![\"Alcidia](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Alcidia-Freitas-Gomes-and-Victor-E.-Bulldog-IV.-at-her-retirement-event-Feb-18-2025-1024x686.jpg\")
Alcidia Freitas Gomes and Victor E. Bulldog IV at her retirement event, Feb. 18 2025. Fresno State\/Geoff Turner)\nFresno State Education Life Changing for Students, Families: Gomes<\/p>\n
As Fresno and the Central Valley continue to wrestle with challenges ranging from housing and health care to education, food insecurity, and environmental change, a group of local leaders is quietly shaping a different future.<\/p>\n
GV Wire\u2019s 2025 Difference Makers spotlight individuals and organizations whose work is redefining what service, leadership, and impact look like in the region \u2014 from nonprofit executives and educators to advocates, artists, entrepreneurs, first responders, and young people finding their voice.<\/p>\n
Together, their stories reflect a Valley driven not just by need, but by innovation, compassion, and a deep commitment to community.<\/p>\n
MATTHEW DILDINE: FRESNO MISSION<\/p>\n
If Nashville is known for music and Silicon Valley for startups, Matthew Dildine says he wants Fresno to be known for giving. And given the history of the Fresno Mission and its partner organizations, Dildine, the nonprofit\u2019s CEO, says they are well on the way.<\/p>\n
\u201cNashville does music, Silicon Valley does tech startups, Hollywood does movies,\u201d Dildine said. \u201cI would love if people looked at Fresno and said \u2018that is that place that has all these different facilities and systems that provide the best possible care when someone\u2019s experiencing crisis.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n
Ever since the Mission\u2019s City Center opened in 2024, its draw has reached both near and far, Dildine said. Hungry people, unhoused people, NS needy people come to the 9-acre campus at Dakota and Blackstone avenues for groceries, access to a multitude of services, or simply a place to sit and get coffee. They cut the ribbon on their housing facility earlier this year with rooms suitable for an entire family.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not just people with needs that come to the center, however. Bankers and professionals come to the facility for a cup of coffee or to host meetings, Dildine said. The facility hosts conferences and business lunches.<\/p>\n
That draw has since extended to the entire continent, he said, with organizations wanting to see how a homeless service center can upend the stigma around them \u2014 elevating the neighborhood around it and restoring dignity to the people visiting.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe really endeavored to build not just the nicest place for a homeless mother to go, we wanted to build the nicest place for any mother to go,\u201d Dildine said. \u201cFor that reason, one of the great things about it is it\u2019s been able to get so much attention from all over the country. We\u2019ve literally had people from all over North America come visit.\u201d<\/p>\n
City Center Officially the \u2018Coolest Place in the Country\u2019<\/p>\n
Last week, Dildine was coordinating a return visit from a Houston organization wanting to see how to build one in their area. Another group from Los Angeles is hoping to build a City Center-like building in Southern California.<\/p>\n
When word came out that the Hilton family wanted to build a homeless service campus in Las Vegas, President Donald Trump\u2019s homeless czar, Robert Marbut Jr., reportedly told them they need to go to Fresno, Dildine said.<\/p>\n
This comes after President Joe Biden\u2019s homeless czar, Jeff Olivet, visited City Center.<\/p>\n
When Marbut visited earlier this year, Dildine saw how impressed the official was. He asked him if he thought it was the \u201ccoolest\u201d place in the country.<\/p>\n
Marbut agreed, but asked Dildine why the question.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was like, \u2018Biden\u2019s guy said it was the coolest place in the country, now you said it\u2019s the coolest place in the country, I\u2019m going to go tell my donors that the Trump administration and the Biden administration finally agree on the same thing, which is that City Center is officially the coolest place in the country,’\u201d Dildine said.<\/p>\n
Fresno Mission Has a Long Tradition of Innovation<\/p>\n
The Fresno Mission exporting service models didn\u2019t start with City Center, Dildine said. When the Mission \u2014 then the Rescue Mission \u2014 began in 1949 part of the operations included training other organizations.<\/p>\n
The most recent undertaking for the Mission brought on a partnership with Valley Children\u2019s Hospital to create a coordinated system of services for children and teens in crisis.<\/p>\n
In addition to providing services locally, the founders traveled up and down the West planting other ministries, Dildine said. A quick calculation estimated $500 million in revenue from some of the largest homeless service providers in the Bay Area, San Jose, Santa Rosa, and Bakersfield \u2014 all that found their origins in the Fresno Mission.<\/p>\n
Some of those groups include Redwood Gospel Mission, the Mission at Kern County, another called CityTeam in the Bay Area.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn fact, I was talking to one nonprofit up in Santa Rosa \u2014 and I never knew this \u2014 but he told me in their bylaws, it says that if they were ever financially to go under, all of their resources go the Fresno Rescue Mission,\u201d Dildine said.<\/p>\n
The most recent undertaking for the Mission brought on a partnership with Valley Children\u2019s Hospital to create a coordinated system of services for children and teens in crisis.<\/p>\n
Combining the resources of CASA, Breaking the Chains, City Without Orphans, Central California Food Bank, the Justice Coalition, Martin Park, and the Troy Center means building wraparound services for youth in need.<\/p>\n
Knowing There\u2019s Always One More Mouth to Feed Is Stressful: Dildine<\/p>\n
Dildine came to the Mission by way of a decade in the legal field, he said. While successful at his firm, he watched the impact his wife made with the Central California Food Bank. Kym Dildine is now co-CEO of the food bank.<\/p>\n
The outreach provided at the Mission helps create those intangible foundations to help people on their way to stability.<\/p>\n
He considered the abundance of food in the region and yet so many still went hungry, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fact that we had the most food, yet the most hungry people, most neighborhoods to reflect a creation that God didn\u2019t intend, and yet most people sitting in church pews, really started to bother me,\u201d Dildine said. \u201cAnd so all the time that I was investing in my legal career, I started investing that into these issues of poverty.\u201d<\/p>\n
In 2018, the opportunity arose to become the Mission\u2019s CEO and he took it.<\/p>\n
Many think about the stress of the legal field, but he he said it doesn\u2019t compare to the stress of ensuring people are fed, clothed, and housed.<\/p>\n
At the Mission, they tabulate daily how many receive a meal or a coat or find shelter. While reaching as many people as possible is important, creating a lasting impact is how Dildine says he calculates success. The outreach provided at the Mission helps create those intangible foundations to help people on their way to stability.<\/p>\n
But knowing that still more need food and shelter is one of the highest stressors, Dildine said.<\/p>\n
