More than 35,000 children have participated in the Christmas Cheer All Year Shopping Spree, sponsored by Morongo for the past 10 years

Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (Dec. 23, 2019) – Holiday joy and excitement ruled the day as more than 3,000 disadvantaged children from across Southern California took part on Monday in the annual Christmas Cheer All Year Shopping Spree, sponsored by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians.

Over the past decade Morongo has given $1 million to the nonprofit, resulting in more than 35,000 children in need being treated to a free holiday shopping spree.

“Morongo is excited to be celebrating our 10^th year of partnership with Christmas Cheer All Year as we have worked together to bring holiday joy to tens of thousands of children who otherwise might not have received any presents,” said Morongo Tribal Chairman Robert Martin. “Nothing compares to seeing the smile on a happy child’s face during the holidays.”

Throughout the morning, children from across Southern California emerged from the Target Store in Rancho Cucamonga, CA happily clutching superhero action figures, dolls, stuffed animals, Lego sets, soccer balls, books, board games and other toys that they selected during the three-hour shopping spree.

“This was a wish come true,” said 13-year-old Gabe Silva of Banning as he held a shoe-box sized container of Yu-Gi-Oh cards. “I could come in and shop for the stuff I really wanted.”

His mother, Lisa Silva, said the shopping spree was an amazing experience for all the children, adding “It’s really nice to see them just enjoy the moment.”

Rick Lozano, founder of Christmas Cheer All Year and a longtime Fox 11 News journalist, said Morongo’s ongoing support helps ensure children enjoy the holidays.

“Morongo has been a blessing to us as the title sponsor of Christmas Cheer All Year for the last 10 years, and we can’t thank the tribe enough for providing $1 million to support kids,” Lozano said. “The tribe’s generosity continues to make a huge difference in the lives of underprivileged children and their families.”  

Children who took part in the shopping spree were selected by local nonprofit organizations, including 600 children from Banning, Beaumont and across the San Gorgonio Pass.

Over the past five years, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians has contributed more than $5 million to support communities and nonprofit organizations that strengthen lives across Southern California.

Morongo Golf Tournament Raises $10,000 for Cabazon Public Library

More than 100 golfers participated in the event at the Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon to help support the valuable community library.

Cabazon, Calif – More than 100golfers took to the fairways to help raise $10,000 to benefit the Cabazon Community Library at a golf tournament held on Monday, December 2 at the Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon.

The proceeds will be used to support the library’s operations, including new weekend and afterschool programming, updating the patio area and securing new books and materials.

“We are proud to support the Cabazon Library and all of the great programs and services it provides to children and adults in the surrounding community,” said Morongo Tribal Council Vice Chair James Siva. “The library is a vital asset to our region, and we want to thank all the golfers who took part in the tournament to help ensure this facility continues to thrive.”

Vice Chair Siva presented a check for $10,000 to Ted Conable, branch manager of the Cabazon Library, at a luncheon following the golf tournament.

“Morongo has always been a strong supporter of our library and the funds raised today will strengthen our programming and collection,” said Conable. “Having the support of our community is extremely important to our success and we truly appreciate all those who participated in the tournament.”

Opened in 2013 as part of the Riverside County Library System, the 7,000-square-foot Cabazon Library offers a spacious multi-purpose room for library programs and community events, a children’s corner, teen area, adult reading area, free Wi-Fi, and public internet computers.

The tribe increased the number of turkeys being given out to 12,500 for the 34^th Annual Morongo Thanksgiving Outreach Program.

MORONGO INDIAN RESERVATION – The Morongo Band of Mission Indians distributed 12,500 free turkeys this week to help provide holiday meals to families, seniors and veterans in need as part of the tribe’s 34^th Annual Thanksgiving Outreach Program.

This year’s program will once again help nonprofit groups, churches and charities provide more than 225,000 holiday meals across Southern California. Recognizing the growing need across the region, the tribe increased the number of turkeys it donated this year by 25 percent over past years.

Since the program’s creation, Morongo has given away nearly 145,000 turkeys, which in turn have provided an estimated 2.75 million holiday meals.

“The roots of Morongo’s Thanksgiving Outreach program stretch back decades to a time when our tribe sought to help others even as we ourselves faced adversity,” said Morongo Tribal Chairman Robert Martin. “This year, we continue our legacy of giving by providing tens of thousands of holiday meals to those in need across the region.” 

On Nov. 18 and Nov. 19, dozens of tribal members and volunteers gathered at the Morongo Community Center to distribute the Thanksgiving turkeys to 114 nonprofit organizations such as churches, food pantries, schools, veteran groups and homeless shelters from across Southern California. Groups receiving turkeys hailed from Banning, Beaumont, Riverside, San Bernardino, Moreno Valley, Temecula, Indio, 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 food baskets with all the fixings to help feed thousands of people who would otherwise not be able to afford and enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner.

Non-profit groups receiving turkeys ranged from the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission in Indio to the Los Angeles Rescue Mission, the Galilee Center in Mecca, the Western Eagle Foundation in Temecula, Victory Outreach Church in Banning, Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Riverside, and many others.

“For years, our rescue mission has relied on the generosity of the Morongo tribe to help provide hope and hot meals to thousands in the Coachella Valley at Thanksgiving,” said Darla Burkett, executive director of the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, which received 400 turkeys from the tribe.

Pastor Victor Archuleta of Victory Outreach Church in Banning said the 200 turkeys being provided by Morongo will help struggling families who might not otherwise be able to share a Thanksgiving dinner.

“What a tremendous blessing it has been to have turkeys donated by Morongo every year. Having a reliable partner during the holidays gives our church and members hope as we serve families in our San Gorgonio Pass communities,” Archuleta said.

Hundreds of veterans and military families benefitted from the tribe’s Thanksgiving Outreach program, which provided more than 300 turkeys this year to local chapters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and other military support groups.

The Los Angeles Mission received 250 birds to help feed the homeless this holiday. Herb Smith, president of the Los Angeles Mission, said the Morongo donation will help feed those on Skid Row in Los Angeles.

“Morongo has always stood by our community’s veterans and their families who have served our nation and sacrificed so much. Through our partnership, the Western Eagle Foundation will be to help military families share and enjoy holiday meals with their loved ones,” said Todd Sieja, president of the Western Eagle Foundation in Temecula.

“The Morongo Band of Mission Indians’ ongoing support of our programs have been critical in achieving our shared mission to provide comfort and dignity to homeless populations those in the greatest need. Because of the tribe’s continued giving, we can serve and bless thousands of homeless families and individuals again this year,” Smith said.

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 May 7^th, 2020.