Making Hope Happen Foundation Gala 2024 Program

WELCOME FROM OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Niki Dettman

I am overwhelmed with gratitude for everyone who is here tonight and for those who make our work at the Making Hope Happen Foundation possible. Thank you for being part of this movement.

I will tell you that, for us, our work is personal and from the heart. Nearly 100% of our staff were either born and raised in San Bernardino, educated here, or lived here for many years. I was born and raised on the Westside, attended San Bernardino city schools, graduated from San Bernardino High School (Go Cardinals!) and returned to raise my family in the area after graduating from UC Berkeley. This is our home, just as it is yours. Because of that, we are passionate advocates and dedicated supporters of the children, families, adults, and neighborhoods that make up San Bernardino.

As you celebrate tonight and learn about the innovative and important work we are privileged to be a part of, I hope that you feel inspired to jump in and join us as a donor, volunteer, community advocate, partner, or in whatever capacity makes sense to you.

So join us! Because people working together for the benefit of all is where transformation and hope happens.

Agenda

6:00 PM Welcome and Cocktail Hour

7:00 PM Program Begins and Dinner Buffet Opens

7:30 PM Moment of Silence for Mike Gallo

7:35 PM Awards, Fun and our Raison d'être

Awardees:

Hero for Hope: Heri Garcia, CEO, Thinkwise Credit Union

Opportunity Maker: Bank of America

Patron: Phil and Lynda Savage

Empowering Hope: Kaiser Permanente

Karnig Award: Karen Scott, Executive Director, First 5 San Bernardino

8:30 PM Auctions Close, Opportunity Drawing, and Special Announcements

9:00 PM Thank you for being a part of our work!

GREETINGS FROM OUR CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

Welcome, supporters and friends! Thank you for joining us at our gala celebration. The last year has been momentous for us, and none of it would have been possible without the people here tonight. In the pages of this program you will learn about some of this year’s successes in our four pillars, Mentor-Supported Scholarships, Karnig Infant-Toddler Success (KITS), Innovation in Education, and Uplift San Bernardino. All of our programs are successful because of partnerships with outstanding organizations working in early childhood, K-12 and post-secondary education, healthcare, small business development, banking and finance, community development, housing and neighborhood development, and many others. Together, we are uplifting San Bernardino. So, thank you for your donations, your support, advocacy, and your partnership. Thank you for being a part of our journey to create a San Bernardino where all children, adults, families, and neighborhoods can thrive.

Michael Rivera

Four PILLARS

Mentor-Supported Scholarships

Provides $3,000 cash awards and a paid mentor for two years to graduating seniors from San Bernardino City Unified School District comprehensive and continuation high schools and the Inland Career Education Center Adult School. Mentors are former scholarship recipients who are upperclassmen or graduate students so understand students’ lived experiences. The total award, including the mentor and program costs, totals $4,500. In 2024, we awarded 125 scholarships totaling $562,500.

Dr. Albert Karnig Infant-Toddler Success (KITS)

85% of brain development occurs before a child enters school. What a child sees, hears, and experiences in this window has a dramatic impact on brain and socio-emotional development. This program, delivered in partnership with CSUSB’s Institute for Child Development and Family Relations, is designed to help families make the most of this critical time with parenting classes, workshops, stress-reducing yoga, free books and ABC Mouse licenses, and events. We have helped thousands of families, realized very statistically significant improvements in parental knowledge, attitudes and behaviors, and earned consistently high (4.8 on a 5 point scale) ratings by families.

Innovation in Education

This program pairs donors with innovative, urgent, and emerging needs in the SBCUSD. It funded the iCare Lab at Bing Wong Elementary School and purchased thousands of books for the 2023 Literacy Day. We have big plans for this pillar in 2024-2025, so stay tuned!

Uplift San Bernardino

The Making Hope Happen Foundation serves as the backbone of the collective impact initiative, Uplift San Bernardino. With its over 60 multisector partners, Uplift SB is building a generation of successful adults committed to growing roots in San Bernardino. Uplift SB has four areas of focus, Neighborhood Development, Economic Opportunity, Human Capital, and Collective Impact, and eight Impact Teams, moving the mission forward. Efforts have helped area residents to start and fund businesses, purchase their first home, develop job skills through internships and apprenticeships, create housing and infrastructure, and so much more.

