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Hello all,
The Coachella Valley is experiencing a great deal of activity right now; after all we are a “destination location” for our great weather, especially during the periods of not summer, and of course for the desert's beauty at this time of year.
It’s great timing for this latest edition of our newsletter to celebrate National Volunteer Week from April 19-25, 2026. This event was created in 1974 to acknowledge the many volunteers contributing their time and efforts to serving others. Volunteers make it possible for local nonprofits to accomplish their missions and goals.
With great appreciation and gratitude, RAP supported the Senior Inspiration Awards event on March 27, 2026 where 11 volunteers were feted by Riverside County and all the cities in eastern Riverside County: More later on these special individuals.
RAP also supported the 2nd Annual Para Karate Tournament on March 7, 2026 at La Quinta High School. It was an amazing event which demonstrated the commitment of volunteer parents and families, along with other community members. The tournament was successful in its presentation, as well as the support demonstrated by volunteers and the delivery of program services.
| Pictured: Evan Trubee, Palm Desert Mayor, Rancho Mirage Mayor Pro Tem Michael O’Keefe showed support, along with event volunteers and RAP team members. | |
Finally, in the spirit of the National recognition of volunteers, I want to acknowledge RAP board members; they volunteer for a role that often requires a great deal of time. They serve as ambassadors for RAP and serve as “our eyes and ears” in the community. They contribute their experiences and knowledge of the community to better serve all residents they represent. With that said, we have two new board members who will be introduced later in this edition.
For now and always, enjoy life and make a difference!
Lety De Lara
Chief Executive Officer
| | The County Wants to Hear From You! | | | | |
Supervisor V. Manuel Perez will host at the Coachella Valley Water District (Steve Robbins Administration Building), located at 75515 Hovley Lane E. in Palm Desert.
The community workshops are open to all residents and will provide a budget overview, an opportunity for feedback, and a chance to share priorities directly with county leaders while the recommended budget is being developed and before its release in May. The annual budget hearings are held in June.
| | | RAP's CV Healthy Living Team Member Recognized by State Assembly | |
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On March 13, 2026, Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez representing District 36, recognized Marie Rosales as the “Woman of Distinction 2026”.
“Marie’s compassion, leadership and commitment to service have made a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of many” proclaims the Award presented by the California Assembly.
"This award acknowledges Marie's many years of volunteer service with local nonprofits, including her recognition as the "Volunteer of the Year" for the Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce in 2020," says RAP CEO Lety De Lara. "RAP is proud of Marie and lucky to have her on our team."
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High School Students Bring Attention To Risks Facing Youth | |
RAP sponsored the Coachella Valley High School Health Academy HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) Town Hall event focusing on Human Trafficking on March 19, 2026 at College of The Desert campus in Indio. Prepared and presented by students, it was standing room only and extremely informative. | | | |
Senior Inspiration Honorees | |
Congratulations to all of this year’s Senior Inspiration Award (SIA) honorees. This year’s event, hosted by Supervisor V. Manuel Perez and supported by all cities in the Coachella Valley, took place on March 27, 2026 in Indian Wells.
RAP once again is proud to honor Jean Benson, former RAP board member and SIA inaugural committee Chair with presenting $1,000 grants to the nonprofits chosen by each honoree.
| | We’re proud to share that the RAP Board of Directors recently approved the following grants: | | | New Appointments to the RAP Foundation Board of Directors | Introducing Melissa Evans | | |
Melissa Evans, a resident of La Quinta, is embracing the rewarding experience of being an “empty nester” after raising three children and supporting them as they pursue their education and careers.
She holds a Master of Public Administration with an emphasis in Nonprofit Management from Grand Canyon University. Melissa joined Coachella Valley Housing Coalition (CVHC) in 2017 as an Asset Management Specialist and was promoted to Operations Manager in 2021. Her professional background also includes serving as an Operations Manager with JRP Distributors Inc.
In recognition of her commitment to the community, Melissa was honored by Desert Charities as a “Woman Making a Difference” in October 2024. Her work focuses on improving the lives of low-income families by helping create safe, affordable, and sustainable housing communities.
Melissa shares, “I have seen firsthand the life-changing impact that accessible, community-centered mental health support can have. I am deeply committed to strengthening and supporting organizations that serve our most vulnerable populations.”
| | | Introducing Eileen Packer | | |
Eileen Packer grew up in Winnipeg, Canada. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Home Economics, and completed a dietetic internship in Montreal. Eileen and her husband, Howard, fell in love with the desert and decided to relocate to the Coachella Valley in 2000 and currently live in Palm Desert.
