Desert Charities News - Oct-Nov-Dec 2024

W OMEN IN PHILANTHROPY - PAGE 16 DESERT CHARITIES NEWS CALISTA VASSIOS GirlFriend Factor Executive 'irectRr Making A Di›erence The GirlFriend Factor believes education is the key to economic advancement and self-su±ciency among women and that women can accomplish anything they set their minds to when they have the support and encouragement of their girlfriends. By providing renewable educational grants and emotional support to local women over the age of 25 we are making a diŒerence in the Coachella Valley! If we each give a little, together we can give a lot. Celebrate the impact, influence, and inspiration women have on each other’s lives by visiting girlfriendfactor.org to get involved. LEXI WARD The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens 6eniRr 0anager 'eveORpPent Making A Di›erence My goal is to create very 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 so inspiring to be part of an amazing fundraising community who all work so hard to make a diŒerence in our desert. PAM WEEKLEY PamWeekley & Associates OZner Making A Di›erence Over the last 40 years, I have provided accounting, bookkeeping and tax preparation services to individuals and businesses. At Pam Weekley & Associates, we pride ourselves in giving back to our community. We work with many local Coachella Valley nonprofit organizations, restaurants and small businesses on compliancy and increasing profitability. Serving on multiple boards in the Coachella Valley allows me to mentor, support and volunteer my time. DR. AMY YOUNG Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center 0eGicaO 'irectRr Making A Di›erence At 5 years old, my kindergarten yearbook photo read career path “pediatrician”. Later, a close family member endured abuse. From that point on, I felt convinced to help women and children a´icted by abuse. Dr. Young is the assistant professor of Pediatrics and Director for the Child Abuse Pediatric Medicine Fellowship program at Loma Linda University. She is the Medical Director for the Resiliency Institute for Childhood Adversity to reduce trauma to child abuse victims. In the Coachella Valley, she is the Medical Director at Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center providing medical oversight for abuse cases. MADELINE ZUCKERMAN Madeline Zuckerman Marketing & Public Relations, Inc. OZner anG 3reViGent Making A Di›erence I have been blessed over many years to have had the depth of experience in my career in diŒerent parts of this wonderful country. This experience has aŒorded me the ability to help market, promote, and generate exposure on many worthwhile businesses and nonprofit organizations, in order to make this community a better place for everyone. I derive great satisfaction out of knowing I am able to help other human beings in impactful and meaningful ways to tell their stories. I look forward to continuing my work for many years to come! SARAH WILLS Think Together 6eniRr 'irectRr Rf 'eveORpPent Making A Di›erence Bringing quality education opportunities to Coachella Valley is a passion of mine, and I’m thrilled to be able to support this initiative through Think Together’s work. With over 10 years of experience working at nonprofits, both in afterschool programming and higher education, I believe it is crucial now more than ever to keep up with innovative enrichment strategies to best set students up for success. I look forward to continuing my outreach and collaboration eŒorts within the Coachella Valley community. VERONICA WILLIAMS DAP Health %RarG 0ePEer Making A Di›erence An Alaska transplant thriving in the desert for more than 18 years, Veronica has more than 25 years of experience in women’s health. She currently serves as Eisenhower Health’s director of maternity services. “I joined DAP Health because everyone deserves equality in health care,” she says. “Despite decades of advances, we still face wide gaps in research and treatment ability for women, such as maternal and menstrual health, as well as for conditions that present diŒerently in women than in men. I want to lend my voice to the movement to make a real diŒerence.” JUDY WILMOT Angel Light Academy )RunGer anG 3reViGent Making A Di›erence After being chosen by Sandra O’Connor and John McCain as a future American leader, she was recognized as Arizona’s Woman of the Year for 2003. She worked with Phoenix Children’s Hospital and Arizona and Native American schools to serve 600,000 students in all areas of social services. She brought teams together to lower recidivism, drug and alcohol abuse, and teen pregnancy. In 1998 she developed Angel Light Academy and has taught over 6,000 children and adults life-changing problem-solving skills. Judy then started the Above and Beyond program which honors other leaders paying it forward.