’s never about anything else for them other than to help. They are always asking us how they can help so in turn our district works hard to be the best stewards we can with what they give us for our students and families; we implement equitable systems into each step of our process. We make it fun for our families because at the end of the day we’re all here for them and seeing their grateful, happy faces is what it’s all about.”

Vince Record, SJUSD’s Director of CTE and Special Programs, welcomed all the volunteers and guests at the Unstuff the Bus event and thanked the Soboba Foundation for 13 years of giving back to the San Jacinto district’s families and community.

“The Soboba Gives Back toy distribution program started in 2009 with former Soboba Tribal leader and SJUSD Board Member Rose Salgado, who is dearly missed,” he said. Some of the special guests that were acknowledged with a round of applause included Soboba Tribal Council, Soboba Foundation and Tribal members, Hemet/San Jacinto Valley Chamber of Commerce members and Walmart team members who helped make event possible by providing the toys that were purchased by the Soboba Foundation and Soboba Casino Resort.

San Jacinto Unified Board and Cabinet members, students, staff and families and Riverside County Office of Education’s Superintendent of Schools Edwin Gomez were also introduced before everyone got ready to unstuff the bus. Hot chocolate and fresh cookies were provided by the district’s Nutritional Services Department and the holiday music was turned up as the crowd cheered the arrival of the bus, led by a Soboba Fire engine.

Cathi Hill and Billie Jo Williams, from the American Cancer Society, said they were happy to help out at such a great event. “We are always happy to support Soboba because they do so much for the American Cancer Society and the community,” Hill said.

Soboba Tribal Chairman Isaiah Vivanco said, “We are thankful to be in a position to help out others. The Tribe has had its ups and downs this year but we’re still in a position to give back and that’s a good feeling.”

The Soboba bus was then stuffed with another 1,000 toys at the San Jacinto Walmart store on the morning of Dec. 8. That evening, at Tahquitz High School, it was unstuffed for distribution to children within the Hemet Unified School District. Christmas lights shined over the heads of a long line of volunteers who made sure all the toys were safely stored at the school while joyful Christmas music played on loudspeakers.

“We are continually overwhelmed by the generosity of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians and their support of our children and families,” Emily Shaw, HUSD’s Director of Wellness and Community Outreach, said. “Through their generous toy donation this year, more than 1,000 children will receive a toy who may otherwise not have gifts. We are extremely grateful for their ongoing support and commitment to our community.”

Miriam Ortiz, HUSD’s Coordinator of School, Family and Community Partnerships, said Hemet families continue to express gratitude for the toy donations.

“The toys provide our parents relief during the holiday season and allows them to sprinkle joy into the lives of their children!” Ortiz said.

 Soboba Tribal Vice Chairwoman Geneva Mojado said she looks forward to connecting with the community at these events. “To see so many people take time to come out to help us secure Christmas gifts for the neediest children in our valley always makes me smile,” she said.

An additional 3,000 toys purchased at Walmart were made available to local nonprofits that serve the mission statement of the Soboba Foundation and had requested the donations. More than 300 Starbucks cards in the amount of $20 each were given to each district as gifts for students 14 and older in selected families receiving toys for their younger siblings.

Soboba Foundation President Dondi Silvas said, “It’s a blessing to be able to help bring some joy and cheer to kids, especially at this time of year.”

The post Soboba Delivers Busloads of Toys for Area Children appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

San Jacinto Unified School District was able to distribute vouchers to 800 families at its school sites as well as Betty Gibbel Regional Learning Center, St. Hyacinth Academy, San Jacinto Valley Academy and 65 for the Valley Community Pantry. Hemet Unified was able to give 1,000 families the opportunity to enjoy this generous donation and included sites in outlying areas such as Anza and Idyllwild. About 200 meal boxes were provided to various nonprofits.

