Faith-based business awards scheduled

The seventh annual Faith & Business Awards is scheduled to be held Oct. 23 at the Riverside Convention Center.

The awards, which are given to Inland businesses that give back to their local community, is expected to attract about 300 people, said Hilda Kelly, founder and president of AMPAC Tri-State CDC in Grand Terrace, the event’s sponsor.

AMPAC Tri-State CDC arranges 504 loans to small businesses through the U.S. Small Business Administration. Those loans are used to buy fixed assets, like property or equipment, usually to help with an expansion.

Kelly’s business specializes in getting loans to faith-based organizations, specifically non-profit organizations that do charitable work in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Nominees are submitted by businesses and non-profits throughout the region.

“The idea is to bring the SBA program and the faith-based community in the Inland Empire together,” said Kelly, who started the Faith & Business Awards program seven years ago at the Ontario Convention Center.

Winners were selected in three categories: Character Building, Faith Through Works and Faith-Based Organizational Development. Normally, one award is given in each category, but the Faith Through Works nominees were considered so strong that two winners were selected in that category.

Linda Smith, founder of the Four-D College in Colton, received this year’s award for character building. Smith is being recognized for her outstanding treatment of the school’s employees and its vendors, according to a statement.

Pastor Paul Scheumach, Crosslight Family Ministries and Forever Kids in Alta Loma, received the development award for his work with foster children.

Joe Annunziato of Cerenzia Foods Inc. in Rancho Cucamonga was one of the Faith Through Works winners. Annunzatio was selected for donating “millions of pounds of food” over the years to needy people in both counties.

Pastor Tommy Morrow and Mr. David Morrow of The Center for Learning and Unlimited Educational Success Charter Schools [CLUES] are the Faith Through Works Winners, for their work with students who have dropped out of school or who are considering dropping out of school.

Conference registration is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m., one hour before the program will start. Several local officials, including Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey and Ontario Mayor Paul Leon, are scheduled to speak.

Cost to attend is $45 per person. For more information visit www.ampac.com.