Giving Back to the Community
What started out as a small BBQ helping only a few groups turned into what we now have today, the Concert Under the Stars. Herb Hafif has always been a supporter of all types of charities from medical, arts, educational, gangs and drug rehab, and donates religiously every year covering all expenses. Charities net millions. Yet at some point he felt he should do more. So his question was, how can I help more groups at the same time? This is when he came up with the brilliant idea of hosting picnic's with gourmet food and entertainment to help raise funds for local charities. It wasn't until almost 5 years ago that this idea blossomed into the Concert Under the Stars which now helps over 150 charities raise money for their cause. Not only are these groups local to the Claremont area, but with the news of such a successful fundraiser, groups flocked from all over. We now have groups expanding all the way from Riverside County, Los Angeles, and Long Beach.
The Hafif Family Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation that has contributed over $20 million in charitable donations in the past 35 years, included among the grants were over 3,000 scholarships and many $100,000 donations to groups such as the Venice Free Clinic, The LA Mission, drug rehabilitation centers, and completely funding The Pomona gang programs, as well as city park maintenance programs. The Foundation has been recognized locally and nationally being twice selected as the number one private foundation in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties in the past five years.
Over 10,000 people now participate each summer along with 200 volunteers that take care of all service and parking. Groups such as the Inland Bulletin have paid for printing of the tickets and posters since the first concert over five years ago. Other publications and T. V. stations also cover the events. Thereby giving public recognition to these charities.
The Foundation's function has changed from grants to facilitation. Our efforts are now designed to empower other good charities to raise their own money. It works! Sell outs are now the standard with over 3,500 people on the waiting lists. More than 6,000 tickets sell out within a week of issuance. We work with Nobel Prize winning charities as well as other less well known groups such as Shoes that Fit which has grown from a small Claremont operation that now covers over 34 states! We supply the ingredients, they bake the cake.
The Hafif Family Foundation has been selected as the number one private foundation in both Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties twice in the past five years after a nomination by the American Red Cross to the Association of non-profits. In that time Herb Hafif has also been selected Corporate Benefactor of the year for the National Community College Association as well as receiving over 100 awards for community service.
As Bob Balzer, the publisher of seven local newspapers said, "This is one time where free means free and where a donation is protected by the prescreening of every participating charity by Herb Hafif and Burnis Simon. People want to know their money is being spent wisely." So here we are, another concert year under our belt and it gets better every year. In 2009 we had 10,000 attending. Welcome all newcomers, we hope this website keeps you well informed!