Family Service Association of Redlands presented its Alfred H. Smiley Philanthropic Award to the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians at the organization’s annual donor reception.

The event took place May 12 at the Burrage Mansion in Redlands.

Family Service Executive Director Kyra Stewart presented the award to Melonie Calderon, representing the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

Calderon is a member of San Manuel’s Business Committee.

The relationship between Family Service Association and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians dates back to 1891 when Albert K. Smiley, twin brother and philanthropic partner of Family Service founder Alfred Smiley, and members of the Board of the Indian Commissioners met with tribal leader Santos Manuel and aided in the establishment of the Santos Manuel Indian Reservation.

For the past several years, San Manuel has played a key role in funding the Housing Program at Family Service.

In 2015, they allocated part of their $150,000 grant to expand the service association’s employment program, allowing for a case manager to work as an employment coach for approved clients.

At the reception, Family Service showed a film highlighting the experiences of a family whose lives were recently impacted by the services and programs of Family Service, with help from the investment of San Manuel.

From the first point of contact between a Hope Team member from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and the Family Service Association, the community worked together to help get a young family off the street and the single father get back to work.

Other awards

Family Service presented Answering the Call Awards to Dick Nance, Tom Klorer and the Redlands Noon Kiwanis Club. The Answering the Call Award goes to donors, volunteers and grant makers who recognize an operational challenge and, without hesitation, step up to the plate to help.

Nance has served as a volunteer for decades and has made significant contributions to Family Service’s Christmas Shop program and the fall food drive in partnership with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“We would not be (nearly as) efficient if we didn’t have him involved in these important programs,” Stewart said as she presented the award to Nance.

Klorer, who brought 15 family members to celebrate with him, has also helped Family Service for decades and now serves on the Facilities Committee.

“We wanted to thank Tom for religiously coming in every month to ensure that our clients have good computers to work on,” Stewart said.

Klorer has spent many hours in the Family Service computer lab, testing the equipment, running system checks and, if necessary, installing programs.

The Redlands Noon Kiwanis Club is a longtime supporter of Family Service Association and served as the founding sponsor of Family Service’s first Redlands Hunger Walk benefiting the Summer Nutrition Program in 2015.

Stewart said the Noon Kiwanis Club not only supported the first Redlands Hunger Walk, but also took the lead in providing a pancake breakfast at the walk. The club also will provide a pancake breakfast at this year’s Redlands Hunger Walk today on the University of Redlands campus.

For information about Family Service Association of Redlands and how to get involved, go to redlandsfamilyservice.org or call 909-793-2673.