PSPLF recently reached a major fundraising milestone in its capital campaign, nabbing its first $1 million toward revitalizing the Palm Springs Public Library. That means it has successfully met the full $1 million match that was pledged by library’s Board of Trustees, which manages the Library Trust Fund and oversees long-term planning.

Raising a total of $2 million now marks a pivotal if not early success of PSPLF’s $7 million goal that will support the community-driven elements of the library’s $52 million major transformation.

“It’s an exciting time,” said Jeffrey Norman, board member and one of PSPLF’s Capital Campaign co-chairs. “Having $1 million matched by the library trustees, we’re well on our way toward $7 million.”

Recent grants from the FitzDell Gifting Fund and the Jane Lykken Hoff Endowment Fund via Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF) create yet another win for the project.

“The IECF grants will also help get things accomplished beyond just the building’s infrastructure, which state and city money pays for,” Norman said, expressing his enthusiasm for the interior improvements, which will enhance “people-centered” outposts, such as the community room.

“We’ll have state-of-the-art equipment, making it easier for many community organizations to come in and use the space—everything from the film festival to something like a string quartet,” Norman said.

There will also be placemaking activities spaces for teens and children who can create and connect with others.

“The Foundation Board has really stepped up to the plate to bring us to this point where we finally understood what the needs were and could speak about it publicly,” Norman added. “We’re grateful to the board for doing a great job and the recent grants are incredibly beneficial.”

These new milestones accelerate the progress on all enhanced spaces, innovative programming, and a long-term endowment to ensure sustainability for future generations.

In addition to the IECF funding, recent donors include: Friends of the Palm Springs Public Library; Karla Kjellin-Elder & Jeff Elder; the Lamb Family Foundation; Jim Gray and Bernard Rottner and Betty Rae Smith; David Engen and Ken Pengelly; and Deborah Schwarz.

An anonymous gift of $100,000 filters into the mix alongside dozens of other donations ranging from $50-$50,000.

The Next Chapter campaign launched in October 2025. The renovation will modernize the 35,000-square-foot main library building and the 4,000-square-foot JC Frey Building, while preserving its architectural significance.

Every year, the Palm Springs Library serves 20,000-plus cardholders, and welcomes more than 140,000 unique visits.

Mark your calendars. The estimated reopening is Summer 2027.

“The library has been so important to the civic life of Palm Springs,” Norman said. “The donations and grants will help bring us into the future,” Norman said, stressing how vital the library is as a place that offers more than just books.

“Sometimes people look at Palm Springs and say, ‘Oh, it’s a very wealthy community,’ or ‘Why do people need to go to the library when they have their own Wi-Fi and their own books and DVRs,’ and what have you,” Norman said. “But there’s a considerable percentage of children whose families live below the poverty level here. The library has become a huge resource for them.

It has also been a cooling space during summer and a warm place in the winter.

Not to be left out: job seekers, who walk in and, with the help of trusted librarians, learn to navigate the various job sites or get help preparing their resumes.

“There are more than 300 programs a year at the library,” Norman beamed, “and now, even in our temporary space, we’re still hugely active.”

Bill Wylie, PSPLF board president, added: “Palm Springs has a long tradition of generosity and civic pride. Our community has always championed the institutions that make this city unique, and our library is definitely one of them.”

This story originally appeared in the Desert Sun, March, 2026.

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To be sure, the nonprofit’s ongoing mission to provide quality guide dogs is significant, but so is maintaining general operating expenses. 

A grant from the Hemet Lions Club Endowed Donor Advised Fund via Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF) will help on that front. 

Robert Maher, Executive Director of Guide Dogs of the Desert, says the IECF funding will factor into “everything we do here.

“For instance, in 2025, we had 77 puppies, which is wonderful,” he added. “However, those wonderful puppies go off to volunteer puppy raisers for 18 to 24 months, which is fantastic, but all of those puppies need training equipment.” 

Maher is referring to toys, balls, leashes, harnesses, and other items that fall under the “general operating expenses” umbrella.  

