Dear friends of First 5 San Bernardino,

We’re still basking in the memories of our special 25^th anniversary event held last month. Thank you to all who joined us to commemorate this significant milestone. We are grateful to our featured speakers as well as past and present Commissioners who added a special presence to the program on November 14. 

It was my honor to present Local Champion Awards and San Bernardino County Partner Awards at the event acknowledging the organizations and individuals who have contributed to our success. 

You’ll want to give our new video a second look as it is heartwarming to see how many children have been impacted by the mission of First 5 San Bernardino.

In the same month, we were honored with four awards by the Public Relations Society of America Inland Empire Chapter recognizing our commitment to impactful marketing and communications efforts. One award celebrated our social media program, as we utilize these channels to provide important resources to our county’s families. As part of this, check out our “Sunday Shoutouts” where we provide bi-weekly event listings on social media for parents and caregivers to help children thrive.

Lastly, it’s my pleasure to introduce you to Erika Willhite, staff analyst II, who is an important and valuable member of the team with a very impressive background.

Wishing you a very happy holiday season.

Sincerely,
Karen Scott
First 5 San Bernardino Executive Director 

Notable Speakers and Leaders Attend First 5 San Bernardino Milestone Event

First 5 San Bernardino celebrated 25 years of serving young children and families on November 14 at the historic Fox Theater in Redlands, California, where they received a proclamation from the State of California Department of Education in Commendation of 25 years of service. The event brought together local leaders, partners and advocates to reflect on the organization’s milestones and its continued mission to support our county’s children ages 0-5 and their families.

California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond attended the event as a guest and keynote speaker and presented the commendation to First 5 San Bernardino Executive Director Karen Scott. His remarks recognized the positive outcomes of the projects and initiatives the organization has supported over the past 25 years.

A picture may be worth a thousand words, but a video tells an even richer story. First 5 San Bernardino proudly debuted “Celebrating 25 Years,” a heartwarming video capturing the heart of our mission and incredible impact we’ve made in the lives of children ages 0-5 and their families in San Bernardino County.

As we look to the future, this video serves as a reminder of how far we’ve come and the promise of even greater achievements ahead. Together, we’ll continue creating opportunities, fostering growth and making a lasting difference for all the kiddos to come.

First 5 San Bernardino (F5SB) was honored with four awards at the 2024 Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Inland Empire Polaris Awards Gala on Friday, November 8. These awards recognized our organization’s commitment to impactful marketing and communications efforts.

F5SB received two prestigious Polaris Awards and two Capella Awards, celebrating the hard work and creativity behind our marketing initiatives. According to the PRSA Inland Empire website, “winning entries represent the highest standards in public relations and communications within the Inland Empire.”

We share our thanks and appreciation to the Public Relations Society of America for recognizing our communications efforts as some of the brightest public relations initiatives in our county.

First 5 San Bernardino is committed to empowering parents and caregivers with resources to help children thrive. One standout initiative is our “Sunday Shoutouts,” a bi-weekly social media series on Instagram, Facebook and X.

Sunday Shoutouts are shared all year round, and if you are a San Bernardino County organization serving children and families and would like your event featured, please email F5SB@WestboundCommunications.com.

Check out our Sunday Shoutouts and discover more by following @First5SanBernardino on Instagram, Facebook and @F5SB on X.

Say hello to Erika Willhite! Erika joined First 5 San Bernardino in 2020 as a Staff Analyst II when her daughter was three years old. She felt that working with an organization that had a direct impact on children and their families was congruent with her role as a mother. And to us that makes perfect sense!

Erika’s role at First 5 San Bernardino includes representing the organization in meetings, participating as a member of the Local Child Care Planning Council, assisting with funding opportunities, collaborating with partner agencies and much more. Erika is an important and valuable member of the team.

Thank you, Erika, for the work you do for our team and families in our county!