Our successes did not come easily, but this is what philanthropy and civil society are built for – when society and government lurch, and families struggle, we stay the course and keep resources moving to reduce harm and expand the chance people have of leading a calm and safe life. We cannot replace good government or strong agencies that deliver services, but we are excellent in a pinch.

Even with all the changes, we made some of our most meaningful investments yet in 2025. We worked to expand educational fairness and equity with new grants to twelve nonprofits; we grew our Signature Funds that build more equity across all populations in the IE; and we provided Rapid Response funding that nonprofits could use right away to manage funding losses. I am heartened by the extraordinary partnerships and commitments our fundholders and donors are making because they too want to see families and students thrive.

Our work remains focused on opportunity, stability, and long-term community strength, guided by the straight forward conditions that every person needs to thrive: Humane Housing, Lifelong Learning, Meaningful Work and Wealth, Reliable Transportation, Basic Needs for Health and safety, a Thriving Natural World, and most important – Belonging and Civic Muscle. We partner with donors, nonprofits, businesses, and government – to establish these conditions for all people and all places in the IE, no exceptions. Whatever disruptions we experience, we have to believe that we have built organizations and institutions that can move forward a vision of thriving for everyone, and for every child growing up in the IE today and tomorrow.

I’m also grateful to welcome our new board members this month and appreciate their commitment to the IE and to our shared work ahead. Thank you for your partnership, trust, and belief in this region and in IECF.

Stay generous, because our nonprofits, holding together our most vulnerable people, need you to be. Enjoy our 2025 recap video, and in 2026, may our hearts stay open, along with our eyes and ears!

Michelle Decker, President & CEO, Inland Empire Community Foundation

The post A January Message from Our CEO: Commitment, Courage, Community appeared first on IECF.

Why Powerbuilding and Systems Change?

Powerbuilding is about creating and sustaining movements that empower communities to influence and reshape the systems that impact their lives. Systems change involves addressing the root causes of systemic inequities and working towards solutions that foster long-term justice and equality. The Black Equity Fund recognizes that real progress happens when communities have the tools, resources, and support needed to drive these changes from within.

Grants of up to $100,000 are available through the Black Equity Fund for Black-led and Black-serving organizations in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Applications are being accepted through September 13, 2024.

The Black Equity Initiative – Inland Empire (BEI-IE) and the Inland Empire Funders Alliance (IEFA) have established a Black Equity Fund, an effort to raise and grant $5 million over 2 years to Black led/Black empowering organizations in the Inland Empire region.

The Fund assists nonprofits that are focused on systems change and power-building work in the Fund’s priority areas of civic engagement, criminal justice transformation, housing justice, health equity, education equity and economic liberation.

Interested organizations can review grant guidelines, determine eligibility and submit their application here. All interested applicants should submit through the online portal as emailed applications will not be accepted.

Applicants with questions regarding their grant requests should send an email with the subject titled “Questions” here.

Together, we can build a more equitable and just region. Apply today and join us in shaping the future!

Stay up-to-date on the good work IECF is doing through the power of philanthropy. Sign up for our monthly eNewsletter, Philanthropy Matters.

The post New Powerbuilding & Systems Change Grant Opportunity Opens! appeared first on IECF.

The day was filled with insightful and impassioned conversations about the essential conditions that allow individuals and communities to reach their full potential. These “Vital Conditions,” as identified by the framework developed by ReThink Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, encompass the basic necessities like humane housing and access to meaningful work, as well as more nuanced elements like a strong sense of belonging and civic participation.

Investing in these Vital Conditions is not just a moral imperative, it’s a strategic one. As the framework emphasizes, these conditions are not stand-alone entities, but rather an interconnected web that shapes our collective well-being. Investing in one condition, like affordable housing, can have positive ripple effects across others, improving health outcomes, fostering economic security, and strengthening social bonds.

The meeting resonated with a shared desire to move beyond siloed efforts and work collectively towards bigger investments and systemic changes around the Vital Conditions.

And this is where the Inland Empire’s leadership shines. By adopting the Vital Conditions Framework as a common language and network, a community of nonprofits and changemakers is creating a platform for alignment and collaboration. This will be instrumental in channeling the collective energy of diverse stakeholders towards a unified vision of a thriving IE.