\u201cKnowing that there is a person who really needs that resource just beyond your limit I think is one of the hardest things,\u201d Dildine said. \u201cTo know that people are struggling with life threatening situations, to know that kids are suffering through things that will permanently impact them for the rest of their lives and getting to a point where you\u2019re always trying to help that next person, that to me is a very stressful, hard, hard experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014 Edward Smith<\/p>\n
DR. SONY SIDHU: MADERA COMMUNITY HOSPITAL<\/p>\n
In 2023, despite efforts to keep it open, the Madera Community Hospital board faced the difficult decision of closing the only full-service medical center between Fresno and Merced.<\/p>\n
The closure meant the population of Madera \u2014 a majority of whom rely on Medi-Cal \u2014 had to travel to Fresno or Merced for medical emergencies or to get services that couldn\u2019t be provided by Camarena Health or other health clinics.<\/p>\n
After two years, American Advanced Management, an agency familiar with reopening a distressed hospital, took over operations. And now, the hospital has slowly reopened, adding services in a controlled manner over the past six months to keep it from suffering the same fate as the previous Madera hospital.<\/p>\n
At the helm is Dr. Sony Sidhu, the hospital\u2019s CEO who says she\u2019s made a point of being front-facing with the community. She said the first few patients to the emergency room had tears in their eyes, telling Sidhu they were relieved that trips for their children required only a short drive.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s huge. We had older populations that had been dealing with chronic conditions \u2014 simple diabetes and high blood pressure,\u201d Sidhu said. \u201cWhen there\u2019s a crisis with that, you don\u2019t want them to be traveling, right? Let\u2019s say a community member has a diabetic episode\u2026 they want to get treatment right away. We were able to serve some of those people and after that, we actually got calls from the community members (saying) \u2018we\u2019re so thankful that the services are there.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n
A Phased Approach Will Prevent Repeat of Hospital Failures: Sidhu<\/p>\n
The loss of Madera\u2019s emergency room caused the most panic. For strokes, heart attacks, or diabetic shock, every second matters, Sidhu said. Every moment not treated means potential loss of muscle or of brain function.<\/p>\n
For desperate situations, having to drive the 25 minutes to the nearest hospital means a much higher likelihood of losing that life, Sidhu said.<\/p>\n
Reopening a fully functioning hospital, however, is a major undertaking. Operations and work flows have to be built from scratch, equipment not used for two years has to be reviewed over and over again.<\/p>\n
After opening the emergency room, the hospital began adding inpatient services. Next came intensive care, surgical and surgical telemetry, Sidhu said. Recently, they added MRI and CT scans, something the hospital didn\u2019t have before.<\/p>\n
Overextending services can put a hospital back into a situation similar to what originally closed Madera Community. By taking a slow, phased approach and understanding the Madera population, the hospital can sustain itself.<\/p>\n
At previous hospitals, Sidhu had been tasked with opening new operations, but Madera had to be built from the ground up.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was able to create a whole model at one of the facilities that I worked, able to create new service lines,\u201d Sidhu said. \u201cThis one was a complete project. You have to create a service line for every single department you can imagine. I think that was my biggest thing, and I\u2019m going to get to see the return immediately with the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hospital Leadership Needs to Be Accessible: Sidhu<\/p>\n
Sidhu has been in medical care for 25 years, quickly jumping into management after about five years. She went from quality compliance to administration, becoming chief nursing officer, and then CEO.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe amount of patients that have come and talked to (me), that\u2019s what I want to take home. At the end of the day that what my goal is. Was I able to give back?\u201d \u2014 Dr. Sony Sidhu, CEO, Madera Community Hospital<\/p>\n
Before coming to Madera, she lead the Central Valley Specialty Hospital in Modesto where she familiarized herself with underserved communities.<\/p>\n
With inadequate medical coverage, many patients in those communities will wait until a situation becomes a true emergency before getting treatment.<\/p>\n
The hospital in November had a ribbon cutting ceremony for their clinic. With their clinics, she hopes to better provide preventive care and medical education.<\/p>\n
Healthy eating, men\u2019s and women\u2019s health, children\u2019s, and teenage health needs to be stressed for people.<\/p>\n
Sidhu wants to be a familiar face to the community. She said it should be expected of hospital leadership to be accessible to the people of Madera.<\/p>\n
A board member recently told her that he\u2019s already heard from more than a dozen people out in the community who\u2019ve met with Sidhu, and she takes pride in that.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe amount of patients that have come and talked to (me), that\u2019s what I want to take home,\u201d Sidhu said. \u201cAt the end of the day that what my goal is. Was I able to give back?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014 Edward Smith<\/p>\n
ALCIDIA FREITAS GOMES: AG ONE FOUNDATION<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, Fresno State Ag One Foundation\u2019s long time executive director, Alcidia Freitas Gomes, retired from the position, ending a 30-year career with the nonprofit.<\/p>\n
In her time, the organization providing scholarships to first generation students grew from donating $50,000 a year to $1 million a year, helping 5,500 students.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver time, agriculture continues to grow and thrive,\u201d Gomes told GV Wire. \u201cPeople want to show their gratitude and give back to their alma mater because they, in their own rights, have become successful in what they\u2019re doing. And then companies, because they want to hire the best and brightest, invest in programs that they have great confidence in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gomes grew up in the dairy industry, coming to Fresno after immigrating with her parents from the Azores. After graduating from Fresno State, she got a job at the California Holstein Foundation where she put her marketing background to use and got her first taste in fundraising.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t long after that the opportunity to join the Ag One Foundation presented itself.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was really satisfying to be back at my alma mater,\u201d Gomes said. \u201cA little daunting in the beginning because now I\u2019m on the same side of the desk as my professors.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alcidia Freitas Gomes and Victor E. Bulldog IV at her retirement event, Feb. 18 2025. Fresno State\/Geoff Turner)
\nFresno State Education Life Changing for Students, Families: Gomes<\/p>\n
Companies wanting to hire the best students, and invest in education do so through Ag One, Gomes said. National and international foundations seeking to invest in a region find an outlet in the foundation, she said.<\/p>\n
