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Community News

Ca l i f o r n i a S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y, S a n Bernardino announced that Dorene C Dominguez will receive an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at its spring Commencement for the Jack H Brown College of Business and Public Administration, scheduled for May 20 at 2 p m at Toyota Arena in Ontario

“Conferring an honorary doctorate upon Ms Dominguez, in r e c o g n i t i o n o f h e r p r o f o u n d impact and dedicated service to California, would be a great honor for CSUSB,” said univers i t y P r e s i d e n t To m á s D Morales “As an anchor institution in the region, we would be remiss not to recognize her l o n g - l a s t i n g c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o business, education, social justice and to the Hispanic com- munity not only in California, but also nationally ”

“ I ’ m d e e p l y h o n o r e d a n d g r a t e f u l b y t h i s p r e s t i g i o u s r e c o g n i t i o n f r o m C a l i f o r n i a S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y, S a n B e r n a r d i n o a n d P r e s i d e n t Morales,” said Dominguez “As a Latina and San Bernardino native, this recognition brings my family and I great pride I hope to serve as an inspiration to others in our community as well as the graduates of the class of 2023 It has been a privilege to serve and be part of the San Bernardino community throughout the years and continue business and philanthropic endeavors ”

Dominguez is the chairwoman and CEO of Vanir Construction M a n a g e m e n t a n d t h e Va n i r Group of Companies, Inc since

Dominguez, cont next pg n g T r e a t m e n t

By Manny Sandoval

The Childhood Cancer Foundation of Southern California (CCFSC) held its annual Quarter-Rama paddle fundraiser on Friday, April 17, at Riverside City Hall on the Mayor's Patio

The event brought together hundreds of community members to raise funds for families struggling with the financial hardships that accompany childhood cancer treatment emphasized the importance of this fundraiser, saying, "We serve 800 families in Southern California and have served nearly 3,000 families since we were founded in 1981 Events like Quarter-Rama are crucial for providing food, housing, transportation assistance, and other essential resources to those in need during this tumultuous time "

Denise Sandoval, a Highland resident who lost her child Sonny to leukemia in 2003, e c h o e d Av i l a ' s s e n t i m e n t , a d d i n g ,

"Participating in the Quarter-Rama not only brings joy and laughter but also serves as a critical reminder of the support children and families need during their treatment journey

A c c o r d i n g t o a 2 0 1 9 s t u d y b y t h e American Cancer Society, families with a child undergoing cancer treatment can face an average of $833 per month in out-ofpocket expenses These costs often lead to financial strain, with one parent frequently needing to quit work to care for their child Childhood Cancer Foundation Board of

Dominguez

2004 The companies were founded by her father, H Frank Dominguez, in 1964 in San Bernardino Dorene Dominguez has successfully positioned Vanir as a national leader in Program, Project, and Construction Management, and Real Estate Development, delivering $25 8 billion in value to clients across the United States Headquartered in Sacramento with 22 offices nationwide, Engineering News Record has ranked Vanir number 32 in the nation for Construction Management firms

Dominguez founded The Dominguez Dream 501(c)3 in memory of her late father, in February 2004 The Dominguez Dream is committed to empowering children in underserved communities to achieve their full potential through literacy, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math), social-emotional learning and parent engagement programs Among the 12 schools receiving steadfast support from The Dominguez Dream is the H Frank Dominguez Elementary School in San Bernardino, which opened its doors in 2014

An active member of various community improvement projects, boards and commissions, Dominguez currently serves on the board of directors for Douglas Emmett, KB Home, and

Aspen Institute’s Latinos and Society Program Advisory Board In addition to these roles, she serves on the board of trustees for the University of Notre Dame and is the former chair of the advisory council of the university’s Institute for Latino Studies She is also a board member of PRIDE Industries, which helps people with disabilities retain jobs and independent lifestyles

Dominguez is the first and only Latina to be a Governor of an NBA team and is a shareholder of the Sacramento Kings