“People may not know that each of those dogs are valued at about $100,000, which is what it costs us to bring them through the three-year training process,” he said. “It’s basically 24 months to three years of getting those dogs trained from the time that they’re a puppy to the time that they’re being placed as a guide dog.” 

He also noted the high success rate of puppies that become guide dogs.  

“It’s about 55 percent, which is higher than a lot of the national average,” he said. “And that really speaks to the high quality of our volunteers and what they’re able to provide us as well as our direct guide dog training staff.” 

The organization has several puppy trainers and those who work with the volunteer puppy trainers. Collectively, the dogs are taught basic dog obedience.  

“It’s much more than most of us do for our own house pet,” Maher said. “Our dogs are taught to go to the bathroom, even on command. After that initial puppy-training period, the dogs come in for formal guide dog training, and those are done by formal guide dog trainers here.” 

Those individuals are called Guide Dog Mobility Instructors. At this point, they work with the dog for another six months for formal training.  

“The thing that I always try to emphasize with people is the next time you’re standing on a street corner, close your eyes and say, ‘How am I going to get myself across the street?’” Maher said. “If you were visually impaired, and if you had a white cane with you, do you feel comfortable stepping out into the traffic with that white cane to get yourself across the street?  

“But when you know that you have this dog by your side, you know you have the complete trust, confidence, and ability in that dog to safely walk you across that street,” he added. “And that’s just a life-changing experience to have that comfort level.” 

Guide Dogs of the Desert’s operates from a six-acre campus that includes a 12-bedroom dorm. A common area for socialization creates other opportunities to learn and bond. The facility’s 400-seat multi-purpose room also serves as an auditorium where graduations take place upon completion of training. 

Meanwhile, an onsite kennel complex can accommodate up to 25 dogs while they’re moving through training or if they require any medical attention. The Frank M. and Gertrude R. Doyle Foundation Wellness Center provides yet another space for health and welfare matters for puppies and dogs during their formal training. 

Maher said there are many ways the public can learn more about the nonprofit. 

“Our graduations are held here on campus and those events are free and open to the public,” he added. “People can check our website for upcoming events. But everybody is always welcome to participate in a scheduled tour of the campus and facilities.”  

In the meantime, mark your calendars for the nonprofit’s special event on March 25 at Eight4Nine Restaurant & Lounge in Palm Springs.  

“It’s an exciting Easter bonnet auction party,” Maher said. “People in the community are making Easter bonnets that we’ll auction off. There will also be a silent auction. This is a really fun event where everybody gets together and has a good time.” 

This story originally appeared in the Desert Sun, March, 2026.

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Recent funding from the Community Impact Fund via Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF) is offering TEC new opportunities to strengthen its mission to promote tolerance, respect, and understanding while also eliminating hatred and bigotry.  

“The recent grant has been very impactful because it helps us with our regular programming and the mission of the organization,” said Nancy Kaye, head of Marketing and Development at TEC. The resources from the Community Impact Fund directly help us do that.” 

TEC has long been a change agent in Coachella Valley, providing knowledge through education and engagement in the hopes of fostering a mindset that, according to TEC, “rejects prejudice, challenges stereotypes, and celebrates diversity.” 

Kaye says the grant arrives at an ideal time. 

“The Center has really found its footing in the past year since reopening after the pandemic,” she said.  “We’re adding in more regular programming and bringing in more students. That’s what we really hope to focus on in the coming year—the education of students in the Coachella Valley middle and high school students. We want to teach them about tolerance, stability, respect, and understanding.” 

Founded by Holocaust survivor Earl Greif in 2006, TEC opened doors to the public several years later in 2009. (Greif passed away in 2016).  

The goal of eliminating hatred and bigotry seemed grand, however, through TEC’s various programs, activities, and exhibits, it has provided ample educational opportunities for students and the community at large to not only learn to see and understand prejudice, but to also practice critical thinking. 

Feeling empowered to take active roles in the community also factored into the equation with the idea of creating, “a more just and humane society.” 

The organization’s variety of programming and events stand out. Kaye says that when middle and high school students visit TEC on field trips, they often will hear first- or second-generation accounts of Holocaust survivors. Power, strength, and resilience shine through most of these testimonies, making for a truly illuminating experience. 

