THE CEO'S REPORT

Fall weather may not be here yet, but the temperatures are a bit lower, and many activities are upon us.  RAP is busy with managing our own activities as well as supporting many events of our local nonprofits.  Of course, one of the ways to offer support is through providing grants.  Although the Board took the month of August off, they did allocate many grants in July and September to many nonprofits providing essential services to our communities.  You can read all about them as you read on.

Leticia De Lara

Chief Executive Officer

Regional Access Project Foundation

RAP’s grantmaking process underwent a recent change with the promotion of Melissa Robles to Grants Manager.  Melissa joined RAP earlier this year as a Program Manager and has been busy learning and contributing her talents to ease the transition. 

The RAP Board of Directors currently has a vacancy and will consider candidates in late December for appointment in January. Candidates for

the 4-year term should complete an application and submit it to ldelara@rapfoundation.org by November 8, 2024.  

The Board consists of 21 community representatives who volunteer to attend regular meetings and provide input on resource distribution to address gaps in Health, Mental Health, and Juvenile Intervention and to improve the quality of life for all residents.

Lastly, owing to increasing maintenance and energy costs, there is a change with use of the four meeting rooms we make available to nonprofits.  Up until now, the community rooms were available for free to nonprofits during business hours and a minimal fee for non-business hours.  However, effective January 1, 2025, the following fees will apply to non-tenants use of meeting rooms:

• NPO Centric members can reserve a meeting room for free during business hours and for a minimal fee outside of business hours.

• Non-NPO Centric members can reserve a meeting room for a fee for business hours and a higher, yet still reasonable, fee for non-business hours.

For now and always, enjoy life and enjoy autumn . . . if it ever gets here,

Lety De Lara

Chief Executive Officer

Melissa Robles is a native of Santa Cruz, California, and grew up in Mexico. After earning her bachelor's degree in Mexico, Melissa spent nearly a decade working in the nonprofit sector with the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition (CVHC), where she focused on managing grants and programs.

Now, as Grants Manager for RAP, Melissa oversees grants and ensures strategic alignment with both community goals and RAP’s objectives.

A resident of La Quinta for more than 10 years, Melissa is passionate about community development. She is eager to leverage her expertise in order to foster growth and opportunity in the Coachella Valley. Committed to making a lasting impact, Melissa leads by example, inspiring others through her dedication to excellence and service.



Outside of work, Melissa enjoys traveling, hiking, and savoring good food. She is always seeking new ways to explore and experience the world.

Hello! My name is Ashlee Huesca-Arellano, and I’m excited to introduce myself as the new Project Manager for the Coachella Valley Healthy Living Project and Tobacco Control Program. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration from Cal State Long Beach. I am currently pursuing my Master's in Public Administration with a focus on leadership at Cal State San Bernardino.

Previously, I worked in education Programs, collaborating with the Los Angeles County Office of Education on the migrant program and with the ASEAS program for the Coachella Valley Unified School District. In the short time I’ve been here, the RAP team has made me feel incredibly welcome, and I’m eager to contribute to the impactful work we’ll achieve together this coming year. I’ve always been passionate about helping others and giving back in meaningful ways. I’m grateful for the opportunities this role provides to further that mission. I look forward to contributing to the Coachella Valley Healthy Living Team to expand and enhance our current programs.

Nutrition Education

The Coachella Valley Healthy Living Team offers monthly nutrition education classes at Bella Vista Elementary in Desert Hot Springs from October through the end of the school year. These classes will cover essential topics such as the nutrients in each food group, appropriate serving sizes, and strategies for making healthier nutritional choices.

In addition, we will collaborate with Bella Vista and other local elementary schools to paint playground stencils in play areas, promoting physical activity among students. We are also partnering with the Boys and Girls Club of Cathedral City to provide them with physical education and nutrition classes, further supporting our mission to encourage healthy lifestyles in the community.

If you have any questions about the Coachella Valley Healthy Living Project, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at ahuesca@rapfoundation.org or jfrank@rapfoundation.org.

The Business Workshop

Series - Legal Governance & Ethics

On Thursday, September 19, Eve Fromberg-Edelstein, Esq. provided an excellent training for both NPO Centric members and guests at the RAP Foundation. Eve, who was once a nonprofit CEO, shared Best Practices that she currently shares with her nonprofit legal clients.

She guided attendees through effective board management, legal compliance issues, and how to determine a conflict of interest. Eve also explained mandatory filings in California and how to report changes to your mission statement.

Eve’s advice to the attendees who may be or are interested in serving on boards, “Do your homework…read your board packets. As board members you’re responsible for the financials of an organization.”

Attendees left the workshop informed with solid strategies

to manage their organizations.

Kaiser Cohort Workshop Series

NPO Centric was busy this summer leading two Moreno Valley Cohort Workshop Series supported by the Riverside County Fifth District Supervisor, Yxstian Gutierrez, and presented by Kaiser Permanente. Our nonprofit participants participated in five workshops, which focused on Grant Writing, Marketing and Branding, Board Duties, Fundraising, and Strategic Planning. Upon completion of the 5-week program, each participant received a certificate of completion, symbolizing their commitment to professional growth and community impact.



A big thank you to our workshop facilitators, Launa Wilson Consulting LLC and RevComm Consulting. We were so happy to provide these educational opportunities to nonprofits in the western Riverside County region. Many thanks to Fifth District County Supervisor Yxstain Gutierrez and his team for their partnership.

Pictured above: Jim Linberger with Valley Community Pantry, Corinne Awad with Riverside University Health System (RUHS) Foundation, Berangere Robertson-Tucker with RUHS Foundation, Fifth District Supervisor Gutierrez, Sharon Judie with My Learning Studio Outreach, Jorge Alvarado with Canyon Children’s Legal Services, Javier Lopez with Valley Restart, and Daniel Gonzalez with RevComm Consulting, LLC.

• Shelter From the Storm, Inc.
• The Church of St. Paul In The Desert
• Blythe Chamber of Commerce
• Rescue + Residence
• Barbara Sinatra's Children's Center
• Tools For Tomorrow
• Inland Congregations United For Change
• Children's Discovery Museum
• We Can Fish
• Coachella Valley Parents

• Women Add Value Inc.
• Girlfriend Factor
• Desert Hot Springs Historical Society
• United Cerebral Palsy Inland Empire (UCPIE)
• SoCal Adaptive Sports
• Other Peoples Kids
• Consejo De Federaciones Mexicanas (COFEM)
• Coachella Valley Parents
• Support Your Inc.
• Danza Azteca Citlaltonac

As you may know, RAP makes space available for nonprofits at below-market rates. Currently, 25 organizations are taking advantage of not only these reduced rental opportunities but also the ability to be located in the same building with other nonprofits. It makes collaboration so much easier and more effective! 

Good news: RAP currently has both office and cubicle space available. If you and your organization find this an attractive possibility, contact Administrative Director Mireya Reyes at mreyes@rapfoundation.org.