Dominguez is the recipient of numerous awards including the Inland Empire Hispanic Leadership Council’s Legend Award in 2015, the Cardinal’s Award in 2019 and the 2022 Angel Award from the Catholic Association of Latino Leaders In 2016, she was honored as Hispanic Lifestyle’s Latina of Influence and was among the Association of Latino Professionals for America’s Top 50 Most Powerful Latinas in 2020

Dominguez is home grown with a high school diploma from Colton High School Dominguez graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor ’s degree in finance and holds a certificate in Corporate Governance from Harvard University

Fundraiser

Director President Peter Brierty praised the QuarterRama fundraiser, stating, "This event is one of the most efficient in the Inland Empire and the nation It's inspiring to see the courage these kids and families display, and the funds raised go directly toward meeting their critical needs " Over 150 prizes were bid on during the paddle fundraiser, and a dozen vendors were present, with food served to all attendees The money raised will benefit families in need, providing them with grocery vouchers, gas vouchers, transport assistance, clothing, and other vital resources

The CCFSC is always seeking volunteers and Champions for Hope For more information or to get involved, visit ccfsocal org/champion The organization's next event, Taste For Life, a wine-tasting event, will be held on September 9, 2023, at Kimberly Crest House and Gardens in Redlands, CA

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians' Philanthr opy

Boosts IE Community Colleges, Suppor ting 2,000 Students and Generating 12-to-1 Dollar Success R ate

By Manny Sandoval

The 2022 Bernard Osher

Philanthropist of the Year Awards were held on April 13th, honoring the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians (SMBMI) for their unwavering support of community colleges across California The award, named after Bernard Osher, was created to recognize his initial gift to the community college system

CEO Geoff Green celebrated the event, stating, "Celebrate philanthropy and all the good work of those who support our community colleges Many of you know our community colleges are among the best investments you can make for a greater quality of life " He highlighted the importance of community colleges, which hold over half of the state's students, and the diverse age range of attendees man who overcame adversity with the help of the Valley Bound Commitment Program, which would not have been possible without SMBMI's support

She said, "One particular young man, Devin, was against all odds; he dreamt big and grew up in a disadvantaged neighborhood in the Inland Empire He refused to be defined by his circumstances and was determined to be the first person in his family to attend college His dream came alive when he became accepted into the Valley Bound Commitment Program " half of the community and the 20,000 students that we have, we express our sincerest gratitude to the SMBMI; we truly appreciate it "

The Valley Bound Commitment Program has been pivotal in eliminating financial barriers for nearly 2,000 students, providing them with essential resources and support

Community News

Spring is the perfect time to assess the maintenance of your home after the long, cold, brutal winter months A checklist from the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH) outlines what it takes to help ensure your home is healthy - such as keeping it dry, clean, well-ventilated, free from contaminants, pestfree, safe and well-maintained

As the disaster remediation specialists at SERVPRO know, unexpected issues can quickly turn your dream home into a nightmare "While we specialize in cleanup, restoration and construction after a fire or water loss, we think it's even more important to do what you can to help prevent these losses in the first place," says Rick Isaacson, CEO of Servpro Industries, LLC "Routine and effective maintenance will help you meet all these healthy home criteria and serves as one of your best defenses against the curveballs that can be thrown at your home "

While catastrophic events like storm-related wind, water and hail damage are usually covered by most standard homeowner's insurance policies, many maintenance-related claims are not such as leaks over time or mold from lack of ventilation 1 So, on top of suffering a loss to property, there is a good chance the property owner will be on the hook for the entire cost of remediation and repairs

To help pinpoint common areas of concern for routine home maintenance, the NCHH developed a Healthy Homes Maintenance Checklist 2

"We deal with the consequences of unfortunate disasters that negatively impact the lives of property owners every day," says Isaacson "The routine and simple spring maintenance tasks on this checklist can help minimize the types of hazards we specialize in remediating, and they can preempt many of the bigger problems that can cause significant damage to your property "

Fire

Clean dryer vents and screens

Check electrical equipment for damaged cords

Test all ground fault circuit interrupters

Water and mold

Clean downspouts and gutters and ensure they direct water away from your home

Look for damaged or failing waterproofing, often caused by storms, such as lifting shingles, loose siding, or leaks around doors and windows