Shining light on other atrocities and genocides is also key. To that end, TEC hopes its visitors leave the center with a mindset that can reject hate and prejudice, but also deeply question stereotypes. 

Mark your calendars. Upcoming events include a presentation/book signing with Jana Zimmer, author of “Chocolates from Tangiers,” a Holocaust replacement child’s memoir (Feb. 8), and a film screening of The Rape of Europa, dubbed a “whirlwind of fanaticism, greed, and warfare that threatened to wipe out the artistic heritage of Europe” (Feb.17). 

One special event is also of note. “Violins of Hope” (March 8) features a collection of more than 70 instruments that were played by Jewish musicians in camps and ghettos. These instruments were found and collected, often in battered or beaten conditions. They were later restored to prime quality, then played by top violinists across the globe, each instrument carrying its own unique tale. 

“What I particularly like about being part of the organization is the encounter with people who have incredible stories to tell about resistance and courage,” Kaye said. “It’s only through an organization like this one that we get to meet Holocaust survivors and their descendants, and learn about unbelievable—and believable—accounts.  

“We have a unique opportunity here to learn from these people about creating a more just and humane world,” she added. “Through these encounters with survivors and their descendants, we come face to face with authentic, first-hand oral testimony that is rare and impactful.” 

This story originally appeared in the Desert Sun, February, 2026.

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Now, a recent grant from the fund via Inland Empire Community Foundation will greatly support Desert Arc, a nonprofit human services organization that has long offered support services such as transportation. 

“We’re grateful for this opportunity,” said Michelle Peters, Desert Arc’s President and CEO. “Many of the individuals that we support utilize wheelchairs. One of the fine partnerships we have is with the Desert Recreation District. They have all sorts of adaptive sports opportunities, and we go there quite frequently. We utilize this grant to be able to do that.”

Desert Arc, founded in 1959, serves adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities living throughout Riverside County and the Morongo Basin of San Bernardino County. One of its key efforts is the Transportation Program, which transports individuals to and from their program or work site.   

Peters said the team of professional, dedicated drivers who provide daily curb-to-curb service from an individual’s home to their program has been instrumental in creating a lasting impact.   

Individuals using the service span a broad spectrum.  

Roughly 700 people, ages 18 and older, with diagnoses such as autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and epilepsy are enrolled in the nonprofit’s programs. Each client’s services are designed with a person-centered plan for personal growth and development. Connection and trust are key. 

Peters, who “literally rolled into the Valley on the moving truck at the end of March of this year and started my role April 1,” appreciates the opportunity. She feels locals are familiar with what the organization does day to day, providing transportation, but notes some of its other efforts, such as responding to community needs. To that end, Desert Arc has established a variety of valued enterprises, employing clients and providing business services such as shredding, recycling, landscape maintenance, order fulfillment, and janitorial services. 

“What we are really working on targeting is our employment services so that individuals in the community understand the great work that we’ve been doing,” Peters adds. “We help through our state funding and often through these various grant opportunities, paying admissions and fees and whatnot. Through that, we are able to help people get competitive employment.”  

The organization has worked on several endeavors on that front. 

“One person comes to mind, and it’s an employee of Acrisure Arena,” she said. “We’re getting ready to do a spotlight on her. We also have several gentlemen who expressed interest through the Community Connections program. They are now employees of Joshua Tree doing janitorial work there. 

“I’d love for locals to know more about the employment efforts here,” she added, “because it’s great and dynamic work, and it’s wonderful that we’re able to do it. And our volunteer opportunities help others explore their interests. There’s a huge variety of work out there.” 

Desert Arc also offers life-enhancing programs that span adult day centers and behavioral programs. The For Your Independence and Independent Living Skills program offers supportive living services. And Pathways to Employment and Transportation further strengthens the nonprofit’s commitment to transporting people to and from the campuses. 

“I love being part of this team,” Peters said. “One of my favorite stories here revolves around our janitorial services. This is a team of individuals with disabilities who come through and collect trash. And every day there’s one individual who pops his head around my office door, and he’s just like, ‘What up, girl?’ It’s the highlight of my day. It just makes me so happy to see him happy. 

