CHILDREN’S FUND RECEIVES $1,000,000 GRANT

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians provides funding for Children’s Assessment Center

From Left: Mack, Service/Therapy Dog, Children’s Assessment Center; Stacy Iverson, President and CEO, Children’s Fund; Dr. Amy Young, Medical Director, Children’s Assessment Center; Sabrina Nakhjavanpour, Treasurer, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

SAN BERNARDINO, California (Monday, December 12, 2016) – The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has awarded $1,000,000 to nonprofit Children’s Fund for the Children’s Assessment Center. The grant will be awarded over a three-year period for increased services for San Bernardino's abused and neglected children being treated at the Center.

The Children's Assessment Center (CAC) treats children ages 0-18, as well as developmentally

delayed young adults, from every area of San Bernardino County who are suspected victims of

physical and sexual abuse, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or socio-economic status.

In 2015, there were 5,110 substantiated cases of child abuse in San Bernardino County and 1,723 of those children were treated at the CAC.  With more medical staff, more victims could have been seen.

“There are only about 300 child abuse doctors in the entire country,” says Dr. Amy Young, the Medical Director at the CAC.  “Therefore, the best way to secure more medical staff at the CAC is to offer Forensic Pediatric Fellowships, essentially growing and retaining local expertise.”

The grant from the San Manuel Tribe will fund a new Pediatric Fellow each year, for three years, and other medical personnel.   

“By securing and training three new pediatric fellows, the CAC will move toward long-term stability and the capacity to treat over 3,000 children each year,” says Sabrina Nakhjavanpour, Treasurer of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, who recently toured the Children’s Assessment Center. “In addition, the grant provides funds to train existing staff as well as research and develop programs to improve systems for child abuse victims. We are pleased to support this worthwhile effort.”

Child abuse, particularly experienced when children are young, causes stress that can disruptearly brain and physical development, placing mistreated young children at higher risk forhealth problems as adults. 

Children who are abused or neglected also are more likely to repeat the cycle of violence by entering into violent relationships as teens and adults or abusing their own children.

At the CAC, victims not only receive treatment for the physical or sexual abuse.  The children also receive treatment and referrals for therapy for the trauma they’ve been through.

“The number one cause of traumatic death in a child under the age of one is child abuse.  We are so grateful that San Manuel Band of Mission Indians recognized the need for increased services and is supporting the Children’s Assessment Center in such a meaningful way,” says Stacy Iverson, President & CEO of Children’s Fund.

The Children's Assessment Center (CAC) opened in 1994, in partnership between the County of San Bernardino, Loma Linda University Children's Hospital and Children's Fund to provide comprehensive services to child victims of maltreatment. For more information, visit http://www.cacsbc.com.

Founded in 1986, Children’s Fund is a nonprofit whose mission is giving our vulnerable children support, opportunity and hope by breaking destructive cycles through community partnerships. Since its inception, Children’s Fund has served more than 1.4 million children. For more information on Children’s Fund or to learn how you can give a child hope for brighter tomorrows, go to www.childrensfundonline.org or call 909.379.0000.

BONNES MERES SERVES HOPE AND LOVE AT HOLIDAY LUNCHEON

Trinity Wallace-Ellis, guest speaker at Thursday’s Bonnes Meres Auxiliary Holiday Auction at the National Orange Show Event Center, gave a powerful and inspirational presentation on her own experiences as an abused child.

Orginally published in The Sun on 11/3/16

By Michel Nolan

Those good mothers have done it again.

Officially known as “Bonnes Meres” Auxiliary of Children’s Fund, the lovely Bonnes Meres members — and a handful of Bonnes Peres — hosted their annual Holiday Auction and Luncheon Thursday to make life a little easier for our most vulnerable San Bernardino County residents — its abused and neglected children.

The money raised at the fundraiser goes to help children with the most immediate and urgent needs.

There are now more than 6,000 children in the foster-care program in San Bernardino County.

On Thursday, a gathering of about 350 filled the Renaissance Ballroom of the National Orange Show Events Center, which was transformed into a glittering autumn fantasy of fall foliage and pumpkins, themed “Harvesting Stars for a Brighter Future.”

The theme was the idea of president Barbara Rozema, who said she was inspired by thinking of the stars as children, who could shine brighter with love and hope.

There are only 38 active members of Bonnes Meres, along with additional groups of Lifetime and Honorary members.

In the words of Betty Chambers of Children’s Fund, “They’re small but mighty.”

After last year’s huge success, the group has a tough act to follow.

Last December, the nonprofit presented a check for $75,000 to Children’s Fund to ensure that at-risk children who are abused, neglected, impoverished or abandoned receive adequate food, shelter, clothing, medical care and equal opportunities for social development.

Since Bonnes Meres was founded in 1958, more than $1.7 million has been raised for these children.

The event included the traditional silent auction, luncheon, opportunity drawing for fabulous prizes, and a spirited live auction presided over by Neal Waner, Bonnes Meres board president, and Martha Green, cooking guru and owner of Martha Green’s Dough’Lectibles.

Live auction items ranged from a Magical Gingerbread Party at a private home, to six seats behind home plate at an Angel baseball game.

Highlight of the event was the talk given by guest speaker Trinity Wallace-Ellis, consultant and inspirational speaker — also a foster child.

“Your experiences don’t change with age, but how you cope with them, does change,” she told the group.

Her powerful story of her own childhood and the abuses and neglect she endured.

