Desert Charities News - Oct-Nov-Dec 2024

JEANNIE MORRIS I was raised by two fantastic schoolteachers and went on to become a Registered Nurse. My philanthropic journey began with volunteer work in dierent disciplines as a nurse. This involved some teaching and training. Over a lifetime of relocating and becoming part of dierent communities and non-profit organizations, it became clear to my husband and me that focusing our eorts on education at all levels was how we could best have a positive impact on the communities we live in and on the organizations, we support with time and talents. Once fully retired and living seven months a year in Palm Desert we sought ways to best serve. I responded to a call for volunteers made by Read With Me founder Roberta Klein to our congregation at Hope Lutheran Church in Palm Desert. That was eight years ago. I have volunteered in a fourth-grade classroom at Saul Martinez School in Mecca every Wednesday since then. It is hard to learn if you are hungry, so support is also given to food banks in the valley. Over time I was asked to serve on the Board of Directors of Read With Me Volunteer Programs and I was eager to serve in that capacity. As of July 1, 2024 I became President of the board. We have grown a lot as an organization, and I personally have grown to love the organization and the outstanding work our hundreds of volunteers do in the classroom. This coming school year we will have volunteers in twenty-two schools in the Coachella Valley. Volunteers are the heart of what we do. We are growing and need many more volunteers. The data shows that Read With Me has a definite impact on the students who work with our volunteers. The test scores of those students are 60 percent higher than those who do not work with volunteers. It works! I tell the students I work with that, “Reading is your key to success.” If you are a good reader, you can learn anything!”. Jeannie Morris, President Read With Me PO Box 1016 Ranch Mirage, CA 92270 (760) 567-1830 jmorrismac@aol.com www.readwithmevolunteers.com W OMEN IN PHILANTHROPY - PAGE 6 DESERT CHARITIES NEWS SPOTLIGHT LANI GARFIELD I Want to See Productions Photos By Lani Videographer / Photographer Making A Dierence My deepest desire in life is to have a positive impact and make a di¡erence in the lives of the people in my community. It’s an honor to work as a photographer and videographer in this vibrant valley, where philanthropy is a priority, and nonprofits work tirelessly to lift up those in need. Through love and kindness, I strive to support these organizations accomplish their goals, promote and empower them, tell their stories, and document their special moments. I see every day how our community’s collective e¡orts create positive change and instill hope. VIRGINIA SIVA-GILLESPIE Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indian Tribal Council Member Making A Dierence Virginia Siva-Gillespie, a dedicated advocate of the Tribe’s philanthropic work providing hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of local charities, served as a Tribal Council Member from the mid-1990s to 2008 and returned to the Tribal Council in 2023. Throughout her service on the Tribal Council, she has advocated for establishing gaming operations, advancing cultural preservation e¡orts, and protecting the Tribe’s sovereignty and individual Tribal Member rights. Ms. Siva-Gillespie is a tireless advocate for providing Tribal Member access to quality health care and served as a delegate to the Board of Directors of Indian Child & Family Services as a Tribal Representative for the Coachella Valley Association of Governments. MAUREEN GIROUARD ABC Recovery Center Director, Development and Communications Making A Dierence Since January 2022 I’ve been a part of the ABC Recovery Center team, and fortunate to be a part of significant change, expansion, and new opportunities. To help meet the growing need of our vulnerable population, ABC is expanding our footprint, having broken ground on a 44,000 square foot capital project in July 2024. ABC was awarded a grant of $27+ million dedicated to such an expansion. My main charge will be to fund the infrastructure associated with the project for needs that the capital grant is not contracted to cover and create the messaging that will garner this support. CONNIE GOLDS Connie Golds Consulting CEO Making A Dierence Connie Golds exemplifies leadership and dedication in the philanthropic community, o¡ering over three decades of invaluable expertise. Her work has helped nonprofits ignite change, increase impact, and inspire leadership. Connie’s commitment to community empowerment, particularly within the Coachella Valley, is unparalleled. With her extensive experience serving and leading nonprofit boards at local, regional, governmental, and national levels, Connie is a valuable consultant who brings her wealth of knowledge to strengthen any nonprofit. KAREN GOODYEAR Assistance League Coachella Valley VP Resource Development Making A Dierence Karen Goodyear is the former President and current VP Resource Development for Assistance League Coachella Valley, a nonprofit organization serving children, military families, seniors, and assault survivors. She joined in 2017 and has held multiple roles on the board and committees. Her experience as a Managing Director for over 30 years in corporate insurance has helped her grow and expand the organization. Resource Development is our fundraising arm and, each year, hosts an annual fundraiser with other income coming from grants and donations. STEPANIE GREENE Academy of Musical Performance President Making A Dierence Stephanie Greene is the Founder/CEO of FG Creative, Inc., and has recently assumed the role of President at the Academy of Musical Performance (AMP). With over 40 years of marketing experience working with various clients in both local and Orange County markets, Stephanie utilizes her expertise to assist non-profit organizations in their growth and success. Since relocating to the Valley in 2002 and establishing FGC, she has served on many boards including FGI, Women Leaders Forum, AdFed, and more. Stephanie is a dedicated supporter of charitable causes including The Living Desert, Family YMCA of the Desert, St. Jude Research Hospital, Desert Cancer Foundation, McCallum Theater, among others.