It doesn’t happen often enough – the public sharing of charitable business owners and businesses as donors to events and non-profit organizations as a way to raise money. 

Sometimes it is because the company owner doesn’t want or expect public acknowledgement. Sometimes it is because history dictates that we don’t do this type of thing. But when the perfect moment arises, it sometimes makes sense to show the clever ways that businesses all over the United States are giving back to good causes, to help float the idea to other area businesses. 

In the case we will talk about today, the company is 7 hours, or about 425 miles away from the non-profit it is supporting. We won’t be talking about the owner’s of the company, but how strategic asking can lead to helpful donations and good relationships in the non-profit community – especially at the local level. 

In the grand scheme of things the mostly localized organization REACH (formerly C.A.S.A. – Center Against Sexual Assault of Southwest Riverside County), serves a hyper local clientele int he Valley, and operates in the much needed trauma and sexual survivors field, providing services to those who have been assaulted in a number of ways, including those who have been human trafficked, child abuse victims and sexual assault survivors.

Because of the unique and delicate types of services that REACH provides, the organization launched a Yearly fundraising and recognition Gala for those who support the good work they do, and in order to raise for future needs of the organization. It was aptly named “Hearts of Gold Gala”. It’s been successful so far, and the future looks big for the annual event once COVID clears up enough to make face to face events like this more realistic. The most recent event was part live, part recorded and served with a live audience (viewing individually from home).

It was successful in raising funds to finish a project that helps record interviews for child abuse victims that will lead to proper adjudication of the perpetrators and also properly addressing future trauma informed care for those children. A setup like the one REACH was raising money for is expensive because it has exceptionally high standards for the build, because California state court compliance is hard for an off-site location. 

Local businesses and philanthropists have been very supportive of REACH (formerly C.A.S.A.) in the past, and continue to be. But branching out to look for new donors and others who can buy-in to the cause that REACH works on is important for continued growth – especially considering that the organization works in a field that is growing (unfortunately).

It seemed a perfect fit to have a “Loveseat” for auction at the Gala event, considering it’s geared towards loving charitable donors, who donate for the love of children and victims of horrific crimes against them that they were powerless to stop. Furthermore, the “Hearts of Gold Gala is held around or on Valentine’s Day each year. 

The Loveseat auction item wasn’t the most expensive item on the block – there were generous donations by Hemet area businesses and individuals as well, but it was a great piece to highlight considering the cleverness of the donation. And it helps to highlight the fact that it doesn’t really matter where you are located, or if you can directly see benefit in your local community – donations to quality 501c organizations that tackle tough issues can be important, even if you donate from hundreds of miles away.

You can find information about the “Hearts of Gold Gala” run by REACH (Formerly Center Against Sexual Assault) by clicking the link.

You can find out more about REACH as an organization by clicking the link. 

You can find out more about the Furniture Store that made the Custom Loveseat donation – WhatARoom Furniture, that serves the San Jose, Milpitas, Santa Clara, and the San Francisco Bay areas locally, and ships anywhere in the USA, by looking at their modern, contemporary and minimalist furniture offerings, including 100% custom made in the USA sofas and sectionals by clicking the links.

We’d love to hear about your favorite donations or creative ways to raise funding for good causes like those that REACH offers the Hemet and San Jacinto Valley and beyond.  

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• The “RamonaThon” can be accessed at www.RamonaBowl.com or on their Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube Channel.
• The Coronavirus has shutdown the Ramona Bowl venue for the past year 
• The fundraising event is to help preserve Ramona and the Ramona Bowl 
• The virtual event will feature a collection of historic footage, interviews, crew,  volunteers, and highlights of the community participation and support to keep the 100-year tradition alive

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The Center Against Sexual Assault of Southwest Riverside County is now called REACH. 

The announcement for this change was made during the organization’s Annual Fundraising Event: The Hearts of Gold Valentine Gala.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRs04uhdPwU

The general mission of the organization has not change materially, except they now brand the organization differently and highlight the diversity of service offerings, clients they serve and their ability to serve victims of trauma, including child abuse, sexual assault and human trafficking. 

The organization utilizes both an educational preventative model and offers post trauma services including advocacy, counseling, victim/survivor services and other options.

Formerly C.A.S.A. or Center Against Sexual Assault, REACH has been a critical part of the Inland Empire community for decades.

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What you may not have noticed, is that an interesting thing is happening. If you are a previously unaffiliated voter (meaning you had not selected a specific party), or what is known as a NPP (no party preference) voter, you might have to request a secondary ballot or elect a party to continue with a vote.

In an election cycle that perhaps sees a more divided electorate than ever for the top elected job in the nation, this is a bit of an awkward situation for voters who were probably very legitimately undecided.