On Nov. 17, close to 100 volunteers spent the afternoon distributing food to voucher holders who drove through the San Jacinto Unified School District’s main parking lot, as well as directing traffic and checking in each vehicle. All food items were delivered on pallets by the district’s nutrition services personnel. Each food box was filled with a 20-plus pound frozen Butterball turkey, six-pound cans of corn and green beans, cranberry sauce, four pounds of frozen mashed potatoes, stuffing mix and a three-pound can of turkey gravy. A 12-count package of fresh dinner rolls and a frozen pumpkin pie rounded out the meal fixings.

SJUSD’s Family & Community Engagement Specialist Carla Adame trains and supports the family liaisons at most of the school sites. They are the ones responsible for identifying and selecting the neediest of families to receive one of the Thanksgiving dinner donations.

“We definitely saw an increase in requests this year. We try to be sensitive to the demographics in determining who gets served,” Adame said. “My favorite part of this event is looking inside the cars and seeing if there are kids that I can say hi too since that is who this is for.”

Each box carries an approximate value of $120 had the families purchased the items outright and Soboba Foundation Coordinator Andrew Vallejos said it was important to help out this year due to inflation affecting everyone. He said he was happy that Sysco was still able to provide a good price on everything and that the Soboba Foundation was able to come together and make this happen again this year.

“The Tribe is fortunate to be in a position to give back at a time when there is so much uncertainty in the economy,” Soboba Tribal Council Chairman Isaiah Vivanco said. “Even now when food prices are up, we are happy that we are able to provide Thanksgiving dinners so families can enjoy this special time together and not have to worry about the cost of the meal.”

Soboba Tribal Council Vice-Chairwoman Geneva Mojado stayed busy at the pallet of pumpkin pies, making sure each roll cart that made its way down the assembly line of food items got what was needed. After all items were placed into one large box marked with a Happy Thanksgiving sticker, other volunteers hoisted them into waiting vehicles.

“I enjoy seeing everyone come together for this event each year,” Mojado said. “We are grateful that we can help the community and students and their families are grateful, too. You can hear it in their voices when they thank us as they drive up.”

Soboba Tribal Council Secretary Monica Herrera said, “During this time of reflection as we prepare for the holiday, our Soboba family wants to provide other local families with a full meal to enjoy, despite these hard economic times.”

“It warms my heart to see all these families smiling and saying thank you as they receive their box of food,” Soboba Foundation President Dondi Silvas said.

SJUSD Superintendent David Pyle volunteered to help fill the food boxes that were loaded into trunks and back seats of vehicles that drove through the District Office parking lot in two lanes.

“An incredible tradition has continued for yet another year,” Pyle said. “The support our families receive throughout the year on behalf of Soboba is unmatched year-round and truly magnified during the holiday season. Providing over 800 Thanksgiving meals to many of our neediest families is yet another example of Soboba’s above and beyond service to the San Jacinto Unified School District. We are hopeful this tradition will continue for many years to come.”

The following day, Hemet Unified School District’s main office set up a distribution center so chosen families could drive through and receive their boxes, which were prepackaged by HUSD nutrition services employees. The Business Services department was highly involved in the entire process, including creating different signage and banners to remind families that Soboba was behind the turkey meals they were receiving.

Soboba Tribal Council Treasurer Daniel Valdez pitched in to help for a second day. “It’s great to be back again this year. I always love contributing when I can,” he said.

Catie Stanley, who is the marketing director for Soboba Casino Resort and a Hemet-San Jacinto Chamber of Commerce board member, recruited a dozen volunteers for the first day of distribution and at least 10 for the second day at HUSD. All sported turkey drumstick headbands and special Thanksgiving tee shirts.

“As a community member myself, I love this event,” Stanley said. “It is so much fun being able to see the people we are giving back to and we get to work together with our team members.”

Soboba Casino Assistant General Manager Jason Cozart was one of those that volunteered his time both days. Also a Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians Tribal member, he enjoys being able to help out each year.

“Our doing this brings a lot of relief to families who are struggling,” he said. “Anything we can do to help is a blessing. It also gives our team a chance to work together with the Foundation, it’s a team effort.”

