WOMEN IN PHILANTHROPY - PAGE 12 DESERT CHARITIES NEWS KAREN CANTRELL Her Excellency Prof. Dr. Ratu Muda P. Karen Cantrell is Chairman of the Royal Society of Saint George California Branch and is widely recognized as an entrepreneur, humanitarian, philanthropist, business visionary, and international advocate for public service. With more than four decades of leadership and community involvement, she has dedicated her career to improving the lives of others through business, education, humanitarian initiatives, and civic engagement. Karen possesses extensive experience in communications, public a airs, governance, community relations international a airs, and business leadership. For the past 34 years, she has owned and operated Lady Golf – The Fashion House in Palm Desert, establishing one of the world’s pioneering retail stores devoted exclusively to women’s golf apparel and accessories while serving customers from around the globe. A passionate advocate for human rights and community development, Karen has worked tirelessly to help families experience a better quality of life both nationally and internationally. For more than 14 years, she has actively promoted the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through the United Nations and the United Nations Association of the Inland Empire and the United Nations Association of the Coachella Valley. Her humanitarian e orts have extended far beyond the Coachella Valley. She has supported disaster relief following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, helped fund clean water initiatives in Ethiopia through the Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Water Initiative for Africa, assisted the Idyllwild community during devastating forest fires, and continues to champion charitable programs benefiting children, families, and animal welfare through the Royal Society of Saint George. Karen’s extraordinary commitment to service has earned numerous national and international honors, including The President’s Call to Service Lifetime Achievement Award, the King Charles III Leadership Award, multiple United Nations Global Leadership and Peace Awards, and recognition as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Her lifelong mission continues to exemplify compassionate leadership, international cooperation, and a steadfast commitment to serving others. Karen Cantrell, Chairman Royal Society of Saint George www.royalsocietysaintgeorge.com SPOTLIGHT PAULA SIMONDS Alzheimers Coachella Valley Executive Director Making A Di erence Family and community are at the heart of everything Paula Simonds does. Married to her husband, Joe, for 38 years, Paula is a proud mother of two sons, grateful mother-in-law, and devoted grandmother. She cherishes time spent with her family, including her beloved rescue dogs, who bring endless joy and unconditional love to her life. Inspired by her family’s experiences with Parkinson’s disease and dementia, Paula is deeply committed to supporting individuals and caregivers facing cognitive challenges. MELISSA RUSSO The Coeta and Donald Barker Foundation Trustee Making A Di erence For nearly 50 years, The Coeta and Donald Barker Foundation has supported nonprofits in four west coast regions, with Coachella Valley the largest recipient of our giving in the areas of education, culture, healthcare, and social services/civic causes. I deeply appreciate the power nonprofits wield to profoundly change lives when they have the resources to successfully advance their mission. So, in my “freshman” year as a Barker Foundation trustee, I enthusiastically look forward to carrying on the generous legacy of Coeta and Donald to support the critical community service nonprofits provide to our desert community. CHRISTINA SALDIVAR 29 PSP Chief Fundraising Officer Making A Di erence Serving others has always been at the heart of my life. As a board member of 29-PSP, I am honored to help connect active-duty military members and their families with free transportation between the Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Base and regional airports. I support fundraising, community partnerships, volunteer engagement, and event planning to ensure our mission continues to grow. I believe that when a community comes together to serve, lives are strengthened, burdens are eased, and every act of kindness creates a lasting impact for those who serve our nation. PEGGY SCHULZ Old Town Artisan Studios Director of Development Making A Di erence Peggy Schulz helps bring the transformative power of art to thousands of lives each year, fostering creativity, connection, healing, and hope throughout the Coachella Valley. As Director of Development at Old Town Artisan Studios, she combines her professional expertise in marketing and nonprofit development with a lifelong passion for the arts to secure resources, build community partnerships, and expand access to art education. Her work benefits youth, seniors, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and underserved populations, ensuring that healing art experiences are attainable for those who need them most. JAMIE SHINE The Steady Climb Founder Making A Di erence My life experiences taught me what it means to survive instability, trauma, and the absence of safe support. Over time, recovery, education, and personal growth helped me rebuild my confidence, my health, and my sense of purpose. Those experiences shaped my commitment to helping others who feel lost, alone, or overlooked. I started The Steady Climb to support youth and young adults returning home from juvenile detention or other system involvement, especially those who need steady guidance, emotional safety, and connection to real resources and hope as they begin again. MELLISA NIELSEN SILVERMAN The Charity Angels President and CEO Making A Di erence Mellisa Nielsen Silverman has been a driving force in philanthropy throughout the Coachella Valley, using her voice, leadership and fundraising expertise to strength the connection between donors and the causes they support. As a committee member for BIGHORN Charities, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert, and Alzheimer’s Coachella Valley, she has helped raise critical funding while championing organizations that transform lives. What sets Silverman apart is her gift for storytelling. Whether leading a fundraising auction or interviewing Big Brothers Big Sisters’ “Bigs” and “Littles” on an intimate stage, she creates meaningful moments that allow supporters to see firsthand the impact of their generosity. Through her ability to bring heart humanity, and purpose to every event, Silverman continues to inspire a culture of giving and serve as a powerful example of women leading change in the Coachella Valley.
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