“And there’s a certain excitement that comes from seeing people take pride in their work,” she added, “and to know that they’re doing a good job; knowing that we’re making a difference. I think that’s what I love most about this work—being able to really make a difference.” 

For more information, visit https://www.desertarc.org/ 

This story originally appeared in the Desert Sun, November 2025.

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The IECF grant via the Arthur L. Jacobson Donor Advised Fund will filter into the established capital campaign for the new center.

Ground broke on the new facility late last year. It will house new examination rooms as the center and the Riverside County Coalition to End Human Trafficking further extend their services for child abuse victims.

“The new facility will be set up for identification of potential child abuse,” said John Thoresen, Director and Executive Officer of Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center, located on the Eisenhower Medical Center campus in Rancho Mirage. “That’s done either with forensic interviews or medical exams. As forensic medical exams go, we’re now doing 30 a month.”

Documenting abuse victims is vital, he added. “The only way we could document those victims is to bring them back for a revisit. The forensic pediatricians and forensic nurse practitioners doing the medical exams have to get that report to law enforcement as soon as possible. They can’t really document other medical issues.”

The new pavilion for child and adolescent health is one part of a campaign that received crucial donations.

Equally important at the center is a new research fellowship that the organization endows at the University of California, Riverside, to conduct more research on child abuse prevention and awareness.

“The third key element related to our work is relative to prevention,” Thoresen said. “We’ve developed a series of animated videos on child abuse prevention that are shown around the world. There are almost a billion views on YouTube. They’ve been translated into various languages and they’re shown throughout schools.”

One of the things that the campaign also allowed for was funding for a new national marketing person. Thoresen said the role is significant because it will assist with the center’s curriculum and getting videos into more state schools and school superintendents’ offices.

Overall, he sees these new endeavors as “very exciting” in terms of the impact it can make.

Collectively, these are yet another series of significant steps, in a series of long and impactful ones, that continue making the center an empowering resource.

Founded in 1986 by Barbara and Frank Sinatra, the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center had a clear mission from the beginning: to be dedicated to ensuring “every child’s right to a normal, healthy and secure childhood.”

The center rose in the spotlight, quickly commended for its individual, group, and family therapies. Special programs that addressed issues tied to children’s suffering, and the effects of child neglect and abuse—and even those at risk to be abused—factored into the center’s work.

More than 80 percent of children counseled come from families below the national poverty line for a family of four.

“I don’t know if people really recognize the fact that when the Sinatras started this organization, they did so to cover the full range of activity around the issue of child abuse,” Thoreson said. “A lot of people recognize that we have a wonderful team of therapists and psychiatrists who deal with the treatment of abuse. And we have done that for almost 40 years and seen 25,000 kids.

“What’s important to note, too, is that we’re really the organization that investigates or quantifies the potentials of abuse that has occurred through very highly qualified pediatric forensic interviewers, forensic pediatricians, and nurse practitioners,” he added. “The Sinatras really wanted to work on prevention and awareness.”

As the organization expanded its reach, things shifted in 2017. Thoresen said the center modified its mission and basically went “global” it its prevention and awareness efforts.

“That’s when we started constructing the animated videos and the curriculum,” he said. “That curriculum and the videos are in schools in 15,000 cities across the United States now.”

Thoresen encourages Valley residents to visit fightchildabuse.org (or the center’s website) to experience those videos first-hand.

The Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center worked in conjunction with Wonder Media and the Joshua Center on Child Sexual Abuse at the University of Washington to develop a strong global campaign on child abuse awareness and prevention. Child advocates, therapists, and national scholars are the brainchild of the unique program, whose reach continues to stretch far and wide.

Learn more at barbarasinatrachildrenscenter.org.

This story originally appeared in the Desert Sun, October 2025.

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Guide Dogs of the Desert, one of the most intrepid and valued nonprofits in the Valley, is encouraging locals interested in making a difference to consider applying to be a puppy raiser. 

