Moreno Valley Celebrates Thirty Years

Moreno Valley celebrated their 30th year of incorporation on Wednesday, Dec. 3. The city held a brief celebration at the Conference and Recreation Center which focused mainly on community service organizations that have worked hard to help others and make a difference in the city throughout the years. “We tried to make it all about these groups. Although some spoke briefly about our progress as a city, we made sure to make it mainly about these community service organizations,” City of Moreno Valley’s Shanna Palau mentioned. “Since we highlighted the progress of the city in August's event, we wanted to do something different for this celebration.” There were a total of thirty-eight community service organizations that were honored and recognized with a Certificate of Appreciation during the event, all ranging in their missions from lending a hand to students, giving back to the community and helping feed the less-fortunate. These are all non-profit organizations that have been serving the Moreno Valley community throughout the years. The event also held an entertainment portion showcasing local talent. The band from Canyon Springs High School performed a routine for the audience as well as Amy Mein, a Soloist from Moreno Valley College. The event was free and open to the community. “We wanted to get a wide range of community members to attend,” Palau said. From preschoolers to college students, there were over four-hundred people who attended the celebration. “We set up four-hundred chairs but people kept coming in and there were a lot of people standing up… with that I’d say the event was a success,” Palau said. Moreno Valley Mayor Jesse Molina shared a short speech highlighting the community service organizations as well as the growth and progress of Moreno Valley over the years. The very first Mayor of Moreno Valley, Marshall Scott, also joined the podium to lead everyone in the pledge of allegiance. To join them was ninety-year-old Pastor OJ Philpot who led everyone in the invocation. The event went for about an hour. The conclusion of the celebration was the lighting of the “M” which is located on Box Springs Mountain. Hot cocoa, coffee, lemonade, cookies and cupcakes were complimentary to all guests after the celebration. Palau added, “I was happy to see that a lot people stayed to visit and enjoy themselves even after the lighting.” The community service organizations that were recognized included: American Youth Soccer Organization, Bill's Special Kids, Boy Scouts of America - 5 Nations District, Canyon Springs Little League, Catholic Charities, Community Assistance Program (CAP), Diamond Girls Softball Association, Family Service Association, Friends of the Moreno Valley Library, Friends of the Moreno Valley Senior Center, Girl Scouts - San Gorgonio Council, God’s Helping Hand, Jr. All American Football League, Ladies With Purpose Foundation, Moreno Valley Amateur Radio Association, Moreno Valley Aquatics, Moreno Valley Black Chamber of Commerce, Moreno Valley Black Chamber of Commerce Community Foundation, Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce, Moreno Valley Cultural Arts Foundation, Moreno Valley Community Band, Moreno Valley Elks Lodge #2697, Moreno Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Moreno Valley Historical Society, Jobs Daughters Bethel No. 35 Moreno Valley, Moreno Valley Little League, Moreno Valley Master Chorale, Moreno Valley Morning Rotary, Moreno Valley Noon Rotary, Moreno Valley Pop Warner Football, Moreno Valley Resource Center- ARC Riverside, Moreno Valley Rockets Track and FieldTeam, Moreno Valley Youth Federation Pony Baseball, Morning Optimist Club of Moreno Valley, P.W. Enhancement Center, Salvation Army Moreno Valley Corps, Soroptimist International of Moreno Valley and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #8547.