The 2014 Ruiz 4 Kids Annual Fiesta fundraiser raised $378,690 – an 8% increase from 2013, and a record for the event.
“Words cannot describe how we feel about the success of the 2014 Ruiz 4 Kids Fiesta Fundraiser,” said Kim Ruiz Beck, chairman of Ruiz Foods, Inc. and president of Ruiz 4 Kids. “We are so grateful and want to thank everyone who supported our community organizations.”
A representative from each of four organizations was presented with a check at the Annual Ruiz Holiday Luncheon held last month at the Visalia Convention Center.
Wish Upon A Star received $80,338.37, CASA of Tulare County was given $96,475.63, Dinuba High School’s Engineering and Construction Linked Learning Academy was awarded $92,425.63 and Miracle League of Visalia received $109,450.63.
Wish Upon A Star believes the granting of a wish is “medicine for the spirit.” The wishes this organization grants provide a sense of comfort and support to Central Valley children suffering from high-risk and terminal illnesses.
CASA of Tulare County speaks up for the innocent children who are victims of abuse and neglect by advocating for their safety and wellbeing by training community volunteers to represent their best interests and be their voice in court.
Dinuba High School’s new Linked Learning Academy is focused on engineering and construction management. It is an approach that is transforming education for high school students by integrating rigorous academics with career-based learning and real-world workplace experiences. Linked Learning fosters collaboration among industry and college partners, leaving the students both college and career-ready.
Miracle League of Visalia allows disabled children and youth to be a part of baseball in a way not otherwise possible. Participants are paired with volunteer “Buddies” who assist participants on the totally handicapped accessible playing surface in games allowing everyone to get a hit and score a run in each inning. Several communities throughout the country have established their own Miracle Leagues to give mentally and physically disabled children the opportunity to participate in a baseball league.
Ruiz 4 Kids’ primary mission is to provide opportunities to inspire hope and change in children’s lives. Ruiz 4 Kids was founded in 1990 when Ruiz Foods Team Members approached Fred Ruiz asking him to help them explore ways to assist families with children in need. Since then, Ruiz 4 Kids has organized two annual fundraising events – a golf invitational to raise monies for college scholarships and a fiesta event to raise monies for area nonprofits that are in need to grow their children-focused programs.
Ruiz Foods is a privately owned corporation with corporate offices in Dinuba. Its El Monterey brand is the market leader within the frozen Mexican food category and the No. 1 brand of frozen Mexican food in the U.S.