First 5 San Bernardino provides more than 8,000 Gifts

$50,000 Grant to Children’s Fund helps underprivileged children during Holidays

Board of Supervisors James Ramos, Janice Rutherford, and Josie Gonzales are pictured with Linda Haugan, Asst. Executive Officer of Human Services and First 5 Commissioner; and Erin Phillips, President & CEO, Children’s Fund; along with Board of Supervisors Curt Hagman and Robert Lovingood

More than 8,000 disadvantaged young children in San Bernardino County are receiving holiday gifts because of the $50,000 grant provided to Children’s Fund from First 5 San Bernardino.

The check presentation was made on Tuesday, December 16 at the Board of Supervisors meeting in San Bernardino County.

“This grant demonstrates the strong partnership we have with First 5 San Bernardino, ensuring that these precious children will receive a gift during the holidays, which may be the only gift received,” says Erin Phillips, President & CEO of Children’s Fund.  “With childhood poverty creeping above 28%, sometimes it’s the simplest things, things that we may take for granted, that matter the most to our children.”

This is the 26th year of the Children’s Fund Celebration of Giving Campaign, and it is because of partners like First 5 San Bernardino that the campaign continues to provide more than 20,000 gifts each year within the Inland Empire. Other partners include various departments of the County of San Bernardino, Spark of Love, Stater Bros. Markets, Arrowhead Credit Union, Amazon.com, KFROG, and generous other local businesses and residents who participate in this campaign.

“It truly is about the kids,” exclaims Karen E. Scott, Executive Director of First 5 San Bernardino.  “At First 5 we strive to provide optimal health and development for young children and their families.  Our relationship with Children’s Fund is a perfect example of both entities working towards the same goal.” First 5 San Bernardino was created in December 1998 in order to realize the benefits of the California Children and Families Act.  The act created a program for the purpose of promoting, supporting and improving the early development of children from the prenatal stage to five years of age.