Volume 98 | December 17 - December 21, 2018
Holiday Cheer Banquet Makes Holidays Magical for Local Children
More than 130 children were treated last week to a festive dinner, presents, and a special visit with Santa as part of the Moreno Valley Police Department’s Holiday Cheer Banquet.

This year’s theme was The Grinch! But the event was anything but Bah Humbug.

Forty Moreno Valley families were invited to the banquet to feast on a delicious dinner from Polly’s Pies and enjoy games, face painting, balloon artists and more.

The Holiday Cheer Banquet is made possible by a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) along with donations from residents and local businesses.

Families are selected to participate from a pool of qualified applicants.

Thank you to everyone who helped make the holidays magical for dozens of Moreno Valley children and their families
Christmas Comes Early for 7-year-old Battling Leukemia
Christmas came a little early this year for a Moreno Valley girl battling leukemia.

Santa had a police and firefighter escort when he swung by 7-year-old Naomi’s house this week.

Instead of a sleigh, Santa brought a firetruck full of presents.

Naomi has been bravely battling cancer over the last eight months.

Leukemia is the most common cancer in children and teens, accounting for nearly one out of three cancers.

This week Naomi was able to spend some time with Santa and the police officers and firefighters who helped collect donations to help her in her fight.

Moreno Valley Police Officer Joe Cornejo coordinated the effort, along with Operation Juice Box, to help Naomi, who has been in and out of the hospital and faces several more months of chemotherapy.

Operation Juice Box is a non-profit group that provides officers with juice boxes to pass out to children in the areas they patrol. The group’s mission is to build positive relationships between law enforcement and children, one juice box at a time.

Follow #naomisbattle on Instagram to learn more about her fight.
Grants Available to Help Improve Low, Moderate Income Neighborhoods
The City of Moreno Valley is accepting applications for grant funds for programs which benefit low and moderate income residents or neighborhoods, eliminate blight, and address affordable housing and homelessness issues.

The City anticipates receiving approximately $2 million in Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, approximately $745,000 in HOME Investment Partnership funding, and approximately $175,000 in Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funding for Fiscal Year 2019-2020.

These funds will be distributed to qualifying programs through an application process.

CDBG program funds must be used for projects benefiting low and moderate income residents or neighborhoods, to eliminate blight, or for community emergency needs. HOME program funds must be used to create, retain, or rehabilitate affordable housing. ESG program funds must be used to improve the quality of life for the homeless or those at risk of homelessness.

“These funds provide yet another tool to continue to improve the quality of life in our community,” said Mayor Yxstian Gutierrez.

The City is accepting applications through January 31, 201 9 .

Applications will be available via Planet Bids at https://www.planetbids.com/portal/portal.cfm?CompanyID=24660&BidID=56159

Requests for an application can be made by calling 951.413.3450 or via e-mail at grantsadmin@moval.org .
City of Moreno Valley
Financial & Management Services Department
Financial Operations Division
14177 Frederick Street
P.O. Box 88005
Moreno Valley, CA 92552-0805
951.413.3450

Examples of eligible projects include neighborhood public improvements, housing rehabilitation programs, affordable housing creation, crime prevention, economic development, public services. Government and certified non-profit agencies may apply for project or program funding which benefits low and moderate income individuals in Moreno Valley.
Middle School Student Donates Supplies to Animal Shelter
Jordan Dunlap, a 7th grade student at Woodcrest Christian Middle School, recently stopped by the Moreno Valley Animal Shelter to provide us a “Random Act of Kindness."

Jordan donated dog and cat food, along with some toys and treats to brighten the holidays for the pets that will be spending the holidays here.

Thank you Jordan for your thoughtfulness!