Other gifts comes from alumni.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s just countless stories of graduates talking about faculty that they just had great regard for who took them under their wing and had it not been for them, they might not have graduated,\u201d Gomes said.<\/p>\n
One couple, Gary and Marlene Peacock, wanting to honor Marlene\u2019s father, designated $7 million to go to scholarships for first-generation students majoring in either plant science or animal science.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s life changing for many, many students,\u201d Gomes said.<\/p>\n
The Jordan College of Agriculture got its name from Bud and Dee Jordan. They donated to the university following a pitch from Fresno State faculty member Bob Glim and his wife Dorothy.<\/p>\n
With a box of raisins, Gomes said, Glim fundraised for the ag school.<\/p>\n
Despite never visiting the campus \u2014 until Dee did after Bud\u2019s death \u2014 the couple believed in the mission and made an annual donation of $25,000 a year. That gift eventually turned into a $29.5 million donation, earning them the college\u2019s namesake.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor students that are interested in pursuing careers in agriculture, in technology, in science, Fresno State can\u2019t be beat,\u201d Gomes said. \u201cCoupling that with the fact that so many of the students are first generation. President Sa\u00fal Jim\u00e9nez-Sandoval will often say that Fresno State changes lives. I truly believe that it changes lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014 Edward Smith<\/p>\n
TAYLOR LONG: PINC<\/p>\n
For more than 15 years, Philanthropy Inspired by the Needs of Our Community<\/a> has quietly become one of Fresno County\u2019s most consistent forces for good, channeling the collective energy of women determined to give back.<\/p>\n Founded in 2008, the nonprofit was created to support women and children through both fundraising and hands-on service, pairing financial impact with thousands of volunteer hours across the Central Valley.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that\u2019s another thing that blows people\u2019s mind, is every single woman that is a part of this powerhouse organization, we\u2019re all just volunteers,\u201d Taylor Long said.<\/p>\n Each year, PINC members commit to serving wherever the need is greatest \u2014 from shelters and food programs to coat drives, after-school support, and emergency assistance \u2014 reinforcing the idea that time and presence can be just as powerful as money.<\/p>\n Long\u2019s journey with PINC began in 2019, when she witnessed the organization\u2019s work firsthand at a nonprofit check presentation.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s definitely an organization that I joined because I saw these women making a difference,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Drawn to the group\u2019s mission and its diverse membership, she joined and steadily took on leadership roles, eventually serving as president.<\/p>\n Under her leadership, PINC continued its tradition of selecting a single beneficiary each year, ensuring focused, meaningful impact.<\/p>\n Most recently, the organization raised $90,000 for the Poverello House\u2019s Family Hope Shelter, a donor-funded program serving families facing housing insecurity. Since its founding, PINC has contributed nearly $1.5 million to local nonprofits.<\/p>\n Now an honorary lifetime member, Long remains deeply connected to PINC\u2019s future.<\/p>\n While balancing a demanding career as public information officer for the Fresno County District Attorney\u2019s Office, she continues to advocate for volunteerism as an accessible way for people to engage with their community.<\/p>\n To her, PINC\u2019s strength lies not just in its financial contributions, but in the relationships formed, the shared sense of responsibility, and the belief that collective action \u2014 driven by compassion \u2014 can create lasting change.<\/p>\n \u2014 Anthony W. Haddad<\/p>\n JONNY FELD: FIELD VAN<\/p>\n The Fresno company that began by customizing Volkswagen buses for road trippers, then moved on to outfitting vans for off-road use has found a new customer base \u2014 local governments using the adaptability of the Field Van to reach rural citizens.<\/p>\n Field Van recently partnered with Fresno County Superintendent of Schools to build mobile therapy vans and a STEM van for students, said Brian Furrow, sales manager for the company.<\/p>\n Other governments have found use out of the vans that can be customized with all sorts of features. The Madera County Sheriff\u2019s Office had theirs turned into a mobile probation van that serves as both a drug testing lab and a miniature courtroom for virtual hearings.<\/p>\n The Grover Beach Police Department made theirs into a search-and-rescue vehicle, and the city of San Francisco had an on-demand computer center, shower, and xxx built into their van.<\/p>\n President Jonny Feld said after more than three decades in the business, they\u2019ve gotten a sense of everything that can be done with a utility vans.<\/p>\n \u201cHaving built thousands of vans over the years here at Field Van, we have the expertise to help guide the decision-making process for each project, but at the same time, we work closely with the people who are going to be using the vans and deploying them,\u201d Feld said. \u201cWhat are your needs, what are your main goals? And then we can just work around that.\u201d<\/p>\n Not every school has access to state-of-the-art technology for students interested in science and mathematics. So, the Fresno County superintendent ordered a van to bring that technology to them.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re doing laser cutting, they\u2019re doing CNC, 3D printers,\u201d Furrow said. \u201cSome really cool applicable sciences.\u201d<\/p>\n Sticking with the science and engineering theme, the superintendent also wanted it to be electric. Most of the off-roaders prefer gas-powered vehicles, Furrow said, but with a 200-mile range, the van can reach anywhere in the county and then simply get plugged back in for a charge.<\/p>\n The superintendent\u2019s office recently announced the All 4 Youth program, a partnership between with the Fresno County Behavioral Health Department.\u00a0The program uses mobile therapy vans to bring counselors and therapists to rural schools.<\/p>\n Field Van helped create what is essentially a mobile office, Furrow said. It comes with meeting space, couches, tables for activities, and books.<\/p>\n Furrow said it also provides a more discrete setting for students.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s like a stigma for a kid to go to the therapist on campus, right? You go to the office, maybe you get teased. So they have these vans where it can be more subtle,\u201d Furrow said. \u201cThey can also reach people where they don\u2019t have therapy.\u201d<\/p>\n Madera County\u2019s van serves as a mobile command center and probation vehicle. A Starlink connection allows court proceedings to be held right in the van, and a bathroom allows drug testing to occur.<\/p>\n \u201cThey also set it up as multi-purpose, so if they\u2019re not using it for probation, it\u2019s a mobile command center, crisis management van,\u201d Furrow said.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a Pickup, a Minivan, and a Camper All in One: Feld<\/p>\n The company started in 1989 when Feld\u2019s parents, Liz and Alan, began outfitting vans \u2014 especially Volkswagen buses \u2014 for off-roaders and road trippers. Once Mercedes and Ford began pumping out utility vans, Field Van saw the opportunity to turn those into 4\u00d74 vehicles.