The Competitive Advantage

COD's State of the College celebrates breaking educational barriers and building futures A major highlight of the event was the actionable feedback interim Superintendent and President Laura Hope gathered from stakeholders.

So proud of this Teen Trailblazer! What an honor to write this article for the Desert Sun!

Teen trailblazer Abigail Cheley shines bright at National Philanthropy Day Abigail Cheley, 17, was recently honored as Outstanding Philanthropy in Youth at National Philanthropy Day.

We’re gifting textbooks on ! Who’s with us?

💛❤️The COD Foundation is looking forward to the future and the incredible potential that lies within our students. To make a brighter future, WE NEED YOUR HELP!❤️💛

For four decades, the COD Foundation has been a beacon of hope, providing opportunities and support to countless students. We have empowered dreams, shattered barriers, and illuminated the path to success for those eager to learn and grow. But our mission is far from over.

Our $40 Textbook Drive is a special initiative to be a part of something transformative. We’re asking you to simply donate $40 to help us continue our work and break down one of the most significant barriers to education: the cost of textbooks.

“We continuously see students lacking the means to purchase textbooks – it’s a significant barrier to all students, but mostly to those who are exploring medical and STEM programs,” shares Catherine Abbott, Executive Director.

Your $40 can make the difference between a student pursuing their dreams or quitting a class! By contributing to our Textbook Drive, you are not just giving money; you are providing the gift of knowledge, access, and opportunity to those who need it most.

Let’s honor our 40 years of service by investing in the next generation of students, scholars, and leaders. Join us in celebrating our past and shaping our future. Together, we can empower those with big dreams!

✨Giving Tuesday is coming up on November 28th. Donate online!✨

Awesome performer! Awesome mission! Let’s support our College of the Desert students!

College of the Desert Foundation The mission of the College of the Desert Foundation is to enhance the quality of higher education in

Thank you Patrick Evans KESQ and the entire Eye on the Desert team of KESQ News Channel 3 on the incredible coverage of Association of Fundraising Professionals CA Desert Communities Chapter's . You are such an incredible media partner!

https://kesq.com/lifestyle/eye-on-the-desert/2023/11/03/national-philanthropy-day-of-the-desert/

Theresa Maggio Palm Springs Life Magazine, Palm Springs California Desert Sun

National Philanthropy Day of the Desert - KESQ The Association of Fundraising Professionals Desert Chapter are hosting their 17th Annual National Philanthropy Day of the Desert. Every year for National Philanthropy Day, they host a celebratory award luncheon to honor all those who have done outstanding philanthropy work for our local Coachella V...

Thank you Association of Fundraising Professionals CA Desert Communities Chapter for the tremendous opportunity in marketing your ! Josh and James, you are the BEST!

Congratulations to the amazing Honorees - it has been an honor to work with you!

Thank you to our amazing sponsors Palm Springs Life Magazine, Palm Springs California, KESQ News Channel 3 Desert Sun and KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs.

Lindquist Yadira Regla-Cuevas Contour Dermatology Lee Erwin Timothy Jochen minor Loma Linda University Health Loma Linda University Children's Health

Local Heroes Recognized for National Philanthropy Day in the Desert The annual event celebrates gamechangers who are transforming the lives of Coachella Valley citizens…

Booking concert series now!

Home | Palm Springs Concerts Palm Springs Concerts presents first class, internationally acclaimed performing artists to the Coachella Valley with 4 concerts every year.

What a great Launch Party today! Great job College of the Desert Foundation!

💫The Great Alumni Hunt starts TOMORROW!💫

Meet some of the 20 COD students who have the incredible opportunity to win valuable scholarships during The Great Alumni Hunt! Each student will earn points for the greatest number of alumni that they add to their team by registering them at CODFoundation.org/GreatAlumniHunt between September 29th - October 25th. Throughout the month, these teams will compete in an “Amazing Race-style" competition where they, their team members, and notable alumni mentors will sprint to connect with as many COD alumni as possible!

Points will be awarded to students for each individual who fills out the Alumni Registration form at https://codfoundation.org/greatalumnihunt/. Extra points may be awarded depending upon certain criteria such as unique professions, hometown location and earliest graduates. ONLY one completed class is required to be included as an Alumni.

The Launch Party will take place on Friday, September 29th where students and their mentors will be introduced and have an opportunity to start collecting team members. Throughout the month, several Quick-Fire events and Check-in Challenges will occur with the opportunity for more alumni to be found! The Finale Celebration will take place on Wednesday, October 25th during a Coachella Valley Firebirds hockey game at , where final points will be tallied, and scholarships announced center ice.