“It’s a very important role,” said Robert Maher, Executive Director of Guide Dogs of the Desert. “Puppy raisers are vital. They help us meet the demand of the number of visually impaired students on a waiting list to receive a guide dog from us.”

The nonprofit goes through an intricate dog/human matching process, in fact, which can be lengthy.  

“We want to make sure we’re finding the right dog for the person,” Maher said. “Somebody who applied last month may be able to receive a dog by the end of the year because we found the perfect dog, while somebody who applied a year ago or two years ago may still be waiting because we haven’t found the dog that is the best match for them..  

“We have enough individuals that could be on a three-year waiting list,” he added. “To address the waiting list we need puppies. So, the big thing is always puppy raisers.” 

Recent grants from Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF) will assist on a number of fronts, particularly for the nonprofit’s general needs. However, the funding will expand opportunities to focus on key initiatives like the dog/human matching process. 

“We’re looking to have 75 puppies this year, meaning we need 75 puppy raisers,” Maher said. “The people who were puppy raisers last year are still working with their puppy—they care for the dog about 18 to 24 months. It can be a constant challenge to be able to find enough people willing to take this on.” 

Maher added that in any given year, the nonprofit aims to meet several key goals. 

“We shoot for about 20 teams (student and dog), as they’re referred to. We have three to four classes a year each with six students who come to our campus for 28 days to learn how to care for and work the dog.” 

Some people have had dogs before, of course. Others have never owned a dog.  

“We’re here so those people can learn how to work with that dog,” Maher said. “People who have had dogs before, just like any of us. When you get into a new car, every car drives differently, so every dog is going to be different. You may have had a dog for the past 10 years and suddenly, you’re being given a new dog, and you now have to learn how to work that dog.” 

“We work with all people with all abilities,” Maher said. “We’ve had deaf students, and we’re able to teach the dog commands through sign language. We’ve had older people, too.” 

Maher went on to share a story about a woman who applied for a guide dog several years ago.  

“She was 86 at the time when she applied, but she had a very active lifestyle,” he said. “She played golf every day, and we actually taught that dog how to ride on the golf cart. Of course, I always wondered who was driving the golf cart. Was it her or the dog? Because she didn’t have the sight, but the dog knew how to ride with her.” 

Guide Dogs of the Desert is more than 90 percent privately funded.  

“We have one local county grant,” he said. “We really rely on our community to help support us. The IECF grant helps us make a tremendous impact on the work we do.” 

Learn more at guidedogsofthedesert.org 

This story originally appeared in the Desert Sun, September 2025.

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“Palm Springs has a great richness of excellent theater,” said David Catanzarite, GRTCCV’s Founding Artistic Director. “But outside of the area, there’s very little that’s accessible or affordable for people.” 

There’s a hidden benefit to that reality. It has allowed GRTCCV to adhere to its powerful mission. 

“It’s important for us to take professional shows with much the same actors and excellent designers you’d see in Palm Springs, to places that are comfortable and familiar for people who couldn’t necessarily afford to travel across the desert to go to a production,” Catanzarite said. “We make our shows accessible to families, and we’re committed to bilingual populations.  

“Palm Springs is still a predominantly Anglo population, but beyond Palm Springs, most of the Coachella Valley is anywhere from 70 to 90 percent Latino,” he added.

Another unique component of GRTCCV’s creative structure is the presentation. Oftentimes, the nonprofit prefaces its shows to individuals who have never been to the theater or ballet before. 

“We like to have a 15-minute curtain or pre-show dance performance,” Catanzarite said. “We’ve found that a lot of our patrons have never been to live theater at all in their entire life. Not at school, not in church, nowhere. So, this is their first theater experience, and it makes the audience feel comfortable when they see something like Ballet Folklorico, which is something that they know.” 

Ballet Folklorico programming will further be enhanced at GRTCCV thanks to a recent grant from the Youth Grantmakers Committee-Coachella Valley Fund via Inland Empire Community Foundation. Catanzarite said the grant will enable the organization to open or expand its programming for under-resourced neighborhoods. 

“The grant will help us have ballet folklorico classes in Thermal,” he added. “We started a class last year in there and now we will be able to continue. This grant will also help us provide scholarships just for some of the kids, because some of them have very few resources at all.” 

