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Welcome to the Summer edition of Milestones!
Dear friends of First 5 San Bernardino,
Summer is in full swing, and with it comes new opportunities to connect with families, celebrate our partners and do what we do best in helping to keep young children safe. We're excited to share the latest edition of Milestones, highlighting the people, partnerships and programs making a difference for children ages 0–5 throughout San Bernardino County.
This June, hundreds of families joined us at Lake Gregory Regional Park for our Splish Splash Water Safety Fun Day, where we kicked off another year of our Kid Safe Summer campaign. Be sure to check out highlights from the event, including media coverage and a behind-the-scenes look at our Inland Empire Alive appearance sharing these important summer safety messages.
Strong partnerships continue to be at the heart of everything we do. Hear directly from some of our partners through new testimonial videos as they share the impact of our work together and the difference these collaborations make for children and families across our county.
We're also celebrating the remarkable people who make our mission possible. This issue recognizes several dedicated team members reaching significant years-of-service milestones, celebrates LuCretia Dowdy's well-deserved Community Partner of the Decade recognition, and introduces you to Michael Limon in our employee spotlight.
Thank you for being part of the First 5 San Bernardino community. We hope you enjoy this edition of Milestones and wish you and your family a safe, happy and healthy summer.
Sincerely,
Cindy Faulkner
First 5 San Bernardino Interim Executive Director
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First 5 San Bernardino kicks off Kid Safe Summer at Lake Gregory Regional Park with hundreds of families across San Bernardino County
More than 300 parents, caregivers and children kicked off a Kid Safe Summer at Lake Gregory Regional Park for a day of family fun, hands-on activities, community connection and life-saving water safety education.
Hosted by First 5 San Bernardino, in partnership with Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Safe Kids IE and San Bernardino County Regional Parks, the Splish Splash Water Safety Fun Day officially launched another year of our Kid Safe Summer campaign, equipping families with the information and tools they need to enjoy a safer summer.
A highlight reel was produced featuring First 5 San Bernardino’s Interim Executive Director Cindy Faulkner, who shared essential water safety tips
Explore additional Kid Safe Summer resources at First5SanBernardino.org/kid-safe-summer or follow us on Instagram and Facebook @First5SanBernardino.
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Did you know?
Seven hundred Water Watcher tags have been distributed this summer at community events through our Kid Safe Summer campaign.
A Water Watcher tag is a visual reminder of who is in charge of watching children while they are in the water. More will be distributed throughout the summer!
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Summer brings fun opportunities for children to play, explore and spend time outdoors. First 5 San Bernardino’s annual Kid Safe Summer campaign, now in its fourth year, encourages parents and caregivers to make safety a priority by sharing practical tips to help protect ages 5 and under throughout the season.
First 5 San Bernardino will continue to share information all summer long across our Instagram, Facebook and YouTube channels. Stay tuned to catch more safety tips, giveaways, event information and videos, like our Splish Splash Water Safety Fun Day recap. The campaign was also featured in Inland Empire Community News, San Bernardino Sun, and soon an episode of Inland Empire Alive will air discussing ways that families can have a Kid Safe Summer by practicing simple habits.
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 Partnerships with community organizations play an important role in helping First 5 San Bernardino expand access to programs and services for San Bernardino County families. To recognize those collaborations, First 5 San Bernardino launched its Partner Perspectives video testimonial series. The videos highlight organizations working alongside First 5 San Bernardino and the shared commitment to supporting children during their earliest years.
The first two installments feature Victor Community Support Services and El Sol Neighborhood Educational Center. By sharing these stories, we recognize the important role partners play in giving every child the best possible start in life.
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First 5 San Bernardino Employees Celebrate Major Service Milestones
Our greatest strength is our people. This month, we are proud to celebrate four dedicated team members whose years of service reflect their unwavering commitment to children, families and our community.
Community Engagement Specialist LuCretia Dowdy and Staff Analyst II Ronnie Robinson are each celebrating 20 years with First 5 San Bernardino, while Deputy Director of Systems & Impact Scott McGrath marks 15 years of service and Communications Officer Kimberly VandenBosch marks 5 years of service.
Together, they have helped advance First 5 San Bernardino's mission to improve the health, early learning and well-being of children ages prenatal to age 5 through their expertise, leadership and dedication.
Their combined 60 years of service reflect a lasting commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of young children and the families we serve.
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 Community Engagement Specialist LuCretia Dowdy Honored as Community Partner of the Decade by Akoma Unity Center
During its Juneteenth celebration commemorating a decade of service to youth and families, Akoma Unity Center honored First 5 San Bernardino Community Engagement Specialist LuCretia Dowdy with its Community Partner of the Decade Award.
LuCretia was recognized for her longstanding dedication to San Bernardino County families and her commitment to building meaningful community partnerships.
She accepted the award on behalf of First 5 San Bernardino, reflecting the organization's shared commitment to improving outcomes for young children through health, early learning and family support.
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Michael Limon
Supervising Office Assistant
With a strong background in local government, Michael Limon joined First 5 San Bernardino in December 2025 as Supervising Office Assistant. Bringing more than eight years of experience supporting major initiatives in tourism, business growth and water and wastewater safety, Michael was drawn to First 5 by the opportunity to make a more direct impact on the families and communities he serves.
Outside of work, Michael is a proud stepparent of two and just got married to his wife, Jenna. Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, he says California now holds his heart and the people he loves the most.
We're grateful to have you on the First 5 San Bernardino team, Michael.
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About First 5 San Bernardino
The Children and Families Commission for San Bernardino County (First 5 San Bernardino) was created in December 1998, in order to realize the benefits of Proposition 10 (California Children and Families Act) for the County's youngest residents and their families. The act created a program for the purpose of promoting, supporting and improving the early development of children from the prenatal stage to 5 years of age, under the guidance of the Children and Families Commission for San Bernardino, and in collaboration with the community and agencies providing services to children.
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