Tag Archives: Location of Choice

Riverside McDonald’s Sustainability Efforts Receive National Attention

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Demonstrating yet another example of Riverside as a location of choice for sustainability efforts and innovative business best-practices, the Wall Street Journal recently published the announcement that the McDonald’s restaurant located at 2242 University Avenue in Riverside had become the county’s first and only electric vehicle (EV) fast charge station with the installation of its Blink Direct Current (DC) Fast Charger.

McDonald's Riverside-Blink® Direct Current (DC) Fast ChargerThis restaurant is owned and operated by Tom and Candace Spiel and stood as a McDonald’s for 44 years. In 2010, it was completely rebuilt to operate in a more environmentally friendly way. As part of its continued path to greening, the restaurant partnered with ECOtality Inc., a leader in clean electric transportation and storage technologies, to provide the latest EV charge technology to customers. The restaurant will also have a standard Blink pedestal charging station available.

“It’s thrilling to be Riverside’s source for the latest in fast charge technology,” said Candace Spiel, McDonald’s owner/operator. “For us, it all comes down to being able to offer the Riverside community a better customer service experience and further demonstrate our commitment to environmental stewardship.”

In addition to the new Blink charging stations, current green features of this McDonald’s location include low flow plumbing fixtures saving approximately 250,000 gallons of water; native drought tolerant plants to reduce water consumption; permeable pavers to help divert about 283,000 gallons of rainfall from storm water systems; and solar panels that save approximately 8,950 kWH per month of utility usage, which is equal to the power usage of 13 average Riverside homes for one month. The restaurant also includes an interactive touch screen display for visitors to learn about the building’s features, environmental sustainability and how individuals can reduce their own carbon footprint.

To read the full article as published on the Wall Street Journal website, click here.

Eleven Riverside Students Receive Dell Scholarship Awards

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Riverside’s commitment to being a center for lifelong learning seems to be paying off. Recently eleven local seniors were notified that they had received a highly sought-after scholarship award from the Dell Scholarship Foundation.

Seven of the eleven Riverside students to receive the award were from Riverside’s Ramona High School – the second highest number of students from any one school in the nation. Each student will receive a $20,000 scholarship for college as well as a new Dell laptop and printer.

Riverside’s Ramona High School had seven Dell Scholars for 2013, the second most for one school in the country. Recipients are (top, from left) Marissa Huston, Tiffany Truong, Fernando Banales-Mejia, (bottom, left) Maria Hernandez, Karen Figueroa, Kathy Chu and Karla Venegas, pictured in their AVID classroom. (Contributed photo published on PE.com)

“Our school should be proud of the fact that we had the most winners in California and had the second most in the nation,” said Ramona counselor Mark Lim, who wrote recommendations for many of the 20 Ramona seniors who applied for the scholarship. “We were close to being No. 1, which speaks volumes about the caliber of our school and students.”

According to Oscar Sweeten-Lopez, the Dell Scholarship Foundation program director, there were 7,561 applicants and only 303 (4 percent) were awarded the Dell Scholarship. Alief Early College High School in Houston — with its first graduating class — had the highest Dell Scholars with eight.

“We are very impressed with Ramona,” said Sweeten-Lopez, who noted that Ramona has had 17 Dell Scholars since the scholarship program started in 2004. “The majority of our Ramona High Dell Scholars are attending top tier in-state and out-of-state private colleges or top UCs. I would venture that over 95 percent of our California Dell Scholars stay in state to attend a UC or CSU.”

“I’ve always felt our AVID program is one of the top ones in the nation, and this is validation of what we know is true,” said Ramona AVID coordinator Scott Lockman. The seven Dell Scholars are all in Ramona’s AVID program, which recently celebrated its 25th year.

A total of eleven recipients are from high schools in the city of Riverside. The seven Ramona seniors to receive the award were Fernando Banales-Mejia, Kathy Chu, Karen Figueroa, Maria Hernandez, Marissa Huston, Tiffany Truong and Karla Venegas. Mercedes Cornelius (La Sierra), Kathy Gutierrez (Norte Vista), Alicia Hernandez (J.W. North), and Vanessa Meteors (Arlington) were also awarded a Dell Scholarship.

To read more on the Riverside award recipients, click here.

For more information on the Dell Scholarship program, visit the official website at www.dellscholars.org.

