The 14th annual Soboba Foundation and Soboba Casino Resort Charity Golf Tournament played out April 7-9 at the Soboba Springs Golf Course. Ten nonprofit organizations benefitted from the energy-filled days as numerous players made their way around the course after a shotgun start at 10 a.m. each morning.
Before driving out, Soboba Tribal Council Chairman Isaiah Vivanco welcomed all attendees. There were 42 foursomes on the first day, 50 on day two and 36 on the final day.
“We can’t be more grateful for your support; we couldn’t do this without our sister Tribes as well as our corporate partners,” he said. “On behalf of the Tribe and Foundation, we thank you.”
Soboba Foundation President Andy Silvas said he knows how much goes into organizing this event and thanked all those who made it happen.
Soboba Casino Resort General Manager and Tournament Director Jason Cozart reminded players of the rules and told them to have fun. He said, “The success of this annual event is evident by its growth over the past 14 years and that would not have been possible without you. Your generosity has allowed us to help local nonprofits meet their goals and fulfill their missions.”
More than 40 nonprofits submitted a qualified written application as well as a 30-second video detailing why they should be considered as a beneficiary by the Soboba Foundation Board of Directors. Since each selected group had the potential of receiving $10,000, they also were asked to describe how the funding would be utilized.
“The videos were an important part of the process, as they helped put a face to the name and gave the Board a more personal connection to each applicant,” Sponsorship Coordinator Andrew Vallejos said.
All chosen organizations were required to promote the tournament in addition to providing 10 volunteers for the tournament on a designated day. Tara and Joey Placencia were co-coordinators for the volunteers once again this year. They were joined by six immediate family members who also donated their time for the event and helped with pre-tournament duties such as preparing gift packages for the players.
Arriving each morning before 6 a.m., Tara and Joey made sure everyone knew their station and what they needed to do for the day. Some were assigned to the beverage station while others were set up at different holes around the course for golfers to have fun with other games such as football pass or cornhole craze. Scoring high in these contests gave players an opportunity to win fabulous prizes at the evening’s banquet at the SCR Event Center.
“The new beverage station at golf check-in worked very well, and it was very well received by everyone,” Vallejos said. “Guests really enjoyed it, and it helped create a welcoming experience at the start of each day. We liked it very much and would definitely consider using it again in the future, while continuing to look for ways to improve efficiency.”
Tara Placencia agreed and welcomed the opportunity to assign required volunteers to the beverage station. This ensured it was fully staffed throughout the check-in process and gave volunteers the opportunity to connect with the players on their assigned day.
“We ask the organizations to provide 10 volunteers so we had some who could help when different casino resort departments requested extra help,” said Tara, who has been part of the charity golf tournament for the past 10 years.
Everyone in attendance was given the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for some amazing prizes housed in a room adjacent to the banquet room. There was also a grand prize winner of $14,000 in cash each night for those who purchased $50 or more in raffle tickets.
This year’s deserving nonprofits were 7G Foundation, Care-A-Van Transit Systems, Daughter of Soboba, Dream the Impossible, EXCEED, Hemet Youth Wrestling, Lifeworks ATP, Native American Land Conservancy, Oak Grove Center, and San Jacinto Lions Club.
The 7G Foundation is a collection of entrepreneurs, coaches and Tribal leaders building on the strength of their ancestors to mold the next seven generations of Native leaders through education, athletics, culture, and real-world support. Funding will support their annual Indigenous Bowl.
Care-A-Van offers free transportation for elderly and disabled individuals to access critical services and resources. Volunteers from the transit systems’ partner agencies included Teresa Suarez and her daughter Angelica. “Everything ran smoothly,” said Teresa, who helped make sure all coolers were filled throughout the day. Czaia Velazquez and Jessica Lacayo worked the Dartboard Chip game at Hole 1. Their enthusiasm got players off to a good start. “I love it, I’m having a good time,” Care-A-Van dispatcher Velazquez said.
The Daughter of Soboba ($ovóova Po’$wáamay) seeks to strengthen the cultural connections between elders, young women, and girls in order to create a cycle of learning, connecting, and sharing with one another. Dream the Impossible encourages Native youth to dream big and engage in new experiences and provides Native youth exposure to college campuses.
