December 21, 2021

The Fontana Foundation of Hope Supports Mountain Shadows – Riverside

by Sheryl Wilde

It all started with a popsicle.

“In 2014, Jack Long went into Cardenas Market in Fontana to buy a popsicle,” says Eric Goodman, President/CEO, Mountain View Services, Inc., and Board Member, Mountain Shadows Foundation.  “On his way out, on a whim, he bought a lottery ticket.

“A few days later, he learned he won the lottery – $60 million!!!

“But Jack is not your typical millionaire.   He remains a very modest man. He still lives in the same neighborhood, and still shops at Walmart.

“Jack made a promise the day he won the lottery – to create a foundation to give back to his community. I think many lottery winners say things like that. But Jack is one of the few who has really done good things with his winnings.

“Soon after he won, Jack created the Fontana Foundation of Hope, which supports charities in the Inland Empire. Through the Foundation, he’s done a lot of good for a lot of people, including Mountain Shadows.”

The mission of the Fontana Foundation of Hope is to support and grow community programs in the Inland Empire. The Foundation has supported organizations including the Children’s Fund, the CORE: Hope Through Housing Foundation, the River’s Edge Ranch Organization, the Heroes Warehouse Organization, the Ronald McDonald House, and many youth sports programs.

“When I was a single dad, the community helped me with my kids,” says Jack. “The Foundation is my way of paying back the community.”

Jack was instilled with a sense of loyalty and a desire to give back early in his life. He describes a key moment in his life:

“I had a fight with the assistant principal in high school, so I ended up going to a military academy in Elsinore. It was a private school. The commandant was my brother-in-law.

“I messed up one day. And some people were saying, ‘I told you so.’ Some people were saying I was no good. But he stood up for me. It was one of the biggest moments in my life. He stood up for me. He saved me. I became a Lieutenant Colonel because of that man. I owed him.

“So, to me, family is the most important thing. They put up with me. My family knows me best. When my family says shame on me, it makes me stop.

“Eric and I are on the Board of Directors for the Ronald McDonald House. He introduced me to Mountain Shadows. I’m very happy he did.”

“The Fontana Foundation of Hope recently gave us a very generous grant to be used for at-home activities for our residents,” says Wade Wilde, Executive Director/CFO, Mountain Shadows Support Group. “We are so grateful to Jack and his team at the Foundation. The funds will be used to purchase an inflatable theatre movie system, which the residents can use to watch movies outdoors, in a movie-in-the-park style.”

Adds Olivia Garcia, QIDP/A, Placement Coordinator, MSCH – Riverside, “We are looking forward to setting up the movie system at one of our houses, like Maverick house or Halbrook house.

“During the pandemic, there were no outings in the community for the residents. Most residents stayed in their own house the whole time. The outside theatre will allow several houses to get together and enjoy a movie together.

“Before the pandemic, the residents were used to seeing each other. They’ve missed that. With this movie system, the residents can get out of their houses and get some fresh air. They can enjoy a movie on the big screen together. It will be great!”

“The Fontana Foundation of Hope has also provided other grants for the swim program at The Cove, which provides swim lessons to special needs individuals,” adds Olivia. “It’s a huge benefit to the residents. There’s never been a resident who didn’t enjoy it or get a benefit from it.”

Resident Ty Marri is one example of the life-changing benefits of the swim program:

At 11 years old, Ty Marri was a normal kid who loved sports. He was adventurous, confident, outgoing and very active. Then he was in a car accident and his whole life changed in an instant. The accident left him unable to walk.

When he came to live at Mountain Shadows, Ty Marri joined The Cove swim program. Due to the accident, his body was especially weak on one side, and it took a lot of time – a lot of time – with Marianna, his swim instructor, having to cradle him in the water just to help him float. But, together, they did it. Then slowly, Marianna began to show him some strokes, and how to kick, and stand in the water. And he did all of that too!

Then, Marianna encouraged Ty Marri to walk in the water. At first, he was afraid to try. He’d lost confidence in his body’s ability to what he wanted it to do. It took a lot of persuasion, but Marianna kept encouraging him, saying, “Come on, you can do it!”

Ty Marri loves to repeat things – anything anybody says to him. So, he started repeating everything Marianna said … “Come on, you can do it! Come on, you can do it!” He repeated the phrase over and over, willing his body to comply with his words.

Finally, Marianna gently took ahold of Ty Marri’s weak foot and helped him position it in the water, encouraging him to take a first step. “Come on, you can do it!” she urged him on.

“Come on, you can do it!” Ty Marri repeated, struggling to move his other, stronger leg, again willing it to move.

Marianne took his other foot, placing one foot in front of the other, and Ty Marri took his first step since the accident!

“You can do it!” Marianna was jumping and shouting now, urging him forward.

“You can do it! You can do it! You can do it!” Ty Marri was smiling and yelling and repeating the words after Marianna. It was a huge moment for him. All eyes were on him. There was pop music playing and everyone, all of the instructors, started dancing in the pool to celebrate the magical moment.

It was his first step. It was in the water, but it was a step! And it was his first step toward regaining confidence back in his own body.

“The swim program opens eyes to what’s possible for our residents,” adds Olivia. Through the swim program, residents can learn to trust themselves and others, they learn to become more independent – and some, like Ty Marri, begin to learn to walk again.

The program wouldn’t be available to residents without the support of organizations like the Fontana Foundation for Hope.

“The swim program was closed down due to the pandemic. We hope to begin taking residents again as soon as it’s safe.”

“I’ve been on the Board of Ronald McDonald House for 20 years,” adds Eric. “Jack is on the Board too. The Fontana Foundation donated $1 million to Ronald McDonald House. Jack and I have been inseparable since we met.

“He’s a great man. There’s no one with a bigger heart. He has a good sense of humor. His motto is, ‘Do as much good as you can.’”

Ever humble, Jack says, “Every day I just go out looking for my best friends of the day.”

You’ve found friends, not just for the day, but for life, in our Mountain Shadows Family, Jack.

Our heartfelt thanks go out to Jack, and the Fontana Foundation of Hope, for their friendship and generosity.

Popsicle anyone?