Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) has been awarded a $60,000 grant from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, generated through the Tribe’s annual Charity Golf Tournament. This grant will support GIA’s mission to increase equitable educational attainment and economic success in the Inland Empire.
The funds will enable GIA to enhance its outreach initiatives, including college financial aid and financial literacy training programs for students and families and support for adult learners over 25 seeking to return to college to earn a certificate or degree.
“We are deeply grateful to the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians for their generous support,” said Ashish Vaidya, President and CEO of Growing Inland Achievement. “This funding will significantly advance our mission, helping us provide crucial resources and support to students and families in the Inland Empire.”
The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians’ annual golf tournament, held this year from July 25-28, has a long-standing tradition of supporting various charities nationwide. The tournament embodies the Serrano concept of Yawa— “to act on one’s belief”—and has raised over $3.5 million for over 70 charities over its 25-year history.
San Manuel has donated nearly $400 million to causes in the Inland Empire and across Indian Country. Supporting nonprofit organizations is part of the Tribe’s commitment to unity and stewardship. For more information on San Manuel Cares Program, please visit www.sanmanuelcares.org.
About Growing Inland Achievement
Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) serves the Inland Empire region of Southern California—the 12th largest metropolitan statistical area in the U.S., including over 4.7 million residents and over one million students. GIA supports a regional cross-sector network of education, government, nonprofit, and business partners, collectively working to achieve a shared vision of educational and economic success. GIA’s shared vision is that by 2035, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties will be widely recognized for their educated workforce, thriving communities, and vibrant economy that creates prosperity for all.
About the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is a federally recognized Indian tribe located on the San Manuel Indian Reservation near Highland, California. San Manuel exercises its inherent sovereign right of self-governance and provides essential services for its citizens by building infrastructure, maintaining civil services, and promoting social, economic, and cultural development. As the Indigenous people of the San Bernardino highlands, passes, valleys, mountains, and high deserts, the Serrano people of San Manuel have called this area home since time immemorial and are committed to remaining a productive partner in the San Bernardino region. For more information, visit www.sanmanuel-nsn.gov.