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Playroom in new hospital tower to be named in charity’s honor

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— LOMA LINDA, CA– Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital received $257,500 from the Walter’s Children’s Charity Classic Committee on March 26. The funds will support Vision 2020 – The Campaign for a Whole Tomorrow and the construction of the new Children’s Hospital tower.

Funds were raised at this year’s 23^rd annual Walter’s Children’s Charity Classic golf tournament. The committee has raised more than $4 million over the past two decades.

During the check presentation, Scott Perryman, senior vice president and administrator for Children’s Hospital thanked Walter’s Automotive Group for their generosity.

“I want to express my gratitude for this amazing partnership, and its impact on the community,” Perryman said. “Your organization just gives and gives. I continue to be amazed by your spirit of generosity.”

Steve Kienle, president of Walter’s Automotive Group and founder of the committee, expressed his joy in being able to support children throughout the community.

“If we’ve done anything at all, we’ve helped one child,” Kienle said. “For us, it’s the love of doing what we do for the children. There are so many worthy causes in the Inland Empire, but for us, there’s no cause more worthy than supporting the children at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital.”

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK–ENN)—JOSHUA TREE, CA—On Monday, community activists, caregivers, and seniors and people with disabilities visited San Bernardino County Board of Supervisor Dawn Rowe’s district office in Joshua Tree urging her to support the county’s In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program — an in-home care program that low-income seniors and people with disabilities depend on to survive. While a group of activists went inside the office to speak to Supervisor Rowe, others leafleted outside to bring public awareness of the efforts to hold County Supervisors accountable to the well-being of seniors and people with disabilities.

The action, planned by IHSS caregivers who are members of SEIU Local 2015, is the first action targeting Supervisor Dawn Rowe and comes after activists shut down parts of Arrowhead and Fourth at a rally outside the Board of Supervisors meeting last month demanding that the county support and invest in the county’s IHSS program that over 30,000 seniors and people with disabilities currently rely on to survive.

“The county has refused to support the in-home care that our loved ones depend on,” said Kim Evon, Executive Vice President of SEIU 2015. “Supervisor Rutherford event went so far and told caregivers that the county has other priorities. Well, our priorities are the seniors and people with disabilities that need the IHSS Program to survive. We will continue advocating for and demanding that the county prioritize the care our loved ones need and deserve.”

San Bernardino County’s IHSS Program allows low-income seniors and people with disabilities to receive life-saving care in the comfort of their home from people they trust. Caregivers provide services such as: bathing, toileting, administering medication, and accompanying care recipients to critical doctor appointments.

“Providing a livable wage to our in-home caregivers is not only cost effective for the County but good for our local economy,” said Sara Lee, a Joshua Tree resident and educator.  “Too often, our politicians push for development projects that provide short term jobs for out-of-district workers that end up threatening our local economy and environment.  By investing in long term healthcare workers, we not only provide local sustainable jobs that can help our residents get off government assistance but can also provide cost savings and loving and humane care for those with disabilities and our growing senior population.  A contract with a livable wage is the right thing to do for our workers, for our seniors, for our local economy and the County’s bottom line.”

Activists plan on targeting the district office of every Board of Supervisor in the coming months. They are determined to continue to hold actions until the Board responds to their demands.

The action at Supervisor Rowe’s office was live streamed on Facebook here: SEIU 2015

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK–ENN)— ONTARIO, CA— Time for Change Foundation (TFCF) held their 17th Annual Awards Gala, “Oh, the Places She’ll Go!” on April 12, 2019 at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, CA.  What a beautiful sight it was to see the community come together in honor of local heroes, and to recognize the homeless women and children that have triumphed over trials!  

For 17 years TFCF has created a true pathway for these women and children to reach self-sufficiency. The event welcomed back alumni from over 15 years that have held onto the skills learned while at TFCF, some achieving Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, other watching their children graduate from college.  “Oh, the Places She’ll Go!” highlighted the new heights these women have been able to achieve. Events like our gala enable us to highlight the successful journey of these resilient women and the obstacles they have overcome. 

Founder, Kim Carter stated, “We believe in the women! We believe in their ability to come back from devastation and no matter what, a second chance is deserving!”

