Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians
Special to Valley News
The 13th annual Soboba Foundation & Soboba Casino Resort Charity Golf Tournament was a sold-out event held April 7-9 at the Soboba Springs Golf Course. Each day of the three-day tournament brought more than 150 players to the scenic course, followed by afternoons of food, fun, and prizes.
Each year, nonprofit organizations benefit from the tournament’s strong support. After a competitive application process that included a video presentation, ten nonprofits were selected by the Soboba Foundation board to receive $10,000 each.
But instead of simply receiving a check, the selected nonprofits are required to volunteer at the tournament. Their tasks play a key role in ensuring all participants have a positive experience, from check-in to the close of day.
Sponsorship Coordinator Andrew Vallejos hosted an orientation about 10 days prior to the event to ensure all nonprofit representatives understood expectations. Volunteer Coordinators Tara and Joseph Placencia also attended to answer questions and guide the volunteers on their assigned days.
Six holes featured “Fairway Frenzy Games,” giving golfers a chance to win extra prizes. Nonprofit volunteers oversaw the games, recorded scores, and interacted with golfers at nearby vendor stations offering snacks, drinks, and giveaways. Details of these games were covered during the orientation to ensure everything ran smoothly.
Beyond the nonprofit reps, other dedicated volunteers contribute each year. “Our main recruits have been the Placencia family, Maria Vivanco and Sierra Mendez; mostly Tribal members,” Tara said.
Tara, who is married to Soboba Tribal member Patrick Placencia, has volunteered at the event for a decade. Initially helping with registration, she and her nephew Joseph have spent the last three years coordinating all volunteers and assigning duties to ensure smooth operations. Tara also drives the course during the event to check in with vendors and volunteers stationed at various holes.
“I love this tournament, and this year went pretty smoothly,” Tara said. “I love getting to know the team members that work so hard for the Tribe. Everyone worked very hard to make this a successful event. I thank Andrew and the Soboba Foundation for letting me be a part of it.”
This year’s ten beneficiaries included Boxing for Christ, Care-A-Van Transit Systems Inc., Friends of Valley-Wide Foundation, Haven Pet Center, Hemet Youth Wrestling Club, Inter-Tribal Sports, My City Youth, Oak Grove Institute Foundation, San Jacinto Unified School District’s Rose Salgado Elementary School, and Valley Community Pantry.
Each group provided volunteers to help with vendor check-in, guest greeting at the banquet, and other duties starting at 6 a.m. Many had enough help to split into shifts for the 12-hour day, which extended past 6 p.m. with the evening banquet at Soboba Casino Resort.
Tribal Council member Michael Bentiste praised the effort: “The whole team does an awesome job on the organization of this event each year – it is top notch.”
DJ Mike Nevarez kept energy levels high with morning music and continued into the banquet. “I figure everyone comes ready to party, so I play something for everyone,” said Nevarez, now in his third year providing music and announcements for the event.
Before the 10 a.m. shotgun start, Soboba Tribal Council Chairman Isaiah Vivanco welcomed participants and thanked them for their continued support. “I also want to thank Andrew Vallejos and his team for making sure this goes off without a hitch each year,” he said.
Tournament Director and Soboba Casino Resort General Manager Jason Cozart gave an overview of the day and encouraged everyone to attend the evening banquet. “I felt the tournament was a resounding success,” said Cozart. “It brought together brothers and sisters from Tribes near and far, as well as partners of the Soboba Band. Together we supported many deserving charities and furthered the common goal of giving back to the communities that mean so much to the Soboba Foundation, Soboba Casino Resort, and the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians as a whole.”
Photos courtesy of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians and StylePhotography by Alex Tapia
