This November, coinciding with Native American Heritage Month, IECF announced a $1 million gift from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians (SMBMI) to benefit the dependents of SMBMI team members through the newly created San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Team Member Dependent Scholarship Fund.
In its first round of grantmaking, the fund has awarded 59 scholarships, totaling over $500,000. Scholarships amounts ranged from $3,000 to $10,000 for eligible dependents.
The Tribe has partnered with IECF to offer this new team member benefit that will help dependent children achieve their college education and create a pathway to a better future. “We are grateful for the contributions that our valued Team Members make each day to keep our enterprises going. We believe investing in them is just as important as Team Members investing their time in our enterprise,” San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Vice-Chairman Johnny Hernandez says. “Everyone should have access to higher education, and we hope this makes the burden of funding those dreams a little bit lighter.”
Applications for scholarships to universities, community colleges, and trade/vocational schools are open to any students who are dependent children of team members of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel and Bear Springs Hotel. For the dependent child to be eligible, the team member must be a current employee of San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and have completed 90 days of active employment. Applicants up to 26 years old as of August 1st, 2022, are eligible to apply.
“We’re honored to partner with San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and commend their decision to make this investment in their employees and dependents,” said Michelle Decker, IECF CEO and President. “Accessing educational opportunity is a powerful driver of family wealth and community success in the Inland Empire, and we’re grateful that San Manuel is investing through IECF for this purpose.”
The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Team Member Dependent Scholarship Fund is one of several programs established by businesses supporting students in the region. To learn more about the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Team Member Dependent Scholarship Fund, contact Celia Cudiamat, Sr. Vice President of Community Impact at ccudiamat@iegives.org. To learn more about corporate giving opportunities, contact our Senior Vice President of Charitable Giving, Brie Griset Smith, at 951-244-7777 or bgrisetsmith@iegives.org.
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