GRTCCV utilizes two professional companies with adult dancers. Several company members teach for GRTCCV. 

“We pay our teachers well, more than most of the other places where Ballet Folklorico is taught,” Catanzarite beamed. “I appreciate the great diversity of kids.” 

The community, in turn, appreciates GRTCCV’s work. 

Catanzarite founded the organization 17 years ago with the head of the organization’s Ballet Folklorico program, Karen Lin. Since then, the co-founders have nurtured a vibrant nonprofit organization, bringing theater to new performers and audiences throughout the Valley. 

Auditions for new productions are announced on the company’s website. Individuals interesting in volunteering are encouraged to reach out. Meanwhile, community support is always welcome.   

To that end, Catanzarite adds that the company wants to continue building bridges between communities and generations. Some recent milestones include: the 2020 Desert Theatre League Desert Star award for Outstanding Production for a staged reading of “How I Learned to Drive” and Outstanding Production and Outstanding Director for the youth musical “Sister Act.” 

The future looks bright, too. Ballet Folklorico classes start Sept. 17, however a new group of individuals may see these classes as brand new opportunities to find unique ways to express themselves more freely. 

“For the first time, we have a cohort of five-year-olds,” Catanzarite said. “We also have older kids, teenagers, all the way up to age 18, but this group of five-year-olds will be exciting. It’s great that we can get them started early. 

Learn more at grtccv.org. 

This story originally appeared in the Desert Sun, September 2025.

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“We’re excited about the grant because it will allow us to expand our community impact,” said Heidi M. Maldoon, Executive Director of Variety Children’s Charity of the Desert. “For the next year, we’ll be putting those funds to use as we really get into the higher-risk communities of Mecca and Desert Hot Springs.” 

To that end, the nonprofit will bring its presence, programming, and services to those communities in an effort to reduce the need for transportation, which is often a challenge. 

“We’re bringing art classes and developmental screenings, mobility applications, and equipment to the area,” Maldoon added. “The grant is really going to help us for the whole year ahead.” 

Serving the communities of Mecca and Desert Hot Springs is a new initiative, in fact. As the nonprofit started having a presence in those communities, it wanted to see what was needed and where those needs had to be filled sooner rather than later.  

“For a while, we were just in those communities once a month,” Maldoon said. “Now we’re moving to once a week, and it will be more than that as soon as we get through the year. We’ve seen the difference in the families we’re serving and the connection we’re able to make. This has been a great opportunity to expand our time and work and become embedded in the community.” 

Longevity is key here.  

The organization sprang to life in Coachella Valley in 1987. It quickly stood out for how well it promoted the health, mobility, independence, and social inclusion of special needs and underserved children throughout the region. Nearly 40 years later, it offers life-changing programs and resources. 

The Care Program, for instance, is a unique early childhood development resource center which offers critical and life-saving medical equipment and services, healthcare, and well-being to children. 

The Freedom Program helps children by delivering important equipment and services for mobility, independence, and social inclusion. Meanwhile, The Future Program provides services, education, and opportunities to boost children’s self-esteem. 

“We welcome anybody wanting to learn more about us,” Maldoon said. “They can come take a tour, meet with our team, see what we’re doing, and learn about how we can help their family or someone they might know. Also, any volunteers, of course, in the community. We love our volunteers, and there are lots of upcoming opportunities this season to work directly with the kids, or help with fundraising, or be an ambassador.” 

Looking ahead, the nonprofit has several free events on the schedule.  

Art From the Heart, slated for late September, is a family event that showcases the creative works of both children and clients of the organization. The event, which takes place at the Cambria Gallery in Palm Desert, is designed to be uplifting, with a strong focus on community, compassion, and creativity. 

In October, the nonprofit’s annual Fall Carnival offers seasonal fun to children and families across the Coachella Valley. The event is geared toward children with disabilities, serious illnesses, or those who are underserved. Families can enjoy an afternoon filled with adaptive games, sensory-friendly activities, treats, music, and more. 