In light of the amazing accomplishment throughout their 17-year history, TFCF celebrated and more importantly acknowledged the many local heroes who make daily contributions to our society. This year’s honorees included: Carlos & Audrey Martinez – Dynamic Duo Award, BLU Educational Foundation – RISE Award Restoring Inclusivity in Systemic Education Award, Johnson Family Child Care – Child Care of the Year Award, Linda Lindsey – Lady of Justice Award, Mayor Deborah Robertson – Public Service Champion, James & Rowena Ramos – Lifetime Legacy Award, Beatriz Solis – Melinda Gates Inspiration Award, Tim Evans – Ramos Family Spirit Of Compassion Award, and Dr. Roger Hadley – Community Health Champion Award.

Since its humble beginnings in 2002, Time for Change Foundation has demonstrated a remarkable determination towards ending homelessness for women and their children. 

Time for Change Foundation’s 17th Year Anniversary Gala took place on Friday April 12, 2019 at the Doubletree Hotel by Hilton in Ontario, CA. It was an awe-inspiring, and truly wonderful night for all. To find out more about future events, please visit www.TimeForChangeFoundation.org or contact Vanessa Perez at (909) 886-2994 or by email at vperez@timeforchangefoundation.org.

We accept all forms of donations. To see how you can help make a difference visit us on the web at www.TimeForChangeFoundation.org.

The mission of Time for Change Foundation is to empower disenfranchised, low income individuals and families by building leadership through evidence-based programs and housing to create self-sufficiency and thriving communities.

Photos and write up by John Coleman, Community Photographer

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) celebrate the month of March, annually, as Social Work Month,  & hold an event where they give recognition to a special individual Social Worker, a Social  Work Educator of the Year, or exemplary Social Service Agency/Organization of the Year.

For over 60 years  the non-profit Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County has worked with & on behalf of low income people throughout the county;  providing support,  advocacy,  and empowerment,  towards the goals of self reliance and economic stability.

The Inland Empire (Riverside/San Bernardino) Region, California Chapter, National Association of Social workers (NASW)  was proud to recognize & honor the Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County for the “Community Agency of the Year Award”.

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By Naomi K. Bonman

LOS ANGELES – The community celebrated the life of a true change agent. The life celebration of Ermias Joseph Asghedom, better known to the world as Nipsey Hussle, was held on Thursday, April 11 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The center holds 21,000 and it was packed out with every seat filled.

The three-hour long service was a pure reflection of all that Nipsey represented during his 33 years on Earth –from the unity and array of the floral arrangements, to the words that each family member and close friend spoke, to the performances. The service began with a prolific photo of Nipsey Hussle on display with his song, “Victory Lap” playing as family, friends, the Nation of Isalm and the community gathered in the stadium. “Victory Lap” was indeed the perfect song that defined Ermias’ life.

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Site will serve both pediatric and adult patients

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— LOMA LINDA, CA— Loma Linda University Health has expanded primary care services to a new location on Redlands  Boulevard to accommodate more patients. The new clinic opened Monday, April 1. Primary care services are now available at the Loma Linda University Health Faculty Medical Clinics – Redlands Blvd. facility located at 25828 Redlands Blvd., Redlands, formerly the Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic building.

The new clinic will have family medicine, internal medicine and pediatric physicians to care for patients.

Roger D. Woodruff, MD chair of the department of family medicine, said planning for the move began about six months ago by looking at various locations. He said this site provided a great structure with an adaptable layout and opportunity for growth in our implementation of new technologies.

“With the move, providers will be able to see more patients in our community,” Woodruff says. “Our community has been asking for more access. We’ve outgrown our current space, so we’re making the necessary changes to provide patients a convenient location that can meet their healthcare needs.”

The clinic will be open Mondays through Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The new Redlands Boulevard clinic also houses Loma Linda University Health pediatric and adult internal medicine clinic, previously located on Terracina Blvd. in Redlands. “We look forward to providing easily accessible healthcare in this new location for current and future patients,” said Richard Chinnock, MD, chief medical officer at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital.

“We are proud to offer a broad scope of care for both children and adults at our clinics in continued service to the community,” Chinnock said.

For appointments or more information about the services available call:

• Family Medicine at (909) 558-6600
• Internal Medicine at (909) 307-0964
• Pediatrics at (909) 307-0964

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— INLAND EMPIRE, CA— Juice It Up!, one of the nation’s leading handcrafted smoothie, raw juice, and superfruit bowl chains, has announced its corporate partnership with leading hunger-relief organization, Feeding America Riverside|San Bernardino (FARSB) to help protect those in the communities it serves from going hungry. Juice It Up!’s aptly dubbed “Feed It Up!” campaign will reward guests for donating to the cause. The Inland Empire food bank alone feeds over 400,000 people and distributes over 2 million pounds of food per month.

