Desert Charities News - Jan-Feb-Mar 2024

Shawn Ragan California Indian Nations College Vice President & Chief Operations Manager Making A Di erence California has 1.4 million people who identify as American Indian/Alaska Native and is home to 1/5 of all federally recognized Tribal Nations, yet there is not one institutionally-accredited federally-recognized Tribal College. Meanwhile, Native American students face many obstacles in public education, including the ongoing erasure of their identity, inadequate cultural resources, and the historical trauma of boarding schools. At CINC, we are working to be the first recognized Tribal College in California in decades, o¦ering a culturally-responsive academic curriculum rooted in Native American values. By educating, empowering, and strengthening our students, we are making a di¦erence for generations to come. Alan Potash Jewish Federation of the Desert Chief Executive O‹cer Making A Di erence Being a newcomer to the Coachella Valley I am inspired to continue the important work of the Jewish Federation of the Desert to care for the vulnerable, strengthening the community and supporting Jewish communities in need around the world. We raise money to give to organizations who are aligned with our mission to make the world a better place. By strengthening our work and partnerships we will make significant di¦erences. I am looking forward to working with others in the valley! Michael Phipps-Russell Loving All Animals President/ CEO Making A Di erence As we work to end the euthanasia of adoptable and treatable animals we are investing in people. Due to limited availability of veterinary care during the pandemic, nearly half of all animals are entering our shelter with medical and/or behavior problems. To meet our animals’ needs we are investing in vocational training, behavior education, and fundraising e¦orts to expand our workforce. We have seen immediate and positive outcomes from this investment. Even under very challenging conditions we have been able to expand care to treat our animals and continue our mission to end the euthanasia of adoptable and treatable animals. Je Petrovic The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens Chief Development O‹cer Making A Di erence My goal is to provide high-level donor relationship management and customer service and develop new markets for current and potential donors at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. I work hard to create personal connections for our donors with the Zoo and our desert plants and animals. These relationships inspire giving, which supports our mission of preserving desert species and creating an amazing place where conservation is fun for visitors of all ages. It’s an honor to serve the Coachella Valley as the Chief Development O®cer at The Living Desert. I am grateful to be a part of the amazing fundraising community in the Coachella Valley who all work hard to make a di¦erence in our desert. John Page Coachella Valley Firebirds/ Oak View Group/Acrisure Arena Senior Vice President Making A Di erence John Page serves as the Senior Vice President for the Coachella Valley Firebirds, Oak View Group, and Acrisure Arena. Page joined OVG in January of 2023 and in less than a year, has helped transform the organization into one of the best in the American Hockey League. Page has also had a helping hand in the development of the team’s One Valley Foundation, which raised over $100,000 in this year’s Firebirds Invitational Golf Tournament. Doug J. Morin Volunteers in Medicine Executive Director Making A Di erence It is said that life is about leaving a legacy. Seeing the impact of our services on the individuals we care for, and the benefits to public health we are making, is as great a legacy as I could hope for. Working with amazing donors, other funders, and of course, our team of volunteers and sta¦ is rewarding for me personally, but especially because we know that together, we are making a di¦erence every day in the lives of so many. Robert Schein Robert L. Schein, AIF®, is the Managing Director, Partner, and Chief Investment Officer at Hightower/Blanke Schein Wealth Management, boasting over 25 years of financial expertise. Specializing in asset allocation, design, and investment portfolio review, he focuses on crafting strategies for high-net-worth individuals and families with complex estates, philanthropic goals, and retirement planning needs. Recognized as the #23 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisor for 2022 and a Palm Springs Life Five Star Professional in 2021, Robert frequently appears on financial networks such as CNBC, Bloomberg, and Fox Business. He’s a noted figure in publications like Barron’s, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes. Passionate about financial education for women, Robert is the Found- er of The Society of Financially Empowered Women Inc. and organized the Confidence: Women + Wealth + Wellness Summit (CW3) in January 2020. An accomplished financial advisor, Robert earned the Investment Consultant designation from the Wharton School of Business and holds the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) title, Series 7, 63, 65 licenses, and a CA Insurance license. Beyond his financial role, Robert demonstrates a commitment to community service, having raised over $2.5 million for local non-profits and served on the boards of institutions like Family YMCA of the Desert and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He resides in Indian Wells with his wife and four children. Robert L. Schein, AIF® Founder of The Society of Financially Empowered Women (The FEW) and the CONFIDENCE Women + Wealth + Wellness Summit (CW3) 73700 El Paseo Palm Desert, CA 92260 (760) 346-5150 htblankeschein@hightoweradvisors.com BlankeScheinWealthManagement.com Sign up for the 2024 Confidence Summit here! www.cw3confidencesummit.com M EN IN PHILANTHROPY - PAGE 7 DESERT CHARITIES NEWS SPOTLIGHT