Spotlight on Palm Springs Dance Project: Strengthening and Inspiring the Community through Dance
By all accounts, the arts can inspire, unite, and often strengthen communities. To that end, Palm Springs Dance Project is taking bold creative leaps in doing that by generating dance creation, presentation, and education that inspires youth and others. The 2022...
Spotlight on Ophelia’s Jump: Building a Platform for Under-Represented Artists
Upland nonprofit theater group gives under-represented artists and theater professionals a platform to build their careers and inspire the community. Beatrice Casagran and her daughter Caitlin Lopez founded Ophelia’s Jump Productions (OJP) in 2012 with the mission of...
Spotlight on PSUSD The Foundation: Preparing Students for 21st Century Sucess
Palm Springs Unified School District (PSUSD) is ambitiously heading to the front of the class in the ways it educates and prepares students for success in the 21st century. To that end, forward-thinking efforts have been made in two specific areas: how funding is...
Spotlight on Inland Equity Community Land Trust: Creating Homeownership Opportunities in the IE
Formed in 2020 as a project of Inland Equity Partnership, Inland Equity Community Land Trust (IECLT) is focused on providing affordable rental and ownership housing in Riverside and San Bernadino Counties. IECLT believes that one of the primary drivers of poverty is...
Spotlight on Garner Holt Foundation: Offering Animatronics Academy Career Camp Scholarships to Underserved Youth
In 1977, while Garner Holt was still in high school, he founded an animatronics company from his parent’s garage in Redlands. Today, Garner Holt Productions has a large production facility, studio and nearly 100 employees. His company has produced animatronics for...
Spotlight on Operation New Hope: Helping Formerly Incarcerated Youth Create Bright Futures
In 1980 Operation New Hope (ONH), an Inland Empire-based youth rehabilitation program, was founded as a court-ordered recovery program for incarcerated teens. Bill Degnan, the organization’s founder, worked at California’s Youth Authority and was concerned about the...
Spotlight on Hole in Wall: A Vietnam Vet Helps Others Overcome Homelessness and Addiction
A Vietnam veteran is dedicating himself to helping people overcome homelessness and addiction. After returning from the Vietnam War, Benjamin Shuler struggled with addiction and ended up on the streets of Gardena. Shuler was homeless for five years before he received...
Spotlight on Faith in Action of San Gorgonio Pass: Helping the Homeless in Banning and Beaumont
Faith in Action of San Gorgonio Pass was founded in 2006 and is dedicated to meeting the short-term and long-term needs of people experiencing homelessness in the cities of Banning and Beaumont. The organization stays abreast of available social services in the region...
Spotlight on CASA of San Bernardino: Champions needed!
CASA of San Bernardino County currently has 220 foster youth waiting for a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) to be a champion for their future. CASA volunteers commit to a minimum of 18 months, meeting in person with the foster child they are matched with once a...
IECF Advocates for Recently Signed Legislation Impacting Children and Youth
The Inland Empire Community Foundation supported and advocated for legislation that directly impacts children and youth in both the childcare and K-16 spaces; legislation that was recently signed by the Governor. At IECF, in order to ensure that children and youth...