Kathy Chao Rothberg, CEO surrounded by members of its board and staff at the East Bay EDA before the award ceremony.
Oakland, Ca. — Lao Family Community Development earns runner-up position in the Community Impact Category at the 10th Annual East Bay Innovation Awards ceremony, held Thursday evening. August 4th, at the Fox Theater in Oakland. The program is designed to recognize extraordinary companies who embrace the use and implementation of innovation in their manufacturing, products, services, design, and information; it is sponsored by the East Bay Economic Development Alliance.
“We are proud to earn the runner-up placement in this category. The pool of finalist was very impressive! It acknowledges the positive impact that Lao Family programs are having on the diverse disadvantaged populations we serve,” said Kathy Chao Rothberg, LFCD’s Chief Executive Officer. “It further acknowledges our continuous commitment to a culture of high-quality and innovative programming and partnerships for the last four decades.”
Lao Family Community Development, headquartered in Oakland with satellite locations in San Pablo and Sacramento, delivers a carefully-designed holistic Integrated Service Delivery Model that combines a roadmap with individualized case plans, interventions, and best practices resulting in rapid financial self-sufficiency and permanent housing attainment among the diverse and unique populations it serves in the East Bay and the Sacramento region. Its innovative housing and workforce programs continue to dramatically transform the way families are able to earn livable income and exit out of homelessness into permanent housing that is affordable in less than six months.
The Lao Family assisted nearly 4,000 individuals, including 880 households, to stabilize, earn and secure income, save, bank, improve their credit and move into existing permanent housing in the marketplace between January 2017 to July 2022. From 2006 to 2022, Lao Family’s team grew from 22 to more than 132 and its revenue growth from $2M to $31M.
The Lao Family was formed as a non-profit 501(c)(3) in 1980. Today the organization serves individuals from 40 nationalities, delivers case management service in 35 languages, offers7 days a week service in some locations and impacts the lives of nearly 31,000 annually in three northern California counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, and Sacramento). Its mission to advance the wellbeing of diverse communities through culturally-informed employment, housing, and education has served over 400,000 Californians. LFCD concentrates on five core service areas: 1) adult education and vocational training, 2) youth education, leadership, and career exploration, 3) financial coaching/asset development, 4) work supports and health access, and 5) affordable housing, home ownership and economic development activities.
# # # #
For more information, visit lfcd.org, follow us on Facebook, and contact: Kathy Chao Rothberg, CEO | KRothberg@lfcd.org | (510) 334-4826.
American Girl Doll Tea Party this Saturday August 6th at noon
After a two-year hiatus due to Covid, youngsters will again indulge in Afternoon Tea and snacks with the American Girl Doll collection thanks to the San Bernardino City Library Foundation.
The tea starts at 12:00 noon on the sixth of August at Dr. Mildred Dalton Henry Elementary School, 1250 W. 14th Street, San Bernardino. Refreshments and an educational program will be delivered by the University of California’s local Master Gardner/Master Preserver program.
This Saturday, youngsters will indulge in tea and snacks being served by dutiful adults who stand ready to ensure that the children have a delightful time. The annual event attracts children and their parents from the Greater San Bernardino Area.
Cheryl R. Brown, Board Member, American Girl Doll Tea Chairperson
“American Girl dolls represent the cultures of San Bernardino. Each one is unique, and the variety always finds favor with attendees—both kids and adults,” said Cheryl Brown, San Bernardino City Library Foundation Board member.
Brown adds, “The library’s American Girl Doll collection reflects the ethnic diversity of our community and youngsters can check out dolls that look like them. They can even customize them using the accessories that come with each doll.”
All year round, children can check out an American Girl Doll kit, at San Bernardino City Library’s that includes one of several ethnically diverse dolls, a carrying case, accessories, a book about the doll, and a journal.
The program provides an engaging learning experience that provides a glimpse into different time periods in American history through each doll’s story and a chance for children to write about their own adventures.
The doll collection and the annual tea are both made possible thanks to the generous support of the people and organizations of San Bernardino that take delight in giving children entertaining educational experiences.
San Bernardino City Library Foundation partners include Edison International, the Irvine Foundation, the Inland Empire Community Foundation, and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.
