Hello, everyone – welcome to our Summer issue. It is Pride Month – a month of celebration, culture, conversation, and advocacy that puts our LGBTQ+ neighbors and nonprofits at the forefront. Please, check out the new Out in the IE Fund and our connection to the Out in the IE exhibit at the Civil Rights Institute of Southern California (CRIISC). The LGBTQ+ community is ourselves, our parents, siblings, friends, children, neighbors – let’s celebrate and invest for the rich and diverse world we all inhabit.
Speaking of which, May was AAPI month, and I would also remind you to support the Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Fund at IECF! One in every ten Inland Empire residents identifies as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander, and that number is growing. Remember – our Signature Funds exist not to divide us but to remind us that we are a highly diverse region that works to make sure everyone sees themselves and belongs, while also directing dollars to some specific needs in many populations across the IE.
I was proud last month to give a small nudge to the fact that in California, home of the extreme wildfire, we are underspending on wildfire resilience, especially in the most recent Governor’s budget. Check out a plea to whomever will be our new Governor, and this LA Times article about our advocacy through the Wildfire Solutions Coalition, supported by a number of community foundations. Because when disasters happen, community foundations are the frontline managers of funding for response and recovery. For more info on home hardening, we have some resources on our website, too.
As I wrote in my last message, we celebrate Celia Cudiamat’s 21 years at IECF as she retires this month, and we will welcome our new Chief Impact Officer towards the end of the month. If you are interested in knowing more about how we are celebrating Celia, please email info@iegives.org, and be sure to check out our invitation to add to her memory book in this newsletter.
Friends, times are tough – we are living through a real shredder of policies and funding, and people with the least power are being harmed the most. I can’t do it justice here, but please, consider attending the Policy and Philanthropy Summit on August 6, because we have to work together to find solutions and keep each other moving forward. Keep talking, asking questions, and asking IECF to step up with you. We thank you for your support and partnership.
Read the full newsletter, and, as always, reach out to me with your thoughts, comments, and ideas. I love to hear them!
