![Representatives of the four organizations receiving Cedar House Life Change Center’s Humanitarian Awards, presented June 27, 2024, in Fontana, are, from left, Wayne Guzman, Jeff Distelberg, LuAnna Jauregui, Joyce Ablett, Hilary Bennett, Laurie Marsden, Shawnna Nason, Mario Archaga, Shelby Jackson-Fox, Michael St. Onge, Lynda Will, David Romero, Nicole Curtis, Victor Cabral, Ron Nesland and Elijah Whitfield. (Courtesy of Cedar House Life Change Center)
Representatives of the four organizations receiving Cedar House Life Change Center’s Humanitarian Awards, presented June 27, 2024, in Fontana, are, from left, Wayne Guzman, Jeff Distelberg, LuAnna Jauregui, Joyce Ablett, Hilary Bennett, Laurie Marsden, Shawnna Nason, Mario Archaga, Shelby Jackson-Fox, Michael St. Onge, Lynda Will, David Romero, Nicole Curtis, Victor Cabral, Ron Nesland and Elijah Whitfield. (Courtesy of Cedar House Life Change Center)](https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SBS-L-CEDARAWARDS-0712.jpg?w=620)
Cedar House Life Change Center, a nonprofit based in Bloomington, recently presented its inaugural Inland Empire Humanitarian Awards at an awareness luncheon at Sierra Lakes Golf Club in Fontana.
Cedar House invited local community leaders and members of the business community to the June 27 event to celebrate the contributions of the four organizations receiving the awards.
At the luncheon, Cedar House presented its Community Health Award to Inland Empire Health Plan, the Community Service Award to UPS, the Community Wellness Award to Kaiser Permanente and the Community Champion Award to the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.
Those attending the luncheon from the honored organizations included Wayne Guzman and LuAnna Jauregui of Inland Empire Health Plan; Jeff Distelberg, Joyce Ablett and Hilary Bennett of Kaiser Permanente; Laurie Marsden and Shawnna Nason of San Manuel Band of Mission Indians; and Mario Archaga, Shelby Jackson-Fox, Michael St. Onge, Lynda Will, David Romero, Nicole Curtis, Victor Cabral, Ron Nesland and Elijah Whitfield of UPS.
In addition to the awards presentation, guests heard testimonies from two Cedar House staff members who also graduated from the organization’s residential addiction treatment program, according to a news release.
Author Mark Parrott was the featured speaker, discussing the need for more addiction treatment services and sharing recent overdose death statistics and the economic impact of drug addiction.
Jamie Lamb, Cedar House’s chief executive officer, also spoke, sharing her personal story and vision for the future of the organization.
Those attending received a “Case for Support” booklet detailing the impact Cedar House has had in its 51 years of service in the Inland Empire, according to the news release.
The award recipients also received certificates of recognition from the offices of Reps. Norma Torres and Pete Aguilar, Assemblymembers Eloise Gomez Reyes and Freddy Rodriguez, San Bernardino County Supervisors Joe Baca Jr. and Jesse Armendarez, Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren and Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson.
Cedar House Life Change Center provides treatment for people affected by addiction. Its Bloomington facility is at 18612 Santa Ana Ave.
For information, go to cedarhouse.org or contact Melissa Hughes at [email protected].