Thursday May 28, 2026 | Vol 40 No. 11

WESTSIDESTORY NEWSPAPER

San Bernardino Native and NFL Running Back Alexander Mattison to Attends Making Hope Happen Gala

annually for San Bernardino students through ceeds supporting scholarships and student suc- the organization.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA--- The Making Hope Happen Foundation announced that NFL running back Alexander Mattison, a San Ber- nardino native and San Bernardino High School graduate, attended its upcoming Making Hope Happen Gala.

Mattison's connection to the Foundation dates to his senior year of high school, when he re- ceived a Making Hope Happen scholarship. He now gives back by funding two scholarships

In San Bernardino County, Black babies are almost three times more likely to die before their first birthday than white babies. From 2018 to 2023, the number of babies born too early went up by more than 10%. Black mothers also have a higher chance of feeling sad or depressed during pregnancy, which can affect both mom and baby.

"Alexander's journey reflects exactly why we do this work," said Niki Dettman, Chief Execu- tive Officer at Making Hope Happen Founda- tion. "His continued investment in local stu- dents is making a real impact."

Gala attendees had the opportunity to bid on signed Alexander Mattison memorabilia during the event's live and silent auctions, with pro-

Rallying Around Sisters

Perinatal Equity in San Bernardino County

But there is hope-and people are taking action. That's where FIMR, the Fetal Infant Mortality Review, comes in.

FIMR is a local group of doctors, nurses, community leaders, and neighbors. They work together to learn why some babies die and how to stop it from happening. They look at real cases (mom's and baby's information is kept private) and share ideas to help make care better for families.

cess programs.

The Making Hope Happen Gala is a key fund- raising event supporting education, mentorship, and college access initiatives for San Bernardi- no students.

The gala took place on May 14, 2026, at the Hilltop Banquet Facility in San Bernardino.

Together, we can build healthy beginnings for Black families.

For more information, visit dph.sbcounty.gov/mcah or email [email protected].

• SAN BERNARDINO
• COUNTY
• Public Health