<\/p>\n There at the factory on Central Avenue off Highway 99, fabricators strip the van down to its shell and turn it into an much more navigable RV, capable of driving comfortably on sand dunes or alpine heights.<\/p>\n They make the cabinets and do the upholstery there on site.<\/p>\n With pop-ups tall enough so even Shaquille O\u2019Neal can stand comfortably, Feld has had his entire family sleep comfortably on beds built into the van.<\/p>\n They recently unveiled a new rail system where seats and benches can be easily added and moved. Feld figured those same car seats could be put around the campfire so he partnered with Fresno State\u2019s mechanical engineering college to develop a cradle so those car seats could turned into rocking chairs.<\/p>\n They liked one of those students so much they hired him, nicknaming him \u201cJet\u201d because he had originally wanted to go into aerospace. They named the gliding rocker after him, calling it the \u201cJet Glide.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s such a versatile van. Again, they\u2019re not cheap these vans with all the amenities that they have,\u201d Feld said. \u201cBut if you can sell your pickup truck, sell your minivan, sell your camper or trailer or whatever you\u2019re using for recreation, you can get all those vehicles in one and use it as an everyday driver and park it in a normal parking spot.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2014 Edward Smith<\/p>\n TYRONE RODERICK WILLIAMS: FRESNO HOUSING<\/p>\n Now in its 85th\u00a0year, Fresno Housing has taken on a role unlike most other housing authorities in the country. Where most agencies limit their mission to the Section 8 vouchers that supplement the rents for low-income families, Fresno Housing goes beyond rental assistance to build and manage affordable housing for tens of thousands of families in the county.<\/p>\n And under CEO Tyrone Roderick Williams, Fresno Housing continues to pursue a wide variety of ventures to increase access to permanent homes for people in need, even in the face of drastic funding changes.<\/p>\n \u201cHousing is rarely provided under ideal conditions. Even as federal funding levels and regulatory requirements evolve, our responsibility to the community remains constant and unchanged,\u201d Roderick Williams told GV Wire. \u201cFresno Housing remains focused on keeping people housed, delivering quality developments, and serving as a responsible steward of public resources \u2014 ensuring that families, seniors, and individuals have a stable place to call home.\u201d<\/p>\n When people think of affordable housing, most wouldn\u2019t be wrong to think of apartment rentals. Fresno Housing this year changed that script with their Heritage Estates, unveiled in November.<\/p>\n The community in southwest Fresno made 33 single-family homes available to low-income families earning anywhere from 50% of the area median income to 80%.<\/p>\n Roderick Williams said making homeownership available creates generational wealth.<\/p>\n \u201cThis community represents more than new homes \u2014 it represents opportunity, stability, and hope,\u201d Roderick Williams said. \u201cHeritage Estates gives families who have worked hard but have been priced out of the housing market a real chance to achieve homeownership. Through layered assistance and long-term affordability protections, we\u2019re helping build generational wealth and stronger neighborhoods.\u201d<\/p>\n Grand Downtown Housing Plan Unveiled<\/p>\n This month, Fresno Housing revealed the first phase of its massive proposed housing project in downtown Fresno called Fulton Forum.<\/p>\n The agency broke ground Dec. 15 on the 603-stall garage that will eventually provide parking for the Forum. The garage, located along Congo Alley near Merced Street, will serve the nearly 400-unit complex at the site of the former CVS.<\/p>\n The agency still needs financing for the 123-unit Forum, but Roderick Williams anticipates breaking ground on the first housing portion \u2014 called The Roos \u2014 by summer 2026.<\/p>\n Fresno Housing Navigating Federal Funding Cuts<\/p>\n In May, Roderick Williams sounded the alarm on federal funding changes that would fundamentally change the mission of Fresno Housing.<\/p>\n President Donald Trump earlier this year issued broad changes to how housing authorities get funded. Fresno Housing gets 70% of its funding through federal sources. Trump, however, wanted to put the money on states to deliver \u2014 something Roderick Williams warned could take years to figure out, impacting availability of housing vouchers.<\/p>\n Other proposals from the Trump administration limit how long a person can receive housing assistance, Roderick Williams said at the 2025 Real Estate Forecast hosted by the Fresno Economic Development Corporation.<\/p>\n Housing grants, the kind essential to make affordable projects pencil out financially, also experienced major cuts.<\/p>\n Despite this, \u00a0the agency still supports the more than 11,000 Fresno County households reliant on housing choice vouchers.<\/p>\n \u2014 Edward Smith<\/p>\n PAUL LOEFFLER: HONOR FLIGHT<\/p>\n Paul Loeffler uses his voice to describe Fresno State sports for a living. He also uses it to advocate for veterans.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s nothing in my life that\u2019s been more fulfilling, more eye-opening, more educational, and more inspiring than the time I\u2019ve been privileged to spend with our vets,\u201d Loeffler said at a recent check ceremony.<\/p>\n Helping fundraise and presiding over ceremonies are just some of the ways Loeffler makes sure veterans get their due.<\/p>\n Earlier this month, Vern Schmidt, a 99-year-old World War II veteran, and the Reedley City Museum donated a $7,000 check to Central Valley Honor Flight<\/a>. The proceeds came from Schmidt\u2019s book.<\/p>\n Schmidt helped liberate Nazi death camps. He was one of dozens of young men who served from First Baptist Church in Dinuba. The church prayed around the clock throughout the war for the men to come home. All of them did.<\/p>\n Today, the church\u2019s pulpit is featured at the museum.<\/p>\n Honor Flight \u2014 a tour of Washington, D.C., monuments for veterans \u2014 is another Loeffler passion.<\/p>\n Grandfather Inspired Advocacy<\/p>\n Inspired by his Silver Star\u2013recipient grandfather, Loeffler created a radio show, \u201cHometown Heroes,\u201d to tell the stories of World War II veterans. He expanded that to launch Central Valley Honor Flight, which flies those who served to Washington, D.C., to view their monuments and receive long-overdue recognition.<\/p>\n Paul\u2019s grandfather, Dr. Robert Loeffler, saved 26 men from burning tanks in France during a Nazi ambush.<\/p>\n \u201cI always wanted to get his story,\u201d Paul said. \u201cI asked, \u2018What were you thinking?\u2019 He said, \u2018What was I thinking? I thought I was gonna get killed.\u2019 And I said, \u2018Well, I\u2019m glad you didn\u2019t.\u2019 And he said, \u2018Yeah, you wouldn\u2019t be around.\u2019 That\u2019s when it really hit home. I would never have been born if my grandfather hadn\u2019t survived.\u201d<\/p>\n Those stories became a feature in 2005 when Loeffler worked as a sportscaster at CBS 47. It eventually became \u201cHometown Heroes.\u201d Listeners began cold-calling Loeffler, asking if Honor Flight could come to Fresno.<\/p>\n Loeffler prayed on it. A year later, EECU called asking for a veterans charity it could support. At the same time, Al Perry had just retired as chief executive at the Fresno VA hospital.<\/p>\n With seed money and an experienced administrator, Central Valley Honor Flight was born.