More than $100,000 was raised for Inland Empire charities during a September two-day charity golf tournament at Journey at Pechanga in Temecula. The funds were split evenly between the American Red Cross of Riverside County, Million Kids, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the American Indian Veterans Memorial.
The Pechanga Charity Golf Classic has brought together tribal government and Indian gaming industry leaders for 18 years that has raised more than $1 million for nonprofits throughout the region. The two-day event has grown to include more than 300 golfers and several sports celebrities.
“We deeply appreciate the work that these service groups do for our veterans, homeless families and our young people,”said Patrick Murphy, president of the Pechanga Development Corporation. “Our region’s nonprofits amaze us with what they can accomplish in the lives of our neighbors in need and we are honored to support their vital efforts which make our community stronger.”
A synopsis of this year’s fund recipients:
The American Red Cross of Riverside County serves more than 2 million people across 7,208 square miles.
Million Kids is the training and outreach coordinator for Riverside County’s Anti Human Trafficking Task Force that assists women and youth on the street that need a safe haven and helps communities develop effective anti-trafficking programs.
“We so much appreciate this amazing opportunity,” said Opal Singleton, executive director for Million Kids. “We are dedicated to stopping child sex trafficking and sexual exploitation throughout all of Riverside County and beyond. None of our staff are salaried through the nonprofit organization, so you can be assured that these funds will be directly used to change lives and protect youth within our communities.”
The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment.
American Indian Veterans Memorial Inc. is working with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund to build an American Indian Veterans Memorial Exhibit at the Education Center at the Wall in Washington.
“It is time to build – on hallowed ground – the first national memorial honoring the military service of American Indians and Alaskan native veterans,” said Honorary Chairman Bo Mazzetti. “This is the goal of the volunteers who serve on the American Indian Alaska Native Veterans Memorial Committee. The Pechanga Development Corporation’s $25,000 donation will be contributed solely to the construction of the Riverside National Cemetery‘s proposed American Indian Veterans Memorial.”
