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The donation will help establish a comprehensive Women’s Health Program; it follows Morongo’s record-breaking $5.6 million donation in 2022.

BANNING, CALIF (March 14, 2024) – The Morongo Band of Mission Indians presented a $5 million donation to the San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital Foundation today to help the hospital establish a comprehensive Women’s Health Program and enhance its obstetrics, gynecology, breast health, and women’s wellness programs.

The $5 million donation is the second largest donation ever received by the Foundation, following Morongo’s record-breaking $5.6 million contribution to the Foundation in 2022.

“San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital is profoundly grateful for Morongo’s generous $5 million donation,” said Foundation President Allen Koblin. “This $5 million donation is a testament to Morongo’s commitment to the health and wellness of our community and will bring transformative change to the wellbeing of women and families across the San Gorgonio Pass.”

Most of the Tribe’s donation will be dedicated to establishing a comprehensive Women’s Health Program at San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital. This program will offer specialized services, including obstetrics and gynecology, breast health, family services, and women’s wellness programs. The donation will also upgrade critical patient monitoring systems, with $1.4 million dedicated to enhancing technological capabilities and patient care efficiency.

“Morongo is delighted to be building on our partnership with the San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital Foundation to advance healthcare in the Pass,” said Morongo Tribal Chairman Charles Martin. “It is crucial that we continue to support new advancements at our community hospital to ensure women, mothers and families have access to high-quality care that addresses their unique healthcare needs.”

Dr. Karan Singh of San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital highlighted the significance of the Tribe’s donation, saying “Today’s gift by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians will bring profound and positive changes to local healthcare, allowing us to expand our services and improve the wellbeing of women of all ages in our community. Morongo is helping us set a new standard for healthcare excellence across the San Gorgonio Pass.”

San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital Board Chair Susan DiBiasi also thanked the Tribe for the donation, saying “Words can’t express our thanks to Morongo and for the incredible support you continue to offer to our Foundation and our hospital.  This donation will improve the lives of women and children across the Pass communities and puts our hospital in a position to provide innovative new healthcare services to our patients.”

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians’ continued generosity not only fortifies the San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital’s capabilities but also underscores a shared commitment to fostering healthier, more resilient communities across Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

This latest donation aligns with Morongo’s long-standing tradition of supporting vital community resources and services. Over the past decade, Morongo has given over $20 million to support local and regional nonprofit organizations that help seniors, families, veterans, youth and those in need.

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The Dec. 8 ceremony signifies a milestone step for strengthening public safety in the region as the Morongo Fire Department marks its 25 anniversary.

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians gathered with public safety officials and elected leaders on Dec. 8, 2023 to break ground on a new state-of-the-art Morongo Fire Station #1 that will strengthen public safety on the Morongo Reservation and across the San Gorgonio Pass.

The new facility being built at Morongo and Santiago Roads will replace the former station that has housed the full-time, full-service Morongo Fire Department since 1998. At over 15,000 square feet, the station will be more than twice the size of the current location and will feature two apparatus bays and living spaces for up to twelve firefighters and ambulance personnel per shift.

Morongo Fire Station Groundbreaking Marks New Era for Public SafetyRead More »

The Tribe’s 37^th Annual Thanksgiving Outreach gave 15,000 turkeys to 115 nonprofit organizations to provide holiday meals to families, seniors and veterans in need.

MORONGO INDIAN RESERVATION – The Morongo Band of Mission Indians gave away 15,000 free turkeys this week to non-profit groups, churches and charities across the Inland Empire and Southern California as part of its 37^th Annual Thanksgiving Outreach program.

The turkeys donated this year will provide nearly 300,000 holiday meals to families, seniors and veterans in need from the Coachella Valley to Los Angeles. Over the course of the program’s history, Morongo has given away almost 200,000 turkeys, which have helped provide an estimated 3.8 million holiday meals.

“Morongo is a giving tribe, and our annual Thanksgiving Outreach program is a reflection of our tribe’s core values to help others,” said Morongo Tribal Chairman Charles Martin. “These are challenging times, and we are committed to supporting those in our communities who are struggling so that they can enjoy the holiday with friends and loved ones.”

