Annual Fundraiser Raises Over $196,000 in Support of the Crafton Hills College Foundation - Crafton Hills College

Publish Date: April 18, 2024

Foundation Annual Fundraiser

On April 18, the Crafton Hills College Foundation raised more than $196,000 through the generosity of attendees and sponsors of this annual fundraiser, which saw the Yucaipa-based college’s Public Safety Engine Bay turned into an island paradise for this lively event.

“I can’t thank you enough for being here and being a part of our community,” said Crafton President Kevin Horan. “What we do tonight removes barriers for students, and that’s why we are here.”

The evening began with a chatty reception, where guests were urged to bid for items in a silent auction that included passes to the Magic Castle in Los Angeles, gift cards to local restaurants, and experiences such as a dinner for four hosted by CHC fire cadets.

Halau O Kanahele’s group of Hawaiian folk dancers provided a spirited performance that allowed guests to experience “paradise” through an indigenous Hawaiian lens.

Gala guests then heard directly from two of those most involved in the Foundation’s year-round efforts to raise funds to support its Roadrunner students: 2024 Outstanding Alumnus Damian Garcia and Paramedic Program Director Amanda Ward.

“The highlight for me is always graduation,” Ward said, “and this college is extremely special in that it is a very rare space where in this [Public Safety] building alone [a student can] acquire all the education they need to become a career firefighter or paramedic.”

But for many Roadrunners, acquiring that education is not always a walk in the park.

For example, paramedic students must often choose between concentrating on their studies or working to support themselves while they complete the rigorous program requirements in the required time. Their days are filled with classroom instruction, lab sessions, and field work. Yet, the Foundation is there to lend a boost of financial support to help get students one step closer to the finish line by removing barriers, assisting with housing and books, and funding instructional resources.

If you missed the fundraiser, you can still donate to the cause at craftonhills.edu/foundation or by contacting Michelle Riggs, CHC’s director of institutional advancement, at mriggs@craftonhills.edu or 909-389-3391.