By virtue of the moniker, NPP voters are by definition a group that would be influencing the election the greatest by percentage of decision power considering the group is so small. In California this might not mean that the group wields real power historically, as the Blue representation in the state has far exceeded the Red contingent for decades now. That doesn’t mean they cannot have an impact. This is particularly true in Congressional races.

But there is perhaps a problem that runs much deeper for voters who care. In a primary run-up that is more polarized than ever, the Democratic party has a group of establishment favorites; a group that favors a much more radical approach to progressive politics and a third group of moderates. Within those ranks, it even features a small contingency of wildcard candidates that seem to have done quite well on the national stage without any real institutional backing.

What does this mean? It means that there isn’t a real frontrunner at this point in time. For previously undecided voters in California, this is the most important election in many years. The time when the moderate candidates (those most likely to appeal to undecided party voters) need the electorate most, the electorate has to go out of its way to cast a primary vote.

It goes without saying too: in a state where the voting is overwhelmingly lopsided, it doesn’t incentivize voters who would otherwise vote for a moderate democrat to get out and vote.

The GOP favoring communities already know they won’t win. But now the areas that trend purple, might not be able to effectively utilize those 5million some odd votes to help impact the primary outcomes.

That means that promising candidates are going to have a doubly difficult time persuading the California voter to buoy them up in the primary. This is complicated by the fact that these 5.3million or so voters will not be able to vote for President in the election unless they request a special ballot, or they swap parties to a more conservative-leaning ballot which includes the GOP.   

Yes, you can vote in the Democratic Primary as a NPP voter, but you’ll need to request that special ballot. And with little impetus to do so, as an already middle aligned voter (most likely) in a state that leans heavily left, it’s going to be even more work to do so. That means by default, establishment candidates and those with multi-year-long name recognition spells are bound to do better and have a better shot at the national election.

The Tulsi Gabbard’s and Pete Buttigieg’s and Andrew Yang’s of the World are likely to have their media play diluted by this interesting scenario playing out in California Absentee ballots. These 5 million voters have a real opportunity to challenge election outcomes in a Primary scenario, where historical numbers are low enough to be impacted by those 5 million. In 2016, only 5,173,338 people voted in total for the California Democratic Primary: with only 14,181,595 voting on election night for President. Obviously these 5.3 million votes could make a huge difference. Only about 400,000 votes separated the primary #1 and #2 contenders in 2016.

You should go to RegisterToVote.ca.gov before the February 18^th, 2020 deadline to register; or contact your county office for a specific ballot or to declare for a different party option. Otherwise, you won’t be able to influence the Presidential election in 2020.

The March 3^rd Primary is less than a month away.

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C.A.S.A. Hearts of Gold Gala Aims To Help End Child Abuse in the San Jacinto Valley

[Hemet, CA, February 8] C.A.S.A. of Southwest Riverside County invites the community to celebrate love and support its mission to end child abuse in the San Jacinto Valley by attending the Hearts of Love Gala on February 8, 2020, at the newly renovated Soboba Springs Country Club. In addition to top-tier food and dancing, the highlight of the evening will be a piano performance by Matt Fetbrandt, a graduate of Hemet High School, now international piano entertainer who is based out of Los Angeles.

The evening will begin with a cocktail hour and a chance to bid for silent auction items and opportunity drawings. A brief program about C.A.S.A.’s mission and services to help end child abuse will follow, just before dinner. After dinner the fun will begin with Matt at the piano. Guests are encouraged to request their favorite love songs (for $10 per song) and dance the night away. This celebration of love is the perfect combination of a formal night on the town, and a chance to contribute to building a healthier, happier community.

To purchase tickets or more information, please contact Kathy Callicott at (951) 634-8972.

C.A.S.A. Center Against Sexual Assault of Southwest Riverside County is a non-profit organization serving survivors of sexual assault, child abuse, human trafficking, and other trauma. C.A.S.A. assists survivors and their families with crisis counseling, advocacy, and support groups, educates the community on these issues, including prevention techniques and referral resources, and partners with law enforcement, schools, and other community agencies to assure that survivors receive the most effective help available.

Matt Fetbrandt graduated from Hemet High School in 2003 and went on to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston. Matt is a dynamic pianist, vocalist, and international piano bar entertainer based in Los Angeles. Matt is a regular entertainer at Hollywood’s premier piano bar, Tramp Stamp Granny’s, opened in 2018. His style is distinctively high-energy, immersive, and just downright fun! As a freelance musician, Matt has traveled to major cities across the United States where he has music directed and performed in numerous concerts, musical theater shows, and cabarets. For more information, find Matt online at: www.mattplayspiano.com.

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