Michelle Decker, IECF President and CEO, said, “Thank you so much for joining and bringing your passions and lived experiences to the discussion. There is a great hunger in the IE to work together even more for bigger investments and changes around these conditions. We took a huge step forward in adopting the Vital Conditions Framework to network and align our different efforts, and I’m so encouraged.”

But the work doesn’t stop here. Decker continues, “What’s next? Let’s make this real! Working with our partners, we envision creating a work plan and putting the pieces in place to keep the work moving forward.”

Michelle Decker’s call to “make this real” is a powerful reminder that action must follow intention. The next step is to translate this shared vision into a concrete work plan, with actionable steps and identified partners. This will require ongoing commitment, strategic resource allocation, and unwavering dedication to seeing the plan through.

The IE has the potential to be a prime example of what an equitable and thriving community can look like. By championing the Vital Conditions Framework and working together, the leaders who gathered have taken a giant leap towards making this dream a reality. The collective spirit and shared purpose witnessed at this first convening offer a powerful glimpse into a brighter future for the IE, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Be sure to follow us for more updates!

The post Thriving Together: IE leaders unite to champion the vital conditions for health and well-being appeared first on IECF.

Michelle Decker addresses the CA Economic Summit

IECF recently participated in the 2023 California Economic Summit hosted by California Forward (CA FWD) on Oct. 11-13 in Indian Wells. Our team was proud to be among a significant presence of Inland Empire leaders, making up 25 percent of summit registrants. Several organizations there included CSUSB, Inland Empire Economic Partnership, Riverside Community College District, City of Rialto, and Riverside Arts Council, among others.

The Summit is an annual event that brings together leaders from across the state to discuss and develop solutions to address the most pressing economic issues. It provides an invaluable platform for knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and collective action.

“I was energized by the amount of content and connectivity to keep moving inclusive, sustainable economic and community development forward,” said Michelle Director, IECF CEO. “I’m especially grateful for the hard-working California Forward team, and my amazing colleagues in the California Stewardship Network who have become critical to how we make and implement policy in CA. Together we bring vital regional experience that influences the work happening each and every day in Sacramento!”

At the Summit, IECF was among the key players advocating solutions to building a prosperous Inland Empire. By engaging with stakeholders from all sectors, the Foundation seized the opportunity to discuss ways to tackle economic disparities, housing issues, and workforce development in the Inland Empire.

IECF thanks Steve Frisch at the Sierra Business Council and Glenda Humiston at UCANR for including Michelle Decker and Inland Empire Community Foundation’s Forest & Fire Coordinator, David Hernandez, on the Resilient and Productive Landscapes panel discussion. We welcomed the opportunity to elevate why wildfire and forest health funding is integral for Southern California and the IE.

We are also grateful for time spent with California’s Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis to give an overview of our work in the Inland Empire and how we can partner with the State of California to improve the lives of people in our region.

And a special thank you to our State of California Partners: California Labor & Workforce Development Agency Secretary Stewart Knox, California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) Dee Dee Myers, E. Kaina Pereira, Aracely Campa Ramirez and newly minted Alex Avila, California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) Director Tara Lynn Gray, Senior Advisor for Social Innovation Elena Chavez Quezada, Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) Samuel Assefa and our very own #IECF team-member-turned-Education-Policy-Associate, Michael Wiafe, MPP. We appreciate their commitment to our region!

The Summit’s highlights included meetings, tours, and a beautiful reception hosted by Inland Economic Growth & Opportunity (IEGO).

“We extend our deep gratitude to Coachella and Imperial Valleys – with heartfelt thanks for sharing their opportunities and the struggles in the community,” said Decker, “Pueblo Unido, Alianza Coachella Valley, Lift to Rise, Comite, and Todec Legal Center and so many others – our CBOs hold the wisdom and the work. The world offers many challenges – but the cross-sector community we build at the Summit keeps us going.”

Stay up to date on all the good work we’re doing in the Inland Empire through the power of philanthropy! Sign up for our monthly eNewsletter today.

The post 12th Annual CA Economic Summit Held in Coachella Valley appeared first on IECF.

Register today

We are pleased to welcome Mary “Kit” Mac Nee, CFP®, CRPC®, QPFC®, as our guest speaker.

