San Manuel Honors Four Local Non-profits for Eighth Year

Four non-profit organizations who have demonstrated the essence of Yawa’ by making a significant difference in Southern California and across the nation were recognized at the eighth annual Yawa’ Awards: Forging Hope breakfast. San Manuel Band of Mission Indians welcomed Discovery Channel star, Ariel Tweto, to the Inland Empire as Mistress of Ceremonies to help the tribe honor the award recipients who have embodied the time-honored Serrano concept of Yawa’ – to act on one’s beliefs. The invitation-only event took place at the National Orange Show Fairgrounds in San Bernardino and included representatives of 100 non-profit groups that are current or former grant recipients of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. The ceremony opened with San Bernardino Third District Supervisor, James Ramos, leading his family members in bird singing during the Forging Hope blessing and an opening speech by San Manuel Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena thanking nonprofit attendees and award recipients for selflessly following the call of Yawa’. The honorees were awarded in four philanthropic categories representing extraordinary work to benefit and support their communities. The 2016 Yawa’ Award recipients include Alliance for Children’s Rights, in the health category, for service to poverty-stricken and abused children; Catching the Dream, in the education category, for their dedication to higher education amongst the tribal communities; Mercy House Living Center, in the economic development category, for their commitment to ending the cycle of homelessness; and the Indigenous Language Institute, in the special projects category, for helping native communities preserve their native languages. Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena said of the celebration, “…The power of Yawa’ motivates us to act day-by-day to fulfill our lives’ purpose. The Yawa’ Award not only offers us an opportunity to celebrate effective programs, but also to build awareness of non-profits that often begin with modest aims, then grow with communities they serve to become invaluable and relied upon institutions.”