Fil-Am Association of SBDO County Fund Raising

Filipinos have lived in the Inland Empire for over a century. From a handful of exchange students at the beginning of the 1900s to more than 151,000, as of the 2020 Census, Filipino-Americans now make up the largest Asian American community in the area.

Filipinos, throughout those decades, both individually and as a community of color, have had to not only overcome and endure years of economic and racial struggle but also have tried to preserve their cultural and historical traditions through organizing social clubs, and when possible, maintain a place where they can gather, socialize, and help each other in time of crisis.

In 1963, the Filipino-American Association of San Bernardino County (formerly known as the Filipino Association of San Bernardino County) built such a place where Filipinos congregated, got to know each other, and held community events that raised cultural awareness of Philippine culture and the arts. For over six decades, 27124 Meines St. in Highland, was not only the organization’s clubhouse but more importantly, it became one of the very few visible symbols of the Filipino community’s growing presence in the Inland Empire.

Today, this building is now over 60 years old and in urgent need of repairs. To bring our community center to a condition of safety and comfortability to our seniors and youth, we need to raise $50,000 to:

a. Repair the leaking roof.

b. Upgrade electrical system.

c. Install new flooring.

d. Modify restrooms to make them ADA compliant.

We call upon all our families, friends and supporters to donate to this fundraising campaign to help restore and rebuild our community center so that it can continue to serve as a cultural haven for kababayans today and for generations to come. Any amount, no matter how small, will be greatly appreciated.

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization sponsoring this campaign, any donation is tax-deductible.