A Word
From Our CEO
“We appreciate the opportunity to serve the residents of eastern Riverside County. It is our goal that you are able to obtain useful information about funding which is available as well as resources you can access to increase your organization’s capacity to serve more clients. Through vigilant attention and collaborative efforts, we can achieve greater success in closing up service gaps in the areas of Health, Mental Health and Juvenile Services. Join us as we work towards making our community a better place to live in for all of our residents. We look forward to seeing you soon and often!”
Meet
RAP Staff
LETICIA DE LARA
Chief Executive Officer
Leticia serves as the Chief Executive Officer for Regional Access Project Foundation. Leticia served as District Director to Riverside County Supervisor John J. Benoit for 4 years. Prior to that position, she served as Chief of Staff to Riverside County Supervisor Roy Wilson for 11 years. During the time with the Fourth District Supervisor’s office, Leticia specialized in the areas of Social Service, Mental Health, Public Health, Affordable Housing, and Homelessness. Leticia was a migrant farm worker until she graduated from California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. She worked for the Department of Public Social Services for 10 years. She earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from CSUSB and completed the Riverside County Excellence in Leadership Academy and the University of Riverside Nonprofit Management Certificate Program.
Email: ldelara@rapfoundation.org
MIREYA REYES
Administrative Director
Mireya Reyes is the Administrative Director at the Regional Access Project Foundation, where she also supports Special Projects. Mireya has completed the Nonprofit Management and Supervisor & Leadership Certification Program from the University California Riverside. She has also completed the Business Computer Certification Program through the Regional Occupational Program. Mireya has taken coursework at the College of the Desert. Mireya Lives in Indio with her husband Benito and their four kids. She was born and raised in the Coachella Valley and knows the needs and challenges of the Desert.
Email: mreyes@rapfoundation.org
GRACIELA MONTANO
Grants Manager
Graciela Montaño graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from California State University, San Marcos. Prior to joining the RAP team, Gracie worked as a Residential Peer Mentor for CSUSM’s On-Campus Housing assisting over 200 college students on their path toward academic success, collaborating with academic resources, and organizing workshops. Graciela grew up in Coachella with her family and dedicates her time to volunteering at food distributions. She is passionate about advocating for Immigrant Rights, mental health, and gender equity.
Email: gmontano@rapfoundation.org
DIANE MORALES
CV Healthy Living Project Manager
Diane earned her Bachelor of Science in Public Health from California State University San Bernardino. She is working towards earning her Master in Public Health and Health Policies from UC Berkley. Prior to joining the RAP Foundation, Diane worked as a Payment Processor for Lift To Rise, helping keep over 100,000 Riverside County residents housed during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Diane was born and raised in the Coachella Valley and strives to have a balanced lifestyle. She spends her time being active, participating in 5k races, but you can also catch her binge-watching Harry Potter movies. She aspires to lead with love and use her educational and professional experience to increase resources and equality for all Coachella Valley residents.
Email: dmorales@rapfoundation.org
Betty Sanchez
NPO Centric Community Engagement Project Manager
Betty was born in Los Angeles. At two months, her family moved to Thousand Palms, Thermal and later to Coachella where she still lives.
Betty graduated from Coachella Valley High School and went on to graduate from UC Riverside earning a Bachelors in Sociology and Education. Her career has been dedicated to working in the community. Notably, working for the County of Riverside as a Community Improvement Specialist.
Betty is fluent in Spanish and enjoys traveling and visiting family in Jalisco, Mexico.
Email: bsanchez@rapfoundation.org
Vanessa Arroniz-Espinoza
NPO Centric Marketing Project Manager
A native of Long Beach and raised in Indio, Vanessa currently lives in Palm Desert. She holds a B.A. in Business Administration and Management from Cal State San Bernardino and is bilingual in Spanish.
For more than five years, she worked in the nonprofit sector, including local organizations: Olive Crest, Variety the Children’s Charity of the Desert, the Desert Cancer Foundation, and the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce (GCVCC). Her position with GCVCC as the program and member experience manager has prepared her for this position with RAP.
“Being a part of the RAP Foundation will allow me to continue my passion for helping the growth of the Coachella Valley,” she says. “I’m specifically excited to have the opportunity to assist our nonprofit community. I’ve had the pleasure of working for amazing organizations and it gives me great joy to know that I can still help make an impact.”
Email: varroniz@rapfoundation.org
Jacquelin Cruz
Project Manager
Jacquelin Cruz is a resident of Coachella, California, who was born and raised in San Diego.
She holds two Bachelor’s Degrees in Business Administration and Education Sciences from the University of California Irvine.
Before joining the RAP team, Jacquelin served as a Volunteer Coordinator at Beyond Blindness, where she recruited volunteers and managed events, from daily classroom volunteers to annual golf tournament volunteers. Jacquelin’s nonprofit involvement demonstrates her passion for community service, particularly impacting marginalized youth. Her ability to organize data and her interpersonal skills are valuable assets to the Coachella Valley Healthy Living Team, and she is eager to impact the Coachella Valley community positively.
Email: jcruz@rapfoundation.org
ANGIE NIETO
Receptionist
Angie Nieto, the receptionist at RAP, has a passion for customer service and has dedicated her career to helping others. Prior to joining the RAP team, Angie volunteered at the organization, which allowed her to gain a deeper understanding of its mission and values. She retired from the banking industry in 2008 after 39 years and continued to contribute to her community by volunteering at the McCallum Theater for six years.
As a lifelong resident of the Coachella Valley and alumni of Indio High School, Angie is deeply rooted in the community and has a wealth of experience to share. Angie enjoys working at RAP because it allows her to do what she loves most – providing exceptional customer service. She is an essential part of the RAP team and a valued member of the community.
Email: anieto@rapfoundation.org