Riverside Named One of Nation’s Happiest Cities for Young Professionals

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On April 24, 2013 Forbes published ‘The 10 Happiest Cities for Young Professionals” based on research conducted by online career site, CareerBliss.com. Proving once again that Riverside is indeed a ‘Location of Choice‘, the city earned an impressive 6th* place ranking, putting it in the company of San Jose, San Diego, Chicago and Washington D.C.

“The new generation of young professionals not only finds happiness at work important–they demand it,” says CareerBliss chief executive Heidi Golledge. “If a company wants to find and retain the best talent, they need to work on building a culture of happiness within their organization.”

(photo credit: Forbes.com)

To Riversiders, the ranking is probably not much of a surprise. Organizations such as The Pick Group have been working diligently over the past several years to grow and engage young professionals as leaders in the community. Through Seizing Our Destiny, an Education Roundtable was formed that brings leaders of Riverside’s primary and secondary schools and its four colleges and universities together specifically to create new approaches to ensuring that Riverside has extensive opportunities for lifelong learning. Riverside area chambers of commerce, nonprofits, youth organizations, businesses, government, faith-based and neighborhood groups have all made nurturing and supporting our young talent, and making Riverside a place they want to live, a top priority.

Read more here.

(*Note: The Forbes’ article content states Riverside’s rank as No. 7; however, the pictoral slide show of the Top 10 has Riverside tied for No. 6 with Philadelphia at a score of 3.84.)

Fox Theater Foundation Helps Connect Community with Performing Arts

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(Includes excerpts from the April 5, 2013 story written by Jennifer Dean and Jose Marquezthe as published on PE.com)

The Fox Riverside Theater Foundation was established in late 2008 to support the work of the Fox Performing Arts Center, the landmark theater that was reopened in January 2010. The Fox Cultural Arts Fund was then established with The Community Foundation to provide financial backing to the theater foundation.

“The mission of the foundation is to support the Fox Performing Arts Center and enrich the community by inspiring participation in the life of the Fox through community-focused performances, community outreach and fundraising,” said Cynthia Wright, Fox Riverside Theater Foundation executive director.

The foundation’s mission is important to the region because it helps the entire community — even those with limited resources — have access to the theater.

“The Fox produces some shows that are very affordable, such as the Humphrey Bogart film series last summer and the holiday showing of ‘A Christmas Story,’ ” Wright said. “On the foundation side, we increase access through such programs as Students on Broadway, through which we provide tickets to high school students (primarily) to Broadway shows.”

Riverside high school students pose after watching a performance of Fiddler on the Roof in late March (photo source: Fox Foundation’s Students on Broadway Blog)

The theater foundation also partners with the downtown arts organization, First Sundays, through its Family Fun Days, in which free arts activities for families are available.

“My favorite recent example … was the March 14 presentation of ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ an American Theater Arts for Youth production for elementary schools,” Wright said. “Schools from around the region sent 1,200 elementary school students to the Fox that day and the foundation covered the cost of 500 of those tickets.

“It was a crazy, wonderful day and the teachers couldn’t say enough about what the experience meant for their students.”

By providing connections and exposure to the performing arts as well as to the Fox Theater, a repurposed historic structure, the Foundation enables the community to experience all that Riverside has to offer as a ‘Location of Choice‘ that provides an abundance of opportunities to be amazed, inspired and entertained.

Click here to read the full article as published on PE.com.

For more information on the Fox Foundation, click here.

‘Splash’ Launches with High National Ratings, Showcases Riverside’s World-Class Diving Facility

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According to Entertainment Weekly, last week’s debut of the latest TV reality show, ABC’s Splash, was the top unscripted series debut on broadcast TV since Fox’s The X Factor first premiered in 2011, beating out Fox’s Hell’s Kitchen and second only to CBS’ NCIS in the 8 p.m. time slot. What most of the country didn’t realize, however, was that the world-class diving facility that was the backdrop for the show was right here in Riverside.

RCC Aquatics Complex

(photo source: rccd.edu)

In a February 22, 2013 Riverside City College press release, it was reported that it was a little bit of showbiz luck–and efforts by RCC, the Riverside SPORTS Commission, Riverside Convention and Visitors Bureau and the City of Riverside–that factored into the college becoming the shooting location for “Splash.” Back in January, a production crew visited the Riverside Aquatics Complex to film a promotional spot for the show. A stellar experience that day, and some key production elements, prompted ABC and producers to consider RAC as the main production location. In less than a week–unusual in the industry–a deal was struck.