Tribal members and volunteers gathered at the Morongo Community Center for three days starting on Nov. 13 to distribute the 15,000 Thanksgiving turkeys to 115 nonprofit organizations, including food pantries, churches, senior centers, 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 Janet Goeske Foundation in Riverside received 200 turkeys to help feed senior citizens this holiday.

“Morongo’s gift of 300 free holiday turkeys is a blessing that exemplifies the Tribe’s dedication to the community,” said Dana Johnson, Director of Family Services of The Desert in Desert Hot Springs. “Thanks to Morongo’s generosity, our organization can help those in need experience the warmth and togetherness of the holiday.”

“Morongo’s generosity brightens the season for our senior community, ensuring they can enjoy special and nourishing meals this holiday season,” said Danielle Nelson, Executive Director of Janet Goeske Foundation in Riverside. “Morongo’s commitment to enriching the lives of our seniors is truly heartwarming.”

“Morongo’s unwavering generosity enriches the lives of our military families, especially during the Thanksgiving holiday when some veterans struggle,” said Todd Sieja, President and CEO of the Western Eagle Foundation in Temecula. “Year after year, Morongo’s support ensures that our veterans can share a delightful Thanksgiving feast with their friends and loved ones.”

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

Thousands of veterans and military families have benefitted from the tribe’s Thanksgiving Outreach program with turkeys donated to the VFW Post 1956 in Menifee and the Ysmael Villegas Memorial VFW Post 1984 in Riverside.

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 2024.

LEARN ABOUT FACTORS THAT CAN LEAD TO HIGHER NATURAL GAS BILLS.

Unprecedented cold weather across the nation in part has caused natural gas market prices in the West to more than double between December and January – to the tune of 128% since December. According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), several factors are contributing to higher natural gas commodity prices.

THE SCHEDULED OUTAGE HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER

Wednesday, November 9, 2022 Main

Outage # 000800179852 – CANCELLED 11/8/2022 Due to Weather Estimated Start 3:00 AM 11/09/2022 Estimated End 3:00 PM 11/09/2022 Outage Reason pole upgrade This is an important safety message from Southern California Edison.Our thoughts remain with all those who have been affected by the Apple Fire. SCE crews are currently deployed in your area to complete damage assessments in all accessible fire-damaged areas. Our crews will then begin clearing fire-damaged equipment (including damaged poles, wires and insulators) and removing downed trees as they prepare to restore the system as quickly and safely as possible. We understand how important it is for all our customers and their families to have access to electricity at home at this time. The crews in the field are wearing masks and following distancing health directives to minimize health risks to the public and to themselves. SCE is evaluating scheduled outages in areas affected by the fires for possible cancellation. Customers who received a recent notification can check on its status by going to sce.com/outage.   Learn more about how to prepare for an outage.Tips to Prepare Learn more about the different types of outages.View the Outage Center

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The annual Rodney T. Mathews Jr. Scholarship has awarded $550,000 to Native American students, the most underrepresented group in higher education.

MORONGO INDIAN RESERVATION – Two Native American students from California have each received a $10,000 scholarship from the Morongo Band of Mission Indians as part of the 17^th Annual Rodney T. Mathews Jr. Scholarship Program.

Since its launch, Morongo’s program has awarded 55 scholarships totaling $550,000 to Native American students attending universities across the nation. The scholarship program is open to enrolled members of any of the more than 100 federally-recognized tribes in California.

“Through our Rodney T. Mathews Jr. Scholarship program, Morongo is helping reverse the trends that have left Native Americans as the most underrepresented group in colleges and universities,” Morongo Tribal Chairman Charles Martin said. “Students like this year’s recipients will be the tribal leaders of the future, and we are pleased to be helping them acquire the education and skills they need to guide and improve tribal communities for the next generation.”

Morongo Awards $20,000 in Scholarships to Two Native American StudentsRead More »

Riders competed for prize money and a chance to qualify for the BFI Team Roping at the free rodeo held Saturday Oct. 8 at the Morongo Indian Reservation.

MORONGO INDIAN RESERVATION – Amateur and professional ropers and riders competed for cash prizes at the 9^th Annual Open Ranch Rodeo, a free family-friendly event held on Saturday, October 8 at the Morongo Indian Reservation.

For the fourth year, the rodeo featured a qualifying event for the Bob Feist Invitational (BFI) Team Roping, commonly known as ‘’The Feist,” the largest one-day annual open roping event in the country held in Reno.