Eileen is a Registered Dietitian and served as Director of Food Service and later Director of Contracts with Riverside County Office on Aging. In 2004, Eileen decided to accept the position at the Stroke Recovery Center followed by serving as the CEO of HARC from 2006 until her retirement in 2015.
Eileen has enjoyed many years of volunteering for a variety of local and national organizations. She started volunteering as a “Reader” for RAP in 2006 and has been a great asset to our grant review process over the years.
Most recently Eileen served as the Southern California Representative of the National Grassroots Advocacy Team, the Vice-President of Advocacy at Sabra Hadassah of the Desert, and President of the Joslyn Center Board of Directors.
“Being on the RAP board is another way for me to show my appreciation for their early support,” says Eileen. “Having been a member of several nonprofit boards, I appreciate the necessity to work as a team, supporting the mission and vision of the organization I am serving.”
| | Countywide Program Update By Stephanie Minor, Director of Strategic Development | | |
The Show Me the Money: Solving Your Nonprofit’s Biggest Funding Headaches webinar was a major success and part of the RAP Foundation’s Countywide Nonprofit Capacity Building Program. With almost 200 people joining us live, the session brought together nonprofit leaders from across Riverside County for a timely, practical, and encouraging conversation about today’s funding challenges. From unpredictable revenue and donor retention struggles to overreliance on a few funding sources, the webinar offered fresh ideas and useful strategies to help nonprofits strengthen their fundraising.
Throughout the webinar, participants explored actionable strategies centered on four key areas: predictability, retention, capacity, and focus. We talked about ways to re-engage past supporters, strengthen donation pathways, make better use of everyday communications, build stronger donor relationships, and create a simple 90-day funding action plan. Packed with valuable resources and real-world ideas, the webinar left attendees better equipped to tackle funding headaches head-on and build stronger, more sustainable nonprofits. The good news is that anyone who missed it can still watch the replay for free and access the valuable insights shared during the session.
| There’s even more to come! Our upcoming FREE in-person workshops, Stop Being A Secret: How To Get Your Nonprofit Seen, Known, And Talked About, are coming to locations across Riverside County this July, and these sessions fill up fast. Register early to grab your spot and learn practical ways to raise awareness, reach more people, and build stronger community support. | | |
RAP Foundation Supports Student Advocacy at Youth Quest
By Adam Lackie, CV Healthy Living Manager
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The RAP Foundation recently supported two students from Coachella Valley High School’s Health Academy and HOSA on a trip to Sacramento to participate in Youth Quest, an annual youth advocacy program hosted by the California Youth Advocacy Network (CYAN). Kimberly Flores and Brandon Antunez were accompanied by RAP Foundation’s Coachella Valley Healthy Living program manager, Ashlee Huesca. The event brought together students from across California to learn about tobacco prevention policy and gave them the opportunity to take what they’ve learned directly to state leaders.
Kimberly and Brandon made every moment count while they were there. They met with the Chief of Staff for Senate District 31 and had a meaningful conversation with State Senator Sabrina Cervantes, sharing their perspective on why tobacco prevention matters to young people in the Coachella Valley. They also visited the office of Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez to discuss youth health with staff and stopped by the Senate District 35 office of Senator Laura Richardson to continue the conversation.
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For high school students to walk into legislative offices and speak up for their community takes real courage. Kimberly and Brandon did exactly that, representing the Coachella Valley with confidence and purpose. Their willingness to show up and speak out is a strong reminder of why young voices belong in these conversations.
The RAP Foundation is proud to support them through its Coachella Valley Healthy Living program as they continue to grow as advocates and to develop leadership skills.
| | If you have any questions about the Coachella Valley Healthy Living Project, please don’t hesitate to contact us at alackie@rapfoundation.org. | | |
NPO Centric Helps Drive Record-Breaking CV Giving Day 2026
By Taly Fantini, Director, NPO Centric
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The Regional Access Project Foundation and NPO Centric were thrilled to contribute to the record-breaking $1,000,000 raised for Coachella Valley nonprofits. Along with partners Desert Community Foundation and California Bank & Trust, NPO Centric and the RAP Foundation contributed $50,000 to the prize incentive pool. CV Giving Day helps create unprecedented opportunities for nonprofits of all sizes to compete for additional funding while expanding their donor bases.