Executive Producer and Eyeworks USA CEO JD Roth, said, “The stars were aligned in more ways than one in forging the show’s relationship with the Riverside Aquatics Complex, with the entire team stepping up as great partners. Riverside City College has a beautiful aquatics facility, absolutely world class, and we know our audience will find that it matches the show in visual allure and excitement, while also serving as a perfect backdrop for an authentic diving competition.”


The show will continue its filming through mid-April, showcasing one of Riverside’s incredible training centers and proving why the community is increasingly a location of choice for residents, business, visitors and athletes.

To watch the ‘Splash’ ABC promo here.

For more info on the Riverside Aquatics Complex and to read the full 2/22/13 press release, click here.

Riverside’s Community Quality of Life Survey Now Underway

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Over the next couple of weeks, those who work and/or live in Riverside will have the opportunity to provide opinions and feedback regarding the quality of life in our community. The purpose of this effort is to measure and set benchmarks aligned with the Seizing Our Destiny vision and spark community-wide engagement that promotes and continues to improve our quality of life.

Between now and March 24, 2013 some residents will receive calls to their home and/or mobile phone asking them to participate in a short random phone survey about their quality of life in Riverside. Participation in the survey will help to provide community groups and decision makers with important information concerning what residents think about living in our city. The caller ID for these calls will read CSUSB, as researchers from our regional California State University will be conducting the survey on Riverside’s behalf.

If you receive a phone call, don’t hang up! The researchers will NOT ask for your name, your social security number or your immigration status – just your opinions! Your identity and survey responses will remain confidential. Please share your thoughts to make Riverside a better place to live and work.

If you don’t receive a call, anyone who lives or works in Riverside is encouraged to share their thoughts through an online version of the survey which will be available at www.RiversideSurvey.com from April 1-30, 2013.

Phone, online and hard copy surveys will be available in English or Spanish.

All who live, work or both are encouraged to take the opportunity to participate in this process as it is all of us, and what we hope Riverside to be, that makes our city so unique and special.

For any questions or to request *paper versions of the online survey* email info@seizingourdestiny.com.

Riverside Parks & Recreation Receives Two Awards of Excellence

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The City of Riverside, Parks Recreation & Community Services Department (PRCSD) received two Awards of Excellence from the California Park & Recreation Society (CPRS) this week at the 2013 California and Pacific Southwest Recreation and Park Training Conference in San Jose, CA.

DalesSrCenterRiverside is recognized for the Facility Design of Dales Senior Center Renovation Project in the category of Community Centers/Mixed Use Facilities and for the 2012 Mariachi Festival in the category of Marketing and Communications – Marketing Campaign.

According to Ralph Nunez, Riverside PRCSD Director, “The CPRS awards program is the highest recognition our agency can receive and our award is a credit to the Council, staff, TR Design Group and volunteers that made this happen. We are honored to receive this award on behalf of our residents.”

The City of Riverside, Dales Senior Center Expansion Project embodies the CPRS “Parks Make Life Better!” campaign.  The new 10,500 SF space is a place for the community to gather, exercise, interact with nature, learn new skills and make new connections.

Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey said, “The new Dales Senior Center space and programs should inspire seniors to take advantage of our state of the art facilities and become more ‘Fit Fresh & Fun‘.”

The marketing campaign award recognized Riverside’s promotion of the Riverside Mariachi Festival — noting Riverside’s promotional materials and the partnerships with community groups, other agencies and businesses.

CPRS Executive Director Jane H. Adams states, “These agencies represent the finest in recreation programming and community wide initiatives, park planning, facility design, and marketing and communications in California. Park and recreation agencies throughout the state provide families, individuals, and groups access to the serenity and inspiration of nature; spaces and places for play and exercise; opportunities for directed and self-directed recreation; positive alternatives for youth to reduce crime and mischief; and activities that facilitate social connections, human development, therapy, the arts, and lifelong learning. CPRS and the award sponsors, Rain Bird, Little Tikes Commercial Play Systems, and RJM Design Group, Inc., are proud to recognize the excellent parks, recreation programs, services and facilities provided to Californians.”