The post Professional Advisors Council (PAC) Meeting is May 23, 2023 appeared first on IECF.

  

Food Now, founded in 1959, serves families and individuals throughout Eastern Riverside County who are facing food insecurity. The organization provides healthy, nutritious food weekly on Wednesday and Thursday at their facility in Desert Hot Springs. Food Now is a member of Feeding America and also distributes food from USDA and local partners to approximately 350 families every week. Over the course of a year, the organization distributes 1 million pounds of food, which is enough for 800,000 meals.

“The residual effects of a food assistance program are boundless,” the organization’s Executive Director Dana C. Johnson said. “When you have food, you can allocate that money to buy clothing, pay rent, or repair your vehicle, and that decreases poverty.”

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for services increased, and Food Now rose to the challenge serving 750 families a week. When the organization realized that many of its clients could not leave their homes due to the health risk, it increased its home delivery service from 10 home deliveries a week to over 80. Partnering with local service organizations such as Rotary, Women’s Clubs and churches, Food Now was able to increase its services through the support of volunteers.

Volunteers are Food Now’s most precious asset, Johnson said. While the organization has a small staff, it depends on the support of at least 12 volunteers a day. In a year, volunteers give 15,000 hours of their time, and during the pandemic, this increased to 17,000 volunteer hours. The ages of volunteers range from teenagers to a 92-year-old who has been giving her time for 12 years. The organization always welcomes applications for new volunteers.

“We have the best volunteers,” Johnson said. “We are a family here and we have one goal in mind, which is to help others.”

Recently, Food Now received a grant from the Joyce A. Montgomery Donor Advised Fund through the Inland Empire Community Foundation. The organization depends on grants and donations to serve those in need. As the expense of renting a warehouse, paying electricity and the transportation of food continues to increase, Food Now’s need for support increases with it.

The needs of clients have shifted as well. Food Now surveyed clients in their Senior Needs program to determine which vital nonfood items seniors had difficulty obtaining. The organization now distributes items such as toilet paper, incontinency supplies, shampoo and deodorant. Clients can also get assistance with pet food to ensure they can care for what is, for some, their only companion.

In addition to holding on-site food distributions, the organization also provides homeless clients with a daily distribution of food that requires no refrigeration or heating.

Currently, Food Now is running a Spring into Action campaign to end childhood hunger. The organization provides 120 students at five elementary schools with a backpack full of food every Friday. Some children depend on school meals for their daily nutrition, according to Johnson. Children who receive backpacks can count on having food throughout the weekend. The Backpack Feeding Program is one of the organization’s most popular program, but also the most expensive as items require a long shelf life, must be nutritious and also easy open.

Community members who would like to help end childhood hunger can give to the campaign, and an anonymous donor will be matching up to $1,000 a month in donations. The more support the program has, the more children it can serve.

“We give families the opportunity to thrive,” Johnson said. “We give them healthy food that allows them to have a healthy diet so that they can do so much more and lift out of poverty.”

More information: foodnowdhs.org or (760) 288-7878

To learn more about the nonprofits we serve and the impactful work made possible by our donors, sign up for our monthly eNewsletter!

The post Spotlight on Food Now: 800,000 Meals a Year to Strengthen Families and Build Community appeared first on IECF.

Family Service Association (FSA) was founded by the Junior League and local faith-based organizations in the City of Riverside. Launched in the early 50s, these groups rallied together to assist military families who were struggling.

Today, FSA continues to address poverty, hunger and health, serving community members from infancy long into adulthood in under-served communities.

Many of FSA’s program participants are hard-working but still struggle to get by with low wages, fixed incomes, and the high cost of living in California, according to the organization’s Executive Director, Cheryl-Marie Hansberger. Through early education, trauma-informed mental health services, obtainable senior housing, support for home-bound individuals, safe senior/community centers, and nutritious meals for seniors, FSA serves over 13,000 community members each year.

“There are a lot of challenges in life, and we know that it’s a lot easier to get through them when you are surrounded by trustworthy community members that have your interest or your family’s best interest in mind,” Hansberger said.

FSA maintained its services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, even as it saw an increase in demand. Its Childhood Development Centers continued to provide childcare for frontline workers and families needing affordable childcare options. The centers served over 1,200 children last year.