On April 22, 2026, some of the Regional Access Project Foundation awardees joined our Board of Directors, and partners California Bank & Trust, to celebrate the momentous occasion. Congratulations 29-PSP, Food Now, Galilee Center, and Jewish Family Services of the Desert who joined us! We are also very happy to share that About Families, Cathedral City Senior Center, Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, Desert Cancer Foundation, United Cerebral Palsy of the Desert, and Voices for Children were awardees of the RAP prizes as well.
NPO Centric provided tools, training, and the encouragement needed for nonprofits to run successful campaigns. The result was a 20% increase over last year's total, with hundreds of nonprofits securing critical funding and thousands of community members engaging in local philanthropy.
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Excitement Builds for this Year's Desert Fast Pitch
By Taly Fantini, Director, NPO Centric
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The energy is already building for this year's Desert Fast Pitch, to take place on October 2, 2026, and we couldn't be more thrilled about what's ahead! Desert Fast Pitch has become a cornerstone event in Eastern Riverside County and the Coachella Valley, providing nonprofit leaders with a transformative platform to showcase their mission and amplify their impact. This year promises to be our most dynamic yet, as twelve selected nonprofit organizations prepare to participate in an intensive eight-week training program designed to strengthen their public speaking, team development, fundraising skills, and professional capacity.
What makes Desert Fast Pitch truly special is the community that rallies behind it. We are deeply grateful to our sponsors who have already committed to investing in this year's program. Their support makes everything possible—from the comprehensive training our nonprofits receive to the cash prizes that will fuel their community work. These sponsors understand that when we invest in nonprofit capacity, we invest in the entire community. Their commitment demonstrates a shared vision for a stronger, more resilient Eastern Riverside County and Coachella Valley.
Many thanks to Riverside County Children & Families Commission, Innercare, IEHP Foundation, One Valley Foundation, Toyota of the Desert, Coeta & Donald Barker Foundation, Amazon, Rosemary Ortega, Tori St. Johns, and Holliday CPA for your commitment to this year’s Desert Fast Pitch. Your investment creates a ripple effect that extends far beyond the event itself—it builds skills, confidence, and connections that strengthen our entire nonprofit sector.
Early registration for NPO Centric members will go live on April 29, 2026.
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Save More Time, Win More Grants
By Taly Fantini, Director, NPO Centric
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Here's the truth most nonprofits don't want to hear: winning more grants isn't about doing more. It's about focusing on the right opportunities with the right strategy.
Too many organizations spend dozens of hours researching and writing applications for grants that were never a strong fit, only to face rejection, low success rates, and a demoralized development team. The volume-over-strategy trap is real, and it's costly.
That's exactly why NPO Centric is hosting a new virtual workshop in collaboration with Instrumentl, one of the leading grant discovery and management platforms for nonprofits. This session is designed to help your organization break the cycle of misaligned applications and build a smarter, more sustainable approach to grant seeking in 2026.
Join us on May 19, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.
As part of this session with Instrumentl:
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All attendees will receive a 2-week Free Access pass to Instrumentl (no obligation to continue)
- NPO Centric members will receive 15% off their first year if you sign up for a subscription within one month of the workshop
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NPO Centric members will receive 10% off their first year if they sign up after the initial 1-month window
Register here
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Health/Mental Health Request For Proposal Update
By Melissa Robles, Grants Manager
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On February 5, 2026, RAP hosted a virtual meeting to present the Mental Health Request for Proposal (RFP). We broke a record! Nearly 200 individuals attended the meeting, and we received seventy-five (75) Letters of Intent (LOIs). Only selected applicants are invited to submit a full application. There is a significant need for mental health services for the Coachella Valley. The RAP Foundation is preparing to invest in programs which address the Strategic Initiatives identified by the Board of Directors.
To focus entirely on the RFPs and given the limited funding for the rest of the fiscal year, the Board has decided not to accept any new Grant Applications until June 15, 2026, to be funded in the next fiscal year.
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Additional RAP Office Space Now Available
Mireya Reyes, Administrative Director
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RAP is now offering newly-available office space to nonprofit organizations at below-market rates. Currently, 26 nonprofit organizations are benefiting not only from affordable rent but also from being housed in the same building—making collaboration, connection, and shared impact easier and more effective.
One of the many benefits of being a RAP tenant includes complimentary access to our meeting rooms, based on availability.
If your organization is looking for an affordable, collaborative, and mission-driven workspace, this could be a great opportunity. Private offices and cubicles are available.
Interested in learning more? Please contact Mireya Reyes at mreyes@rapfoundation.org.
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