Press Release

Sen. Cervantes Celebrates 2026 31st Senate District Nonprofit Honorees

 

(RIVERSIDE, CA) --- Senator Sabrina Cervantes recently recognized seven local nonprofit organizations at the 31st Senate District’s 2026 Nonprofit Recognition Ceremony, held at the Riverside Community College District Centennial Plaza Building, including Inland Counties Legal Services (ICLS), the District’s Nonprofit of the Year. 

 

“Nonprofits play an absolutely vital role in our communities: filling gaps, lifting up families, and meeting the needs that might otherwise go unmet,” Senator Cervantes said. “These nonprofits provide food and housing, legal services, and keep our communities healthy, all while inspiring our next generation. They preserve culture and tradition, teach new skills, and open new doors of opportunity. They are so much more than service providers. They are advocates, trusted community leaders, and a source of stability and hope for countless families across our 31st Senate District.”

 

Keynote speaker at the celebration was Reverend Dr. Charles Lee-Johnson, Pastor of The Life Church in Riverside and Executive Director of the Children's Collective, Inc. He commended the honoree nonprofits for their spirit of service that they exemplify every day. “It’s not what I have on the outside, but what I possess on the inside…the real celebrant is who you are on the inside,” he explained, likening the nonprofits to pencils, noting that, like pencils, nonprofits are continually sharpened into better versions of themselves to help the communities and neighbors served.”

 

The Senator’s Nonprofit of the Year, ICLS, was celebrated earlier this year among 118 other outstanding nonprofit organizations from across California during a special presentation on the Senate Floor at the State Capitol. 

 

Founded in 1958, ICLS began with a simple yet powerful mission: to ensure that individuals and families facing financial hardship would not be denied justice simply because they could not afford legal representation. Nearly 70 years later, that mission has grown into something truly remarkable, reaching individuals and families throughout Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Through its eight specialized legal practice groups, ICLS has become a lifeline for some of our most vulnerable and underserved communities, including immigrant families, LGBTQ+ individuals, our seniors, survivors of domestic violence, individuals with disabilities, and families struggling financially. 

 

Senator Cervantes lauded ICLS in her remarks for the work they do and the people they assist: “These are our neighbors, our friends, and our loved ones. People who too often find themselves navigating complex legal systems without the resources, knowledge, or support needed to protect their rights.”

 

The 31st Senate District 2026 Nonprofit Honorees:

 

  • Building Up Lives Foundation – supports individuals and families in need by providing homelessness assistance, PTSD and grief support, emergency relocation for domestic violence survivors, and essential resources such as food, clothing, and hygiene products. The foundation provides individuals with autism opportunities to develop valuable life and employment skills. 

 

  • Feeding America Riverside and San Bernardino – alleviates hunger and food insecurity for individuals regardless of their circumstances throughout the Inland Empire. They distribute more than 3.3 million pounds of food each month through partnerships with nearly 250 local nonprofit organizations, providing essential nutrition to children, families, seniors, college students, veterans, and military families.

 

  • Janet Goeske Foundation & Senior Center – enhances the quality of life of older adults through health, wellness, education, and community engagement. Founded on the late Janet Goeske's vision, the senior center serves individuals ages 50 and older, offering more than 200 weekly activities, including fitness classes, arts, recreation, support groups, and educational programs.

 

  • Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center – provides homeless cats and dogs with a second chance at finding loving homes. Serving the Riverside community since 1897, the nonprofit provides shelter, veterinary care, adoption services, and foster programs for animals in need. Through community education, spay and neuter services, and partnerships with local shelters, the organization works to prevent pet overpopulation, promote responsible pet ownership, and improve animal welfare throughout Riverside County.

 

  • San Bernardino Community Service Center – provides affordable immigration legal assistance, representation, and educational resources to those who need them most. But their work goes far beyond legal representation. They fight to keep families together, protect the dignity of our immigrant communities, and ensure that those who are too often silenced have someone standing beside them. At a time when our immigrant communities are facing heightened fear, uncertainty, and attacks on their rights, the Center is a powerful force for justice, compassion, and hope.

     
  • Southern California Railway Museum – preserves the rich history of rail transportation and its role in shaping the communities we call home. The museum brings history to life through its remarkable collection of historic trains, streetcars, and railway artifacts. With hands-on experiences, educational programs, and community events, this nonprofit gives young people and families opportunities to learn, explore, and connect with the history that helped build the Inland Empire. 

 

 

 

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