San Bernardino City Foundation Board President Arlington Rodgers
“We had to suspend our in-person tea event during the Covid pandemic, but now that things have calmed down, we are eager to again welcome the public to our version of ‘afternoon tea’,” says Foundation President Arlington Rodgers.
A reservation is required to attend. The deadline for registration is Wednesday, August 3rd, BUT people who want to register up to the 5th are encouraged to try and sign up anyway, as if there are spaces still available, they will be accommodated.
To make your reservation call (909) 381-8211, by August 1, 2022, leave contact information and how many reservations. Participants are requested to call early.
The mission of the San Bernardino City Library Foundation is to make sure that our public libraries continue to be places where everyone in the community can gather, learn, grow, and interact.
Since 1995, the San Bernardino City Library Foundation has provided the San Bernardino Public Library system with the financial support it needs to provide new books for patrons, offer free tutoring for all academic levels, provide patrons with access to e-books and audio books, and provide innovative programs like a Makerspace and the American Girl Doll program.
Board members include Arlington C. Rodgers, Jr. President, Cheryl R. Brown, Vice President— Community Relations, Mary Kay De Crescenzo, Vice President-Operations, Debra A. Fields, Secretary, Timothy Prince, Director.
Yamileth Monarrez, joins The Making Hope Happen Foundation’s Inland Empire Men’s Mental program
“The addition of Ms. Monarrez to our training staff allows us to accommodate more students for our suicide prevention and mental health first aid classes,” says Ceseña.
(San Bernardino, Calif.)“I’m very happy to have been promoted to being an instructor by the Inland Empire Men’s Mental Health program,“ says YamilethMonarrez, “because the courses address issues that I’ve personally experienced and now I feel I can do something to make things better.“
The Making Hope Happen Foundation‘s Inland Empire Men’s Mental programoffers free classesthat educate people on how to recognize signs of mental distress in people they know and love and teaches them how to get friends and family members to be willing to talk about what’s going on.
Program managerGerzonCeseña says, “Men—especially minority men—tend to be very reluctant to talk about problems they’re having. Instead, they often shut themselves off, which can make things worse. Our program is all about getting rid of the idea that real men don’t need help and instead, that real friends can help friends when things are tough.”
“Promoting Ms. Monarrez to our training staff allows us to accommodate more students for our suicide prevention and mental health first aid classes,” says Ceseña.
Yamileth Monarrez is a senior at UC Riverside and will be graduating in December. She spent a semester abroad at London South Bank University, taking a variety of courses, andpsychology is an area she has been interested in for some time.
The exposure to a different culture broadenedMonarrez‘s horizonswhile at the same time, showed how people everywhere often need to deal with the same problems.
Monarrez says, “At UCR I‘ve served as a mentor to freshmen. I really enjoy helping people and I wanted to work for IE Men’s Mental Health because the program emphasizes the need to de-stigmatize mental health issues so that people can get the help they need.”
Making Hope Happen is a nonprofit foundation linked with the San Bernardino City Unified School District. The nonprofit is based on the philosophy of Gallop Senior Scientist Dr. Shane J. Lopez. Hope allows people to envision a better future, design a path toward that future, and take purposeful steps toward it. As a result of a deep commitment to this quest, the San Bernardino Community and School Alliance (CASAwas reorganized and renamed the Making Hope Happen Foundation).
The Foundation’s Inland Empire Men’s Mental Health programoffers free mental health training for people who would like to be able to help friends or family members that would like to learn effective ways to approach friends or family members who seem to he hasemotional or mental health problems but aren’t sure about what to say or do.
For more information on The IE Men’s Mental Health Program,go to the group’s web page at IEMensMentalHealth.org or call (909) 347-7234.
Left to Right: Dr. Moliterno, Tim Evans and Dr. Schell. Drs. Randy Schell and David Moliterno of Lexington, Kentucky’s University of Kentucky Medical School rode from the Canadian border near Bellingham, Washington to San Diego on the Mexico line – 2,400 miles to raise funds for burials assisted by The Unforgettables Foundation (www.unforgettables.org).
The Unforgettables Foundation (“TUF”) has a chapter in a few states across the United States, as well as in the province of Ontario in Canada. Based in Redlands, California, of the Inland Empire and Inland Southern California region, the 22-year-old 501 (c)(3) non-profit is unique in its mission to aid and support at-risk, grief-stricken, and cash-strapped parents who are struggling with a child’s funeral costs.