Special guests included Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, Dr Diana Rodriguez, Chancellor of San Bernardino Community College District (SBCCD), and Lynn Nay Valbuena, Chairwoman of the SMBMI

With approximately 2 million individuals attending a community college in the state, the organization reports a 12 to 1 dollar success rate – for every dollar donated by a contributor, the community of the student receives an additional 12 dollars This support helps close equity and opportunity gaps, transforming and enriching lives

Chancellor Diana Rodriguez expressed her gratitude towards SMBMI, sharing a heartfelt story about a young

Rodriguez continued, "He excelled in the program and inspired his peers, he was on track, but then life had other plans for him He had to get a job to make ends meet; he felt lost and drifted, and tragedy struck Devin was in a lifethreatening car accident It was a wake-up call, and he needed to change to live his life to the fullest and give back to his community With the Valley Bound Commitment Program's support, he decided to return He faced many setbacks but never gave up "

Chancellor Rodriguez proudly shared the young man's success: "I'm thrilled to share that Devin will be graduating this August with a degree It is a testament to his resilience and unwavering determination But his achievement is also a testimony to the transformative power of the support from SMBMI They have been incredibly supportive to students like Devin, showing that you can achieve anything you desire with determination, hard work, and support So, on be-

Lynn Nay Valbuena, Chairwoman of SMBMI, emphasized the importance of education as a top priority She said, "We believe in investing in the future through education and creating pathways for those who would not have had the opportunities " Through our commitment, SMBMI has supported students at Chaffey College, Crafton Hills College, San Bernardino Valley College, and Victor Valley College with textbooks, scholarships, supplies, and more

Valbuena added, "Together, we are not only improving students' lives but uplifting families and communities and driving economic development " Then, in the Serrano language of the SMBMI, she concluded, "Hakup A' Ai," meaning thank you, regarding the recognition

The Tribe's Tribal Secretary, Johnny Hernandez Jr , spoke about the Spirit of Yawa' – acting on one's belief – and the Tribe's commitment to helping those on their ancestral lands

The virtual event, held on April 13th, successfully highlighted the transformative power of SMBMI's support and the importance of philanthropy in enriching the lives of community college students across the Inland Empire and the nation

300,000 Inland Empir e Residents at Risk of Losing Medi-Cal Benefits Community News

DThis month, an overlooked piece of mail could have disastrous consequences for hundreds of thousands of Riverside and San Bernardino families that rely on Medi-Cal benefits

To avoid a public health crisis after the annual redetermination process of Medi-Cal resumed this week, Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) and Riverside County’s Department of Public Social Services and San Bernardino County’s Transitional Assistance Department are coordinating a first-of-its-kind partnership

California warns that approximately 2-3 million Medi-Cal enrollees statewide could lose or see interruptions in their health care coverage during the process

“The annual redetermination process is one of the biggest efforts taking place in the history of the Medi-Cal program,” said IEHP Chief Executive Officer Jarrod McNaughton “The partnership with the two counties demonstrates our commitment to making sure Inland Empire residents have continued coverage ”

All three entities are working in tandem to share data and coordi- nate strategic outreach efforts to ensure residents undergoing the Medi-Cal renewal process complete and submit requested information

“The county and partner agencies are ready to help residents impacted through the redetermination process to keep these essential benefits,” said Riverside County Executive Officer Jeff Van Wagenen “We are reaching out to the 37,000 residents by mail and phone whose redeterminations are due in June

We’ve also alerted local hospitals, clinics, and health care providers We will be reaching out to our impacted residents directly each month as their redeterminations come due ”

Beginning this month, residents who receive Medi-Cal renewal packets in the mail must complete and send back the requested information included in the yellow renewal packets within 60 days or lose their Medi-Cal benefits

Members could start losing coverage as early as July 1, impacting current treatment of severe illnesses or chronic conditions and increasing outof-pocket medical costs

“The County is committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of those who depend on Medi-Cal benefits,” said San

Bernardino County’s Transitional Assistance Department Director Gilbert Ramos “With the end of the federal Public Health Emergency, collaborating with IEHP and Riverside County will help raise awareness of the actions beneficiaries must take to maintain their health care coverage and in many cases their quality of life ”

