Desert Charities News - Jan-Feb-Mar 2024

Daniel Belew Rescue + Residence Founder / Executive Director Making A Di erence I was homeless as a teenager. When combined with my 24 years in the Marine Corps, I am uniquely positioned to help my fellow veterans as they work their way back from survival mode and a scarcity mindset toward success as they define it. Our organization believes that a change in environment is the number one factor in the success of our participants. As such, our core program builds a home with the veterans as they work their way back from a retired ambulance. This provides a home and the mobility to take new work anywhere in the country. Randy Barth Think Together Founder & CEO Making A Di erence Randy Barth founded Think Together in 1997 with the mission to partner with schools to change the odds for kids. Think Together serves over 36,000 students in Riverside County, including students in Palm Springs Unified School District. Emerging from the challenges of the pandemic, the students Think Together serves are facing more obstacles than ever before. The impact on their mental health and social development has been significant. Academic performance across the country has dipped to levels not seen in 30 years. Think Together is investing in developing the curriculum and supports necessary to get students back on track and thriving. Steven Drew Auerbach The Chosen Family Project Founding Partner Making A Di erence Tzedakah, a Hebrew word used interchange- ably to mean philanthropy, charity, or social justice was embedded in me as a small child – it’s in my family’s DNA. 3 years ago, I started working on a passion project called “The Chosen Family Project”. Through much research we could not identify a single organization that focused on protecting Chosen Families . With the onslaught of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, I feel our organization is timely and vital to memorialize the stories of these families through, print, film, and a social justice campaign. This is what motivates me to make a di¦erence – it’s in my DNA! Mark Anton AAP – Food Samaritans C.E.O. / Executive Director Making A Di erence I joined the board of AAP – Food Samaritans in 2002 and became its C.E.O./Executive Director in 2009. Since that time, I am very proud that we’ve provided uninterrupted service to our clients, who are among the most needful in our community and facing food insecurity. All of our clients are low-income and living with chronic illness. It’s humbling to represent such an essential organization. We welcome contributions of any size. For more information I invite you to please visit www.aafoodsamaritans.org David Ambroz Head of Community Engagement for Amazon in the Inland Empire Making A Di erence When it comes to lifting up communities, we look to leverage our scale for good and use our ability to innovate quickly to strengthen communities around the world where our employees live and work. Amazon’s culture is built around solving impossible problems, which is why we’re able to take a di¦erent, more hands-on approach than most. We work side-by-side with community partners to find solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges and build long-term, innovative programs that have a lasting, positive impact. t Reid D. Milanovich “Reid. D. Milanovich serves as Tribal Chairman for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. Chairman Milanovich Reid D. Milanovich was sworn in as Chairman of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians on April 5, 2022. He was first elected to the Tribal Council in April 2014 and served five consecutive terms as a Tribal Council Member and two and a half years as Vice Chairman. The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians has given millions of dollars to hundreds of charities over the past decade. In addition, the Tribe presents the annual Charity Golf Tournament that provides donations to five charities each year. One of the Tribe’s major accomplishments this year was opening the Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza in downtown Palm Springs. “It’s an honor for us to support so many important charities and organizations throughout Coachella Valley and beyond,” Chairman Milanovich says. “These charities are dedicated to making lives better throughout our community.” During his career, Chairman Milanovich was named as one of Palm Springs Life’s 40 Under 40, a group of impressive young professionals with promise to achieve greatness in the Coachella Valley. In addition, he was also recognized by The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development with a Native 40 under 40 Award. Prior to his service on Tribal Council, Chairman Milanovich served as a Tribal Council Proxy in 2013 and served for more than two years on the Tribe’s Scholarship Commission. In addition, he served for two years on the Board of Directors for the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum. Chairman Milanovich earned his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from California Baptist University and resides in Palm Springs. Reid D. Milanovich, Chairman Agua Caliente Band of Mission Indians 5401 Dinah Shore Drive Palm Springs, CA 92264 (760) 699-6925 %Kate Anderson kanderson@aguacaliente-nsn.gov www.aguacaiente-nsn.gov M EN IN PHILANTHROPY - PAGE 1 DESERT CHARITIES NEWS SPOTLIGHT Richard Balocco Desert Arc President/CEO Making A Di erence THANK YOU to everyone in our community who supports Desert Arc’s mission to enhance the quality of life and create opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities since 1959! You are the ones making a di¦erence in the lives of nearly 700 people! THANK YOU to Desert Arc’s Board of Directors, Sta¦ Members and Volunteers, to the Families and Care Providers, our Donors, Grant Funders and Sponsors, to our Business Partners, Commercial and Residential Business Services Customers, Local, State and Federal Politicians, Press and Supporters, to our colleagues at the Inland Regional Center, California Disability Services Association, Department of Rehabilitation and the State Council on Developmental Disabilities!