The Time for Change Foundation will honor two individuals, one nonprofit organization and one government agency at its fourth annual awards luncheon today.
The foundation operates two shelters for homeless women and children in San Bernardino. The Spring Time Bloom awards ceremony at the National Orange Show Events Center in San Bernardino, is also the foundation’s biggest annual fundraiser. The foundation relies on private donations and grants to fund its programs, said Kim Carter, its founder and executive director. At the event, Rabbi Hillel Cohn, who has ministered to families for nearly four decades, will receive the foundation’s Humanitarian Award. He served as rabbi of Congregation Emanu El in San Bernardino from 1963 to 2001 and is now its rabbi emeritus. Margaret Hill, a lifelong educator, community advocate and volunteer, will be honored with the Community Service Award for her charity work with the foundation and other local nonprofit organizations such as San Bernardino Black Culture Foundation, Campfire USA, East Valley YMCA, and Community Hospital of San Bernardino. She is assistant superintendent of the San Bernardino County Schools. Public Service Award The Public Service Award will be presented to the San Bernardino County Public Defender’s Office for providing free legal services to the foundation’s clients and other low-income and disenfranchised people in the community through outreach programs. A key service the public defender’s office provides is helping them expunge old, minor convictions from their record thereby improving their chances of getting employment, education, housing and public assistance.
For its programs focused on improving the lives of poor and low-income black communities in the region, the Inland Empire Concerned African American Churches will receive the Ramos Family Spirit of Compassion Award. The group has 54 member churches with congregations totaling more than 7,000.