From scholarships to college endowments, Coachella Valley residents and organizations are giving to a wide variety of good causes and recognizing those who serve the community. Here’s a look at some recent local generous acts:
Rancho Mirage salon has official post-COVID opening, benefits Guide Dogs of the Desert
two years ago, Minks Organic Hair Studio opened in Rancho Mirage, just as businesses and events were beginning to shut down due to COVID.
“My opening day was March 13, 2020,” owner Rebecca Alcorn said. “We all remember that day quite well. The whole world shut down. We went the other direction from most and opened our place outside in the high temperatures and starting cutting hair and connecting our community.” Fast forward two years and “we are a thriving salon,” Alcorn said.
Post-pandemic, Visons Organic Hair Studio held its official ribbon cutting ceremony on April 8. The event, a benefit for Guide Dogs of the Desert, sold raffle tickets and gift certificates for salon service, raising $250 for the organization, which the salon matched for a total of $500. In addition, said Alcorn, “We think we gained a couple volunteers for the program.” visionsorganichairstudio.com, guidedogsofthedesert.org
New scholarship opportunity for graduating Riverside County foster youth
On April 12, Family Service Association (FSA) announced a new scholarship opportunity for graduating high school seniors who have been involved in the foster care system. More than 20 scholarships will be made through the new initiative, which aims to assist foster youth to further their post-secondary education and achieve their career goals.
the Fostering Hope scholarship was made possible through funding from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.
“We are grateful for loyal and generous partners like San Manuel who are committed to improving access for students that may have some barriers in education,” said Shannon GonzalezFamily Service Association’s chief operating officer.
San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Vice Chairman Johnny Hernandez said: “We are honored to support Family Services Association’s Fostering Hope initiative and their efforts to make college a more achievable goal for foster youth in our community. The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians truly believes that education is the key to a better future and FSA is doing just that with their Fostering Hope program.”
The deadline to apply for scholarships is April 24. More information, including eligibility requirements and the application, is available at hopecollaborative.org/fostering-hope.
Desert Business Association presents $80k in local business grants
the Desert Business Association (DBA)the Coachella Valley’s LGBTQ chamber of commerce, presented six local businesses with grants totaling $80,000 on March 28 to assist in their recovery efforts from the pandemic, thanks to a partnership between grubhub and the National LGBT Chamber (NGLCC).
Local food-serving businesses that received grants of either $10,000 or $15,000 were AMP Sports Lounge and Runway Bar & Restaurant in Cathedral City and Hunter’s, Bouschet/PS Air Bar, Wilma & Frieda and oscar’s in Palm Springs.
the NGLCC and Grubhub Community Impact Grant program provides a financial lifeline to those impacted by COVID-19. These funds were a result of Grubhub’s Donate the Change program, which launched in late 2019 and has since raised tens of millions of dollars for organizations in need.
“These grants will make a positive impact on these businesses, allowing them to enhance their operations, and to continue to serve our communities,” said DBA’s Executive Director David Powell. “Our small and diverse businesses were greatly impacted these past two years, and we look forward to them becoming stronger and even more successful in the future.” desertbusiness.org, nglcc.org
Pinwheel Garden raises awareness of National Child Abuse Prevention Month
In recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention monthgrades K-3 at Ronald Reagan Middle School in Palm Desert planted a garden made up of monumental pinwheels April 8 as part of their pledge in the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center‘s fightchildabuse.org campaign. Pinwheels are the recognized symbol of child abuse prevention.
The campaign is calling for 100,000 people across the globe to pledge their commitment to the prevention of child abuse this month. The multimedia, multi-platform campaign is also calling for children to take the pledge and learn how to ensure their own safety from abuse by viewing the “Protect Yourself Rules” video series.
“Our priority is always to provide resources, knowledge and tools to identify and prevent child abuse, and as a part of that overarching goal, we would love to get 100,000 pledges this April,” said John Thoresen, CEO of the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center. “Every child deserves a safe and healthy childhood, and it’s more important than ever to spread awareness around preventing this problem.” fightchildabuse.org, barbarasinatrachildrenscenter.org
Vision to Learn’s free glasses program reaches Riverside County
Vision to Learna nonprofit organization founded in 2012 by the Beutner Family Foundationhas helped provide more than 1.5 million children with vision screenings, more than 340,000 with eye exams and 270,000 with glasses — all free of charge.
Excited students at Ina Arbuckle Elementary School in Riverside were delighted to try on their new prescription glasses the morning of March 31. In partnership with Vision to Learn, Warby Parker is committed to providing new prescription glasses to the students of Jurupa Unified School District as part of their ongoing school-based vision program, Pupils Project. This project is part of the expansion of Vision to Learn and of Warby Parker’s Pupils Project in Riverside County, where the program will provide more than 28,000 students in need with eye exams and glasses over the next two school years.
Expansion of their Southern California program is possible thanks to the support of several generous funders, including The Studio @ Blue Meridian and an anonymous donor. visiontolearn.org.