by Michel Nolan of The Sun
 |
Children’s Fund Board Chair, Lee Jackman; Fontana Foundation
of Hope Board Member Dave Wibert and Adriana Castro; Advisory Member Debbie
Kott; Fontana Foundation of Hope Board Member Leon Ford, and son Mathew Ford;
Advisory Member Lydia Wibert; Fontana Foundation of Hope Board Member, Jack Long;
Children’s Fund’s Erin Phillips, President & CEO and Director of
Development, Sandra Lubbers.
|
We’ve probably
all thought about winning the lottery and what we’d do with the unimaginable
riches.
Most of us
would figure in some deserving charities we could share with.
Well, a Fontana
Lotto winner not only thought about it but actually followed through with his
generosity.
On Thursday,
Children’s Fund was presented $100,000 by the Fontana Foundation of Hope, a
nonprofit Foundation established by a Powerball winner from Fontana.
The donor, who
wishes to remain anonymous, has been generous with his monetary gifts to
community children through education, as well.
Erin Phillips,
president and CEO of Children’s Fund, said that Children’s Fund is grateful for
this generous outpouring of support from the Fontana Foundation of Hope. “Their hearts
are huge and their desire to support children facing crisis is really inspiring
— what a wonderful way to invest in their own community,” Erin said.
Foundation of
Hope board members toured the Children’s Assessment Center in San Bernardino
and were moved by the work there, too, on behalf of the county’s abused
children and hoped that more people in the community would understand the
importance of caring for these kids and responding to their needs.
Some of the
money, of course, will be used for the renovated Children’s Assessment Center,
where children in crisis, those who have been physically or sexually abused,
find a safe haven.
There,
society’s most vulnerable meet caring doctors, forensic specialists, law
enforcement representatives and a loving sheepdog named Mack — all in one
location.
Before the
opening of the center, abused children referred to Child Protective Services
often had to endure a number of interviews performed by multiple, separate
agencies involved in the investigation of the case.
Young people up
to age 18 are seen at the Assessment Center, although most are 14 and younger
and nearly half of the young victims treated are younger than 5.
Over the years,
I’ve reported on Children’s Fund, helping to share with the community what a
compassionate organization it is.
So many times,
I’ve been moved by the inspiring stories of the children and youth they help —
San Bernardino County’s 6,000 foster children. In all, more
than 1,500 abused children will need services this year.
For nearly 30
years, Children’s Fund has been dedicated to fulfilling its mission of
preventing child abuse in our community and ensuring that at-risk children who
are abused, neglected, impoverished or abandoned receive adequate food,
shelter, clothing, and medical care.
The nonprofit
also helps provide equal opportunities for the social development of these
children.
It is a tragedy
this care is needed but a blessing the center is here to help children in
critical need.
So in the
meantime, we will be grateful for generous souls like our anonymous donor — and
I really do wish I could share his name with you.
And here’s a
thought for the day: A goal is a dream with a deadline.