Maldoon said that community support makes the event possible, and invites local businesses, volunteers, and donors to collaborate for a day of “unforgettable memories for the children who need it most.” 

“What I love most about the organization is the people, whether that’s our clients, our donors, our staff,” Maldoon added of the work she and her team do. “It’s the ability to connect and know that people are going to be having a better opportunity to thrive and being able to celebrate that. That’s what gets me up every day.” 

Learn more at varietyofthedesert.org. 

This story originally appeared in the Desert Sun, September 2025.

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The folks operating The Joslyn Center here in the Valley might appreciate Loren’s sentiments—the actress turns 91 in September. As the nonprofit heads into fall, a recent grant from Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF) is helping the organization enhance its extensive senior services via the offerings on hand at The Wellness Center.

Praised for its diverse services, The Wellness Center provides one-on-one counseling and group counseling. A variety of support classes filter into the mix, too, assisting individuals through various illnesses—from Parkinson’s to prostate cancer. A women’s cancer group also stands out, and a grievance group is a nice touch for ever-evolving modern times.  

“The funds we have received from IECF truly helped in making sure that the wellness program was ongoing,” said Jack Newby, Interim Executive Director of the Joslyn Center. “This is also a bilingual program where the staff speaks Spanish and English, and so we’re able to reach out to Hispanic communities here in the Valley.” 

Newby added that wellness initiatives have expanded considerably over the years to continually meet the needs of the aging community. Even through uncertain times, such as the pandemic and the recent government shifts in spending and immigration. 

 “Our Spanish-speaking clients face many challenges, from transportation, stigma related to seeking counseling, and variable work schedules,” Newby noted.  “We work to adjust our schedule to meet the needs of our clients by offering counseling outside of traditional work times.  The Joslyn Center is focused on being client-centered and meeting cultural norms to be a safe and empathetic counseling service.”  

The Joslyn Center has weathered challenges before through its 40-plus years serving the Coachella Valley. Its dedication to enhancing the well-being of all adults 50 and older has always been commendable. The Wellness Center, in fact, is now nationally recognized and lauded for its holistic approach to wellness among older adults. It was also the first of its kind to offer free bilingual counseling services to adults in need.  

Joslyn is also the only center offering the UCLA Longevity Center Brain Boot Camp program. As it continues to lean into more expansive ways it can help seniors live healthy and fulfilling lives, it strives to help others through connections with friends, social gatherings, health and fitness programs, and a variety of educational classes. 

Today, some 2,500+ members make up the nonprofit’s creative tapestry. More than 80 weekly programs are featured. 

Moving forward, Newby is quick to point out the rise in the senior population. 

“The older adult population is growing exponentially, and the Coachella Valley is seeing a growth rate twice that of the State of California,” he said. “We have about 2,700 members and clients now, which equates to about 5,000 to 6,000 visits a month. We are working to meet this growing need. 

Which makes The Wellness Center all the more important.  

“Just the fact that counseling is available is significant,” Newby said. “We do problem-solving counseling, so it’s one-on-one and it’s to solve an issue. It is an evidence-based form of counseling that has been found to be particularly suited for the challenges faced by an older population.  In most cases, clients can resolve their issues in 10 – 12 sessions. 

“The program addresses people’s concerns, giving them options and resources, connecting to support groups and to other people that they can talk to,” he added. “It is important to note that we are here Monday through Friday, 8-5 p.m., and seniors can come in any time, and there’s always somebody they can talk to. We are truly here for our clients.” 

The Joslyn Center isn’t the only senior center in the Valley, but is one with one of the largest footprints as far as square footage and attendees. Newby feels that the nonprofit’s reach will only expand in the months and years ahead. 

“It’s good to participate in your local community senior center,” he said. “It provides you with the opportunity for friendship and joining in various activities. It will help address social isolation, which is shown to cause serious health consequences. Just being able to talk to other people and do things with them is so important.” 

Learn more at joslyncenter.org. 

This story originally appeared in the Desert Sun, September 2025.

Stay up to date on all the good work we’re doing through the power of philanthropy. Sign up for our eNewsletter, Philanthropy Matters, today.

