Crafton Hills College Foundation Receives $26,000 Grant to Support Respiratory Care Students

Publish Date: Oct. 26, 2026

The Crafton Hills College Foundation has received a $26,000 grant from the Golden State Environmental Justice Alliance to help 26 Respiratory Care students cross the finish line into the healthcare workforce.

Each student in the college’s Respiratory Therapy cohort graduating in December 2026 will receive $1,000, roughly half of the out-of-pocket costs they face for certifications, licensing exams, clinical requirements, and other expenses of completing the program.

Those costs arrive at a hard moment, just as students are moving from college to career. “These students have worked incredibly hard to complete a demanding program, and we don’t want financial barriers to stand in the way of their careers,” said Michelle Riggs, Executive Director of Institutional Advancement and the Crafton Hills College Foundation. “We are so grateful to the Golden State Environmental Justice Alliance for investing in these students. This support will make a real difference in their lives and in the communities they will soon serve.”

The grant responds to a growing demand for respiratory therapists across the Inland Empire and Southern California, where poor air quality, wildfire smoke, traffic pollution, and industrial emissions contribute to respiratory health challenges. Respiratory therapists care for patients with asthma, chronic lung disease, smoke inhalation, and other respiratory emergencies, and their work matters most in communities already affected by environmental conditions and limited access to healthcare.

By supporting students who will soon serve those communities, the Golden State Environmental Justice Alliance is linking environmental justice with workforce development.

“This partnership is about much more than helping students pay for exams and licensing,” Riggs added. “It’s about opening doors for students to build meaningful careers while strengthening the healthcare workforce in our region. These 26 future respiratory therapists will care for patients and families across our communities, and that impact will reach well beyond graduation.”

Through partnerships like this one, the Crafton Hills College Foundation continues to remove financial barriers, expand educational opportunities, and help students move from the classroom into careers that make a difference.