REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
August 4, 2026
FROM
TRACY REECE, Chief Probation Officer, Probation Department
SUBJECT
Title
2026 San Bernardino County Probation Department Peer Support Program Poker Run
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Find that the 2026 San Bernardino County Probation Department Peer Support Program Poker Run, to be held at 12221 Poplar Street, Hesperia on October 17, 2026, assists in meeting the social needs of the citizens of the County.
2. Find that the 2026 San Bernardino County Probation Department Poker Run fundraising activity will be conducted in cooperation with the San Bernardino County Probation Department Peer Support Program, a nonprofit charitable organization.
3. Authorize County officials and employees to solicit funds and provide administrative support during work hours, when necessary, and utilize County resources in support of the 2026 San Bernardino County Probation Department Peer Support Program Poker Run.
(Presenter: Tracy Reece, Chief Probation Officer, 387-5692)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). County resources used in support of the 2026 San Bernardino County Probation Department Peer Support Program Poker Run (Poker Run) will consist of staff time of approximately two hours per month for six months, upon approval of the event, and up to one month following the event for administrative services and event solicitation, as well as folding tables and chairs, at a cost estimated at $2,400. Personnel working in support of the Poker Run during the event will work on a volunteer basis. Sufficient appropriation is included in the Probation Department’s (Department) 2026-27 budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Department is involved in a variety of fundraising activities that not only benefit the worthy causes they support but also provide unique opportunities to foster positive relationships between the County, law enforcement and the community; provide team building among Department personnel; and provide economic benefit to surrounding businesses.
Department staff work to improve the quality of life for the offenders under their supervision and the community as a whole. The Peer Support Program (Program) was established in 2009 and became a non-profit 501(c)(3) in 2020. The sole purpose of the Program is to assist staff, volunteers, and their families in times of need by providing support and financial assistance to employees and volunteers with post-traumatic injuries following critical incidents including, but not limited to, officer-involved shootings, severe injury, and death of an employee or an employee’s family member. Fundraising activities performed throughout the year support the Program in its mission of assisting Department staff and their families.
The Program is comprised of Department staff volunteers who go through an application and interview process in order to qualify to be a Peer Supporter (member). The members will initially go through 24 hours of mental health training and then eight hours of continuing education annually. The Program provides Peer Support Services, which vary from moral support to financial resources. Such assistance can vary from referrals to support resources, assistance in paying for medical expenses, providing comfort gift baskets/cards, etc.
The Program will host the 2026 Poker Run. Event participants will use their personal vehicles and complete a designated course, which includes stopping at five check points. Participants draw a playing card at each check point with the goal of having the best poker hand at the end of the course. Participants with the best poker hand will receive prizes. The Poker Run includes a participation fee of $25 per person as part of the fundraising efforts. A portion of the participation fee will fund the event and prizes. Any event profits will be donated to the Program.
The Poker Run started as an informal fundraising event in 2016 to raise money for the Program to assist employees and their families going through a critical incident or hardship. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the fundraiser was cancelled in 2020 and 2021. The 2026 Poker Run will be the 9th Poker Run that the Program will be hosting.
The coordination and implementation of the Program is a significant undertaking. While the vast majority of work is done by volunteers, the minimal use of County resources for administrative services to coordinate activities prior to the event are necessary to ensure its success. The Department seeks approval to authorize County officials and employees to solicit funds for the event during work hours, utilize County resources to support the organization administratively, and continue to assist the Program in meeting the social needs of County citizens.
In compliance with County Standard Practice 11-07SP, prior to authorizing County officials and employees to solicit funds and/or utilize County resources to support the Program to host the 2026 Poker Run, the Board of Supervisors must make the following findings:
• The program assists in meeting the social needs of the citizens of the County; and
• The fund raising will be conducted in cooperation with a non-profit organization.
The proposed 2026 Poker Run will raise funds to continue providing for the social needs of County citizens by supporting the Program’s Peer Support Services and will be done in conjunction with the Program, a valid non-profit organization. In accordance with Standard Practice 11-07SP, the Program will obtain event insurance and provide a certificate of insurance to the County.
This item requests adopting the required findings to support the 2026 Poker Run to be held on October 17, 2026, and authorize the minimal use of County resources in supporting the event.
PROCUREMENT
Not Applicable
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Maria Insixiengmay, Deputy County Counsel, 387-4310) on July 8, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Dalton, Finance Analyst, 387-5005) on July 16, 2026.