Fontana Lotto Winner helps Children’s Fund

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.