Hello everyone!

Spring is here, and thanks to the abundance of rain this year (more than one day qualifies as excessive in the desert) we have wildflowers blossoming everywhere.  Annual events are in full “bloom” offering great fun along with providing support for great causes. 

RAP recently hosted our Annual Spring Social on April 13. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this fun event featuring free entertainment, free giveaways valued at over $6500, free headshots, and of course, free food and drinks.                  



CV Giving Day on March 1st was a bigger success than we anticipated. RAP joined forces with FirstBank and the Desert Community Foundation to help 170 Coachella Valley nonprofits increase their revenue by reaching previous and new donors. Over $370,000 was raised, and five

organizations were selected for the $5,000 grants provided by RAP: Big Hearts, Boo to Bullying, Olive Crest, Bridges to Hope, and We Are One United.

6th Annual Mental Health Summit

RAP will once again partner with Supervisor V. Manuel Perez to host the Mental Health Summit in Blythe on May 15 from 10 AM-2 PM. The Summit will include a panel discussion consisting of County and local experts providing behavioral health in the Palo Verde Valley.

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors will be considering three Agreements to make funding available to nonprofits that suffered negative financial impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Riverside County Nonprofit Assistance Fund (RCNAF) of $14.5M will be allocated to three funding organizations in early May and making funding available soon thereafter since the grant period will end in June 2024.

• Inland SoCal United Way 211+ to provide direct financial support funding to organizations negatively impacted
• Inland Empire Community Foundation to provide programmatic funding to organizations providing services in specific key areas identified
• Regional Access Project Foundation to provide technical support and assistance to grant recipients for both of the funding categories listed above

RAP’s NPO Centric will develop relationships with organizations throughout Riverside County, allowing us to build the network by offering our capacity-building services to many more nonprofits. NPO Centric will focus on providing resources in Strategic Planning, Grant Writing, Improving Financial Controls, and Fund Development. Stay tuned for notices on how to apply for each of the three grant opportunities. 

Recent Grants

Here’s some RAP news of grants awarded to organizations since our last newsletter:

Small Grants

• Friends of the Braille Institute - Low Vision Program $10,000
• Beacon Foundation - SMART Recovery Training and Meetings $4,956
• CV Community Research Initiative, dba HIV+Aging - Research Project $10,000
• Escuela De La Raza Unida - Ballet Folklorico Colores De Aztlan $10,000
• PS Test Inc. - Relocation Project $10,000
• NAMI Coachella Valley- Mental Health for All $7,570

Sponsorship Grants

• Reynaldo J. Carreon MD Foundation - Scholarship Awards Banquet $5,000
• Peacemaker Corps Association - Peace in the Streets $5,000
• Rotary Club of Indio for Math Field Day - Middle School Children $1,000

Pictured Left to right: District 5330 Governor Don Casper, Rotarian Martha Mendez, RAP board member Sheryl Benoit, Lety De Lara, and Indio Rotarian President Chris Schultz

For now and always, enjoy life and take care,



Lety De Lara, CEO

The Annual Women Who Rule Awards & Scholarship Luncheon is a celebration of women across the Coachella Valley, specifically honoring three amazing women for their contributions.

RAP is proud to have our very own Connie Golds included in this list of honorees. Connie has made significant contributions to our community for many years and continues to inspire future women leaders.

This year’s Women Leaders Forum funds the Young Women Leaders (YWL) Program, which provides life skills education sessions and awards scholarships to Coachella Valley high school seniors.

Mary T. Roche -Community Leadership Award -Connie Golds, Founder, Desert Best Friends Close 

Helene Galen -Excellence in Education Award -Theresa A. Mike, Founder, Theresa A. Mike Scholarship Foundation

WLF Visionary Award -Victory Grund, President Old Town Artisan Studios 

Power Couple Award -Raju and Jaishri Mehta, Owners El Paseo Jewelers 

• Improving the quality of mental health services in remote areas through innovative systems that address policy, access, and delivery channels. 
• Improving the awareness of mental and emotional health resource services for residents in Coachella and Palo Verde Valleys through systems addressing access, policy, and delivery channels. 
• Supporting cultural competency among service providers and reducing language, stigma, and cultural barriers to service access for clients. 