<\/p>\n Loeffler calls it \u201cGod\u2019s perfect timing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe story is not about any one of us. To me, the story is the power of our veterans to inspire and unite,\u201d Loeffler said. \u201cIt\u2019s the ultimate reflection of the heart of the people of the Valley.\u201d<\/p>\n Next Honor Flight in April<\/p>\n Since 2013, 2,216 veterans have flown on Honor Flight. Each trip costs approximately $245,000 \u2014 all paid with donations. Honor Flight No. 34 takes place April 20\u201322, 2026. About 70 veterans, along with guardians and staff, will participate.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe people see my face or hear my voice more, but I\u2019m just one of hundreds. And that\u2019s the beauty of Honor Flight \u2014 every time we do a flight, more people want to help us.\u201d \u2014 Paul Loeffler<\/p>\n Honor Flight started with World War II veterans and has now expanded to Vietnam-era vets. There are 450 on the waiting list.<\/p>\n Perry, an Army veteran, said he was blessed when Loeffler asked him to serve.<\/p>\n \u201cPaul is what I call the North Star \u2014 the guiding light of Honor Flight,\u201d Perry said.<\/p>\n When the flights return to Fresno Yosemite International Airport, hundreds gather to welcome the veterans home. Loeffler said they come from all ages \u2014 literally infants to 100 \u2014 and from all tax brackets, political viewpoints, and races.<\/p>\n Loeffler said Honor Flight is especially impactful for Vietnam veterans, many of whom did not receive a welcome reception in the 1970s.<\/p>\n \u201cNow when they come home, they\u2019re heroes. They get the welcome home they never received before. It\u2019s healing and powerful in so many ways,\u201d Loeffler said.<\/p>\n Loeffler has become the de facto Fresno personality advocating for veterans.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe people see my face or hear my voice more, but I\u2019m just one of hundreds. And that\u2019s the beauty of Honor Flight \u2014 every time we do a flight, more people want to help us,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u2014 David Taub<\/p>\n Going after cyberpunks is personal for Frank Nein. Building a business in Fresno is personal for Loel Wood.<\/p>\n The two Navy veterans met in the 1980s while stationed at Miramar. They went their separate ways \u2014 Nein worked in Hollywood and Washington, and Wood became an executive at Pelco. But they reunited to make Fresno a hub for cybersecurity.<\/p>\n They formed 9sight 2020 with the lofty goal of hiring thousands of cybersecurity experts based in Fresno.<\/p>\n Nein helped bring streaming to Hollywood, working with actor David Caruso and former Windows Media architect Nils Lahr to form Lexicon Digital Communications, according to a 2008 Streaming Media article<\/a>.<\/p>\n He also helped bring Arnold Schwarzenegger\u2019s charitable organization, Inner-City Games (now After-School All-Stars), into the digital age.<\/p>\n \u201cFrank is so incredibly passionate about his purpose and about his mission on this planet. He\u2019s completely turned his life over to this mission. And it\u2019s phenomenal because it\u2019s not a pretty road that he\u2019s traveling,\u201d said the group\u2019s former COO, Liora Mendeloff.<\/p>\n Cybersecurity Motivation<\/p>\n Nein, a fast-talking New Jersey native, pivoted to cybersecurity in the late 2000s after learning someone was stalking his 12-year-old daughter.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not going to lie \u2014 it wasn\u2019t motivation; it was revenge.\u201d \u2014 Frank Nein <\/p>\n \u201cSome guy showed up at my daughter\u2019s door and said, \u2018I\u2019m here to pick up my date for the weekend.\u2019 She\u2019s 12 and a half,\u201d Nein said. \u201cI went into a rage.\u201d<\/p>\n His first instinct was violence, but people like Wood calmed him down.<\/p>\n \u201cThe FBI got to him before I did,\u201d Nein said.<\/p>\n Since then, Nein has become a cybersecurity expert, earning several certificates.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not going to lie \u2014 it wasn\u2019t motivation; it was revenge,\u201d Nein said.<\/p>\n Nein envisions several areas of cybersecurity where 9sight 2020 can help. He told GV Wire that recent scandals involving baseball and online betting are one example.<\/p>\n Busting human trafficking is another focus.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re like bounty hunters in the threat-hunting world across all levels \u2014 the dark web, deep net, and surface web,\u201d Nein said.<\/p>\n 9sight 2020 will focus on cybersecurity, cyberspace, and cyber warfare, Nein said. That means going after fraudsters, sexual exploiters, and other online criminals.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have our own proprietary solutions and services. We have our own technologies that we\u2019ve engineered, designed, and developed,\u201d Nein said.<\/p>\n Why Fresno?<\/p>\n Wood wants to get the company rolling by mid-2026.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to have an onboard staff of 1,500 to 2,000,\u201d Wood said.<\/p>\n Wood and Nein also want to focus on hiring people from Fresno. The estimated pay ranges from $85 to $120 an hour.<\/p>\n For Wood, operating in his Fresno hometown is important.<\/p>\n \u201cFresno is something you have to come experience and hang out in, because it\u2019s not like L.A.,\u201d Wood said.<\/p>\n Wood wants to focus on hiring military veterans and those \u201cheavy\u201d in data and analysis.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want people to think and create and be their own. They\u2019re going to produce and contribute to the company,\u201d Wood said.<\/p>\n There\u2019s another criterion Wood wants \u2014 the \u201cGod factor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re going to compromise your morals because you\u2019re in business, you\u2019re in the wrong company,\u201d Wood said. He added that there are ways to ask such questions without violating labor laws.<\/p>\n \u2014 David Taub<\/p>\n Art matters to Michele Ellis Pracy, and she is making sure it matters to Fresno.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think you can have a great city without a very active and professional cultural element,\u201d Pracy said. \u201cThis is a huge responsibility \u2014 to make sure Fresno keeps this museum and we\u2019re here for another 76 years.\u201d<\/p>\n Art \u201copens our eyes to beauty,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n For 10 years, Pracy has served as the executive director and chief curator at the Fresno Art Museum. She implemented six-month-long exhibits (instead of three), which helped with planning and costs.<\/p>\n She\u2019s proud of the educational component, regularly hosting school field trips. It\u2019s a chance for students to learn art appreciation and museum etiquette, she said.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t know what you\u2019re missing until you experience it,\u201d Pracy said.<\/p>\n Funding Challenges<\/p>\n \u201cFunding has always been hard for this museum,\u201d Pracy said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen patrons leave here, they know what they saw and why they saw it. Whether they like it or not, it affected them somehow.\u201d \u2014\u00a0 Michele Ellis Pracy, executive director\/chief curator, Fresno Art Museum <\/p>\n Pracy operates on a $1.3 million budget, requiring about $100,000 in fundraising each month. Measure P has helped, providing up to $240,000.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s really tough because the current federal administration doesn\u2019t believe in the arts as they\u2019ve been established for 250 years in this country. There\u2019s a fear element that affects donations when people worry the arts are in jeopardy. So it\u2019s difficult,\u201d Pracy said.