EXCEED provides services and supports that empower individuals with disabilities to explore opportunities, make informed choices, and achieve greater independence. Funds from the charity golf tournament will support its year-round Art in the Park community-based creative arts program. “Everyone is so nice and the players are respectful and having fun,” said volunteer Jennifer Herrera.
Hemet Youth Wrestling introduces San Jacinto Valley area youth to the sport of wrestling within a safe, fun and challenging environment. Lifeworks ATP is a Hemet Unified School District transition program for special education students ages 18-22 that strives to equip every adult student with skills towards independence. Teachers Abby Smith, Kazryn Gess and Sharyl Adams Williams were among the 10 volunteers who spent day two on the course on behalf of the Lifeworks program. Several of the volunteers began their shift at 6 a.m., helping with check-in. Funding the organization received will help with field trips to museums and local workplaces, along with overall program operations.
Native American Land Conservancy is an intertribal nonprofit founded in 1998 to acquire, preserve, and protect sacred lands. Funds from their participation in this year’s event will support the Land Back Initiative project to return state school lands to Tribal communities.
Oak Grove Center rebuilds the lives of at-risk children and their families through education, healing, restoring relationships, building character, and instilling hope. Being a recipient this year will help them expand their mental health treatment services. Development Director Romy Fazeli spent the first day at Hole 12 with colleague Erick Montejo cheering on those taking part in the Football Pass game. “Everyone has been great; we’re excited to be here,” Fazeli said. Jean Bacher has been a youth support worker at Oak Grove for 10 years but was at the charity golf tournament for the first time. “I love it,” she said. “This is a great opportunity to engage with the community and see everyone supporting nonprofits.”
The San Jacinto Lions Club has a long-standing commitment to community service, with a strong focus on supporting the blind and visually impaired. Past District Governor Ken Reed said being one of the lucky recipients from this year’s event will be a big help to the club whose services are provided to those less fortunate in the community. Funds will be used to support the “Dance for Fun” program that offers a free social and inclusive event for individuals with disabilities.
The energy was at an all-time high level out on the golf course and at the Event Center, thanks in part to the upbeat tunes spun by DJ Mike Nevarez aka Da Chef who also kept things on schedule by making important announcements at both locations.
Vendors dotted the course with a huge variety of food and drinks. Roadrunner Express store manager Tony Brimer and Assistant Manager Ruby Arrietta were set up at Hole 4 with a snack station. Offering plant-based Yerba Mate drinks with organic caffeine and grab and go snacks, visitors were also treated to a lip balm delivered in the shape of a golf ball. Soboba Tribal member Arrietta said she was happy to be part of the tournament. “I like to represent and do for my people,” she said. Sergio Ramon, founder of Grips on the Go, replaced club grips for those who asked. He offered all colors and designs, including one that was customized for the tournament.
Charles Berglund is SCR’s Executive Director of Facilities and Public Works. He said the event is always a highlight for him because it brings together so many people they don’t get to see often. “Our vendors, sponsors, along with the Soboba Foundation and the Soboba Casino Resort team, join forces to create an event that’s top tier in every way,” Berglund said. “It’s always rewarding to hear positive feedback about the event and our course, and it reinforces why it’s so special to be a part of it.”
Another attraction was the opportunity for players to interact with one of Soboba’s newest employees, Pond Manager Hitch. Already a social media star, the border collie from North Carolina has found a beautiful home at Soboba Springs Golf Course. Handler Aaron Kelsey is the superintendent of the golf course and said Hitch traverses water features three times a day to chase away waterfowl such as ducks and geese. “He has become a little rock star,” Kelsey said. See Hitch in action on Instagram at www.instagram.com/reel/DUouFlVj7jn.
SCR Promotions Manager Corryn Salgado Flores said the tournament went very smoothly for the team this year. “The vibes on the course were calm all around and it really did make for a great experience. The highlight for me was seeing my team work in sync with all the other departments, vendors, volunteers, and golfers,” she said. “Hearing all of our vendors and guests say, ‘Everyone is so friendly and nice here,’ multiple times lets us know we’re doing something right. There is a lot of prep for this event and as long as the guest experience is amazing, all of the hard work is worth it.”
Soboba continues to strengthen the community, one swing at a time. Always rooted in the tradition of giving back, this signature event has everyone playing for purpose year after year.
