IEHP Foundation News

California is facing a well-known housing shortage, particularly in the Inland Empire. Originally published in The Daily Bulletin n on August 30, 2025, part of the monthly series, Inspiring Vibrant Health Column.

In response to the urgent need for improved housing availability and affordability, various efforts are underway at multiple levels to increase production across Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

August is National Wellness Month, making it an ideal time to explore evidence-based tips and tools for creating healthier environments at home, in the workplace, and within our communities. Nearly 100 nonprofit and chamber leaders gathered for the IE Vibrant Health Forum: A Community-Centric Approach to Health on August 14, 2025, where they heard from experts affiliated with the Blue Zones Project in Riverside County.

Catholic Charities San Bernardino & Riverside Counties was established in 1980 as a compassionate response to the urgent needs of disadvantaged communities in the Inland Empire. The organization aims to tackle the root causes of poverty and instability, addressing critical issues such as food insecurity, affordable housing, healthcare access, and immigration services.

The Inland Empire is home to over 4.6 million residents and rapidly growing in population. Despite its size and potential, the region receives just $25.55

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.

Originally published in The San Bernardino Sun on July 25, 2025, part of the monthly series, Inspiring Vibrant Health Column.

Communities across the Inland Empire are experiencing food insecurities. Learn how multiple organizations are coming together to provide fresh fruits and vegetables across the region.

IEHP Foundation is investing in place-based initiatives, including the Blue Zones Project in Riverside County and Vibrant Villages in San Bernardino County. Both aim to collaborate with residents, community leaders and nonprofit organizations to create healthier, happier neighborhoods. This article was originally published in The Daily Bulletin, part of our monthly Inspiring Vibrant Health Column.

For over 40 years, Desert Sanctuary Inc., based in the city of Barstow, has served as a critical resource for individuals and families affected by domestic abuse. The organization is dedicated to helping families navigate crisis, recovery and ultimately work to acheive Vibrant Health.

On Thursday, May 23, over 100 nonprofit leaders gathered from across the Inland Empire to enhance their skills to identify, amplify and harness the transformative power of storytelling to foster change and inspire action.

Written by: Akunna Jeanette Chilaka, MPP Candidate, University of California, Irvine | Randall Lewis Health & Policy Fellow

As a Master of Public Policy candidate at UC Irvine, I never imagined that my fellowship with IEHP Foundation would transform my understanding of public health so profoundly. Let me take you through my personal journey with the Vibrant Villages project, an innovative approach to health equity in the Inland Empire.

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.

Originally published in The Daily Bulletin, April 25, 2025, part of the Inspiring Vibrant Health Column. Inland Empire nonprofit leaders advocate for the improvement of health outcomes across the Inland Empire.

Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino serves over 300,000 people across the Inland Empire monthly.

Through its 12 hunger relief programs and in collaboration with over 200 nonprofits, Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino just doesn’t provide access to food, but restores hope and dignity to those who need it most.

On a sunny spring day in April, nearly 80 nonprofit leaders from the Inland Empire gathered on the steps of the California State Capitol as they prepared for a busy day of dialogue around health and wellness of families with children throughout San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

The Champions for Vibrant Health Leadership Network, sponsored by IEHP Foundation, is a cadre of 80 Inland Empire nonprofit leaders representing 40 organizations dedicated to building healthy neighborhoods and cultivating healthy living – ensuring all residents, most importantly families with children, have access to Vibrant Health across the region.

Originally published in The Press Enterprise, part of our Inspiring Vibrant Health Column.

It’s an all-too-common scenario when trying to find care for a health concern. A loved one may need a same-day appointment with their primary care physician for cold or flu symptoms, but the next appointment is not for another week. Whether seeking care from a family physician, mental health clinician, cardiologist or an orthopedist, long waits for a needed visit are not uncommon in Southern California. Many of us and our family members question why it takes so long to simply get needed health care services.

Out of over 100 applicants, 25 nonprofits from the Inland Empire, dedicated to addressing the social drivers of health, have been selected to participate in the IEHP Foundation’s 2025 Spring Small Nonprofit Capacity Building Grant.

During this 10-week course, led by our partners at the Caravanserai Project, nonprofit leaders will enhance their skills in business operations, financial management, board development and succession planning. The Caravanserai Project generously provides training services in-kind through various funding sources it has previously secured.

Not every $10 donor turns into a $100,000 donor, but nearly every $100,000 donor started out as a $10 donor.

Read more about the tools, best practices and tips on how to cultivate individual donors.

This article was initially published in The San Bernardino Sun on February 21, 2025, as part of the Inspiring Vibrant Health Column. Nonprofit organizations are the helpers we look to in times of crises and everyday life. It’s vital that these organizations continue to be supported to help advance health and well-being in our communities.

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.

Originally published in The Press Enterprise, part of our Inspiring Vibrant Health Column, IEHP Foundation CEO Greg Bradbard dives deep into the lessons from Blue Zones and how to make the healthiest choice the easiest choice in our communities.

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.  

It’s January, full of New Year’s resolutions and hopeful promises! This is when we transition from an overabundance of holiday treats to healthy snacks and new exercise habits. However, research indicates that 79% of resolutions involve improving health and wellness, yet only 9% of adults stick to their resolutions. Instead of making hard-to-keep resolutions, what if we focused on creating healthy environments for ourselves, our organizations, and our communities, ensuring that healthy habits become part of our daily routines? 

Originally published in the Daily Bulletin. The U.S. Surgeon General recently named loneliness one of our country’s greatest health crises. With heart disease, cancer and accidents topping the list of leading causes of death in our country, who would have thought that loneliness would become a major concern of our “nation’s doctor?”