Desert Charities - Women in Philanthropy - Oct-Nov-Dec 2023

Nan Scholhamer Alzheimers Coachella Valley Volunteer Making A Dierence Nan’s career has spanned from a Nursing Home setting, to an Emergency Room, finally to The Dorothy Adler Geriatric Center at Yale New Haven Hospital, a©liated with The Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. She practiced there as a case manager for over thirty years until retirement, when she relocated to the Desert as a full-time resident. In her retirement she is a volunteer for Alzheimers Coachella Valley (ACV), where she has spearheaded the Creation of the ACV Screening Center for those concerned about cognitive impairment. Along with Kathleen Lubanski, Nan provides no-cost screenings, provides counseling and resources to families struggling with dementia and memory loss. Solange Signoret Making A Dierence IMy passion to be a voice for my community and help make a stand for others started at the age of seven. I began speaking at rallies supporting the rights of women, LGBT, immigrant, etc.and ended up lobbying in Washington D.C. I began using my voice to speak up about bullying and have spoken to over 30,000 students. While advocating for others I’ve learned the importance of unity, being courageous, and selfless, but most importantly to always be kind to one another. I would like to encourage those to use their voices to advocate for themselves and others. Always try to be positive and find the good in everything. And with that we will all little by little help make the world a brighter placel. Paula Simonds Family YMCA of the Desert CEO Making A Dierence I love the statement What you do makes a di’erence, and you have to decide what kind of di’erence you want to make. Our Family YMCA of the Desert has so many dedicated and committed team members, community supporters, partners and champions it helps making a di’erence come naturally. The old adage “It takes a village” is present each and every day and our village is what helps create special programs and memories for those we serve. As I see it, making a di’erence comes in many forms and nothing is too small or too big to create lasting impact. Susan Sack Palm Springs International Film Society Business Development & Sponsorship Manager Making A Dierence I have loved working in philanthropy for 25 years now – at the University of Nebraska Foundation; in Washington DC as the first Director of the American Society of Hematology Foundation; and now at the Palm Springs International Film Society. Whether it’s helping someone endow a scholarship, or gifts helping a family battling Sickle Cell Disease, or shining a spotlight on how films bring us joy – working with people to make those ideas a reality is the true “gift”. Ultimately, what matters most is making a positive di’erence in someone else’s life; philanthropy is a perfect way to do that!. Gina Rotolo Coachella Valley Firebirds VP of Marketing & Team Business Services Making A Dierence The Coachella Valley Firebirds and Acrisure Arena are committed to creating an inclusive community for our fans, united through a shared passion of sports and entertainment. We are #FiredUp to launch the One Valley Foundation this year to create greater opportunity and impact across the Coachella Valley through a variety of programs and events focused on education, community, and access to hockey. With nearly $700,000 raised for community programs in our inaugural season, we are eager to establish legacy events and programs within our community to help foster the growth and development of fans of all age. WOMEN IN PHILANTHROPY - PAGE 13 DESERT CHARITIES NEWS SPOTLIGHT Debra Pollock Loves people and getting to know what makes their hearts sing. Debra is the first Chief Development Office at the Cathedral City Senior Center and loves this vibrant community of active seniors. She is especially excited about the Edmundo & Herlinda Carrillo Equity in Aging Initiative designed to diversify membership to better serve Cathedral City’s multicultural population, including the Hispanic, LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, disabled, Black, Indigenous and people of color communities. She moved to Palm Springs mid-2019 after being a frequent visitor to the Coachella Valley. In addition to California, she has lived in Colorado and Italy. Debra has deep experience in nonprofit management and fundraising having worked in executive positions at Martha’s Village & Kitchen, the LGBT Community Center of the Desert, The Center on Colfax, the San Francisco Ballet, The Denver Center for the Performing Arts and Michigan Opera Theatre among others. Signature events she has helped pro- duce include the historic Three Tenors concert in Tiger Stadium which launched a $25,000,000 capital and endowment campaign for The Detroit Opera House and was sponsored by Ford Motor Company. Additionally, Debra is an accomplished singer and performer and has worked extensively in San Francisco (Les Nickelettes), Denver (DCPA), Italy and toured internationally with Peppino di Capri. She was recently elected to the board of the Palm Springs International Piano Competition and is serving her first term. Debra Pollock Chief Development Oƒcer Cathedral City Senior Center 37171 West Buddy Rogers Avenue Cathedral City, CA 92234 (760) 321-1548 debra@cathedralcenter.org www.cathedralcenter.org Diane Schlesinger Anderson Children’s Foundation Trustee Making A Dierence As trustee of ACF, my role is to manage investments and grant giving to support nonprofit projects that nurture and inspire youth in the Coachella Valley. I’m also a child and adolescent psychiatrist working with one family at a time; through ACF it’s wonderful to impact thousands. ACF is dedicated to meeting unmet needs of children in areas including health, educa- tion, recreation, and the arts. Opportunities to overcome challenges, develop skills, grow creativity, and expand horizons can transform young lives. ACF o’ers online grant applications in a simple format; please visit andersonchildrensfoundation.org to learn how to apply for funding.