WOMEN IN PHILANTHROPY - PAGE 11 DESERT CHARITIES NEWS SPOTLIGHT PATTI PARK Angel View Executive Director Making A Di erence For more than 70 years, Angel View has empowered local children and adults with disabilities through compassionate care, education, and support services thanks to the generosity of our donors, shoppers, and dedicated employees. While Medicaid covers only a portion of the costs associated with our residential homes and adult day programs, our Children’s Outreach Program receives no state or federal funding. Through support of our philanthropic community and the success of our resale stores, we work every day to bridge this funding gap and ensure vital services remain available to those underserved members of our community. MICHELLE PETERS Desert Arc President/CEO Making A Di erence I am honored to join Desert Arc as its new President/CEO and lead our 67-year-old nonprofit, human social services organization. The comprehensive oerings across Desert Arc’s programs; from its day services, community engagement, employment training and our Business Services Divisions (Shredding & Recycling, Janitorial, Landscape Maintenance) truly evoke the heart of our mission to enhance the quality of life and create opportunities for people with disabilities. I am elated to serve at the helm of Desert Arc, making a dierence in the lives for people with disabilities to reach their highest potential to live, work and socialize in the community. BIANCA RAE Biance Rae Foundation Founder / CEO Making A Di erence Bianca Rae is an Emmy Award-winning journalist, businesswoman, and founder of the Bianca Rae Foundation, dedicated to empowering the next generation through mentorship and education. Through the foundation’s signature Rae of Hope Retreat, middle school students gain tools to strengthen their mental health, identity, financial literacy, and resilience. Having impacted nearly 7,000 students to date, the retreat has grown in response to community demand and expanded to the Palm Springs Convention Center, allowing the foundation to reach even more young people and families while creating lasting impact throughout the Coachella Valley and beyond. EULA ROBERTSON Independent Living Partnership President, Board of Directors Making A Di erence A career in information technology taught Eula Robertson that access changes lives. As President of the Board of Directors of Independent Living Partnership (ILP), she brings that conviction to one of Riverside County’s most essential nonprofits. ILP operates TRIP, a program that helps older adults and people with disabilities get where they need to go by reimbursing their volunteer drivers — so that a doctor’s appointment, a grocery run, or a senior center visit is always within reach. TRIP has served Riverside County for more than 30 years and supports more than 7,000 enrolled riders. IRENE N. RODRIGUEZ Cabot’s Pueblo Museum Executive Director Making A Di erence We share with our visitors our founder’s, Cabot Yerxa, adventures and his love of the desert. The museum reflects Cabot’s artistic and creative spirit as one explores each room in the pueblo. Our second grade school program is an opportunity for each student to be curious about local history and create art work in the creative environment. A special thank you to our members, donors, and visitors-they make it possible for the museum to preserve and promote Cabot Yerxa’s legacy. BARBARA ROGERS Philanthropist Making A Di erence Giving back has become one of the most meaningful ways I can make a dierence in the lives of others. I am especially passionate about helping animals who have no voice and depend upon us for their care and protection. Through my longtime involvement with Loving All Animals, along with serving on the boards of the McCallum Theatre and the Joslyn Center, I have seen how compassion can strengthen a community. Whether helping animals, supporting the arts or creating opportunities for older adults to remain connected, I believe giving back brings purpose, hope and joy. CINDY BURRESON For Cindy Burreson, making a di erence begins with creating opportunities for children to discover what is possible. As President & CEO of the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert, Cindy has helped lead the Museum through an extraordinary period of transformation— reimagining not only its exhibits and programs, but the ways in which children and families of all abilities can experience learning through play. At the heart of Cindy’s leadership is a simple belief: every child deserves a place where they feel welcomed, encouraged and inspired to explore. That commitment can be seen throughout the Museum today. Its interactive experiences encourage children to imagine, experiment, create and dream, while expanded accessibility initiatives help ensure that children with di erent needs can participate comfortably and confidently. As a Certified Autism Center, the Museum provides sensory guides, sensory resources, trained sta and dedicated calming spaces for families who may once have found a museum visit challenging. For Cindy, however, the greatest measure of success isn’t found in buildings or exhibits. It is found in the children and families who walk through the doors. Her greatest joy comes from seeing curiosity become confidence—and watching a child discover something new about the world and, perhaps more importantly, about themselves. Through her leadership, Cindy continues to build connections among families, educators, donors and community partners, creating opportunities that will impact Coachella Valley children for generations. Cindy Burreson, President & CEO Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert 71-701 Gerald Ford Drive Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 (760) 321-0602 Exec@cdmod.org www.cdmod.org
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