Batter Up!: Thousands raised at Crafton Hills College Foundation’s annual fundraiser
Publish Date: Oct. 16, 2025
A grand slam of generosity resulted in $259,000 in support of the Crafton Hills College Foundation during the nonprofit’s annual fundraising gala on Oct. 16.
The baseball-themed event paid homage to the 1989 Kevin Coster film Field of Dreams, by turning Crafton’s quad area into a ballfield intended to celebrate America’s favorite pastime and kickstart the dreams of students looking to obtain a higher education.
“There’s a line [in the film], ‘People will come, Ray. They’ll come to Iowa for reasons they can’t even fathom,’ that reminds us of the power of belief, that when we build something meaningful, people are drawn to be a part of it,” shared Foundation President Amy Minjares.
Attendees were encouraged to come decked out in their favorite team’s jerseys, all while enjoying the common sights and sounds and tasty delights commonly found at the ballpark. Program highlights included a performance of the National Anthem by Roadrunner Sage Horan; remarks from San Bernardino Community College District Chancellor Dr. Diana Z. Rodriguez and Crafton President Kevin Horan; and a few dad jokes from Josh Stapleton, the event’s master of ceremonies and a CHC alumnus.
It was Stapleton’s job to get the crowd excited to contribute what they could by hyping items up for grabs during a silent and live auction and a sponsor-a-student fundraiser.
Some big-ticket items included a “Bad News Bears” movie poster signed by the film’s star Walter Mattahu; tickets to see singer-songwriter and actress Melissa Manchester at Agua Caliente Casino; a Big Bear weekend for up to seven guests; and a firehouse dinner at Redlands Fire Department’s Fire Station 261 in downtown Redlands.
Stories of impact brought laughs and tears from attendees thanks to remarks made by Syndey Weissman, a Crafton Honors Institute student, and musician Stephen Prutsman, both of whom credit the college for changing the trajectory of their lives.
“It was so evident going from Crafton to then UCLA, a school with 40,000 people, that the support and the tools that the professors [here at Crafton] gave you were so unmatched,” Weissman shared.
Said Prutsman, “I was a very mediocre student at Yucaipa High School, completely lost without knowing what I wanted to do. Right after high school, I got into University of Redlands, and I failed miserably there. Right afterwards I started thinking, ‘What an opportunity right here in my own backyard to take the core classes that I needed, and in the process, I became really curious, and it was really, really wonderful.”
Attending Crafton, he continued, “inspired inside of me a love of learning which continues to this day.”
A special thank-you goes out to the Gold Level Sponsors: KVCR, Tilden-Coil, Pepsi, Markarian Law Group, AECOM, Kitchell, Redlands Yucaipa Medical Group, Bidaki Law Firm, and Epic Engineers.
For over 50 years, the Crafton Hills College Foundation has supported Roadrunner success through student scholarships and campus improvements. The gala is the Foundation’s only major fundraising event each year, but donations can be made year-round at https://www.craftonhills.edu/visitors-and-alumni/giving-to-chc/index.php or by mailing checks payable to: CHC Foundation, 11711 Sand Canyon Road, Yucaipa, CA 92399.
Nestled in the scenic foothills between Yucaipa and Redlands, Crafton Hills College continues to inspire and empower students to achieve their educational dreams. Learn more at https://www.craftonhills.edu/.