The California Park & Recreation Society presented awards in 5 categories:

  • Creating Community Award of Excellence
  • Excellence in Design – Park Planning
  • Excellence in Design – Facility Design
  • Marketing & Communications Award of Excellence
  • Professional & Service 

The two recognitions further demonstrate Riverside’s commitment to increasing the quality of life for all residents through recreation, gathering, health and fitness facilities and programs.

Give Big Riverside Campaign Encourages Local Philanthropy

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Give Big Riverside is a 24-hour online giving event engaging donors for the benefit of local nonprofits.

The Community Foundation Serving Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, in cooperation with a community task force is organizing the pilot Riverside Online Giving Day as an opportunity for Riverside nonprofits to collaborate under one gateway to inspire new and recurring donations from Riverside residents to local charities. Give BIG Riverside is modeled after similar ‘days of giving’ in Colorado, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and in California most recently Give Big San Diego, which raised nearly $2.4 million.

Efforts to spur local philanthropy have been hampered by several factors. While Riverside’s nonprofits are struggling to meet increasing demand for services, local, state and federal funding sources are also diminishing. In particular, educational, recreational, arts and cultural services have been severely impacted by the diversion of resources to meet basic needs. These art and cultural activities are personally enriching, and they also make Riverside a more unified city through significant contributions to economic and community vitality.

Festivals and events, performances, and visual and written art make a significant contribution to the local economy; they create jobs and provide important benefits to economic development, tourism, education, and community wellness, all key players in Riverside’s innovative economy. Each of these areas of vitality creates ripple effects that contribute to a stronger business environment, an increased tax base and an improved quality of life for residents.

To meet the economic challenges of today, nonprofits must seek innovative ways to connect donors (new and repeat) in order to sustain these “safety net” services and to continue providing quality and much needed services in our community.

The goals of Riverside’s first online giving day are:

  • Raise $500,000 dollars for at least 200 nonprofits.
  • Secure cumulative matching gifts of $87,000 from sponsors & private foundations
  • Train nonprofits in ongoing donor cultivation and online fundraising tactics, including effective use of social media

Give BIG Riverside asks local residents to understand that there is a crisis in their own community and that their help is essential. By donating to local nonprofits, Riversiders are directly contributing to efforts that improve our quality of life. The work of these nonprofits helps ensure that the community is one that serves as a catalyst for innovation and intelligent growth and one that continues to thrive as a unified city and a location of choice.

Through the Give Big Riverside online campaign, Riverside will enjoy long term benefits that help expand the philanthropic culture and increase civic engagement; promote long term fundraising capacity, maximize marketing potential and economic growth.

Visit giveBIGriverside.org to learn more about the campaign and how you can get involved!

Shop Local, Shop Riverside!

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$hop Riverside is a City of Riverside awareness campaign designed to educate residents on the benefits of shopping locally. Not only does it support small business owners in Riverside and help to create more jobs for our residents, but for every dollar you spend in the City, 1% goes back to the community to support city services, such as police, fire, museum exhibits, youth programs, libraries and much more!

When you shop locally, you are increasing your investment in your community and ultimately improving your quality of life. So, make your dollars count by supporting city services! 

As an added benefit, you can be rewarded by shopping local through the $hop Riverside Community Card that provides additional discounts while serving as a fundraising source for local school and non-profit organizations. The card has more than 200 participating local businesses and provides a wide range of special offers for the cardholder…from dining to shopping to relaxing at a spa, you can find businesses all over Riverside that will be proud to honor your card.  You can purchase the Community Card for $15 from several Riverside schools or online at SmartRiverside.com. (View the full list of locations to purchase the card and more details on the $hop Riverside program)

Looking for places to shop in Riverside? The city is a location of choice for some of the greatest shopping in the Inland Empire. Riverside residents and visitors can enjoy a wide variety of retail and shopping opportunities throughout the City. Shoppers can experience everything from Riverside’s charming downtown stores and boutiques to specialty shops at the newly renovated Riverside Plaza as well as top brand-name stores at the Galleria at Tyler and other nearby shopping centers. From specialty retailers to nationally recognized stores, Riverside has it all.

Before you go shopping be sure to visit ExploreRiverside.com to find all that Riverside has to offer!