“The Morongo Open Ranch Rodeo is always an exciting event,” said team roping champion Derek Begay, a nine-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier. “I always have a great time here and it’s fun seeing all the fans come out to support the amateur and pro riders.”

The daylong rodeo at Morongo attracted dozens of riders and ropers who competed for thousands of dollars in prize money in numerous events, including open and team roping, Calcutta, ribbon roping, and ranch-style steer stopping, among others. Competitions for younger riders included mutton busting and youth barrel racing.

“Morongo’s annual rodeo is a great atmosphere for both fans and families, and we welcome ropers of all skills and ages to compete,” said Morongo Tribal Council Member Brian Lugo, the rodeo president. “Morongo has a long history of cattle ranching, and our rodeo offers a chance to honor our tribe’s past and the legacy of Indian ranching.”

Hosted by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians and the Morongo Cultural Heritage Department, the event sponsors include Southern California Edison and the Barona Resort & Casino.

“The Morongo rodeo is always a first-class event and a great chance for fans to see some of the best riders in the country, as well as some up-and-coming riders,” said Erich Rogers, World Champion Team Ropers at the 2017 National Finals Rodeo.  “It’s definitely one of my favorite stops and I look forward to it every single year.”

As the Lead Agency, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians (Tribe) hereby provides this Notice of Availability of a Final Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Morongo Hotel Project.  This EA documents the environmental review of a proposal by the Tribe to develop a 23-acre Project site to accommodate two standalone hotels, approximately four standalone pad (standalone sites typically located within a parking lot upon which a customized space can be built and/or leased for a tenant) type retail outlets, and three standalone office spaces. The EA supports a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The Project site is located in a previously disturbed area on the Morongo Indian Reservation north of the Seminole Drive traffic circle. Surrounding (<1,000 feet) land uses of the Project site include disturbed Reservation lands to the north and northeast, the existing Morongo Travel Center and the existing Morongo Casino Resort & Spa (MCRS) facility to the east and southeast, the I-10 and associated infrastructure to the south and southwest, the existing Cabazon Outlets to the west, and off-Reservation housing to the northwest. The EA and FONSI are available for review on the Morongo Band of Mission Indians’ website at https://morongonation.org/environmentalreview. Hard copies are available at the Morongo Tribal Administration Building, located at 12700 Pumarra Road, Banning, CA 92220. No further action will be taken on the environmental process for at least 20 days after the publication of this notice. For more information, please contact Dana Morey, Director, Morongo Environmental Protection Department, 12700 Pumarra Rd, Banning, CA 92220, telephone (951) 755-5198, email [email protected].  Written comments should be mailed or emailed to Dana Morey at the addresses above and will be accepted during a 20-day public review period beginning 11/25/2022 and ending 12/15/2022.

Over 900 tribal dancers and 20 drum groups from across the U.S. and Canada gathered with thousands of spectators to honor traditional Native American music, dance and art.

Morongo Indian Reservation – More than 30,000 spectators celebrated Native American music, art, and dancing at the 31st Annual Morongo Thunder & Lightning Powwow, held September 23 – 25 at the Morongo Indian Reservation. 

As one of the nation’s most highly anticipated powwows, the year’s outdoor gathering hosted by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians attracted over 900 tribal dancers and 20 drum groups from across the United States and Canada.

Throughout the weekend, dancers wearing intricate, handcrafted regalia of leather, fine beadwork and brightly-colored feathers competed in a variety of events that displayed the diversity of Native American dance styles.

“The Morongo Thunder and Lightning Powwow offers us a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our heritage while passing along our traditions to future generations,” said Morongo Tribal Chairman Charles Martin. “Powwow allows us to share our culture with visitors to our reservation, and to teach others about the beauty of Native American dance, music and art.”

The highlight of each day, the Grand Entry drew hundreds of dancers dressed in traditional regalia into the powwow arena which was transformed into a spectacular display of rhythm, music and motion as men, women and children danced together to the music of competitive drum groups and singers.

The Powwow included traditional bird singing and peon games of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians and other tribes in Southern California.

At the Morongo Indian Market, artists offered authentic Native American crafts for sale, such as handmade baskets, beadwork, clothing, jewelry, and pottery. Native food vendors offered customary homemade delicacies such as Indian tacos and tasty Indian frybread.