The Inland Empire Ronald McDonald House has announced the 2024 honorees for its eighth annual A Few Good Men and Women gala. The eight distinguished Coachella Valley residents are being honored for the positive impact they have made in their local communities.
Alicia and Herman Lopez: As longtime employees of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, the Lopez family understands the importance of public service and giving back. When their son, Hunter, was killed in action in August 2021 while serving as a member of the United States Marine Corps, they created the Hunter Lopez Memorial Foundation. Money donated is used to help those who protect and serve our country.
John Page: An experienced operations professional, John Page is the senior vice president of Acrisure Arena, the Coachella Valley Firebirds and OVG360 Facilities, where he oversees management and oversight of the three entities. Before joining OVG, Page served as president of Spectra, where he supported 10,000 employees across the company’s portfolio of venues and stadiums. Page holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public administration from the University of Southern California.
Dr. Robert E. Piecuch is a neonatal-perinatal pediatrician affiliated with the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital. He received his medical degree from the Georgetown University School of Medicine and has been in practice for more than 30 years. “Dr. Bob” is an expert in treating infants born extremely prematurely. He is director of the Infant Follow-Up Program, which assesses the growth and development of infants born prematurely, and director of neonatal outreach and community programs. He serves as chair of the House Staff Curriculum Committee and directs the residents’ education program for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital.
Doug Vance serves the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation as executive vice president, with a focus in its real estate division. During his two-decade tenure. Vance has a proven track record of increasing sales, growth and profitability. Vance initially began with the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation as a member of its board of directors. For more than 20 years before joining the Berger Foundation, Vance served as a California licensed contractor and president of J&D Excavating, Inc. Vance proudly served his country as a United States Navy Seabee from 1970-1972. While serving in the construction-based branch of the military, he completed tours of Vietnam and Guam.
Sean Webb is the executive director of Read With Me Volunteers, a local nonprofit founded in 2004 to help children from low-income, limited-English-speaking environments improve their English reading, comprehension and speaking skills. Webb grew up in western New York and graduated from the University of Buffalo, earning master’s degrees from D’Youville College and California State University, San Bernardino. He has 20 years of experience as a teacher and assistant principal. Most recently, he served as director of the Desert Sands Unified School District’s Community Engagement and Education Foundation.
Brandon Weimer: In 2006, young toffee-maker Brandon Weimer and his childhood friend had the opportunity to go on a high school class trip to Italy. Challenged by their parents to earn half the cost of their trip, they accepted, and Brandini Toffee was born. With overwhelming support from their community, the two surpassed their funding goals within a few months and made it to Italy. Brandini Toffee has since grown into a full-time family business with a passionate dedication to making the best toffee products matched with a commitment to giving back to the Coachella Valley community. Weimer thrives on real human connections. While he hopes that Brandini will be a favorite sweet indulgence, it is about much more than just creating a superior product. It is a reflection of how to treat people, how to operate a business, and how to make a positive impact in the world.
Josh N. Zahid: As a leader of the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Foundation Big Hearts for Little Hearts Guilds, Zahid oversees and manages 32-plus fundraising events per year and more than 16 additional patient diversionary events. Annually, his efforts raise more than $500,000 to benefit children’s services. From 2017 to 2019, he successfully secured $5.3 million to support the building of a new pediatric outpatient clinic located in Coachella Valley, to provide medical and dental services to underserved children of the region.
The A Few Good Men and Women gala benefits the Inland Empire Ronald McDonald House, located in Loma Linda. The house is located within walking distance of the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital and offers a place of care, comfort and support for families with a critically ill or injured child.
This year’s ceremony and gala will be held at the Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort and Spa on Friday, Sept. 27. The evening will include a red-carpet entrance, cocktails, dinner, a live auction, a silent auction and the award presentation. Tickets, which start at $195, and full gala information are available at one.bidpal.net/afgmw8/welcome.
Serving the Inland Empire (and the Coachella Valley), the Inland Empire Ronald McDonald House’s mission is “to provide comfort, care and support to children and families in Southern California.” The vision is “a community where children and their families embrace life and healing with a sense of hope, enthusiasm, courage and joy.” For more information, visit rmhcsc.org/inlandempire.
—Submitted on behalf of the nonprofit by Richard O’Connell and Karen Hooper