“Students will take advantage of the tremendous networking opportunity for their career development. COD is proud to produce a professional workforce to strengthen our Valley’s social and economic infrastructure,” shares Catherine Abbott, Executive Director for COD Foundation. “The Great Alumni Hunt will show the impact of talented COD Alumnus while supporting students who are putting themselves through school to achieve their educational dreams.”

If you know someone who attended COD, ask them to join the Great Alumni Hunt and register at CODFoundation.org.

Congratulations Josh Zahid on winning 2nd place at tonight’s presented by the Foundation! What an incredible night 🎉 .desert.communities

"Our biggest competition is ourselves, and our own imagination,” says Geoff Cottrill, CMO for Topgolf. “The number-one focus is making sure that our experience is as good as can possibly be."
In today's world, we wish more companies would focus on this .

How Topgolf plans to become even bigger than actual golf Topgolf, owned by Topgolf Callaway, is the high-tech beer, wings, and driving range experience loved by millennials and Gen Z and seeking tp woo more players.

More Than 300 Gathered to Honor Women Who Lead The Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage set the scene for our annual luncheon celebrating Coachella Valley women who excel in leadership positions…

We are so proud to be collaborative partners with the Association of Fundraising Professionals CA Desert Communities Chapter on the marketing of their on Friday, November 3rd.
Congratulations to Dr. Timothy Jochen, Lee Erwin and the Contour Dermatology team on their exciting NPD honor. You deserve it!
Theresa Maggio Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce Clear29

Congratulations to Dr. Timothy Jochen and Lee Erwin of Contour Dermatology for being this year's National Philanthropy Day Honorees for Outstanding Philanthropy Corporation.

For the past 20 years, Dr. Timothy Jochen and Executive Director Lee Erwin have been as passionate about helping their community as they are about helping people look and feel their best through the services performed by Contour Dermatology. The two owners have donated close to $50,000 to United Cerebral Palsy of the Inland Empire alone. Since 2017, they have sponsored UCPIE’s Team Freedom in the annual Tour de Palm Springs. This team is made up of individuals with disabilities who would not be able to enjoy taking part in this exciting event without their support.

The Contour Dermatology team hosts free Community Skin Cancer Screenings with Coachella Valley Volunteers in Medicine, serves meals at Martha’s Village & Kitchen and participates in 5Ks benefiting Relay for Life. The business has supported more than 60 nonprofits while upholding heartfelt giving and volunteerism as core values of their practice. The duo believes, “When local businesses and nonprofits work together, we can create a stronger and more vibrant community for everyone.”

The positive impact that Dr. Timothy Jochen and Lee Erwin have made on the Coachella Valley is why the Association of Fundraising Professionals CA, Desert Communities Chapter is proud to honor the Contour Dermatology team as our Outstanding Philanthropic Corporation at National Philanthropy Day.

Congratulations to Abigail Cheley Honoree for in !

At 17, Abigail’s level of service dedication far outweighs the promise she has made as a Girl Scout through the countless hours of community service performed at the , ,
, Community Outreach Club, , and most notably with seniors experiencing memory loss at (ACV).

For Abigail’s project, she recruited teen volunteers and created special art projects, memory aids and customized games to support ACV members. Social interaction is crucial for those with Alzheimer’s, who struggle with memory loss and confusion. Regular interaction with volunteers like Abigail provides a sense of companionship and support that improves their overall quality of life. Abigail is a natural-born leader and her caring heart led her to successfully earn the nationally recognized Girl Scouts of America ; only 5.4% of eligible scouts earn this honor.

Her empathetic leadership and innovative programming impact countless Coachella Valley Alzheimer patients which is why the .desert.communities Desert Communities Chapter is proud to honor Abigail Cheley as our Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy at National Philanthropy Day.

Thank you to and for their !

So proud to work this amazing organization!

Congratulations to our dear friend Stephanie Minor on her honor at November 3rd’s . Thank you to , Rani Marriott Marriott and Denise Kirpsak Fleig for their dynamic as Association of Fundraising Professionals CA Desert Communities Chapter

At the heart of every organization is the Fundraising Director, whose primary responsibility is garnering financial support and securing the resources needed to sustain and expand the nonprofit’s mission. Stephanie Minor has been the driving force behind multiple successful campaigns including 's Village & Kitchen’s 2017 Capital Campaign raising $5 million in 8 months! At the RAP Foundation, Minor reconfigured and expanded their technical assistance/capacity building program, NPO Centric.

She has provided ethical fundraising training and taught leaders of hundreds of nonprofits how to leverage partnerships, gain sponsorships, produce strategic campaigns, cultivate relationships and create special events to meet and exceed their revenue goals. She also forged a partnership with our AFP for the “Coffee With” speaker’s series. Minor has been featured in multiple industry publications, has written several ebooks, and has been a guest on many nonprofit podcasts.