With food collection boxes at each of Juice It Up!’s 45 Inland Empire locations through December 31, 2019, the company will reward guests who donate five canned items with a $2 coupon to use on any Juice It Up! menu item. The company is hoping this incentive will encourage area residents to support those less fortunate in their very own communities and join Juice It Up! in the fight to end hunger. The FARSB program will eventually be rolled out to all Juice It Up! locations nationwide.

“We are proud of our amazing franchisees who jumped at the opportunity to support their hyper-local communities and further FARSB’s indispensable work in the Inland Empire,” said Milena Rimassa, Juice It Up!’s Director of Marketing. “We’re thrilled to exercise our company’s core values of corporate citizenship and service, and are committed to making a positive impact in the areas we serve.”

Juice It Up! kicked off the partnership at FARSB’s 4^th annual Ladles of Love luncheon in Riverside, California where the more than 200 attendees learned about the many ways to help alleviate hunger in the Inland Empire year-round. As a proud sponsor of the event and to celebrate their alliance with FARSB, Juice It Up! donated hundreds of their popular Strawberry Wave smoothie to those in attendance.

“It is because of generous partners like Juice It Up! who take on our mission with a sense of ownership, that we are able to provide hunger-relief services and emergency food assistance to those who need it most,” said Lori Butler, Philanthropy Director for FARSB. “We feel fortunate to align with Juice It Up! and look forward to working together in achieving our mutual goal to alleviate hunger in the Inland Empire.”

To find your nearest Juice It Up! visit www.juiceitup.com. To learn more about FARSB, visit www.feedingamericaie.org.  

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(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— LOMA LINDA, CA— Loma Linda University Health has received a more than $430,000 grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health to study ways vitamin D could potentially be used to enhance intestinal wall repair of patients suffering inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). 

IBD is a chronic and debilitating disease in human intestines that affects approximately 1.6 million Americans. The number of people affected by IBD is rising worldwide, making it an increasingly global disease in the 21st century. 

The grant is for two years with a total of $433,340 in funding.

“I am very excited that our idea is supported by the experts in our field,” said Xiaolei Tang, MD, PhD, an associate research professor at Loma Linda University School of Medicine and lead research for the grant. “I hope that this study will eventually benefit patients at Loma Linda University Health and around the world.”

U.S. Congressman Pete Aguilar (CA-31) said he was pleased that Loma Linda University Health — which resides in his district — was awarded this grant.

“Loma Linda is a national leader in medical research, a major provider of good-paying jobs in our region, and a world-renowned medical center,” Aguilar said. “I’m proud to announce this grant funding, which will allow Loma Linda University Health to conduct groundbreaking new research and continue growing its legacy of innovation.” 

Aguilar is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and has been a consistent advocate for NIH funding to make these types of grants possible.

IBD is caused by a disordered immune response to intestinal bacteria. Normally, bacteria are contained outside the intestinal wall for food digestion and is prevented from entering other organs. However, this immune disorder can damage the intestinal wall, allowing bacteria to enter into other organs. A vicious cycle starts: bacteria in the internal organs further worsen the immune disorder, which in turn lets more bacteria pass through the gut wall into internal organs. The vicious cycle continues unless the gut wall is completely repaired.

No medications are currently available to repair the damaged intestinal wall. Recent research has suggested that, under healthy conditions, vitamin D is a key component for the normal functions of intestinal stem cells. Intestinal stem cells are known to renew the intestinal wall every 5 to 7 days to ensure its integrity. Tang will use the awarded grant to examine if such renewal mechanisms can be harnessed for the repair of damaged intestinal wall. He and his team will determine how vitamin D affects the functions of intestinal stem cells. 

The grant award number is R21AI142170. 

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— ONTARIO, CA— The Inland Prosperity Conference is less than one week away. Don’t miss out on this great event!

At the 7^th annual Inland Prosperity Conference, you will get a chance to learn how to align with your business dreams, grow your business, become a sales expert and more!