The Unforgettables has existing extension affiliates in Ohio, Nevada, Tennessee, as well as, soon in Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico, the generation group cares about families.
Last summer, Drs. Randy Schell and David Moliterno of Lexington, Kentucky’s University of Kentucky Medical School rode from the Canadian border near Bellingham, Washington to San Diego on the Mexico line – 2,400 miles to raise funds for burials assisted by The Unforgettables Foundation (www.unforgettables.org).
It was called Dr. Randy’s Unforgettable Ride 2.0. About a year after Randy’s Ride through the mountains and coast of Washington, Oregon & California during about 30 days in August and September 2021, Kentucky experienced some terrible natural disaster flooding and some children drowned and died.
TUF will be doing what it can to help defray the burial costs for the pending funerals in Kentucky. Volunteers, including Lois Schell, RN and Brooke Pernice, country western/gospel recording artist and chaplain in Kentucky, will be working with the Board of TUF in the headquarter office in California to step up.
Says TUF CEO and Founder, a former children’s hospital chaplain in Loma Linda, California, Tim Evans, “We care about families who have lost children and try to help cover some of the funeral costs in order to show that the community cares about the concerns of the parents on a spiritual, emotional, social and financial level. All can donate at www.unforgettables.org”.
Drs. Randy Schell and David Moliterno who rode together all the over 2,400 miles of last summer/fall’s Dr. Randy’s Unforgettable Ride 2.0 will be doing an international version in 2022 on the Bamboo Road through Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia called Drs. David & Randy’s Unforgettable Global Ride 1.0.
Some of the funds raised will go to setting up the new Kentucky chapter of TUF and in specific to the special Kentucky for Kids special flood crisis fund.
Donate at the website at www.unforgettables.org. All donations go to the mission of assisting cash-strapped, at risk and grief-stricken parents struggling with the child’s funeral costs.
The Salvation Army Hospitality House Program Manager Naomi Goforth
“All of us who are part of the Hospitality House team love being able to help single women in need, and men or women with children, get back in control of their lives.”
(San Bernardino, Calif.) The San Bernardino Salvation Army Hospitality House stands ready to house homeless families and single women who need temporary, stable shelter. Their target population also includes multi-generational families, and single men with children as well.
“The Salvation Army Hospitality House serves as a safe refuge that provides residents with a supportive, caring environment and all the resources they need to deal with a wide variety of personal and/or family problems. It all starts with emergency shelter that can keep participants safely housed for 30, 60, or 90 days, depending on their circumstances,” says Program Manager Naomi Goforth.
At intake, each new arrival is assessed by trained Salvation Army intake staff. Once the scope of a client’s needs has been determined, each family is given a detailed individualized case plan and assigned to a case manager who will maintain close contact during their entire stay.
Each family’s case plan includes a comprehensive goals and objectives that cover their intake, transition to permanent housing, help finding a steady job, legal advocacy, child welfare aid, and education. Every resident is treated as an individual with individual needs and every case is different and gets a customized case plan.
“People who come to Hospitality House may have been sleeping in their cars or were recently released from a hospital. At intake, each new resident gets clothing, bed linens, hygiene products, and a chance to take a breath after whatever ordeal they have just gone through,” says Goforth.
“I didn’t know what I was going to do,” says one recent Hospitality House graduate.
“I’m a single mom and I lost my job during the pandemic. Thank goodness, at least my 15-year-old car was paid off and when we were no longer able to pay rent, that’s where we slept. I heard about Hospitality House from a friend and the people there have helped me find a new job, secure a place to live, and even got me enrolled in a course that’s going to add to my skill set so I can advance in my new-found career.”
Goforth says, “Our residents don’t just sit around and spin their wheels. They actively work their case plan. Our case managers are good at finding each individual’s motivation to resolve their homelessness and get back on their feet.”
“Sometimes, that may include a referral to one of our partner agencies for things like mental health services, substance use, and legal aid. Whatever they need, we can either provide help in-house or get them connected to the right providers,” says Goforth.
As current resident K.L. notes, “I had a pretty bad rent history and I knew not many landlords would want to take a chance on me, even though I now have a decent job. But the Salvation Army has helped me reestablish a better tenant history and now I have a place lined up to move to when my stay here ends next week.”
The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. To donate, call 1-800 SATRUCK.
