The Tribe provided grants to 71 different organizations serving others across local communities, continuing its commitment to philanthropy

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians awarded nearly $200,000 in grants to dozens of non-profit organizations serving local communities as part of the Tribe’s 2^nd Community Outreach Awards luncheon, held on Wednesday, April 19.

The 71 grant 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.

“Morongo is a giving tribe, and helping others has been a core value of our tribe for generations. We are thrilled to be supporting dozens of exceptional non-profit organizations who inspire us by doing so much to serve those in need and to promote the wellbeing of others,” said Morongo Tribal Chairman Charles Martin.

Launched in 2022, the Morongo Community Outreach Awards Program supports the work of  non-profit organizations across the Inland Empire and Southern California by providing grants of up to $5,000 each to recipient groups. With this year’s awards, the program has awarded nearly $400,000 in grants in two years.

“We are so thankful to the Morongo Band of Mission Indians for their generous support,” said Raven Hilden, Founder and CEO of MilVet, a Murrieta-based non-profit that supports deployed troops, veterans and their families. “This grant will help us provide care packages for our nation’s heroes both abroad and here at home.”

Patrick Froehle of Banning-based non-profit Hope, Empathy, Love, Prayer (H.E.L.P.), a food pantry that provides supplemental food to low-income families in the San Gorgonio Pass area expressed his gratitude to the Tribe for their focus on helping the community.

“We are so grateful to have a partner like Morongo and for their continued support of our community and groups like ours that help provide much-needed resources to those experiencing food insecurity,” Froehle said.

During the luncheon, award recipients were recognized for their exceptional service and partnership with Morongo.

“We deeply appreciate Morongo’s continued generosity and support,” said Maureen Girouard, Director for Development and Communications for ABC Recovery Center, an Indio-based addiction treatment center. “This grant enables us to expand our abilities in providing medical intervention technologies that when needed and deployed, could mean the difference between life and death for the very vulnerable population we serve.”

Groups that received awards from Morongo hailed from across the Inland region, ranging from Clearwater Residential, Inc., of Moreno Valley (a housing provider for low-income veterans) to the CARE Project of Riverside (breast cancer support), to Guide Dogs of the Desert of Palm Springs (providing service dogs to the visually-impaired) to Olive Crest of Palm Desert.

Morongo’s Community Outreach Awards Program aligns with the Tribe’s ongoing philanthropic efforts. 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.

For information about the 2024 Community Outreach Awards program, groups are encouraged to visit www.morongonation.org/donations/

Tribe’s historic partnership with American Medical Response & REACH Air Medical Services will save lives in the San Gorgonio Pass and beyond by providing new emergency medical transport services.

MORONGO INDIAN RESERVATION – The Morongo Band of Mission Indians gathered on March 31 with elected leaders and regional public safety officials to christen a new tribal ground ambulance and medical helicopter that will provide life-saving critical care and medical transport services on the Morongo Reservation, in communities across the San Gorgonio Pass and beyond.

The innovative partnership between Morongo and Global Medical Response companies, REACH Air Medical Services, and American Medical Response, is believed to be the nation’s first collaboration between a federally recognized tribe and an emergency medical service provider to provide both air and ground ambulances.

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New Morongo Tribal Ground and Air Ambulances Take Flight to Strengthen Regional Public SafetyRead More »

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Tribe supports Christmas in Cabazon Brunch with holiday gifts to local kids 

CABAZON, CA – Holiday cheers and smiles were aplenty as hundreds of children from across the San Gorgonio Pass received gifts as part of Saturday’s Christmas in Cabazon Brunch with Santa, sponsored by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians at the James A. Venable Community Center in Cabazon, CA.

“We are delighted to be able to help children in need in our local communities,” said Morongo Tribal Chairman Charles Martin. “By partnering with our friends at the Venable Community Center again this year, we are brightening the holidays for over 200 kids.”

At this year’s event, excited children picked out their own brand-new winter coats, shoes and toys. They also received Target gift cards, enjoyed a visit with Santa Claus and other fun activities. 

