Molina Healthcare of California Celebrates Three Inland Empire MolinaCares Community Champions

08/12/2024

Honorees receive $5,000 to donate to nonprofit organization of choice

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif., Aug. 12, 2024 -Molina Healthcare of California ("Molina") recently recognized three Inland Empire residents for their dedication to addressing social determinants of health through the MolinaCares Community Champions program. Each honoree received a $5,000 grant to pay forward to the nonprofit organization of their choice.

"Molina is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the communities we serve," said Abbie Totten, plan president of Molina Healthcare of California. "We are grateful for the opportunity to celebrate individuals who give back to the Inland Empire and support their partnering organizations in the work they do to help our neighbors access the resources and services needed to thrive."

This year's Inland Empire MolinaCares Community Champions are:

Yvonne Bennett, RN, BSN, of Moreno Valley, serves as program manager for the Sexual Assault Forensic Exam Clinic (SAFE) at Riverside University Health System (RUHS). While providing more than 500 exams for sexual assault and domestic violence victims every year, Bennett tends to the physical and mental needs of the victims. In addition, she is secretary for the California Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners Association (CalSAFE). Bennett and her team are currently beta-testing a new, single-site platform for all abuse reporting under a federal grant. The team has provided feedback to the developers of the database. Bennett is working to help ensure this single website platform is ready to roll out statewide in the next few years while also implementing the database throughout RUHS Medical Center and their clinics. Bennett's grant will be donated to RUHS Foundation.

Dr. Lorrie Hinkleman, of Redlands, began her involvement with community outreach after retiring from the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health as director of the W.I.C. program. Since then, Dr. Hinkleman has volunteered in social service and charitable aid programs for low-income and homeless individuals in Redlands. She volunteered with Youth Hope, a non-profit focused on addressing the needs of homeless and troubled youth, as a GED and tutoring coordinator, and a grant writer. Dr. Hinkleman became a member of the Redlands Charitable Resources Coalition (RCRC) executive committee and began working as project manager for the City of Redlands Homeless Resource Guide. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she coordinated a city-wide effort to provide food and hygiene kits to homeless and low-income families. The City of Redlands awarded her the 2021 Hero of the Year award. Dr. Hinkleman's grant will be donated to RCRC.

Dr. Selin Yildiz Nielsen, of Riverside, is founder and president of the Human Migration Institute (HMI), an organization spearheading initiatives to promote equity for vulnerable populations, particularly refugees. Her work, specifically in Riverside, has contributed to refugee education, economic empowerment, humanitarian aid, advocacy and resettlement. She has provided ESL classes, transportation, childcare support and scholarships. She has actively engaged with local Riverside employers to advocate for refugee benefits and facilitate hiring refugees. During the pandemic, Dr. Nielsen organized and participated in distributing health supplies, food boxes, and essential needs to refugee populations. Dr. Nielsen has addressed the United Nations in New York. She co-authored "Encounters in the Turkey-Syria Borderland" and her groundbreaking article about tele-mental health in Nature magazine shed light on the need for mental health support for refugees. Her grant will be donated to HMI.

About Molina Healthcare of California
Molina Healthcare of California has been providing government-funded care for over 40 years. The Company serves members through Medi-Cal, Medicare, Medicare-Medicaid (Duals) and Covered California (Marketplace). Molina's service areas include Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, Orange County and Imperial counties. Through its locally operated health plans, Molina Healthcare, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, provides managed health care services under the Medicaid and Medicare programs, and through state insurance marketplaces. For more information about Molina Healthcare of California, visit MolinaHealthcare.com.

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