We would like to express our gratitude to all those who applied for the Health/Mental Health Grant. Your commitment to improving mental health services is truly commendable. Additionally, we congratulate the 25 organizations that have been approved by the board for the grant. We look forward to partnering with you to make a meaningful impact in our community. Thank you for your continued dedication to this important cause! 

The Health/Mental Health Grantees are: 

1.     ABC Recovery Center 

2.     About Families 

3.     Angel View 

4.     Barbara Sinatra Childrens Center 

5.     Cathedral City Senior Center 

6.     Innercare (formerly Clinicas de Salud del Pueblo)

7.     Coachella Valley Volunteers in Medicine 

8.     Consejo de Federaciones en Norte America (COFEM) 

9.     Desert Arc 

10.  Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services 

11.  Hope through Housing 

12.  Jewish Family Service of the Desert 

13.  Martha’s Village and Kitchen 

14.  Oak Grove Institute 

15.  Olive Crest 

16.  Queer Works 

17.  Riverside County Office on Education 

18.  Shelter From the Storm 

19.  Soroptimist House of Hope 

20.  Step Up on Second Street 

21.  The Joslyn Center 

22.  United Cerebral Palsy 

23.  Vision y Compromiso 

24.  Voices for Children 

25.  We are One United 

At NPO Centric, We Help Nonprofits Start, Scale, and Succeed.

NPO Centric is excited to announce our robust workshop schedule for the upcoming months, designed to help nonprofit organizations thrive in today's ever-changing landscape.

First up is Talking with Your Donors, a workshop to teach how to effectively communicate with supporters and develop long-lasting relationships with them. Whether you're a seasoned fundraiser or new to the field, this workshop is a must-attend.

Next, we're offering an Executive Director Boot Camp that will equip leaders with the skills and knowledge needed to achieve success. This intensive program covers topics such as organizational strategy, fundraising, board management, and more.

For those interested in utilizing the latest technology to enhance their nonprofit's impact, we're excited to offer a workshop on Utilizing Chat GPT in Your Nonprofit. This cutting-edge technology is revolutionizing the way nonprofits interact with donors, supporters, and stakeholders, and we'll demonstrate how to make the most of it.

Our Board Member Boot Camp is designed to help board members fulfill their roles and responsibilities more effectively. Topics covered include governance, fiduciary duties, strategic planning, and

We also have our next Grant Writing Seminar, which will provide the tools and knowledge needed to write successful grant proposals. This workshop is perfect for those new to grant writing or those looking to refresh their skills.

Last, but not least, do not forget to mark your calendars for your chance to apply to participate in the 10th Annual Desert Fast Pitch grant competition. The application portal opens on June 1, 2023.

We're excited to offer these workshops and hope that you'll join us.

Hello everyone!



Spring 2023 has arrived, and it has not slowed down our progress. In March, the Coachella Valley Healthy Living (CVHL) Program was honored to be invited to share nutritional resources at the Desert Recreation Districts Spring into Fun event, which attracted 180 North Shore residents.

Our commitment to spreading wellness information continued at the Desert Recreation District Easter event, where we engaged with over 200 Mecca residents through activities such as an egg hunt, coloring, and sharing valuable resources in our valley. Recently, CVHL had the opportunity to participate in Nellie N. Coffman Spring Camp, which brought together students from all over Palm Springs Unified School District during spring break week. Our sessions covered a range of important topics, including water, hand washing, reducing sedentary activities and screen time, and participation in sports and recreational activities.

Building on the momentum of Proposition 31, which has banned the sale of flavored tobacco, we are excited to attend the Information and Education Days on May 7th and 8th in Sacramento with Riverside County Tobacco Control Program representatives. During this time, we plan to meet with our legislators to discuss prevention efforts in our region and to gain the support needed to work towards a tobacco-free community.



Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to sharing more updates with you in the near future.

Honorees: Dr. Betty Baxter – (Palm Desert), Evernell Black- (Palm Springs), Ada Nuckels- (La Quinta), William “Bill” Senso- (Riverside County), Ginny Whitman- (Indian Wells), Jo Anne Kennon- (Cat City), MaryLou Suter- (Rancho Mirage), Sylvia Tenorio- (Indio), Javier Graciano Romero - (Coachella), Teresa Valencia Sanchez - (DHS), Martha Gutierrez- (Riverside County)