Champion for Vibrant Health Spotlight: Health Career Connection
Health Career Connection (HCC) is a national organization with a strong presence in the Inland Empire dedicated to supporting the growth and development of the health, behavioral health and public health workforce. HCC is also participating alongside many of their internship partner organizations in IEHP Foundation’s Champions for Vibrant Health Leadership Network.
Champion for Vibrant Health Spotlight: Building Resilient Communities
When a disaster strikes—be it a wildfire, earthquake or pandemic—the most vulnerable communities are often the least prepared, under-resourced and most severely impacted.
In times of crisis, these communities must not be forgotten or ignored; they need the opportunity to recover and build back more resiliently. This mission is at the heart of Building Resilient Communities (BRC), founded in 2012 by Debra Williams, after she heard a pastor talk about the importance of disaster preparedness.
Champion for Vibrant Health Spotlight: A Greater Hope
A Greater Hope, a nonprofit foster agency provides comprehensive behavioral health support, individual therapy for parents, and group services that are vital for families in rural areas lacking access to mental health care. In 2024 alone, the organization served 430 children in foster care, provided over 9,000 hours of behavioral health services, and helped 91 children reunite with their birth families.
One of those success stories features Alicia Westley, who regained custody of her son after the support and care from A Greater Hope and foster mom, also named Alicia.
Champion for Vibrant Health Spotlight: 2024 Collaborative Capacity Building Grant Champions
In 2024, approximately 60 Riverside and San Bernardino counties nonprofits participated in IEHP Foundation’s inaugural Collaborative Capacity Building Grants program, including a 10-course business management training for nonprofit leaders and a $5,000 general operating support grant.
Champion for Vibrant Health Spotlight: Magdalena’s Daughters
Ashley Hill was working as an LMFT in the County of San Bernardino when she witnessed a disturbing trend: the number of adolescent children, most of whom were girls in foster youth, becoming victims of sexual trafficking. Like many nonprofit leaders, she didn’t set out to do this work; the work found her. In 2018, she founded Magdalena’s Daughters, which provides a unique residential therapeutic program to empower young victims of sex trafficking.
Magdalena’s Daughters was one of 60 nonprofits in the Inland Empire that participated in our Collaborative Capacity Building Grant program earlier this year. Learn more about how the local nonprofit cultivates healthy living among foster and vulnerable youth across the region.
IEHP Foundation awards $2.3 million in grants to strengthen the leadership of local nonprofits
IEHP Foundation is investing over $2.3 million to strengthen the organizational infrastructure of local nonprofits through its Inaugural Leadership Network, a two-year leadership development program for Inland Empire community-based organizations (CBOs) that address the social determinants of health.
Champion for Vibrant Health: Adrian’s World
Felicia Guzman’s idea of a nonprofit to support parents and families of children with Autism and other neurodivergent disabilities came to her at an unexpected place: an NFL game.
Champion for Vibrant Health: Community Health Action Network
Over 15 years ago, CJ Page received a life-changing diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Instead of letting it limit him, he was motivated to create positive change for himself and his community. In 2009 he founded Community Health Action Network (CHAN) with a mission to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes for children and families in the High Desert.
Champion for Vibrant Health: CCS Education and Wellness Center
To address growing demand, especially among vulnerable populations, they leverage student therapists in their final semester of graduate programs. These therapists provide services while gaining supervised client care hours, allowing the organization to serve more clients and expand its reach. Chief Operating & Finance Officer Sherry Shockey-Pope highlighted the importance of investing in nonprofit business operations and discussed trends and challenges in behavioral health.