• The day will be lead by “Mobile Mary” Barnett, CEO and Marketing Strategist of Another Brilliant Idea, Inc.
• Our morning keynote speaker, Shameca Tankerson an expert on Sales Leadership and Defeating Doubt, will help teach you the best ways of “Getting Your Mind Aligned with your Dreams!”
• Our lunch keynote speaker, Ursula Mentjes an award-winning Entrepreneur and Sales Expert, will help you learn how to become a Sales Expert.
• Panels of accomplished women business owner will discuss topics such as: “Taking the Leap to Achieve your Dreams” and “Business Success in a Digital Age”.
  

CSUSB Alumnis

• Nicole Kinney, Owner of Logoing You
• Maritza Gomez, CEO of MG Custom Printing

1. Brenda Lorenzi, co-owner of Sunwest Publishing which publishes Inland Empire Magazine
2. La’Vonne Shields, CEO of Management Consultants of America
3. Sonia Stewart, Owner of Sonia Stewart Photography
4. Kim ‘ Kat’ Shepherd, CEO of the Ultimate Professional, Inc.
5. Janet Steiner, CEO of Throro Packaging

• Breakout sessions will cover topics such as: “Publishing to Grow Your Business”, “Options to Fund your Business” and “Contracting to Grow your Company”

Whether you’re thinking about becoming an entrepreneur or are already an entrepreneur then this is the conference for you! Past participants have given glowing reviews about previous Inland Prosperity Conferences:

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Walking in I was discouraged, walking out my soul is on fire.

-Attalah Walker

So well organized, tons of valuable content, everything, inspirational, warmth.

-Evanne Levin

The Inland Prosperity Conference will be held April 12^th, 2019 from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Ontario Airport Hotel and Conference Center, 700 N. Haven Ave. in Ontario.

Attendee registration is $67 for the general public, $20 for students and $30 for non-profit entities. Vendor spaces and sponsorships are still available. For registration or additional information, visit the IEWBC website at www.iewbc.org or contact Joelle Passerello at (909) 890-1242 or jpasserello@iewbc.org.

Majestic Hearts’ 1^st Annual 5K Walkathon in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month 

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— INGLEWOOD, CA— In the cannabis culture, April 20 (known as, “Four-Twenty”) is an International holiday of cannabis consumption. However, this year Majestic Hearts will raise awareness about sexual assault. The organization will host its 1^st Annual 5K Walkathon in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month to raise $5K toward its shelter and counseling programs. Taking place at Darby Park in Inglewood, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. (registration opening at 8:45 a.m.), Majestic Hearts will educate attendees about the subject matter, while raising funds to assist and enrich the community. 

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men will be raped at some point in their lives. “This alarming statistic must be exposed and it’s our organization’s duty to ensure the community is properly educated,” says Majestic Hearts’ Founding CEO, Kanishia L. Jackson. “We must also take in to account that this statistic is solely based on reported data. There are numerous victims/survivors who have never reported their sexual abuse encounter(s). It’s an uncomfortable subject that needs to be addressed,” she concludes. 

The event will be hosted by comedienne and founder of LesTalk Radio (@LesTalkRadio), Chelley Chelle and food will be catered by WoodMasters Smoked Meats & Fixings (@WoodMastersSMAF). The fundraiser will attract male and female attendees ages 18-75 who have been affected by sexual assault personally, or byway of a loved-one. Registered attendees will receive a Majestic Hearts medal and a water bottle from B.A.L.L. (Build A Lasting Legacy: @BuildALastingLegacy), founded by Pinique Singleton, one of Majestic Hearts’ continued supporters.  

“Sexual assault is not just a woman’s issue,” explaines Wendy Talley, Majestic Hearts’ licensed therapist of KW Essential Services (@KWEssentialServices). “The physical pain of sexual assault eventually goes away, but the heart and the mind will never forget,” the Licensed Clinical Social Worker further exclaims. Talley will be providing additional insight about sexual assault at the event. Her expertise will provide attendees with the tools needed to identify and cope with sexual assault.

Register, today to reserve your perks! Registration is $35 per person and children (under 18) are free! Go to www.majestic-hearts.org to RSVP. If you’re unable to participate, please donate and help spread the word. 

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Majestic Hearts is a 501 © (3) for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Founded in October 2017, we’ve made it our mission is to convert victims into survivors as we fight to be a refuge against DV and SA. We offer group and individual counseling, as well as provide shelter resources to victims/survivors throughout Kern, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego County. For more info, visit our website at www.majestic-hearts.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram at @MajesticHeartsOrg.