In December 2022, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023 (CAA) –which stipulated the continuous coverage provision that prohibited states from disenrolling members from Medicaid since 2020, due to the COVID-19 public health emergency would expire at the end of March 2023

To prepare, IEHP has hired an eligibility team fully dedicated to helping IEHP members complete the Medi-Cal redetermination process

Each month after receiving lists of members coming up for renewal and updated and verified contact information from both counties, the IEHP team will reach out to members via text and/or phone to alert them this important packet is coming in the mail

“The County’s partnership will help beneficiaries stay informed of these next crucial steps to complete the requested informa- tion within the 60 days and ensure continuity of health care coverage,” said San Bernardino County’s Chief Executive Officer Leonard X Hernandez

Once the packet is received, IEHP will assist the member in completing and submitting the required information, whether by phone or with one-on-one assistance at a community resource center

The IEHP team will continue checking in until the member has submitted the information by mail, phone, online, or at a local county Medi-Cal office

Medi-Cal members may also receive assistance through the county Medi-Cal office The good news is Medi-Cal members whose household income now exceeds eligibility requirements won’t fall through the system

These members will be automatically enrolled into Covered California, the state health insurance marketplace established by the Affordable Care Act There, they may be eligible for a federally subsidized health plan

For more information or assistance, IEHP members may call the IEHP eligibility team at 1888-860-1296 Non-IEHP members should visit benefitscal com

CSUSB Model United Nations Team Travels to National Model UN Confer ence

Community News

While the campus was quiet on the Cesár Chávez holiday, a classroom on the third floor of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences building buzzed with activity as the Cal State San Bernardino Model United Nations team made final preparations for the National United Nations Conference

The practice session would be the last on campus before the student delegates would board a red-eye flight to New York City late April 7 The conference marks the culmination of work the 17 students have applied themselves to since the start of the spring semester, researching the history, politics and policies of Austria, and learning to take on the roles of diplomats from that country and how to interact with diplomats from other countries

“I think that this program is probably the most intense program you’ll ever be in,” said one student delegate, Ethan Silva, a senior political science major “You learn about all kinds of different countries –it’s not just Austria or a specific country It’s the whole world, because you have to know all the aspects of what they focus on, what they want to implement You learn so many new things ”

-lished as an academic program by Ralph Salmi, professor emeritus of the CSUSB Department of Political Science

The program continued its success under the leadership of Kevin Grisham (now the interim associate vice president for Faculty Affairs & Development at CSUSB) until 2020, when Bastami was named the program director

Past participants in the Model United Nations program have said the conference simulations gave them real-life experiences in diplomacy and relationship building Some program graduates have embarked on careers in diplomacy, while others have gone on to prestigious graduate programs, such as the Harvard School of Law

Many of the alumni come back every year to speak to the next generation of CSUSB Model UN students and help support them through mentorship, providing students with networks around the globe and fiscal support

Participation in the CSUSB Model UN program is through a class (GEOG 5756) offered by the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies that is open to all students and majors interested in global issues and studies

Geography 5756 fulfills General Education requirements for all enrolled undergraduates and graduates at CSUSB

Accompanying Silva are fellow team members are Blessing Nwogu, Ramtin Ranjpour, Rachel Rodgers, Krystopher De Lira, Andrea Colombel, Alyssa Lujan, Luis Fernando Lizama, Cynthia Roman, Alexander Edsell, Karen Terrero, Joselyne Salcedo, Guadalupe Miranda, Angeli Richard, Pedro Hernandez, Michelle Markham, and Gary Williams Sina Bastami, director of the CSUSB Model UN program, will be in New York with them Their progress, and that of the entire conference, can be followed at the National Model UN Facebook page CSUSB is participating in Conference B

In the conference print program, CSUSB is recognized as one of 21 universities that have participated for at least 30 consecutive years “The long-term support of these schools reflects the hard work and dedication of faculty advisors, students and administrators,” conference organizers wrote “It shows the commitment to experiential learning opportunities like (National Model UN) as well as the ideals embodied by the United Nations ”