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Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic Executive Director Lee Mills is all about creating possibilities in the Valley, praising a recent grant from Inland Empire Community Foundation through the Elissa Hepner Donor Advised Fund, which allows the revered nonprofit to produce its upcoming season and more. 

“We’re very happy that we get these grants,” Mills said. “Our orchestra series is incredibly expensive to produce. We can spend anywhere between $200,000 to $400,000 on a single concert, and we want to keep our tickets at a price range that is affordable.” 

He added that ticket sales only cover about half of the organization’s costs during the year. 

“The entire remainder of our budget is provided through the generosity of our donors, including grants like the one we received from the Community Foundation,” he said. “It really makes our series possible, and for us to have these outstanding orchestras from around the world.” 

Mills is referring to the upcoming performances in the stellar season ahead, which begins January 2026 with the Chicago Symphony coming and conductor Riccardo Muti, one of the world’s preeminent conductors and somebody known for his captivating performances.  

“The Los Angeles Philharmonic is coming, too, with Gustavo Dudamel, which is a real boon for us,” Mills added. “This is his last year as music director in L.A. before he goes off to New York. So, it was nice to be able to get that [on Feb. 26].” 

The lineup also includes Academy of St. Martin with violinist Joshua Bell coming from the UK (Feb. 24), San Diego Symphony Orchestra (March 8), and Dallas Symphony Orchestra (March 31).  

Other future highlights include a January 2026 concert at the Cathedral City Amphitheater featuring the Mineria Symphony Orchestra from Mexico. The event is free and open to the public.  

A master classes for local high school students with the conductor, Carlos Miguel Prieto, and Pacho Flores, a Venezuelan trumpet player, will be offered prior to the performance. Local arts organizations will also be featured. 

“Our board of directors is focused on trying to increase access to orchestral music out here in the Valley and taking it outside of the walls of just the McCallum Theatre,” Mills said. “And outside of being limited to people who might not be able to afford tickets to our concerts.” 

“Even though we charge half of what we need to, it can still be expensive for some people,” he added. “So, having this kind of support from the IECF, from our donors, is really improving the quality of life out here in the Coachella Valley and adding a lot of value to our community.” 

Beyond performance, Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic also supports a myriad of educational activities in Coachella Valley. This year, the organization granted seven scholarships for Coachella Valley students studying music or music education or related musical field to attend college. 

Additionally, the Philharmonic provides grants to locals, and middle school and high school students to attend summer camps in Arrowbear Music Camp in Arrowbear Lake and another camp in Idlewild.  

“I’m glad we can support these students and foster this love of orchestral music out here in the Valley,” Mills said. “That kind of fostering has, time and time and again, proven to improve the quality of life for people, reduce stress, and also process difficult emotions and other issues.” 

Mills has been with the organization for 18 months. He brings with him a fascinating depth of knowledge and success. 

A five-time winner of the Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award, he was named “New Artist of the Month” in March 2022 by Musical America magazine.

The publication praised the conductor’s “omnivorous musical temperament,” calling him somebody “eager to try out highly contrasting musical styles and approaches.” 

When asked what he loved most about being on board the Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic, he was candid. 

“The public,” he said. “I’m a conductor. I love music I love all these great orchestras that we can bring in, but what makes me the happiest in this position is how enthusiastic our subscribers and donors are about our mission.” 

He also expressed appreciation for the Philharmonic’s board, which just finished a strategic planning process that took nearly a year to craft.  

“We now have a really good idea about the next five years,” Mills said. “We have a very enthusiastic donor base that is supporting our mission, and I, personally, am very focused on education because that was such a big part of my life. 

“I’m from a blue-collar family in Montana,” he added. “No big musicians in my family are in my immediate orbit. So, it’s wonderful to be exposed constantly to music because of organizations like ours, or like the Symphony Orchestra that was in my hometown, and to also go to music camps and study music. That really drove my passion for music.”
 

Learn more at psphil.org. 

This story originally appeared in the Desert Sun, September 2025.

Stay up to date on all the good work we’re doing through the power of philanthropy. Sign up for our eNewsletter, Philanthropy Matters, today.

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