HIGHLAND, CALIF. (July 29, 2024) — For 25 years, the San Manuel Golf Tournament has delivered an impact that extends far beyond the golf course. Since 1999, San Manuel has invited tens of thousands of golfers to answer the call of Yawa’ – a Serrano concept that means “to act on one’s belief” – by playing in the San Manuel Golf Tournament and contributing to impactful charities across the nation. Together, San Manuel Golf Tournament participants have raised over $3.5 million in donations benefitting over 70 charities.
This year’s proceeds exceed previous records totaling $480,000 to benefit eight charities representing local and national causes. Each charity received $60,000 in unrestricted funds.
Proceeds benefited this year’s chosen nonprofit partners:
- Elevate Navajo strives to develop genuine connections with Navajo youth that will strengthen individuals’ confidence, classroom engagement, provide lifelong skills, and lift the community. Elevate Navajo’s four primary program focuses are accredited classes to provide life and professional skills, mentoring available 24/7, adventures to inspire grand aspirations, and career & college prep.
- Firefighter Cancer Support Network provides critical assistance for career, volunteer, active or retired firefighters, emergency medical service providers and their family members who are diagnosed with cancer.
- Growing Inland Achievement (GIA)is a collective impact organization created to improve the long-term economic outlook of the Inland Empire by improving educational attainment rates among the region's underrepresented groups. With an equity-framed approach, GIA connects more than 150 educational institutions, community-based organizations and workforce partners to create a network for K-20 students to provide strategic support for Black, Latinx, Native and other marginalized groups while removing barriers for all individuals.
- Junior Achievement of Southern California inspires and prepares young people to succeed in a global economy. Volunteers from the professional sector help youth explore the business of life through hands-on dynamic programs that teach skills related to managing money, starting a business and entering the work world.
- The Lindy Waters III Foundation enhances and supports Native American youth and Indigenous communities through sports, health and wellness, and leadership programs. The foundation is committed to providing a platform for individual improvement, opportunity, exposure, and access for all Native youth.
- Phenix Gateway empowers adults with disabilities to secure full-pay employment through innovative job training programs and advocacy to remove barriers and promote equitable opportunities for all. Phenix Gateway has a unique ability to see what others might overlook and empower individuals to embrace their skills.
- Social Work Action Group (SWAG) advocates for, educates and inspires marginalized individuals and families in the Inland Empire achieve sustainable independence through community support. SWAG believes the resources to address homelessness already exist in each community, and the missing component is communication and coordination of existing resources to address the different aspects of homelessness.
- Southwest Indigenous Women's Coalition provides critical services to all 22 tribes in Arizona to work towards a future of safe indigenous communities. This Native-led coalition helps Native communities develop their capacities to address and respond to violence through education, training, technical assistance, policy advocacy, and culturally sensitive and supportive services.
Each organization was selected for their ability to bring tangible and practical impact to their communities.
Over 850 golfers were in attendance to take part in the four-day event that spans three exclusive golf venues: Monarch Beach Golf Links at Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach, Pelican Hill Golf Club and Torrey Pines Golf Course.
B-roll of the event is available here.
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