<\/p>\n Pracy said the museum\u2019s visionary history drew her to Fresno. She had previously worked in Ojai.<\/p>\n \u201cI am visionary. I am risk-taking. I appreciate what\u2019s come before and want to continue that into the future \u2014 while also making this a place people can\u2019t help but want to visit,\u201d Pracy said.<\/p>\n Pracy and her staff curate their own exhibits. That includes bringing in pop-culture shows \u2014 like the recent history of baseball cards<\/a> \u2014 as well as more traditional forms of art.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen patrons leave here, they know what they saw and why they saw it. Whether they like it or not, it affected them somehow,\u201d Pracy said.<\/p>\n Sometimes the museum rents a traveling exhibition, but that requires additional fundraising.<\/p>\n Pracy said the donors are here in the Central Valley, but they tend to contribute more to sports and hospitals.<\/p>\n If she had a blank check, Pracy would bring in Van Gogh, Andy Warhol, or Frida Kahlo.<\/p>\n \u201cThese are names familiar to people \u2014 artists they\u2019d be automatically curious about and want to come see,\u201d Pracy said.<\/p>\n Warhol did have an exhibit<\/a> in 2022. And the museum may have the next best thing in the absence of Kahlo \u2014 Diego Rivera.<\/p>\n Its most prized permanent piece is \u201cFiesta,\u201d a 1926 painting by Rivera. The oil-on-canvas work was commissioned by Fresno patron Marguerite Lopez for $300. The museum also features several letters between Rivera and Lopez.<\/p>\n \u2014 David Taub<\/p>\n For many aspiring professional athletes, Julian Banda is the concierge to Fresno \u2014 and one of the best at shining a light on the city.<\/p>\n \u201cI let them know, \u2018Hey, this is a good place to be,\u2019 \u201d Banda said.<\/p>\n The Firebaugh native worked his way up the ranks to become the visiting clubhouse attendant for the Fresno Grizzlies, the Single-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s something I fell in love with. It\u2019s long hours, but being around professional sports is something I always imagined doing,\u201d Banda said.<\/p>\n Tips are one way players show their appreciation for Banda.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d rather have guys tell me, \u2018Hey, I had a really good time. I think you\u2019re one of the best clubbies I\u2019ve ever had.\u2019 That means more to me than a tip,\u201d Banda said.<\/p>\n Another form of appreciation came from the California League. Banda won the Visiting Clubhouse Attendant of the Year award in 2025<\/a>. He is a two-time recipient, having also won in 2023.<\/p>\n Conlin McGuire, the Grizzlies\u2019 home clubhouse attendant, also received 2025 honors.<\/p>\n \u201cBoth of them take immense pride in their work, and the relationships they\u2019ve built across baseball are a testament to their dedication. We\u2019re thrilled to see them recognized with these well-deserved honors,\u201d Grizzlies President Derek Franks said.<\/p>\n Banda said it means a lot to be recognized by players and coaches.<\/p>\n Working in the majors is Banda\u2019s dream job. If not, maybe one day he can be president \u2014 of the Grizzlies.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry, Derek!\u201d Banda said with a smile.<\/p>\n Josh Allen, Guidance Counselor?<\/p>\n Banda described Firebaugh as a small community where everyone knows each other.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s something I fell in love with. It\u2019s long hours, but being around professional sports is something I always imagined doing.\u201d \u2014 Julian Banda, visiting clubhouse attendant, Fresno Grizzlies <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m very proud to be from there. I think it\u2019s helped me become who I am today. I wasn\u2019t given much early on \u2014 I had to earn a lot,\u201d Banda said.<\/p>\n He worked in the fields picking melons but quickly realized that wasn\u2019t the life for him.<\/p>\n Banda played football at Firebaugh High School. A linebacker, he received offers to play college football at smaller schools.<\/p>\n He chose Reedley College based on advice from a famous Firebaugh native and Reedley College alum.<\/p>\n \u201cJosh Allen was in the draft process, and he came down and told me, \u2018Just go to Reedley College.\u2019 Knowing who Josh was, I thought, \u2018All right \u2014 Josh told me to go to Reedley College,\u2019\u201d Banda said.<\/p>\n Working in Baseball<\/p>\n After transferring to Fresno City College, teammate Noe Garcia \u2014 who also worked for the Grizzlies \u2014 helped Banda start his baseball career as a bat boy in 2019.<\/p>\n Banda worked his way into game operations and took over the visiting clubhouse in 2022.<\/p>\n During home games, Banda can work 16-hour days doing laundry \u2014 folding as many as 300 towels per game \u2014 preparing food and setting up the locker room.<\/p>\n Banda also offers players recommendations on where to eat \u2014 his favorite downtown spots include Chicken Shack, Dab Tacos, and The Cosmopolitan.<\/p>\n One of the more unusual food requests Banda received involved running to a nearby store to buy three boxes of Froot Loops.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was his postgame meal,\u201d Banda said.<\/p>\n One time, a player got stuck at a fast-food restaurant and missed his ride to the stadium \u2014 so Banda picked him up.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019m here for. I\u2019m there for the guys. Whatever they need, I\u2019m there to help,\u201d Banda said.<\/p>\n There\u2019s plenty of superstition in baseball.<\/p>\n \u201cI was cleaning a coach\u2019s shoes when he said, \u2018Hey, we won last night in those shoes \u2014 don\u2019t clean them,\u2019\u201d Banda said.<\/p>\n \u2014 David Taub<\/p>\n Stephanie Tallez never expected her life to be defined by advocacy, but the loss of her son forced her into a fight she says no parent should ever have to join.<\/p>\n After her child was killed in a random act of violence committed by a minor on Thanksgiving in 2024, Tallez found herself confronting California\u2019s Proposition 57, a law she believes minimizes accountability for violent crimes committed by juveniles.<\/p>\n What began as personal grief quickly turned into a mission to change a system she says failed her family and others like it.<\/p>\n Tallez argues that Proposition 57 allows minors who commit violent offenses to receive sentences that do not reflect the severity of their actions.<\/p>\n As she learned more about how the law is applied, her frustration deepened, fueling her resolve to push for reform or repeal.<\/p>\n For her, the issue is not abstract or political \u2014 it is rooted in the reality of a life lost and a family permanently changed. She now channels that pain into public action, speaking out so that her son\u2019s death is not reduced to another statistic.<\/p>\n Alongside other parents who have lost children to youth violence, Tallez has found purpose and solidarity.<\/p>\n The group has become a source of emotional support as well as a platform for legal advocacy, connecting families through online communities and public demonstrations.<\/p>\n Through protests planned in Fresno and beyond, Tallez continues to share her story, not only to push for changes to Prop. 57, but to stand with parents navigating the same grief \u2014 offering comfort, understanding, and a shared determination to make sure their children are remembered.<\/p>\n \u2014 Anthony W. Haddad<\/p>\n DEPUTY SABIN HENDERSON: TULARE COUNTY SO<\/p>\n Deputy Sabin Henderson was not expecting recognition for the call that came in just after 1 a.m. on an August night in Pixley.