FSA also works with community partners through its HOPE Collaborative to prevent the abuse and neglect of children in Riverside County.

The organization also saw the highest demand to date in the last year for senior nutrition, providing over 8,600 seniors with meals at 27 sites in the Inland Empire. Additionally, FSA distributed 10,000 PPE supplies throughout the region.

The services that FSA provides often help struggling families get the hand up they need to find future success, Hansberger said. Salena, a client who had two children enrolled in their Child Development Centers, shared stories about how her children would run into their FSA teachers at local stores, years after they aged out of the programs, and how excited they would be to see FSA team members.

Selena eventually secured a job with a local home builder who had a program to donate funding to a charity of each new employee’s choice. Recently, Salena selected FSA and made a point to call the organization and express how grateful she was for the support FSA provided at a critical juncture in her life.

“We love to see her family flourish and we are so grateful that she’s still seeking out ways to stay connected to the FSA community,” Hansberger said.

Recently, FSA received a grant from the Gabbert Justice Donor Advised Fund through the Inland Empire Community Foundation. FSA depends on grants received from government agencies to support much of its programming. However, as minimum wage has increased year-over-year, these grants largely have not provided for wage increases for staff. Food costs, which are a sizable portion of FSA’s childcare and senior nutrition expenses, have also increased.

“Demands for childcare, mental health services and support for seniors have never been higher, yet costs are rapidly rising and it’s increasingly hard to keep up with demand,” Hansberger said.

Community members interested in helping with FSA’s work can make a donation or set up a monthly donation through the organization’s website. FSA also welcomes volunteers. New volunteers can contact the organization to inquire about their current volunteer opportunities list.

FSA is also seeking highly skilled board member, especially those with expertise as an attorney, in real estate or facility management.

“Poverty is often the result of a breakdown in community support and the team at FSA is honored to fill this need in our community,” Hansberger said. “We welcome others to join us on this important mission.”

More information: www.fsaca.org/ or  951-686-1096

Photo courtesy of FSA: The Settle Family, former participants at FSA Alvord Child Development Center, are now involved in the HOPE Collaborative, Riverside County’s Child Abuse Prevention Council. Blue pinwheels are a national symbol for child abuse prevention.

Stay up-to-date on all the news from IECF! Sign up for our monthly eNewsletter today.

The post Spotlight on Family Service Association: Addressing Poverty, Hunger and Health Since the 1950s appeared first on IECF.

Kathy Haley has always had a heart for animals and started helping them when she was in nursing school. While volunteering at an animal shelter in Wildomar, she forged relationships with like-minded friends and decided that she wanted to do more. In 2003, she moved to Anza and started a large animal rescue. Hope Ranch Animal Sanctuary (HRAS) was launched to give homes to abused and neglected alpacas, llama, donkeys, pigs and more.

Realizing that she could also have a larger impact in dog rescue, Haley expanded the Sanctuary’s work to give dogs a better life than living in kennels. Today, Hope Ranch Sanctuary, has permanent residents and also adoptable dogs that are waiting for permanent homes. Dogs at the Sanctuary live inside Haley’s home on five acres of property or with foster families in Temecula, Murrieta, and neighboring cities.

“The need is so huge that dogs are an enormous part of the rescue now,” Haley said. “We have about 10 foster families and new applicants are always welcome.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, shelters struggled to collect strays, according to Haley. Spay and neuter programs were not considered essential and there has been an explosion of strays dogs, she said. Currently, the organization is trying to catch up from the two-year hiatus on spay and neutering.

HRAS is working to spay and neuter every stray dog in Anza. The organization has started providing low-cost clinics through mobile vet service and is struggling to meet the demand. However, mobile services can only accommodate dogs under 50 pounds. So, the organization has also been helping to cover the fees for individuals who need to transport their dogs to veterinarians outside of Anza.

Currently, the organization is inundated with puppies. Puppies and dogs in the care of the Sanctuary are given veterinary care, vaccines, dewormers, microchipped, and spayed or neutered. They are socialized at the Sanctuary or in foster homes and then made available for adoption. The organization has a variety of dogs available to foster or adopt which can be viewed on their website or through adoption sites like Petfinder.

