City Of Redlands: Redlands Police Raising Funds Again For Heroes And Helpers

Press release from the City of Redlands:

December 1, 2021

The Redlands Police Community Foundation (RPCF) is currently
raising funds for the annual Heroes and Helpers to take deserving
local students on a holiday shopping spree.

For the past several years the event has been held early in
December at a single department store that provided a $5,000
community policing grant to support the program for deserving
youth. That grant, along with an additional $5,000 to
$10,000 raised each year by local community activist Gail Howard,
allowed the Redlands Police Department to take between 60 and 125
youth on a shopping excursion, paired one-on-one with RPD
employees and other community leaders.  

This year, when the previous corporate sponsor was unable to
continue its annual donation, Toyota of Redlands owner and
General Manager Paul Smith stepped up to donate funds exceeding
the prior grant.

“I have had the chance to participate in this very important
program over the past 16 years and see the happiness it puts in
kids’ lives,” said Smith, who also serves the community as a
Redlands Police Reserve Officer. “When I found out that the major
donor was out, I wanted to help to make sure it continued. Toyota
of Redlands is committed to give back to its community through
several projects and this one is near and dear to our heart.”

In addition, Redlands AYSO United held a “Friendly Sunday,”
inviting 12 club soccer teams throughout Southern California to
the Redlands Soccer Complex for two friendly matches on the
Sunday before Thanksgiving. The entire $125 entry fee paid by
each team went to the Redlands Police Community Foundation for
Heroes and Helpers. Hangar 24 Charities also matched all 12
participating teams’ entry fees. 

The RPCF barbecued a hot dog lunch for all participants and their
coaches, siblings, and parents using the Redlands Police Officers
Association’s barbecue trailer.  Several parents of the
players took it upon themselves to raise additional funds.

 ”We all know that times have been tough over the last
couple of years for businesses, but once again the Redlands
community has banded together to support a worthwhile cause,”
said Redlands Police Deputy Chief Travis Martinez. 

In addition to Toyota of Redlands filling in as the platinum
sponsor and the fundraising efforts of Redlands AYSO United, Gail
Howard has continued to obtain commitments from longstanding
supporting donors including State Assembly Member James C. Ramos,
Reiss Jackson & Company and Paul and Joanne Barich.

“This truly illustrates what Redlands is all about,” said Police
Chief Chris Catren. “When one door closed, many others opened due
to the unbelievable generosity and caring of several individuals
and groups to make the holidays brighter for some deserving kids
in this community.”

The Redlands Police Department reaches out to school principals,
local clergy, police officers and other community leaders for
referrals of deserving students.  RPCF’s Heroes and Helpers
program is designed to serve the underprivileged students who
have displayed outstanding behavior or citizenship throughout the
year.

It’s a touching sight to many of the adult participants when
frequently the students use the shopping spree to buy gifts for
their parents and siblings. Often they have to be encouraged to
treat themselves as well.

 This year the RPCF made arrangements with Majestic Realty
that will allow participants to select any store in the Citrus
Plaza/Mountain Grove Shopping Center to conduct their shopping.

The goal this year is to raise enough money to take 100 students
on a $150 shopping excursion. The Redlands community is well on
its way to helping the RPCF achieve its goal.

Anyone wishing to donate to the event may visit https://www.cityofredlands.org/pod/heroes-helpers.

This press release was produced by the City of Redlands. The views expressed here are the author’s own.