As the Coordinator of School, Family & Community Partnerships, Miriam Ortiz said she feels everyone at HUSD who was involved with the event helped refine the processes so things were running smoother this year.

Emily Shaw, who is HUSD’s Director of Wellness and Community Outreach, said, “I think the support that Soboba provides to our community is immeasurable. We are so grateful for their partnership because without them, we wouldn’t be able to do this. They always go over and beyond.”

Soboba Foundation Treasurer Julie Arrietta-Parcero said she likes the fact that they are always able to help someone else out. Foundation Secretary Antonia Briones-Venegas worked alongside Julie to keep the line of cars moving as items were placed in the vehicles, two at a time on each side of the canopy-covered pallets of food items.

“I like knowing that there will be kids that won’t go without because we are able to give them this food,” Antonia said. “To me, family gatherings for whatever reason mean a lot. I’m glad we do this.”

Another benefit to SJUSD recipients was the inclusion of a care bag that included hand sanitizer, COVID-19 test kits and other items for a safe gathering. Those items tied into a door hanger that was put in each box, reminding parents and guardians that “Attendance Matters” and the importance of keeping children home if they are sick but verifying all absences for possible follow-up by the District Nurse or school health office staff. HUSD also offered at-home COVID-19 test kits to each family as they checked in upon arrival.

The post Soboba Provides Hearty Thanksgiving Meals to Area Families appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

The tournament traditionally draws players from throughout California, other states and even Canada to compete during three days of bracket play. Nearly 20 members of the N.I.A.A. Committee worked tirelessly to organize the games. Many volunteers stepped up to the plate to assist with making it a seamless event, from start to finish.

The opening ceremony on Sept. 16 included a welcome by Geneva Mojado who wore many hats throughout the games. She serves as Soboba Tribal Council Vice Chairwoman, headed this year’s N.I.A.A. Committee and gave it her all on the field as a member of the Soboba Women’s team, who placed second in 2021 and again this year.

“This is our biggest N.I.A.A. Tournament thus far,” she said. “Welcome to our homeland, welcome to Soboba. We are at about 8,000 acres here, we have over 1,500 Tribal members with about 900 of them being adults and we love softball.”

On behalf of the Tribe, she thanked everyone for coming to Soboba to enjoy the N.I.A.A. tournament once again, stating that it would not be possible to host without the generosity of all the sponsors and volunteers.

Each year, honorariums are presented to those who have been instrumental in playing a significant role in the softball community. Those recognized for 2022 were the late Yoli McCarter and Irene “Grams” Martinez, who passed away in 2020. Mojado said the N.I.A.A. Committee chose two of its biggest softball fans this year, both who helped out so many teams, local and far away, by opening their homes and hearts to players.

Randy’s A’s men’s team consisted of many players from Canada, including Gage Martin. His late father, Randy Martin, moved to California to live with his aunt and uncle in Corona to pursue a baseball dream. He met Yoli, who became a huge part of his life. Over the years, she supported all players and considered them part of her family regardless of the uniform they wore. Randy’s A’s dedicated the tournament to Yoli, who is missed by members of the BC Arrows, Randy’s A’s and all the teams their ball families have represented.

Gage Martin, 17, playing in his first tournament at Soboba, is an outfielder and first baseman. He was chosen to throw out the ceremonial first pitch in memory of his father Randy and Yoli to officially start the men’s games.

Irene “Grams” Martinez (Placencia) was recognized for her unwavering support of the N.I.A.A. tournament for many years. She was an avid sponsor of the tournament and a huge softball fan. Her favorite team, Bryan’s Blackhawks, wore jerseys that honored her by having her name on its uniforms’ sleeves. The sport took her all over the United States to watch her family members and extended softball family play in Native and non-Native tournaments. The N.I.A.A. Committee took pride in honoring her for her dedication and sponsorship of the tournament and the sport in general and will greatly miss her.

