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Thank you to everyone who attended the 2026 DBA Impact Awards on May 4th! It was a wonderful evening the celebrated the four honorees (noted in a post below) and three students with education scholarships thru Safe Schools Desert Cities and our scholarship award sponsors of DBA, Desert Hand Car Wash, Dinner with Patsi, and Taste Specific.
I want to again thank our event sponsors, also noted below. Without each of you, we would not have been as successful in raising funds to support our DBA programs throughout the rest of the year.
Thanks to the DBA Board for their participation in the footwork this year. A special shout-out to DBA Board President Bob Kincaid of Roadrunner Print and Ship for the MANY hours of work on the slide presentation, signage preparation, and overall coordination. It is greatly appreciated.
Also thanks to our small but mighty DBA staff of Charles Drabkin and newby Edgar Enciso who kept things aligned prior to and during the evening.
And finally, big thanks to our Emcee, Palm Springs Councilmember Grace Garner, our special entertainment from local talent Marisa Corvo, and event photographer David A Lee. Your work added much to the evening.
If you did not attend this year, we hope to see you next year.
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The Annual Joint Chamber of Commerce Mixer is almost here.
Join us at the Palm Springs Air Museum next Wednesday, May 13, 2026, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.
This event brings over 650 people together to network while getting tastes from about 20 vendors from throughout the Coachella Valley. There will also be a photo booth, 11 businesses and organizations there promoting themselves, and a cash bar to enjoy. We will also have a number of raffle items that you can buy tickets to win. It is a really great event that everyone says is one of the best of the year.
Get your wristbands from ANY chamber of commerce in the Coachella Valley. Wristband pre-sales are $20/person. At the door, the price raises to $30, so get them ahead of time.
You can reach out to me by next Tuesday, May 12th to come by the DBA office, or visit any other chamber to buy. Bring the $20 cash to make it go fast. Note: There are no will call sales.
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Also next week is the Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast on Thursday, May 14th, at 8:30 am at the Palm Springs Convention Center. This annual event celebrates the legacy of Harvey Milk’s political and community service, who stood for justice and equality. We have seats available at the DBA table, and you can join us by going to www.bit.ly/2026harvey-milk
We have a DBA table reserved and there are still a few seat available with us for $95. This event supports LGBTQ+ youth in the Coachella Valley.
This year, honorees and speakers are:
• Brandon Wolf, LGBTQ+ civil rights and gun safety reform speaker, and a survivor of the Pulse Nightclub attack in 2016; and
• Judy and Dennis Shepard, founders of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, created in 1998 to amplify Matthew’s story and inspire individuals, organizations, and communities to embrace the dignity and equality of all people.
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The 3rd Annual Pink Ball is on Saturday, May 23rd supporting the work by the Transgender Health & Wellness Center, and specifically for their Domestic Violence and Rapid Rehousing Program. This program provides critical housing stability and support services to transgender and gender-expansive individuals in our community. Transgender individuals are disproportionately affected by housing insecurity and domestic violence, and demand for these programs continues to rise.
This year’s Pink Ball, held at DBA member V-Wine Lounge, will lean into a “party‑forward” experience providing a chance to have fun, dress up, enjoy elevated bites and drinks, and capture fabulous moments on camera. The atmosphere will be focused on connection and joy.
Past events have been wonderful, so attend this year and experience it yourself!
There is much more happening at DBA and in our Valley’s LGBTQ+ community. Follow our social media and website for more information.
I hope to see you at one of these events and any other DBA event very soon.
Dave Powell he/him
DBA Executive Director
Desert Business Association
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