KVCR 91.9 Lifestyles with Lillian Vasquez talks to Cheryl Brown from the San Bernardino City Library Foundation Regarding the American Girl Tea on October 6, 2022. The Show airs tomorrow at 2:00 pm and 6:30 pm and will repeat Saturday at 4:00 pm.
The Salvation Army is ready to help with free meals and food boxes for your entire family.
“All the food here is excellent and balanced. I feel much better, more energetic, and more healthy. A million thank-yous!”
(San Bernardino, Calif.)The San Bernardino area Salvation ArmySummer Meals Program is in full swing and ready to help area residents enjoy good-tasting and healthy hot meals.
Because the Salvation Army’s operations are so efficient, a gift of just $1.28 is enough to provide a nutritious meal for a hungry child, homeless adult, or struggling senior.
“The Summer Meals Program at our San Bernardino Hospitality House served 5–7,000 meals per monthlast year, and we expect that because of inflation and a slowing economy, we will be serving more this year,” says San Bernardino Corps Major Isaias Braga.
As one retired healthcare worker put it, “All the food here is excellent and balanced. I feel much better, more energetic, and more healthy. A million thank-yous!”
Because of the current Covid situation, sit-down meals are served only to Hospitality House residents, located at 925 West Tenth Street, San Bernardino. Nonetheless, to-go hot meals in boxes are being distributed to community members in need at that location.Community meals areserved from 4:30 to 5:30 pm six days per week, Sunday through Friday, and closed Saturday.
In addition to the to-go hot meals offered at the Hospitality House, the Salvation Army also distributes non-perishable food itemsand fresh meat through a community food distribution program on the first, second and third Thursdays of each month from 9:00 to 11:30 am.
On the first Thursday, this takes placeat theRedlands Corps facility, 838 Alta St., Redlands, 92374; on the second and third Thursdays,at theSan Bernardino Corps warehouse facility at the San Bernardino Airport, 295 North Leland Norton Way, San Bernardino, 92408.
To find out more about the Salvation Army’s Summer Meals Program and other Salvation Army programs, visit their website at https://sanbernardino.salvationarmy.org/
–30–
About the Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. To donate go to: www.salvationarmyusa.org
Project Fighting Chance is inviting girls ages 12-18 to enjoy a complimentary “Eat & Greet” cookout on 8.20.22 from 4pm – 6pm at 1263 Union St. San Bernardino, CA 92411. REGISTER NOW! By ensuring access to professionals willing to mentor and provide resources leading to victimization prevention, career pathways, self-esteem, and education attainment this event will offer underserved youth a unique opportunity throughout the 2022/’23 school year. Sponsorship Available.Contact us today!
Dr. Albert and Maria Arteaga of LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc.
“You can’t just have the vaccine in stock and wait for people to show up. That’s why we reach out to let people know their children can be vaccinated at any time when our clinics are open.”
(Redlands, Calif.) Dr. Albert Arteaga, MD, CEO of LaSalle Medical Associates, says that all LaSalle clinics have started delivering the Covid-19 vaccine to children.
“We have the Covid19 vaccines in stock, and we have completed training our people on dosages, proper delivery, and administration,” says Dr. Arteaga. “We also have started an active outreach campaign to all of our patients to let them know they can bring their children in to get vaccinated.”
LaSalle Medical Associates has been ahead of the curve for vaccine administration for decades, particularly for pediatric illnesses. “I remember 25 years ago we thought childhood vaccinations must have been around 100 percent. We were very far off. The national statistics came out saying compliance was only 30–40 percent. At LaSalle we were doing a lot better, around 60 percent, but that still did not meet our standards, and that’s why we have been so focused on outreach ever since,” says Dr. Arteaga.
Dr. Arteaga adds, “Since the government started compiling records and keeping track of the percentage of people getting vaccinated, we now have a much more accurate picture of how effective vaccination programs are.”
Being proactive leads to higher vaccine compliance. Calling parents to let them know they should bring in their youngsters to get vaccinated means that prevention is likely to be a lot more effective.
April Reya a medical assistant, gives the COVID-19 vaccination shot to Vicki Creighton, of Riverside, Recently, at the LaSalle Medical Associates medical office located in Rialto, Calif. Creighton received the one-shot Johnson and Johnson vaccine.
