Welcome to the Regional Access Project newsletter! I am pleased--not to mention enthusiastic--that I have been named Chief Executive Officer of RAP, taking over the helm for Judee Cox in early February.

Notice that I didn't say "replacing" Judee Cox. Most residents of the Coachella Valley know there's no replacing Judee.

This is a position that provides me with a great opportunity to help people . Bringing needed services to the Fourth District of Riverside County -which makes up more than two-thirds of the total landmass of the county-- is a crucial task. As a childhood migrant farmworker and later Chief of Staff for Supervisor Roy Wilson and District Director for Supervisor John J. Benoit, I know the territory, and I'm familiar with many, if not all, of the difficulties of serving the remote communities.

As I said, I won't be replacing Judee Cox, but I will try to emulate her. Her ethics, her devotion and her hard work are rare but valuable qualities. I promise to bring all of my knowledge and my own personal work ethic to the job . . . and maybe with your help, we can make a good thing even a little better.

The RAP Foundation provides funding grants to 501 C 3 tax exempt organizations and public agencies that provide services benefiting residents of eastern Riverside County.  The funding areas are health, mental health and juvenile intervention

Funding is available year round, although Requests for Proposals (RFP) may be issued throughout the

 year. 

The first step is to download a Letter of Intent (LOI) from the RAP Foundation website and submit it. Once it has been determined the idea and organization meet basic criteria for the RAP Foundation, a formal invitation to apply will be forwarded to the applicant.

Review of applications can take up to four (4) months depending on the type of program and size of the request. Programs are reviewed by staff and then a "Reader" group from our pool of Readers. Readers are chosen for their knowledge of the type of services proposed in the application. Once the Readers and staff have completed their review, their recommendations go to the Board of Directors for determination. If a proposal is approved for funding, staff will notify the applicant and a grant agreement will be developed, along with a reporting format for both programmatic and financial components of the agreement/program.

California Health Institute created a California-wide public campaign "Rethink Your Drink" movement.  As a call to help reduce obesity, especially in children, this campaign is to reduce the consumption of sugary beverages and promote drinking water.  The Regional Access Project (RAP) Foundation with its partners, Desert Recreation District, Boys & Girls Club of the Coachella Valley, FIND Food Bank, Inland Congregations United for Change, Coachella Valley Housing Coalition, Pueblo Unido, Our Lady of Soledad Catholic Church, and Health Corps are holding a press conference to unveil the first ever hydration station (water bottle filling station) at Coachella Valley High School.  Over the past year, the RAP Foundation has partnered with the County of Riverside to educate families on the importance of drinking non-sugary beverages through the "Rethink Your Drink" campaign. 

Please join us to unveil the first ever hydration station at Coachella Valley High School. Coachella Valley Unified School District's School Board and other elected officials are expected to be in attendance.

Where: 83-800 Airport Blvd, Thermal, CA (Lunch Area)

When: March 21st at 9:00 a.m.

Click here for full press release