The Morongo Band of Mission Indians awarded nearly $200,000 to dozens of non-profit organizations serving local communities as part of the Tribe’s inaugural Community Outreach Awards luncheon, held on Wednesday, April 13.
The 67 award recipients represented a wide array of organizations across Riverside and San Bernardino counties, including those involved with Native American culture, social services, education, hospitals, or health organizations, and support groups for members of the military and military families.
“Giving back to the community is central to our core values at Morongo, and we are delighted to be able to provide assistance to dozens of non-profit groups that do so much to serve those in need all across the Inland region,” said Morongo Tribal Chairman Charles Martin.
Morongo launched the new Community Outreach Awards program last year to expand the number of smaller, community-based, Inland groups to which the Tribe provides philanthropic support in neighboring communities. Grants of up to $5,000 each were awarded through the streamlined process.
“We have worked with the Morongo Band of Mission Indians for many years, and the Tribe has always generously supported our work to help feed the hungry and homeless of the San Gorgonio Pass,” said Ann Blair, vice president of Carol’s Kitchen in Banning. “Morongo truly wants to help make the world a better place.”
Robert Maher, executive director of Guide Dogs of the Desert, said the Tribe’s donation will help the organization in its mission to train guide eye dogs for the visually impaired. The group has provided almost 825 guide dogs since 1972.
“We are deeply moved and thankful for Morongo’s support of our mission to provide mobility, companionship and independence for individuals with vision loss, by providing custom-trained guide dogs,” Maher said.
During the luncheon, award recipients were recognized for their exceptional service and partnership with Morongo.
Groups that received awards from Morongo hailed from across the Inland region, ranging from Immanuel House in Moreno Valley (transitional sober-living environments) to Voices for Children in Riverside (social services for abused children), Family Services of the Desert (food assistance), Inland Harvest of Redlands (food assistance), Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Inland Empire in Riverside, the CARE Project of Riverside (breast cancer support) and veterans groups such as the Western Eagle Foundation in Temecula and American Legion Post 53 in Hemet.
Over the past decade, Morongo has provided more than $15 million to support local and national non-profit organizations that serve the San Gorgonio Pass and the surrounding regions, as well as greater Southern California.