<\/p>\n He and a partner were already responding to a burglary when dispatch redirected them to a medical emergency: a man was reported not breathing and believed to be dead.<\/p>\n Inside the home, family members were panicked and desperate. The man lay unresponsive on an air mattress, pulseless, and not breathing.<\/p>\n Henderson and his partner immediately moved him to the floor and began life-saving measures.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve done CPR on a lot of people. I\u2019ve never had anyone live. It was incredible to hear he made it.\u201d \u2014 Tulare County Sheriff\u2019s Deputy Sabin Henderson<\/p>\n Trained as an EMT before joining the Tulare County Sheriff\u2019s Office, Henderson relied on instinct and repetition rather than hesitation.<\/p>\n Chest compressions and ventilation began immediately and continued until paramedics arrived. Henderson assisted as medics applied cardiac monitoring equipment, delivered shocks, and administered medication. Minutes later, a pulse returned.<\/p>\n The man was transported to the hospital, where he later emerged from a coma and recovered \u2014 an outcome Henderson would not learn about until months later.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve done CPR on a lot of people. I\u2019ve never had anyone live,\u201d Henderson said. \u201cIt was incredible to hear he made it.\u201d<\/p>\n Recognized by the department for his actions, Henderson says the moment reflects more than a single save.<\/p>\n It shares the quiet, often unseen work first responders perform every day \u2014 work that carries emotional weight long after a call ends.<\/p>\n To manage that burden, he leans on family, routine, and the discipline of stepping away from the uniform once the shift ends.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got to take the badge off and go home,\u201d he said. \u201cLife is gradual. Don\u2019t waste a second on things that don\u2019t matter.\u201d<\/p>\n His response that night is a reminder that behind the badge are people who act without hesitation, carrying the responsibility of life-and-death decisions so others can go on living.<\/p>\n \u2014 Anthony W. Haddad<\/p>\n CALIFORNIA ODYSSEY GIRLS SOCCER: NATIONAL CHAMPIONS<\/p>\n For nearly a decade, the girls of California Odyssey grew up together on soccer fields across the Central Valley, forming a bond that went far beyond wins and losses.<\/p>\n What began when many of them were just five or six years old evolved into a shared journey shaped by long drives, early mornings, heartbreaks, and relentless belief.<\/p>\n On July 24 in Denver, that journey reached its defining moment when the Clovis-based under-14 squad captured a U.S. Club Soccer national championship \u2014 a title earned not in a single game, but through years of persistence, trust, and sacrifice.<\/p>\n \u201cThey always just kept their heads down and worked. This was a win for the girls. A win for the parents. A win for the coaches. We all deserved it,\u201d said Jessica Cuevas, wife of coach Ramon Cuevas.<\/p>\n The championship run was the culmination of grinding through local, state, and regional tournaments just to earn a place in the national Super Group.<\/p>\n A year earlier, the team had suffered a narrow 1-0 loss in the national final, a defeat that lingered and fueled their return. In Denver, the title match mirrored the team\u2019s resilience \u2014 scoreless through regulation and two overtimes before being decided in a tense penalty shootout.<\/p>\n \u201cThey always just kept their heads down and worked. This was a win for the girls. A win for the parents. A win for the coaches. We all deserved it.\u201d\u00a0 \u2014 Jessica Cuevas, wife of coach Ramon Cuevas<\/p>\n When the final kick found the net and the goalkeeper delivered clutch saves, the moment belonged not just to the players on the field, but to an entire community that had grown alongside them.<\/p>\n California Odyssey\u2019s success reflects more than elite soccer ability.<\/p>\n Coaches emphasized character as much as competition, parents committed years of time and resources, and players learned to lead each other through adversity \u2014 including injuries that forced some into supporting roles rather than starting positions.<\/p>\n Families from Clovis, Fresno, Madera, Reedley, and beyond became an extended family, unified by belief in the girls and in each other.<\/p>\n In a region often overlooked in youth sports, the Odyssey story stands as proof that excellence can be built slowly, collectively, and with heart \u2014 and that championships are strongest when everyone earns them together.<\/p>\n \u2014 Anthony W. Haddad<\/p>\n BERNARD MENDOZA: BENSMOKIN BBQ<\/p>\n For Bernard Mendoza, Thanksgiving has always been one of the busiest days of the year at BenSmokin BBQ. This year, the Fresno pitmaster chose a different measure of success.<\/p>\n Instead of focusing on sales, Mendoza and his family decided to open their doors to the entire community, offering a free Thanksgiving meal in the Tower District \u2014 an act rooted not in marketing, but in purpose.<\/p>\n Mendoza\u2019s path to barbecue was shaped by family and faith. Inspired by his father \u2014 the \u201cBen\u201d behind the restaurant\u2019s name \u2014 Mendoza turned a moment of encouragement into a calling that carried him through culinary school, small plate sales, catering during the pandemic, and eventually a brick-and-mortar restaurant run alongside his wife, Rebecca.<\/p>\n From the beginning of their relationship, giving back was woven into their lives, and feeding people became more than a profession. It became a responsibility.<\/p>\n \u201cEver since I met my wife\u2026 I was like, I hear these voices in my head. I think it\u2019s God telling me that I need to feed people,\u201d Mendoza said. \u201cWe\u2019ve done stuff pretty much from the first time that we met, handing out groceries to people and stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n When Mendoza announced the Thanksgiving meal online, the response exploded, drawing donations, volunteers, and resources from across Fresno.<\/p>\n What began as a simple idea quickly transformed into a full community event. Local businesses and residents contributed food, equipment, entertainment, and time, turning the restaurant into a gathering place open to anyone who wanted to share a meal.<\/p>\n Families, neighbors, and those facing hardship alike were welcomed without conditions. For Mendoza, the day is as much about teaching his children the value of generosity as it is about feeding hundreds of people.<\/p>\n With his wife and staff working side by side, the restaurant becomes exactly what it was always meant to be \u2014 a place where community comes first, and everyone has a seat at the table.<\/p>\n \u2014 Anthony W. Haddad<\/p>\n ANDY WHITE: THE GIVING TRUCK<\/p>\n Andy White doesn\u2019t measure success by how many cups of coffee are poured, but by what happens after they\u2019re handed across the counter. During Clovis\u2019 Old Town Motorama, the pastor of The Legacy Christian Church stood beside a restored 1954 Chevy 4400, watching strangers pause, smile, and reconsider their expectations.<\/p>\n What they thought would be a routine purchase became a moment of connection \u2014 the foundation of White\u2019s vision for The Giving Truck.<\/p>\n White created the mobile generosity project to bring faith into everyday spaces without placing religion front and center.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were thinking Christian people don\u2019t enjoy being Christians in a community. How do we get the church people out of the church and into the community doing something that\u2019s fun?