Over twenty million Sikhs follow a revealed, distinct, and unique religion born five centuries ago in the Punjab region of northern India. Between 1469 and 1708, ten Gurus preached a simple message of truth, devotion to God and universal equality. Often mistaken as a combination of Hinduism and Islam, the Sikh religion can be characterized as a completely independent faith. Three basic tenets of Sikhism are living an honest life, sharing with those in need and thanking God. S

At its core, Merced United is a youth soccer program. To expand participants' horizons, Merced United is providing access to experiences both on and off the soccer field. Participants say they are learning about leadership, communication skills, teamwork and future opportunities. When you look at something from a different perspective, oftentimes everything changes. Take, for example, Merced United. This sports program has been serving young people in Merced County for 50

Friends of the Foundation members enjoy connecting with one another and learning about efforts to support the Central Valley region during our semi-annual Friends of the Foundation dinner events. A few years back, several of the Central Valley Community Foundation’s biggest supporters came to a realization: If the CVCF was going to continue serving as the hub of big and lasting change, they would need support, both financial and otherwise. Out of this realization came the Fri

Cultiva La Salud supports mobile food vendors through the cart inspection process. During this inspection, vendors receive certification confirming that their cart meets all standard safety requirements, including running water, trash disposal, a fire extinguisher and more, allowing them to legally sell food in the City of Fresno. Here in the Central Valley, there exists an uncomfortable reality: even though a quarter of America’s produce is grown here, many of the people who

Every day across the Central Valley, entrepreneurs are pursuing their dreams. People like Jorge Dominguez, CEO of Robertito’s Taco Shop; Hakim Hampton, owner of H&M Janitorial; Lena Jill, founder of Sofia’s Creaciones; and many more. These business owners and entrepreneurs have received support from Access Plus Capital (APC). APC is a lender whose mission is to expand economic opportunities for underserved business owners. It grew out of a sad reality: talent and creativity