RobertL.HarbisonMemorial

This endowment is made possible through a generous donation from local attorney and philanthropist, Bill Lemann, who helped us to create the Robert L. Harbison Scholarship Endowment in memory of Bill’s mother and godmother.

Jerry&ArleneLewisMemorial

The Jerry & Arlene Young Leaders of a United America Scholarship is for graduates of San Bernardino High School who are working towards careers in public service. This endowed fund will provide at least one scholarship each year in perpetuity.

JackH.BrownMemorial

This endowment is made possible through the generous support of the Jack Brown Foundation, in memory of the longtime president of Stater Bros. Scholarships are awarded to graduates of San Bernardino High School, Mr. Brown’s alma mater.

The Dr. Margaret Hill Memorial Scholarship Endowment will enable graduating seniors from San Andreas Continuation High School, where Dr. Hill was a longtime principal, to realize their dream of attending college. S C H O L A R S H I P E N D O W M E N T S

Dr.MargaretB.HillMemorial

Thank you to the following donors who have funded one or more scholarships during the 2023-24 school year. With their support, Making Hope Happen awarded 125 scholarships to graduating seniors from SBCUSD high schools and the Inland Career Education Center adult school.

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians

Inland Empire Community Foundation

California State University, San Bernardino

Loma Linda University Health

I AM Gifted Foundation

Sarah Mack, In Memory of Ross Mack

Melanie McGrath

The Jack Brown Family*

The Congressman Jerry & Arlene Lewis Family*

*via endowments

Thank you to Citizen’s Business Bank for providing support for mentors and other program expenses.

Product Sponsor

Media Sponsor

BoardMEMBERS

Michael Rivera President

Jennifer Carter Member

Cathy Knowles Member

Dr. Diana Rodriguez Member

Staff

Niki Dettman CEO

Erin Brinker

VP of Development

Karen Suarez

VP of Collective Impact

Lydia Smouse

Executive Assistant

Jolena Grider Secretary

Dr. Sam Gibbs Member

Jim Morris Member

Lynda Savage Member

Leila Clemons Program Staff

Maria Garcia

Tayonna Hargrove

Melyssa Karcher

Ruben Mendoza

Veronica Morales

Mariann Johnson Treasurer

Carrie Gilbreth Member

Arlington Rodgers Member

Francesca Villareal Member

Alissah Ramirez

Noraly Sainz

Emily Saunders

Maria Vaca

Xavina Walbert

Heather Zappia

Staff

Fellows

Fellows and Interns

Dyami Ruiz-Martinez

San Bernardino Valley College

Lilian Hernandez

San Bernardino Valley College

Interns

Juliana Alamazon

Cajon High School

Allan Campo

San Bernardino Valley College

Ivan Jackson

San Gorgonio High School

Jason Jones

Citrus Valley High School

David Morfin

San Gorgonio High School

Isabel Moreno-Patino

Middle College High School

Emilia Rubio

Cajon High School

Hanief Saterfield

Entrepreneur High School

Merci

We are profoundly grateful to our donors, supporters, partners, advocates and friends for making our work possible including the outstanding vendors and basket donors who helped to produce this gala event including:

Event Designer & Site Coordinators

Derrick Vazquez

Robin Woods

Entertainment

All Ways Entertainment

Big Hair Magic

Mr. Bryan Wing & the Teen Music Workshop

Audio Visual & Photography

Erik Nielsen

Event Design Lab

Michael J. Elderman

Sean Buur

Superfly Photo

Raffle Baskets

Jim & Judy Watson

Rabbi Hillel Cohn

Food & Beverage

Maddilicious Catering

Melanin Mixology Bar Service

Rentals and Decor

Gary Longoria

Melmar Balloons & Events

Raquel’s Linens

R.W.B. Party Props

Signature Party Rentals

Silent Art Auctions

James & Niki Dettman

Mr. Keith Brockie and the student artists at Arroyo Valley High School

Winspire

Hospitality

Ms. Shannon Rogers and the student thespians from Indian Springs HS

Mr. Jamie Rios and the Cardinal Court from San Bernardino HS

Ms. Melanie Sypherd and the student culinarians from San Gorgonio HS Catering Club