“For many years, our partnership with Morongo has helped thousands of children in need receive holiday toys and winter clothes that will help them brave the winter season,” said Community Center Manager Deana Mann. “We are grateful to have such generous partners in Morongo.”

Morongo’s support of the Cabazon Brunch with Santa follows the tribe’s efforts to help children in need each holiday season. Morongo contributes more than $1 million annually to support communities and nonprofits across Southern California.

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The Tribe gives away a record 15,000 turkeys to 116 nonprofit organizations across the Inland Empire and Southern California.

MORONGO INDIAN RESERVATION – The Morongo Band of Mission Indians gave away a record 15,000 free turkeys this week to non-profit groups, churches and charities from across Southern California as part of the Tribe’s 36th Annual Thanksgiving Outreach Program.

The turkeys donated this year will provide nearly 300,000 holiday meals to families, seniors and veterans in need. Since the program began, Morongo has given away more than 175,000 turkeys, which in turn have provided an estimated 3.5 million holiday meals.

“Morongo launched our Thanksgiving Outreach program more than three decades ago to help those struggling to put food on the table,” said Morongo Tribal Chairman Charles Martin. “The last couple of years have presented unprecedented challenges for so many, and we are humbled to be in the position to help those in need.”

Tribal members and volunteers gathered at the Morongo Community Center from Nov. 14 – 16 to distribute Thanksgiving turkeys to 116 nonprofit organizations, such as food pantries, churches, homeless shelters, schools and veteran groups from across Southern California.

Groups receiving turkeys hailed from Banning, Beaumont, Riverside, San Bernardino, Moreno Valley, Temecula, Desert Hot Springs, Indio, Redlands, Los Angeles, and other communities. The groups will use the turkeys to provide hot holiday meals to those in need or will distribute the birds in holiday meal gift baskets with additional side dishes to help feed thousands of people who otherwise would not have been able to enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner this year.

“The Coachella Valley Rescue Mission is busier than ever this year, and with the economy the way it is, we’ve had to double the amount of those we are providing food boxes to,” said Darla Burkett, executive director of the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission. “We are so very grateful to the Morongo Band of Missions for their generous support in allowing us to feed hundreds of people in need this holiday season.”

Other non-profit groups who received turkeys included the Los Angeles Rescue Mission in Los Angeles, Victory Outreach in Banning, St. Elizabeth of Hungary Food Pantry in Desert Hot Springs and Carol’s Kitchen in Beaumont among others.

The Healing & Hope for the Homeless in Los Angeles received 300 turkeys to help feed the homeless this holiday.

“During this very difficult and uncertain time, Morongo’s commitment to helping those who are less fortunate is always consistent,” said Karen Collins, Volunteer Coordinator of the Healing & Hope for the Homeless. “We are so thankful for the 300 turkeys that Morongo has gifted to Healing & Hope for the Homeless for those in need of a warm and delicious holiday meal.”

Pastor Victor Archuleta of Victory Outreach Church in Banning said the 300 turkeys provided by Morongo will help struggling families enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner together.

“Morongo’s Thanksgiving Outreach Program has been the gift that keeps on giving to the families in need across the San Gorgonio Pass,” Archuleta said. “The blessing of a warm meal from Morongo provides a light of hope to many who are struggling.” 

For nearly 40 decades, thousands of veterans and military families have benefitted from the tribe’s Thanksgiving Outreach program with turkeys donated to local chapters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and other military support groups.

“Morongo’s generosity never ceases to surprise our military families, especially during the holiday season,” said Todd Sieja, President and CEO of the Western Eagle Foundation in Temecula. “Year after year, they help provide delicious thanksgiving meals for our veterans to enjoy and share with their loved ones.”

To receive turkeys, participating groups submitted applications to the Tribe and were notified over the summer that they had been selected. For organizations interested in receiving turkeys next Thanksgiving, applications for next year are due in Spring 2023. 

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