Nonprofits Honored for Embodying Beliefs

Creating positive and meaningful change in the community is never easy, but through strong partnerships with the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, area and regional non-profit organizations have made huge strides. To recognize the achievements its nonprofit partners have made in the last year, the tribe honored four organizations that they believe have embodied and demonstrated the time-honored Serrano concept of Yawa’ – to manifest one’s beliefs through action – at the sixth annual Forging Hope Breakfast, recently held in San Bernardino. Organizations honored include the San Bernardino Valley College Foundation, 100 Mile Club, Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians and Silver Bullet Productions. "It is incredibly uplifting to see year-after-year so many people who have answered the call to act for the benefit of others,” said San Manuel Chairperson Carla Rodriguez. “It is the life-changing power of Yawa’ that we celebrate today.” Awards were presented in four philanthropic focus areas – education, health, economic development and special projects. San Bernardino Valley College Foundation was recognized in the area of education for the development and implementation of the Valley Bound Commitment Program (VBC) which is geared to support low-income students in 12 San Bernardino Valley College feeder high schools. Developed in response to the Inland Empire’s low college attendance rate of 25 percent, VBC has served over 700 students since its inception in 2008. It aims to remove the economic barrier for high school graduates by covering enrollment fees, textbooks, college tours and college-related expenses for the first year of attendance. Norco-based non-profit 100 Mile Club was honored with the Yawa’ Award in the area of health. The program is simple: walk or run 100 miles during the school year. Today, the program is in more than 700 schools in every U.S. state as well as Japan and Australia. “Thank you for believing in our spirit and vision,” said 100 Mile Club Founder Kara Lubin. “The concept of Yawa’ is what drives all of us, even kids.” In the area of economic development, the tribe awarded Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians for the restoration of one of the three tribal buildings, which the schoolhouse is the oldest Bureau of Indian Affairs structure in the state of California. The buildings were forced to close in 1991 due to costly extensive repairs. Located at the edge of the tribe’s ceremonial grounds, the buildings stood as a reminder of a transition from a traditional world to a modern one. “These buildings symbolize where we came from and how we survived,” said Mary Resvaloso, Chairperson of Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians. Lastly, New Mexico-based Silver Bullet Productions was recognized with the Yawa’ Award in special projects for encouraging educational achievement through a hands-on approach to film making projects. Silver Bullet Productions teaches culturally rich workshops with subject matter that is relevant to Native American education. “Over these last six years we have seen how collective action and support has helped us manage and get through some very difficult challenges,” Rodriguez said. “We applaud every program that has worked strategically to serve more children and families as needs have grown.”