A nonprofit organization dedicated to recognizing and rewarding school-age youths for positive accomplishments, behavior, and good deeds is in the spotlight for celebrating great work. And for doing their own great work.
Recently, Do The Right Thing —Greater Palm Springs (DTRT) awarded more than $40,000 in scholarships on March 21 and an additional $60,000 on May 21. A grant from Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF) funded several of the scholarships given to students from various school districts in the region.
Scholarship winners included students enrolled in Palm Springs Unified, Desert Sands Unified, or Coachella Valley Unified school districts.
“The grant allowed us to impact students who otherwise would probably not be able to receive funding,” said Terri Ketover, President and CEO of DTRT. “Our grants or scholarships go to students with no necessary minimum grade point average, which, as you may know, many or most of the programs require at least a 2.6 or 3.0 average.
“With DTRT, as long as the young person graduates, they’re eligible,” she added. “The only other requirement is that they are economically disadvantaged and need the financial assistance.”
School counselors help the nonprofit identify young people that fit that profile. Resources from IECF were distributed to students who are pursuing college, junior college, community college, trade school, or even on the job training programs.
“Funding has a wide variety of usage,” Ketover said.
“For some of the kids that we fund, they are just transitioning into the workforce, and they’re not continuing any sort of education or training,” she added. “And a lot of our scholarship money goes to help these young people who may have transportation and clothing needs—anything that will help them successfully transition from high school.”
DTRT is also on the receiving end of its own good deeds.
Recently, the nonprofit was selected as the 2025 California Nonprofit of the Year for Assembly District 47. Assemblymember Greg Wallis presented DTRT Vice President Chief Andy Mills with the award at a ceremony held on May 21 in Sacramento.
Additionally, DTRT was also honored by the Riverside County Juvenile Justice Department as the 2024 Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Program of the Year.
“In our first two years as a chapter, we have had a tremendous impact,” Ketover said. “We’ve recognized almost 2,000 students from our Valley for their positive attitudes, behaviors, and accomplishments.”
The regional DTRT has a compelling backstory.
Ketover, a resident of Miami in the 1990s, became intrigued with the positive impact local students were making. The nonprofit was born during a Miami Police Department awards ceremony when a teenager was recognized by the Chief of Police for turning in a loaded gun found at his school.
As a resident, Ketover saw first-hand how the teenager was impacted by that positive recognition. Soon enough, she decided to collaborate with the Miami Police Department to develop an ongoing recognition program for students.
When Ketover moved to Palm Springs, she implemented a plan for the nonprofit to have “chapters.” The local chapter in the Valley strives to ensure that young people are not only rewarded for “doing the right thing” but also publicly recognized as vibrant role models for their peers.
To that end, the Greater Palm Springs Chapter accepts up to 350 nominations each month from teachers, parents, police officers, and other adults in the community for school-age children in recognition of their good deeds or positive behavior. 
A selection committee helps assist in choosing up to five student winners each month. They are invited to a ceremony at the Palm Springs Police Department, where the Chief of Police awards them plaques and prize packages. Media sponsor KESQ also recognizes these students.
The first local ceremony took place in April 2023.
“We have now chartered 70 chapters throughout the United States, including one in Great Britain and three in Germany,” Ketover said. “We have impacted and recognized, through all these chapters, more than half a million young people.
“I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t get an incredible thrill from the impact it has, not just on the young people, but on their families,” she added.
Learn more about Do The Right Thing at dotherightthingps.org
This story originally appeared in the Desert Sun, June 2025.
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