City Sponsorship Program, Spring 2023-2024
Mission Synopses for Applicant Organizations
Arlington Business Partnership provides business partnership, promotional activities, and physical improvements within the Arlington Business Improvement District to promote the welfare, innovation, and sense of partnership for all businesses within the district.
Big Brothers Big Sisters matches youth facing adversity one-to-one with a caring mentor. Through these strong and enduring, professionally supported relationships, these children’s potential is ignited.
Black Voice Foundation for Media, History, & the Arts trains and educates individuals in print media. The Foundation has expanded its mission to include digital and electronic media and a burgeoning set of projects in the fields of education, professional development, media, history, and the arts.
California Citrus State Historic Park (Friends of) supports and operates the maintenance of the park’s groves, production, the Sunkist Center, amphitheater, and group picnic event areas to preserve the region’s citrus history.
Civil Rights Institute of Southern California is the voice of civil rights for Inland Southern California. The Institute provides programming for all ages focused on civil rights; presents exhibits and performances; is creating a digital archive of regional civil rights materials; conducts oral history projects and media productions; and recognizes the impact of the region’s civil rights leaders.
Division 9 Gallery is a welcoming and safe space for a diverse community of artists and is the driving force behind a long list of projects in the Riverside and the region, including: the annual Day of the Dead Festival, monthly Riverside ARTS Walk, ARTNIVAL, Bailarte, The Inland Empire Strikes Back, and Artisans’ Collective, partnering with the City, Riverside Arts Council, Riverside Art Museum, the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture, and many others.
Downtown Riverside Farmers Market is a place for area farmers to sell their seasonal crops directly to customers, providing a unique opportunity for residents and visitors to shop for fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers, hummus, cheese, bread, and other specialty food items.
Empower You Edutainment was founded by a team of educators with performing arts backgrounds to provide theatre, dance, and music to increase resilience, empowerment and wellness for youth and young adults. The group provides the Inland Empire with community theatre focused on social issues, breaking down social and economic barriers.
Full Circle Players is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion as it works to create world class theatre in Riverside and beyond. The group holds itself to high artistic and personal standards, to create exceptional art, guided by thoughtful resources, stewardship, and a deep commitment to education and audience engagement.
Glocal Outreach is a faith-based non-profit that participates in community outreach projects, including production of the historic Easter Sunrise Service on Mt. Rubidoux, in partnership with the city and the Rivers and Lands Conservancy.
Janet Goeske Foundation is committed to enriching the quality of life of those fifty years and older in the community it serves, while maintaining the highest level of advocacy, providing health and wellness programs and striving to be the trusted voice and advocate for those it serves.
Inland Chinese American Alliance actively promotes Chinese culture and exchange with other ethnic cultures for mutual understanding and collaboration. ICAA has organized many community events, including festivals, feeding programs and other service programs, and cultural events and exhibits.
Inlandia Institute works to recognize, support, and expand literary activity in all its forms in the Inland Empire by publishing books and sponsorship programs that deepen people’s awareness, understanding, and appreciation of this unique, complex, and creatively vibrant region.
Junior League of Riverside is a group of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers, and is dedicated to the enhancing the quality of life for children and their families.
Old Riverside Foundation is dedicated to the recognition, appreciation, and preservation of the built environment (buildings, engineering feats, parks, avenues, landscape features, and archeological remains throughout Riverside and the Inland Empire.
NAACP Youth Council (Riverside County) advances the economic, educational, social, and political status of African Americans and other racial and ethnic minorities and their harmonious cooperation with other peoples, to stimulate an appreciation of the African Diaspora and other people of color’s contributions to civilization, and to develop an intelligent, effective youth leadership.
Path of Life Ministries serves the greater Riverside area’s homeless population, partnering with community organizations and agencies, contributing to a holistic system of care, provided in an integrated, seamless manner, leading clients from a place of crisis to lives of stability and self-sufficiency.
Redlands Bicycle Classic is the longest, continuously running, invitational stage race in the country and is well-known throughout the world. The race has hosted riders who have gone on to compete in the Olympics, Tour de France and other world championships and has earned the tag line “Where Legends are Born.” Riverside African American Historical Society preserves the Inland Empire’s African-American culture and historical heritage. The group grew out of a Riverside Municipal Museum advisory committee established in 1996. Members advocate for and promote a strong visible presence in the community to educate and share information among cultural organizations and entities.