Foster families need to live in the Temecula area. Fosters work through common issues to prepare dogs for adoption such as house training, crate training, leash walking, and socializing. HRAS provides food, supplies, medical expenses and provides support as well as 24/7 assistance through a text line. Individuals interested in taking on this commitment and fostering can download an application through the organization’s website. The more foster families HRAS has, the more dogs the organization can save.

Recently, HRAS received a grant through the Illes Family Donor Advised Fund at IECF. The organization depends on grants, fundraisers, adoption fees and donations to increase the number of animals it can assist.

“With any rescue you want to do good, but everything takes money, and the vet bills are going up just like everything else,” Haley said.  “We can only do what we have the money for.”

Individuals interested in adopting a pet can also visit the organization’s website and apply. HRAS works to ensure that each dog and home are a good match. Adoption fees cover the dog’s medical expenses. However, the organization does have a “Seniors for Seniors” program, matching a senior with an older companion and fees for these adoptions are waived.

HRAS and other rescues need more support while they face the rising number of strays in the region according to Haley.

“Support your local rescue. We’re the ones who are feet on the ground,” Haley said.

More information: http://www.hoperanchanimalsanctuary.org/ or (951) 515-4077

Second photo attached [left to right]:

Photo courtesy of Hope Ranch: Staff and Veterinarians at February 2022 Spay & Neuter Clinic:  Paula Sargeant, Jen Sargeant, Kathy Haley (founder), Sandra Murray, Ashley Villalovos.

Learn more about the good work funded through generous donors at IECF. Sign up for our monthly eNewsletter!

The post Spotlight on Hope Ranch Animal Sanctuary: 5 Acres and Foster Families, Finding Homes for Stray Dogs appeared first on IECF.

Recently formed, Inland Empire Black Workers Center (IEBWC) has hit the ground running, building community partnerships and enrolling local workers in its pre-apprenticeship program.

In collaboration with community partners, water agencies, and Inland Empire Works (IEWorks), IEBWS is creating equitable pathways to careers in water and wastewater. The first phase of the program is a pre-apprenticeship, which prioritizes opportunities for workers from Black communities, individuals re-entering the workforce after justice system involvement and workers in communities facing income inequality and environmental inequality.

“We are building leadership all the time,” the organization’s Associate Director, Dr. Nosakhere Thomas said. “Everyone should have a voice and with us, they have a space where they won’t be judged and will be heard.”

Participants in the pre-apprenticeship program are given the training required to enter the apprenticeship program and ultimately a career in water or wastewater. The program offers soft skills in communication, resume creation, leadership and professional etiquette. Participants also receive first aid training, OSHA certification and basic water math prep. They are also enrolled in a credited water course at San Bernardino Valley College. The program is free to participants and supported by funding from the US Department of Education and CA High Road Training Partnership.

In addition to ensuring participants receive relevant and meaningful training, IEBWC is also dedicated to removing any barriers to participation. The organization may help with transportation, childcare, tutoring, Chromebooks and Wi-Fi connections. IEBWC will also help participants who need assistance in getting a valid driver’s license

“We realize and understand that these small barriers have kept people out of the workforce and out of the pipeline to be equipped and prepared for work,” Dr. Thomas said.  “We have services built in so that we can remove some of the barriers.”

Participants in the program must be 18 years or older, have a high school diploma or GED, a driver’s license and are required to be vaccinated to attend San Bernardino Valley College. The first cohort will begin on March 21, 2022, and the second will begin in January 2023. Workers interested in finding out more about the program can visit the organization’s website.

IEBWC is actively seeking applicants and sharing information about its program. Dr. Thomas said he has experienced an individual’s hopelessness and despair dissipating with the realization that there is an inroad to a career. Current applicants include a gentleman whose schooling in a water program was interrupted due to COVID-19 and he has been unable to find a job. Dr. Thomas has also connected with people of color who feel they have been challenged by their race in securing employment.

There are 9 Black Workers Centers around the country including IEBWC. The Inland Empire, Los Angeles and San Diego Centers create a Southern California hub where the organizations can support one another, helping to build capacity and sharing infrastructure resources.

Recently, IEBWC received a grant from the Black Equity Fund through the Inland Empire Community Foundation to support its efforts in convening and organizing.