Dr. Arteaga also reveals his personal shot-administration secret: “Children typically don’t like getting a shot. So, I tell them this shot is painless. But if they do feel pain, I can always give them a second shot for the pain. I’ve never had a child ask for that second shot.”
A nurse or physician’s bedside manner means a lot, particularly with children. Keeping things light and avoiding a stern attitude helps the entire experience go down more easily for both the patient and the caregiver.
LaSalle’s clinics have been recognized in the past for their well-above-average vaccination delivery, recording rates above 80 or even 90 percent compliance for flu shots, for example. Dr. Arteaga says, “It’s all because we really push for people to care for themselves.”
Dr. Arteaga also tackles the myth that if people are feeling ill, they should not get a vaccine shot. “Not true,” says the doctor, “unless you’re quite ill. If you have a cold, the sniffles, whatever, it’s perfectly safe and advisable to get your Covid 19 Vaccine.”
Dr. Arteaga restates his mantra that it’s not enough to have vaccines on the shelf. They need to be available during all regularly open clinic hours, and that’s the longstanding LaSalle policy.
LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc., clinics accept Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Molina, Care 1st, Health Net, and Inland Empire Health Plan coverage, as well as Medicare and Medi-Cal.
For more information about LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc call the office closest to you: Fontana (909) 823-4454; San Bernardino 17th Street (909) 887-6494; San Bernardino Mt. Vernon Ave. (909) 884-9091; Rialto (855) 349-6019; Hesperia (760) 947-2161; and Victorville (855) 349-6019.
The Unforgettables Foundation (“TUF”) ushers in a new board term in July each year for the past generation. This year’s 2022-23 team will be in office for 18-months as opposed to 12 in a switch to January thru December.
Incoming Co-Chairs, Todd Underwood and Brandon Harrison are also leading out in the annual TUF Board Retreat scheduled for July 15th & 16th in Palm Springs at the B&B home of a core Desert Committee member during this busy new board month.
The Executive Committee group joining Todd, a retired Allstate franchise owner and former President of both the Redlands Optimist and Redlands Chamber of Commerce and Brandon, a CPA and partner of Eide Bailly in Rancho Cucamonga are the following community leaders.
Secretary, Jo-Lynn Acrey of Riverside, a senior care executive with The Key; immediate past Co-Chairs, Christine Carrillo, owner of Beamer Tax & Business Services in Yucaipa, along with LeAnne Chavez, owner of Advanced Wellness Physical Therapy, a mobile PT practice; Stan Morrison, the Emeritus Co-Chair from Riverside; former Co-Chair and Las Vegas Chapter liaison, Thomas Slaughter (a nationally known business and tech consultant); Co-Chair Elect, Reggie Jackson, a well-established financial planner in Redlands; along with the 3 members at large, Patrick Casady, past Co-Chair from Corona, and the advisor for fundraising event collaborations; Greg Dieterich, a retired executive in the International Trucking Company and former Optimist Club of Redlands President, along with Kevin Tetley, a Raymond James Tetley Wealth Group financial consultant and current Riverside Kiwanis Club President, leading the budget and finance area.
Tim Evans, as Founder, also sits on the Executive Committee, ad does invitee Kimberly Krause, a funeral professional from the Palm Springs area who leads the Desert Committee in the Coachella Valley. A Treasurer and a Co-Chair Elect will be named next month.
Beyond the sprinting start to the new board term of a strategic planning retreat are two fund raiser/friend raiser events in July, the Friday the 22nd collaboration golf event at Los Serranos Course in Chino Hills put on by the ICWA through the efforts of Mr. Casady, who is on that water industry board, as well. (It goes 50/50 with Ronald McDonald House and spaces for teams are still available at https://www.icwa-group.com/annual-charity-golf.)
Call 909-335-1600 or 909-855-3130, for more information.
Also, the longtime favorite – Unforgettables Birthday Baseball Bash Picnic at San Manuel Ball Park Stadium in San Bernardino on July 30th is selling tickets at $30 with supper, a seat ticket and a special giveaway – Angels blanket – per attendee. Contact our office at 909-335-1600.
About The Unforgettables Foundation
“The mission of The Unforgettables Foundation is to assist at risk and grieving families with finances to help them afford a timely and dignified funeral for their child.”
The Salvation Army is ready to help with free meals and food boxes for your entire family.