Riverside Art Museum strives to integrate art into the lives of people in a way that engages, inspires, and builds community by presenting thought-provoking exhibits and providing quality art classes that instill a lifelong love of the arts.
Riverside Arts Academy provides inspirational and creative arts education to Riverside’s children and youth, offering more than 50 hours of weekly instruction in classes, including strings, band, mariachi, orchestra, percussion, and choral music. RAA partners with the City of Riverside, school districts, colleges, universities, and community organizations.
Riverside Arts Council provides, develops, supports, and sustains the arts. The Council is a local partner of the California Arts Council. It is the County’s central source for arts-related services, information, education, and outreach. RAC encourages the advancement, participation, and integration of visual, literary, and performing arts into the communities it serves.
Riverside Children’s Theatre is the leading children’s theatre in Riverside County. Since 1957, RCT has introduced thousands of children to the magical world of theatre through participation in drama instruction and performance opportunities and strives to make live theatre a positive, fun, and fulfilling experience for all.
Riverside County Philharmonic entertains Riverside with excellent performance of great music, enriches the young and young at heart with the beauty and relevance of the symphony and engages a diverse and dynamic community in appreciation of the performing arts in Inland Southern California.
Riverside Cultural Consortium is a project that connects the community with local arts and culture within the City of Riverside through the collaboration of leaders of Riverside’s arts and culture organizations.
Riverside Dickens Festival is Riverside’s longest-running street festival. The event focuses on the wit and wisdom of Charles Dickens and celebrates Victorian England, the backdrop against which Dickens created his timeless and classic literary works.
Riverside East Rotary, in keeping with the Rotary International goal of “service above self,” supports many local organizations, particularly related to you. The group sponsors Rotary Interact Clubs at three high schools, in addition to the support of other charitable efforts in the community.
Riverside Educational Enrichment Foundation benefits more than 43,000 students in Riverside Unified School District, raising funds through public and private grants, individuals, and corporate donors to fund special projects for teachers.
Riverside Latino Network provides a forum to address community issues affecting and impacting the Latino community. RLN focuses on the virtues of education and is committed to serving youth by instilling leadership for the community’s future.
Riverside Medical Clinic Charitable Foundation is dedicated to improving health and the quality of life in Inland Southern CA through advocacy, education, and service, providing a long list of educational events focused on various health topics, including mental health.
Riverside Roadrunners is a fitness-oriented walking/running club, pursuing improved health and fitness via a year-round walking, running, and training program for people in the greater Riverside area. The programs guide people of all ages and abilities to achieve their own personal fitness goals.
Riverside Unified School District Foundation supports student success by securing resources to enhance Riverside Unified School District’s mission of providing engaging, innovative and equitable learning experiences through community engagement and partnerships.
Adrian Dell and Carmen Roberts Foundation is a collaboration of dedicated volunteers focused on empowering Riverside County citizens through the development of cultural activities, education, and economic development. The Foundation showcases the County’s rich cultural diversity with colorful, inspiring, and authentic cultural activities throughout the year.
Mary S. Roberts Foundation is committed to helping homeless cats and find good, loving homes. MSRPAC is supported solely by private donations and fundraising projects. The Center takes in healthy, adoptable cats and dogs from owners who can no longer care for them and, as space allows, accepts healthy, adoptable cats and dogs from other local animal welfare agencies.
Spanish Town Heritage Foundation champions the Hispanic Legacy of the Inland Empire’s first settlers by sharing their stories, creating cultural learning opportunities, and leading community efforts to restore and revitalize La Placita de los Trujillos, a place of history, learning, entertainment and the arts.
Villegas Park Advisory is a group of volunteers focused on providing kids with activities at the Park and throughout Riverside.
West Coast Thunder attracts more than 7,500 motorcyclists each Memorial Day for a ride of remembrance through the City streets, with thousands of residents lining the streets, and riders’ entry fees support special projects at Riverside National Cemetery.
Women Strengthening Women provides support to women who have loved ones in prison, who have been impacted by domestic abuse, or who have been experiencing troubling times in general. Services include peer support and support groups for women of all ages, including teen girls, who have criminal justice history or who have experienced domestic violence. 2 | Page