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SAM'S STORY

Meet Samantha Haylee Moreno (Sam), a Senior at Etiwanda High School. Born in Victorville, CA, currently residing in Rancho Cucamonga, CA- San Bernardino County. The Secretary of State & The Department of the Treasury- Internal Revenue Service approved her 501(c)(3) status for "THUNDAR, LIGHTNING, & PEACE (ThundarLP).

 

Sam fought her mental and physical traumas early, dealing with illnesses and bullying. The dark battles she once had are the driving force that fuels her everyday passion for helping those in need. Sam's priority is to help as many Military Veterans 

 

Sam's networking skills are up to "par"- gathering resources and partnering with mentors in the field to be ready to assist Veterans as needed. 

 

What's in the name, TLP? When Sam was 13 yrs. Old, she suffered over a year in excruciating pain, both physical and emotionally. During one of her surgical hospital stays, the Paws with Love program at Kaiser visited patients weekly, utilizing "Goldendoodles" dogs to comfort patients; this was the comfort Sam needed. Later in the year, Sam received her Goldendoodle and named him "THUNDAR" (misspelled purposely). LIGHTNING reflects Sam's unexpected harsh strikes in life- that, although frightening at times, molded her to be courageous and resilient. Ultimately, PEACE describes the place she is in now. Thanks to her fierce attitude and some extraordinary people in her life -she hopes to bring comfort and peace to some significantly deserving Military Veterans.

 

Sam's long-life dream is to attend Medical School and pursue her passion as an Orthopedic Trauma Surgeon.. She's undoubtedly on her way, ambitiously challenging herself with Honor/AP courses, taking night classes in the medical field, volunteering in the community, and carrying out her duties as Miss Fontana Princess, all while managing ThundarLP!

 

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EDUCATION 

Etiwanda High School: 2019- Present: GPA 4.2

Chaffey Community College: 2022-Present: GPA 4.0

PROFESSIONAL & WORK EXPERIENCE

Thundar Lightning & Peace (TundarLP): Nonprofit 501(c)(3) 

   CEO & Founder May 2021-Present

Mountain View Services: (remote)

   Inventory Data Analyst: August-Present

California Pizza Kitchen

   Hostess July 2021-September 2021

SPECIAL PROJECTS & EVENTS & FUNDRAISING

  • “TOPGOLF 4 VETS”: November 11, 2022 (in progress)

    • Event: Free TOPGOLF, lunch & TOPGOLF merchandise will be given FREE to Veterans on “Veterans Day”.

  • “VETERANS ROW 2.0”: October 23, 2022

    • Special Project: distributed essential items to over 100 Homeless Veterans

  • “DOGS 4 VETS” August 22, 2022

    • Fundraising Event: Golf Tournament. Raising funds to train service dogs for veterans suffering from PTSD.

  • “MEDIC BAGS FOR SERVICE DOGS & WARRIORS”: July 24, 2022

    • Special Project: donated 45 medic bags to service dogs & veteran handlers. Each medic bag had medic training supplies capable of saving both dog/handlers.

  • “BLANKETS FOR VETS”: March 30, 2022:

    • Event: made 100 fleece blankets in three hours with 70 community members and organizations: Blankets donated to various Veteran organizations

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

  • Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce: 2022-Present

  • Rotary- Claremont Sunset/Sunrise: 2017-Present

    • Pilgrim Place: Shopping for Seniors: 2021 

    • Jocelyn Senior Center: Social Event with Seniors: 2019 

    • Annual Turkey Trot: Registration/Set-up/Clean-up: 2017, 2018, 2019, 

    • Ellen Meadows Prosthetic Hand Organization: Building Prosthetic Arms: 2018 

  • Fontana Exchange Club: Fontana Days “Carnival”:  2022

  • National Honor Society Club: 2020-Present

  • California Scholarship Federation Club: 2019-Present

  • Red Cross Club: 2019-2021

  • Kiwanis: Shoe Drive/Victor Elementary School District: 2021 

  • Operation Christmas Child: Samaritan’s Purse: Assembler/Scanner: 2018-20 

  • INTERACT: Christmas Letters for Homeless: Toiletry Bags for Homeless: 2018-19

  • American Cancer Society: Relay for Life: Registration Booth: 2018, 2019

  • Abundant Living Family Church: Summer Camp Registration Assistant: 2018 

  • Operation Community Cares: Assembler: 2017, 2019

  • High Desert Hispanic Chamber: Events: Set/Clean-Up/Mktg Tables: 2014-17 

  • Park University: Community Events: Set/Clean-up/Face-Painting/Mktg Tables: 2014-2017

MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS & CLUBS

  • Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce: 2021-Present

  • Greater High Desert Chamber of Commerce: 2022-Present

  • Claremont Sunrise Rotary: 2022-Present

  • Barstow Chamber of Commerce: 2022-Present

  • Etiwanda High School Varsity Cheer Squad: 2019-Present

  • National Honors Society: 2019-Present

  • California Scholarship Federation: 2019-Present

  • Etiwanda High School Athletic Trainer Teacher Associate - 2021-22

  • Red Cross Club: 2019-2022

  • INTERACT Rotary Club: Chapter School Founder/President 2017-2019

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS & PARTICIPATION​

  • California Legislative Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gómez Reyes’s “2022 30 under 30 Awardee”: 2022

  • Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Social Justice Award: 2022

  • D’Andre Lampkin Social Good Scholarship: June 2022

  • Summer Health Professions Education Program: (SHPEP): Participant: (Summer 2022)

  • D'Andre D Lampkin Foundation: Social Good Scholarship: 2022

  • Miss Teen Fontana Princess: City of Fontana: 2022

  • California Legislature Assembly: Thurston "Smitty" Smith, Assemblymember, 33rd District

    • Certificate of Recognition: CEO/Founder of new nonprofit ThundarLP: 2022

  • California Legislature Assembly: James C Ramos, Assemblymember 40th Assembly District

    • Certificate of Recognition: CEO/Founder of new nonprofit ThundarLP: 2022

  • California Legislature Assembly: Eloise Gomez Reyes, Majority Leader, 47th District 

    • ​Certificate of Recognition: ThundarLP's Inaugural Golf Tournament & Support to Veteran Community​
    • Certificate of Recognition:  Power Project Program: 2022
  • Working Dogs for Warrior

    • Certificate: "In recognition of outstanding work to bring wellness to service families in our community.": 2022

  • FRONTSIGHT Military Outreach & Working Dogs for Warriors: "Wellness Warrior"

    • Certificate of Appreciation:  "Bringing outstanding work and wellness to our community all year." ​2022

  • Honor Roll Student: Certificate of Recognition:2010-Present

  • American Legion Auxiliary: ALA Girls State (Alternate Candidate)- 2022

  • Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY): Participant: 2020

PUBLICATIONS, INTERVIEWS, POPCAST:

  • HD|Daily News: Article Publication: News Reporter, Kendra White: 2022- “Tee off of teen girl’s 1st non-profit golf tourney, helps veterans”

https://www.hddailynews.com/news/local/tee-off-of-teen-girls-1st-non-profit-golf-tourney-helps-veterans/article_8eadb48a-1f35-11ed-a264-7b545f89226d.html

  • Letz Connect Now: Live Podcast: Host Maria Farias: Interview: 2022

https://www.facebook.com/page/101823588962072/search/?q=sam%20moreno

  • ABC News & Talk Affiliate: Southern California Business Report: Live Interview: Producer Yvette Walker: 2022 "

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JHtu_ZfkwA

  • Inland Empire Business Journal: Article Publication: Rachel Silverman — Freelance Writer for IEBJ: "16-Year-Old Aspiring Orthopedic Surgeon Launches New Non-Profit Aimed at Helping Veterans": 2021 

https://iebizjournal.com/16-year-old-aspiring-orthopedic-surgeon-launches-new-non-profit-aimed-at-helping-veterans/

  • National Veterans Chamber of Commerce: “Friday Feature”:

 https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=veterans%20chamber%20of%20commerce%20friday%20feature%20moreno&origin=GLOBAL_SEARCH_HEADER&sid=g-c

  • Thundar, Lightning, and Peace: Quarterly Newsletter: Samantha Moreno, Publisher and Editor: 2022-Present

 

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE- 800 + hours

  • Working Dogs for Warriors

  • Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce

  • Claremont Sunrise Rotary 

    • Pilgrims Place

    • Turkey Trot

    • Jocelyn Senior Center

    • Ellen Meadows-Prosthetic Hand Organization

  • Red Cross Club

  • National Honor Society Club

  • California Scholarship Federation Club

  • Kiwanis

    • Shoe Drive-Victor Elementary School District

  • Operation Community Caress

  • Operation Christmas Child: Samaritan's Purse: Assembler/Scanner

ADDITIONAL SKILLS & CERTIFICATES:  

  • Summer Health Professions Education Program: (SHPEP): Certificate of Completion (6 weeks): 2022

  • Health Care Occupations: Certificate of Achievement- Technical Training: 2021

  • Food Handler's Certification: 2021

  • Public Speaker, Writer

  • Proficient in Microsoft: Word, Excel; Canva; social media: Instagram, LinkedIn, Snap Chat

LANGUAGES:

  • English, Conversational Spanish 

*For a complete CV of Sam Moreno: contact amoreno@thundarlp.org

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