IEBWC has a goal of creating new partnerships and finding funders with missions and goals that align with the organization’s work. The organization also welcomes individuals who wish to become volunteers.  There are opportunities to assist with communications to the community, help at events and the organization welcomes volunteers willing to offer their skillset to the cause.

Power is attained by organizing and this power affects policy and everything else changes as a result, Dr. Thomas said.

“Let us strengthen the community together, be heard, and build leadership and change,” Dr. Thomas said. “It’s all for the purposes of justice, jobs and dignity.”

More information: https://www.iebwc.org/ or (888) 461-8885
Photo: (L-R) IEBWC Associate Director, Nosakhere Thomas | California Labor and Workforce Development Agency Secretary, Natalie Palugyai | IEBWC Community Organizer, Dominique Dean

Learn more about the good work we’re doing in the Inland Empire through the power of philanthropy! Sign up for our monthly eNewsletter here.

The post Spotlight on Inland Empire Black Workers Center: Creating Pathways to Careers appeared first on IECF.

Founded in 1998 by Rialto High School teacher Ernest Rhone IV and students, Sigma Beta Xi Youth & Family Services (SBX) was launched to develop future leaders. Today, the organization services Moreno Valley, Perris and Hemet. Rhone remains as the organization’s Chief Advisor, and SBX has mentored over 1,000 students at 21 schools.

Located in Moreno Valley, SBX continues its mission of offering mentoring, education and community organizing to break the cycle of poverty and violence. The organization’s Youth Services are geared toward raising the achievements of students in low-income families, foster youth, English learners and young men of color. Programs include one-on-one mentoring, leadership development, a Youth Action Team and a Rites of Passage program that focuses on Black youth empowerment.

“We started off with mentoring and youth development and as we got involved in serving the young people, we realized we needed to help the families too,” SBX’s CEO Corey Jackson said. “We have become a community development corporation.”

SBX now provides wrap-around services to help build stronger families. Through case management, the organization helps stabilize families while giving them the opportunity to work on their own upward mobility. Those seeking assistance will have their immediate needs evaluated and be directed to the resources available to ensure their basic needs are covered.

The organization also helps strengthen families through Black Fatherhood, a free 6-week course that gives fathers and expecting fathers a safe place to share experiences with peers and discover how their presence can have a positive and long-lasting impact on their family and children’s lives.

SBX works to keep families healthy through BreatheIE, a free program for families with children who have asthma. The program offers tactics to prevent the need for emergency room visits. This includes reducing asthma triggers in their home, referrals to affordable clinics in the area, education on the proper use of asthma medications, and recipes for non-toxic cleaning agents. The organization’s Community Health Workers offer virtual and in-home visits.

SBX has recently set a goal to eliminate childhood homelessness in Moreno Valley and is working to secure its first home for youth who are homeless. It plans to ultimately create multiple opportunities for youth and their families to secure safe housing. The organization has currently identified at least 75 youth who are homeless.

“Moreno Valley has the second largest population of homeless youth in Riverside County,” Jackson said. “We hear from school districts all the time that there is a need for housing and shelter options.

Recently, SBX received a grant from the Black Equity Fund through the Inland Empire Community Foundation to continue to convene and empower the Black community. This collective work will help build a stronger community and address inequities.

The COVID-19 pandemic unveiled many inequities, including the lack of a strong social safety net for families, Jackson said. During the pandemic the organization helped to close the digital divide by securing affordable internet connections, distributing several thousand hotspots for local schools. SBX has also provided thousands of PPE and COVID-19 testing kits to families while continuing to serve 200 young people with stable mentoring.

Families in the organization’s service area who could benefit from its programs are encouraged to visit SBX’s website or to call the organization to seek help. Jackson also hopes that more organizations will help fulfill the needs of the region, which he said are more than one organization can address.

“If not us, then who,” Jackson said. “Give us a call when you find a friend or family member in need or when you’re in need. We’re here and we’re here to serve. You are not alone.”

More information: https://www.sigmabetaxi.com/ or 951-247-1700

Sign up for our monthly eNewsletter, Philanthropy Matters, to stay up-to-date on all the good work that’s being done in our region!

The post Spotlight on Sigma Beta Xi Youth & Family Services: Mentoring Future Leaders for our Region appeared first on IECF.