The CSUSB’s Model UN students have been participating in the conferences since 1977, when the program was estab-

For more information about the CSUSB Model UN program or to contribute to it, visit the CSUSB Model United Nations website

About Cal State San Bernardino

California State University, San Bernardino is a preeminent center of intellectual and cultural activity in Inland Southern Cali fornia Opened in 1965 and set at the foothills of the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains, the university serves more than 20,000 students each year and graduates about 4,000 students annually The university offers more than 70 traditional baccalaureate and master ’s degree programs, education credential and certificate programs, and a doctorate program in educational leadership

Every one of its eligible academic programs has earned national accreditation CSUSB reflects the dynamic diversity of the region and has the most diverse student population of any university in the Inland Empire More than 80 percent of those who graduate are the first in their families to do so

Community News

The California Restaurant Foundation (CRF), a nonprofit focused on investing in and empowering California restaurants and their workforce, has proudly partnered with the state’s energy companies to bring back the third consecutive Restaurants Care® Resilience Fund This year ’s fund totals $2 1 million, making it the largest Resilience Fund program to date, allowing CRF to increase grants to $5,000

Due to the generosity of SoCalGas, the PG&E Corporation Foundation (PG&E Foundation) and San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E), CRF expects to help more than 360 independent restaurant owners across California build more resilient businesses for the long-term Resilience Fund applications will be open from April 15, 2023 to May 7, 2023 and can be found at www restaurantscare org/resilience

Grants will be available to all California-based restaurant owners located in the utility companies’ service areas that have less than five units and less than $3 million in revenue Priority will be given to restaurants who have yet to receive a grant; however, previous recipients are encouraged to re-apply

While last year ’s Resilience Fund grants could be used on retention bonuses and equipment upgrades, this year ’s $5,000 grants can be applied to technology adoption, equipment upgrades, employee onboarding and retention, or unforeseen hardships The expanded priorities reflect the Resilience Fund’s commitment to providing California’s vibrant restaurant community with the financial support needed to build stronger, more resilient businesses that will continue to feed and contribute to their local communities for many years to come Since the fund’s inception, 788 grants have been awarded to independent restaurants across California - 68 5 percent of which were women-owned and 83 percent are owned by people of color

“We were overwhelmed by the generosity of SoCalGas, PG&E Foundation and SDG&E, who have continued to show up year after year to underwrite the Resilience Fund and support California’s independent restaurants owners and their staff,” said Alycia Harshfield, Executive Director of CRF “As it’s been our ongoing goal to invest in strengthening California’s small businesses, we are thrilled to expand the resources and grant focuses this year We are looking forward to reaching new restaurants and extending our support to deserving families and restaurant owners across our beautiful and diverse Golden State ”

Founded in 2021 in response to the hardships restaurant owners faced as they battled COVID-19 and its fallout, the Resilience Fund has increased in funding and reach thanks to SoCalGas, PG&E Foundation, and SDG&E’s ongoing commitment and support Each company generously increased its contribution for 2023, with SoCalGas contributing $1,000,000, the PG&E Foundation giving $900,000 and SDG&E pushing the fund over the $2 million threshold with its $200,000 donation

The Resilience Fund is currently accepting additional support from corporations, foundations, and individuals who want to invest in California’s restaurant community Donations of all sizes are accepted and celebrated at www restaurantscare org/resilience For more information about the California Restaurant Foundation, Restaurants Care, or the Resilience Fund, please visit www restaurantscare org

IECN News

This week is National Volunteer Week, a time volunteers across all industries, including hospitals, are celebrated for giving back to the community

Jeffree Sirowy is a retired nurse and volunteer baby cuddler at Dignity Health - St Bernardine Medical Center

As a baby cuddler, Jeffree provides support for the hospital’s littlest patients in the NICU by holding them and cuddling them - an act that stimulates their body and brain; helps with their social, emotional, and physical development; and can even improve weight gain

Jeffree says she loves that she can be a part of babies’ lives and gets just as much out of it as they do “It helps your blood pressure, helps calm d for the soul ”