Heber Cheer and Dance Team Rebounds After Fire With Help From United Toyota Imperial
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-Editorial
A youth cheer and dance program in Heber is back on its feet after a fire destroyed a coach’s vehicle along with months of uniforms, equipment, and performance supplies, leaving the team scrambling just days before a scheduled performance.
Coach Anel Núñez, of Núñez Dance Studio in Heber, said her vehicle was intentionally set on fire, resulting in a total loss of both the car and the materials stored inside. The items, she said, represented months of preparation, personal investment, and essential resources for the girls’ training and stage performances. Núñez had recently finished paying off the vehicle when the fire occurred, describing the incident as a major setback for the program and the families involved.
The loss quickly drew attention in the community after Núñez launched fundraising efforts to replace uniforms and equipment so the team could continue competing and performing.
Support eventually came from United Toyota Imperial, where General Manager Jorge Clue said the dealership learned of the situation and decided to step in.
“Several months ago, we heard about them on the news after the uniforms were destroyed in the fire, and we just felt like we needed to help,” Clue said. “We purchased 20 uniforms for the kids, and that’s really how the relationship started.”
Clue said what began as an emergency response has since grown into an ongoing partnership, with the dealership supporting the team through uniforms, team dinners, parade participation, and other needs as they arise. He added that the broader United Auto Group contributes to community initiatives by setting aside funds from each vehicle sold specifically for local support.
For Núñez and her team, the assistance meant more than replacement items; it meant continuity.
What could have ended a season instead turned into a rebuilding effort backed by community support. The team has since returned to performances and local parades in Heber and Imperial, continuing activities that had been at risk of stopping altogether.