Throwing out the ceremonial first pitch on behalf of Grams to mark the official beginning of the women’s games was Gary Placencia. Bryan’s Blackhawks members are from California, Oklahoma and Nevada who join together for certain tournaments. Frank Gonzales grew up on the Soboba Indian Reservation and lives in Murrieta now. George Woods has been on the team for 10 to 15 years and gave the opening blessing at the opening ceremony. Both men recall Grams supporting the team since they were little kids.

Like many other teams, Bryan’s Blackhawks is intergenerational. Gonzales’ brother and nephew play on the team as well as Woods’ nephew.

“I like fastpitch because it’s quicker and I grew up playing it,” Gonzales said. “I started playing on the men’s team here (at Soboba) when I was about 11. It was only sand where these baseball fields are now.”

Soboba Parks and Recreation Director Andy Silvas, who is also on the N.I.A.A. Committee, has played on the Beernuts team since 1995 but this is the first year they have had enough Native players to be in the N.I.A.A. tournament. As pitcher, his team won its first game on Friday evening.

“I like that it is an all-Native event and that we get to see some great Native talent from all over,” Silvas said. “The level of play and players is very good.”

Men’s teams coming out on top at the end of the weekend were Pala Braves, first; Randy’s A’s, second; Morongo Men’s Club, third; and Cali Reds, fourth.

Caleb Keeshig with Randy’s A’s was named MVP Pitcher and Eloy Montoya from the Pala Braves earned MVP Player. All Tourney honors for outstanding play throughout the weekend were awarded to Pala Braves’ Tommy “26” Herrera, Tyson Magginni and Lance Molina; Randy’s A’s Ethan Lans, Jarrett Potskins and Jonah Jerry; Morongo Men’s Club’s “Lefty” and Stevie Silvas; and Cali Reds’ Luther Salgado and “2uk.”

 Women’s teams that scored were Morongo Women, first; Soboba Women, second, Youngins, third; and Pala Women, fourth.

Cary Moon with Morongo Women was named MVP Pitcher and Shylene Helms-Velarde from Soboba Women earned MVP Player. All Tourney honors for outstanding play throughout the weekend were awarded to Morongo Women’s Bea, Shelby and Gibby; Soboba Women’s Yaway Briones and Steph Dixon; Youngins’ Buster and Kee-peun Calac; and Pala Women’s Jona Nejo and Caitlynn Griffith.

N.I.A.A. Committee member and outstanding photographer Rhonda Valenzuella posted the following remarks on social media at the close of the tournament, along with hundreds of photos.

“On behalf of the N.I.A.A. Fastpitch Softball Committee, I’d like to thank every single one of you who made it out here this year. I know every year is special, but this year just felt different,” she wrote. “The atmosphere was peaceful and yet there was so much energy. It was a beautiful weekend spent with a lot of amazing players, family and supporters. We hope you felt like family during your weekend with us.”

Valenzuella also thanked the families of this year’s honorariums.

“Yoli and Grams were some strong, amazing Native Women! We are all truly lucky to have known them. They’ve touched the lives of so many people,” she said. “They fully supported this sport and had a rare, unconditional love for those who played it. They were definitely a major staple in our tournament here over the years. They are truly missed. Seeing their names on hats and jerseys this weekend was absolutely remarkable. Thank you for sharing these beautiful women with our community. Please stay safe on your journeys home. Thank you for joining us this year, we hope to see you next year.”

Sponsors were thanked throughout the weekend for their contributions that helped make the tournament a success. They are, alphabetically, Agua Band of Cahuilla Indians, Alliant Insurance Services Inc., Black Oak Casino Resort, Cabazon Band of Mission Indians, Morongo Band of Mission Indians, Pala Band of Mission Indians, Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, PepsiCo Inc., San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians, Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians, Soboba Casino Resort, Soboba Foundation, and Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians.

The post All Native Fastpitch Softball Tournament at Soboba Hits a Home Run appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.