A message from Michelle Decker, CEO & President and Jesse Melgar, CIELO Fund Chair & Board Vice Chair to supporters of the CIELO Fund:
Thank you to our incredible CIELO Fund donors for your unwavering support and generosity! Your commitment to recognizing, uplifting and propelling achievement in the IE’s Latino community has made a profound impact. At our recent Funders Briefing, we were inspired by first-hand testimonials from grantees and scholars, and we learned about the CIELO Fund’s initiatives and accomplishments.
A very special thank you to our grantees who shared their stories: Gerardo Pulido, Executive Director of Casa Blanca Home of Neighborly Services; Maria Alonso, Executive Director of Huerta del Valle; and Yunuen Ibarra, Program Manager with Lideres Campesinas. We’re also grateful to UCR graduate student Jolene Saldivar and CSUSB student Steven Serrano Yepez, who received scholarships and spoke about the difference those funds have made on their college journeys.
It’s been an incredible two years since we launched the Fund. Your investments have enabled us to focus on data-driven decisions, ensuring our grants have the greatest impact and address the true needs of the Latino community. Your contributions allowed us to grant $650,000 to 56 nonprofits across Riverside and San Bernardino counties. These organizations are making a tangible difference in areas such as supporting farmworkers, addressing food insecurity, and tackling environmental issues.
The successful CIELO Fund Scholars Program has now supported 148 IE Latino students in their pursuit of college dreams to the tune of $232,000 in scholarships! Empowered by your generous funding, we’re shifting the narrative from highlighting deficits to celebrating the promise, positive achievements and potential of the Latino community.
Reaching for el cielo and beyond
All of this is thanks to you, our visionary funders, whose belief in the power of local grassroots organizations and the region’s future leaders has helped us exceed our initial fundraising goal of $80,000 to an astounding $1.7 million! And we’re not stopping there.
We’ve set our sights on opening even more doors for the Latino community. To that end, we’ve established a goal of reaching $2 million by October 5th. That’s the date of our annual celebration of grantees and scholars, where we’ll come together to recognize and celebrate the inspiring work happening across the Inland Empire. You’ll find sponsorship and donor opportunities here for your consideration and further support.
Thank you again for your generosity. Alongside our dedicated leadership committee and with the support of our talented IECF board members and staff, we’re driving positive change and building a brighter future for the IE Latino community. Together, we are reaching for el cielo!
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