There weren’t a lot of dry eyes in the house — including mine — when she finished speaking.

Trinity’s emotional talk went to the heart of why Bonnes Meres does what it does.

The generous souls of the community have given these children a voice. Without the passion and dedication of humanitarians, the young voices would be silenced.

The good mothers host two fabulous events — in addition to the annual Holiday Auction in the fall, there is the Spring Birthday Luncheon, which provides birthday gifts for all the children in the foster-care system — all 6,000 of them.

Charity donates 10% of sales to Children’s Fund on Opening Weekend

Swarovski will donate 10% of sale proceeds made during their black tie event and on Saturday November 12th and Sunday November 13th to Children’s Fund

Rancho Cucamonga, CA – On Friday, November 11th, SWAROVSKI at Victoria Gardens will host its Invitation Only Black Tie Gala Opening to introduce the finest crystal jewelry and home decor to residents of Rancho Cucamonga and surrounding cities.

The operators of this luxury boutique are very community minded and have pledged to donate 10% of sale proceeds made during this black tie event and on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th to a local charity, Children’s Fund. This charity was founded in 1986 and their mission is to give our vulnerable children support, opportunity and hope by breaking destructive cycles through community partnerships.

“Swarovski, first opened in Rancho Cucamonga in October, 2009 and although we departed for a brief period, we are proud to become reacquainted with the city and center we first met several years ago.” said Hiral Patadia, Swarovski’s General Manager. “Our Team is thrilled to reward loyal customers and surprise new shoppers with sparkling offers with an all new Swarovski Crystal Forest store experience, featuring unparalleled and excellent customer service.”

Paying it forward is an integral part of this boutique’s mission statement. This event will be the first of many where we will team up with a worthy cause that will benefit those in need, in and around Rancho Cucamonga.  The event will be a red carpet extravaganza with the fashion world in attendance as well as local community leaders.

We will be inviting a representative from Children’s Fund to speak to build awareness of their needs and how we can all help. Together, everyone achieves more.

The event is to launch the first Swarovski Crystal Forest Licensed Boutique at Victoria Gardens. Swarovski is a luxury brand that has its origins in Austria with a 121 year history, and is a well-recognized brand in America – Since 2004, Swarovski has created the 9-foot-diameter (2.7 m), 550-pound (250 kg) star or snowflake that tops the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree in New York City. The tree ornament now serves as the inspiration for the smaller Annual Edition ornaments that have been sold in the retail stores since 1991. During our event, the NEW 2016 Christmas Ornament will be unveiled and raffled, so a lucky guest can take a little history home with them.

This Gala Grand Opening will be a true Red Carpet affair. There will be live fashion models showcasing the exquisite jewelry collections by Swarovski, sparkling SWAG gift bags for guests, Hors d’oeuvres, wine, music, professional photographer, and more. Friday, November 11th will be a one-of-a-kind event at Victoria Gardens that will be talked about long after it’s over.

Victoria Gardens, an upscale open air shopping complex, is well located off the 15 Freeway in Rancho Cucamonga, the Inland Empire’s premier city. Rancho Cucamonga has grown to become a vibrant, family oriented community. Victoria Gardens is currently home to popular retailers including Macy’s, JC Penney, Banana Republic, Apple, H & M, Victoria’s Secret, Aldo, Kiehls, Lush, Pottery Barn, Sephora, among many others.

COMMUNITY MALL ORGANIZES DONATION FOR KIDS

Montclair Place Collects Backpacks and School Supplies

Montclair Place and their major sponsors donated 500 backpacks and school supplies for each backpack (valued at $19,500) to Children’s Fund, with the assistance of KOLA radio on July 30, 2016. (From L to R):  Ann Morgan Kaser CMD, Senior Director Retail Marketing, Montclair Place; Caitlin Jae Valencia, Sr. Marketing Coordinator, Montclair Place; Luis Lara, Store Director, Superior Grocers; Irma Blanco, KOLA radio; Hend Alqleh, KOLA radio; Betty Chambers, Programs Manager, Children’s Fund.

MONTCLAIR, California (Wednesday, August 13, 2016) – Over 500 backpacks and school supplies valued at $19,500 were collected at last week’s Backpack drive, organized by Montclair Place to benefit children in the Ontario/Montclair region, and other vulnerable children in San Bernardino County.

Major contributors to the collection include supermarket Superior Grocers and nonprofit Christmas Cheer All Year.  Superior Grocers, with locations throughout the Inland Empire, donated 500 backpacks.  Christmas Cheer All Year, a nonprofit founded by Rick Lozano from KTTV, donated a van full of all the supplies a child will need on their first day of school.

KOLA 99.9 radio joined Superior Grocers and Christmas Cheer All Year at Montclair Place on Saturday, July 30, to present the donations to Children’s Fund, a 30 year-old nonprofit serving the most vulnerable children in San Bernardino County.

“Children are full of excitement on the first day of school,” says Stacy Iverson, President & CEO of Children’s Fund.  “Arriving with the tools they’ll need to succeed will make that day even more special for them. We are grateful to Montclair Place and their sponsors for such a generous gift.”

Founded in 1986, Children’s Fund is a nonprofit whose mission is giving our vulnerable children support, opportunity and hope by breaking destructive cycles through community partnerships. Since its inception, Children’s Fund has served more than 1.4 million children. For more information on Children’s Fund or to learn how you can give a child hope for brighter tomorrows, go to or call 909.379.0000.