During our annual fundraising gala, Denim & Diamonds, on Saturday, May 3, the Corona-Norco Branch of Assistance League^© of Riverside will present its Community Hero Award to three men who have “gone above and beyond expectations” to help local youth.

Don Kindred, Jim Steiner, and Leslie Jones will be recognized for their involvement with the Orange Grove High School Jam Session. The three share not only their time and love of music with these students, most of whom have had difficult lives, but they also listen to and sometimes counsel them.

“These men are very well known in the community and/or their professions, but I don’t know how many people know the great work they have done with the students at this continuation high school,” said Lanelle Gordin, chair of the Corona-Norco Branch. “We believe they deserve recognition for this part of their lives.”

Five years ago, Don Kindred, who founded and is now executive director of the Corona Symphony Orchestra, was asked by a school counselor if he could help start a music program at the school. Kindred set out to establish a rock music class and sought donations of musical instruments from the community. The Corona Firefighters Association donated a brand-new keyboard. Jim Steiner, who is a retired captain from the Corona Fire Department and currently the city’s mayor, offered a guitar and volunteered to help with the class. After the program got going, Leslie Jones, a professional actor and musician, also joined the weekly class.

Students must be passing their academic classes to participate, but there are no other rules for the class. Kindred said there are talented kids in the group but “sometimes, they just need a little motivation.”

One young woman told Kindred, who grew up singing professionally, that she wanted to sing the National Anthem at the school’s graduation. Kindred, who noted that she had “perfect pitch,” coached her for several months. She sang at the graduation and, by all reports, “she nailed it.”

Another young woman, who had dropped out of school after seventh grade, got straight A’s after she joined the program and was offered some scholarships. Although she decided to skip college to help her mother, she currently has a job with the city, and sometimes comes back to the class to help out.

Then there was a young man who expressed some interest in becoming a firefighter.  Steiner, who spent 31 years with the city department, coached him and he was able to join the Fire Explorer’s group and now plans to get a degree in Fire Science from Norco College.

Steiner said the 45-minute class seems to be “happy time” for most students, and listening to this trio, you know it’s their happy time as well!