\u201d he said. \u201cWhat would be awesome is if we had our own coffee truck, and we go to do just coffee in the community.\u201d<\/p>\n Years earlier, he began asking how to move church members beyond the building and into the community in a way that felt natural and joyful. The answer was simple: coffee, served through a pay-it-forward model that invites people to give without obligation.<\/p>\n A donation during the pandemic made it possible to acquire the truck, and since then White has helped guide its slow, deliberate transformation into a fully functional mobile coffee operation.<\/p>\n For White, The Giving Truck is less about the vehicle and more about the conversations it sparks. He often watches as bells ring for unexpected generosity and people linger, curious about who paid for their drink or how they might repay the kindness.<\/p>\n Still in development, the truck reflects White\u2019s belief that generosity doesn\u2019t need to be loud to be powerful.<\/p>\n By creating space for small, sincere acts of giving, he\u2019s built something that turns everyday encounters into reminders that community can be formed one cup \u2014 and one person \u2014 at a time.<\/p>\n \u2014 Anthony W. Haddad<\/p>\n DR. NUPUR HAJELA: HELPING UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES<\/p>\n In an era of skyrocketing medical expenses and thinning resources, Dr. Nupur Hajela is stepping up to bring cutting edge care to underserved communities.<\/p>\n Hajela, a clinician and Fresno State professor, is integrating innovative technology into physical therapy and expanding access to healthcare.<\/p>\n The professor, using funds awarded via the CSU StemNET EAGER research grant, provides free research-based services to Parkinsons patients in the area \u2014 combining immersive virtual reality and mobile health unit-based outreach.<\/p>\n An estimated 1.1 million people are living with Parkinson in the United States, and agricultural communities, such as our beloved Central Valley, are hotspots for the disease.<\/p>\n \u201cParkinson\u2019s disease is still widely underrecognized. As a result, many patients arrive for care only after the disease has progressed\u2014when walking is no longer reliable, freezing episodes occur, and independence is already slipping away,\u201d\u00a0Hajela said.<\/p>\n The Mobile Health Team<\/p>\n Led by Dr. Hajela, Fresno State students delivered mobile outreach to the community, raising Parkinson\u2019s awareness while showcasing immersive virtual reality applications to enhance walking, balance, and independence.<\/p>\n Fresno State\u2019s\u00a0physical therapy program uniquely blends rigorous clinical education, cutting-edge technology, and meaningful community engagement \u2014 giving students hands-on experience while making a tangible impact.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we are ready with technology, we can go after addressing some of the pandemic-related things and endemic-related things,\u201d Hajela said. \u201cI think it\u2019s technology which can help us leverage some of our expertise.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat the center can do is help these underserved communities, whether it is through environmental factors related research or behavioral factors related research. Our Valley needs innovation.\u201d \u2014 Dr. Nupur Hajela, clinician and associate professor, Fresno State <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Taylor-Long-Headshot-150x150.jpg\")
\nTaylor Long<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Field-Van-CEO-Jonny-Feld-taken-Monday-Dec.-15-2025-GV-WireEdward-Smith-1.jpg\")
Field Van CEO Jonny Feld shows off a camper built on a Ford Econoline at his Fresno showroom and factory, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. (GV Wire\/Edward Smith)
\nFrom STEM Vehicles to Mobile Courtrooms<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fresno-Housing-Tyrone-Roderick-Williams_1280X720-1024x576.jpg\")
Fresno Housing CEO Tyrone Roderick Williams (GV Wire Composite)
\nFresno Housing Opens Up Affordable Single-Family Home Options<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Paul-Loeffler-right-talks-with-World-War-II-veteran-Vern-Schmidt.-Loeffler-has-long-been-a-veterans-.jpeg\")
<\/a>Paul Loeffler, right, talks with World War II veteran Vern Schmidt at an event at the Reedley City Museum on Dec. 2, 2025. Loeffler has long been a veterans advocate. (GV Wire\/David Taub)
\nFRANK NEIN\/LOEL WOOD: CYBERSECURITY START-UP<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Loel-Wood-left-and-Frank-Nein-are-forming-9sight-2020-a-cybersecurity-company-in-Fresno_1280X720-102.jpeg\")
<\/a>Loel Wood (left) and Frank Nein are forming 9sight 2020, a cybersecurity company in Fresno. (GV Wire\/David Taub)
\nMICHELE ELLIS PRACY: FRESNO ART MUSEUM<\/p>\n![\"Fresno](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fresno-Art-Museum-Executive-Director-and-Chief-Curator-Michele-Ellis-Pracy-shows-one-of-the-museums-.jpeg\")
<\/a>Fresno Art Museum Executive Director and Chief Curator Michele Ellis Pracy shows one of the museum\u2019s prized pieces, \u201cFiesta\u201d by Diego Rivera. (GV Wire\/David Taub)
\nJULIAN BANDA: FRESNO GRIZZLIES<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fresno-Grizzlies-visiting-clubhouse-attendant-Julian-Banda-recently-won-his-second-award-for-showing.jpeg\")
<\/a>Fresno Grizzlies visiting clubhouse attendant Julian Banda recently won his second award for showing hospitality to the California League. (GV Wire\/David Taub)
\nSTEPHANIE TALLEZ: VICTIM RIGHTS ADVOCATE<\/p>\n![\"Deputy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Deputy-Sabin-Henderson-posing-with-Tulare-County-Sheriff-Boudreaux-during-an-employee-of-the-month-c.jpeg\")
Deputy Sabin Henderson, right, with Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux during an employee of the month ceremony. (Tulare County SO)<\/p>\n![\"After](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/California-Odyssey-Soccer-Club__1280X720-1024x576.jpg\")
After nearly a decade together, Clovis Odyssey\u2019s under-14 girls soccer team captured a national championship on Thursday, July 24, 2025, overcoming injury, heartbreak, and pressure. (Special to GV Wire)<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Hajela_VR_Therapy-1024x576.jpg\")
Dr. Nupur Hajela using virtual reality headset to advance physical therapy to Parkinsons patients. (Dr. Nupur Hajela)![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Jack_Roberts_EarthDay-1024x576.jpg\")
Jack Roberts (middle with green shirt) and Hoover High School Environmental Enrichment Club standing with newly planted trees. (Jack Roberts)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As Fresno and the Central Valley continue to wrestle with challenges ranging from housing and health care to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":121027,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[93,112,114,113],"class_list":{"0":"post-121026","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-fresno","8":"tag-featured","9":"tag-fresno","10":"tag-fresno-headlines","11":"tag-fresno-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121026","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=121026"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121026\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/121027"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=121026"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=121026"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=121026"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}