Her tremendous knowledge and zeal for seeing nonprofits succeed in enhancing the lives of countless Valley citizens is why we are proud to honor Stephanie Minor as our Outstanding Fundraising Professional at National Philanthropy Day.

Visit AFPCADesert.org for Sponsorship, Tribute Book Ads and Tickets or email [email protected].

Thank you to media sponsors Palm Springs Life,

Congratulations Grecia! We are so proud of you!

We have shared with you in recent videos the story of one our 2023 graduates, Grecia Paola Siono Guitierrez, who took part in the NASA Minority University Research and Education Project Innovations in Space Technology Curriculum at College of the Desert. During the program, a select group of seven students designed, built, and launched a “CubeSat” satellite over the Salton Sea to measure the sea’s immense carbon dioxide emissions.

Two of the lucky seven COD program students were Grecia and her brother, Enrique. For two years, the duo have been crossing the Mexico border every Sunday to enter California where they reside and attend COD until Thursday when they make the trip home. While Grecia and Enrique have studied in the STEM program, their mom, Teresa, is learning ESL with hopes of earning her Child Development degree. The three live together in a one-bedroom unit while they encourage each other to push ahead in their education. “Our journey is worth it because the programs and the experiences at COD are amazing. In Mexico, the opportunities are not as great, which is why my family and I have made an effort to all come here.”

Grecia’s genuine excitement for circuit design and for being involved with the important aims of future space missions, along with her aspirations to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in science and a Ph.D., are all aligned with her goal to eventually work for NASA.

This week we learned that Grecia, who is attending UC Riverside in the fall, has received one of the highly competitive Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarships! This national scholarship aims for Scholars to complete their undergraduate educations with as little debt as possible. The award, which is last-dollar funding after all institutional aid, can be as much as $55,000 a year.

This year, more than 1,700 students from 448 community colleges applied to receive the coveted scholarship. Submissions were evaluated on a student's academic ability and achievement, financial need, persistence, and leadership. Since 2000, the Foundation has awarded almost $250 million in scholarships to nearly 3,200 students from 8th grade through graduate school, along with comprehensive educational advising and other support services. The Foundation has also provided $125 million in grants to organizations that serve such students.
For Grecia, this Scholarship is a game changer. And it’s the thanks to the tenacity and resilience of her family - especially her mom, who stands behind every one of her academic and professional ambitions. “She really encourages my brother and I to work hard for our dreams,” Grecia says, all while being a student herself. “She also expresses her gratitude to the COD Foundation. “Thanks to the COD Foundation’s scholarships and programs, I have textbooks, resources, and school supplies to support my academic journey. And, thanks to the professors and staff at the Mesa Center, I have found the strength and confidence to take on great challenges, accept meaningful internships, and grow as an engineer.”

Nearly two-thirds of COD students qualify for some form of financial assistance, but traditional scholarship support rarely extends to cover all basic human needs. The cost of books and class-related supplies alone can add up to several thousands of dollars, leaving many students with limited options to pay for program fees and supplies, affordable childcare, technology and equipment. Executive Director Catherine Abbott explains, “When we provide comprehensive access to education and support to alleviate significant financial barriers to learning, we produce a professional workforce to strengthen our Valley’s social and economic infrastructure. We believe that no student should miss out on a class or find they are unable to complete an assignment due to a lack of supplies, books, or equipment.”

The COD Foundation is so proud of Grecia, Enrique, and Teresa’s drive and optimism, and of their accomplishments. We look forward to sharing more about this dynamic trio’s journey in the future.

To read more about the family, click here. To watch a video featuring Grecia and other dynamic COD students, click here.

To learn how to support students like Grecia and her family, donate to the Fund for Student Success at CODFoundation.org, call 760.773.2561, or email the Executive Director, Catherine Abbott.

https://www.dcnnews.com/afps-national-philanthropy-day-honorees-will-be-announced-at-may-18th-luncheon/

Thank you Desert Charities News for spreading the news about the Association of Fundraising Professionals CA Desert Communities Chapter Day Announcement Luncheon on May 18th at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage

After receiving 80 nominations for the 2023 National Philanthropy Day, the AFP's Blue Ribbon panel has made their decision! Comprised of the Valley’s most generous community leaders, the final 2023 Honorees will be announced on May 18th at AFP’s National Philanthropy Day Announcement Luncheon. The event will be held from 11:30am to 1:30pm at Agua Caliente Resort in Rancho Mirage. Sponsored by DAP Health and exclusive media sponsors: Palm Springs Life Magazine, Palm Springs California, KESQ News Channel 3, The Desert Sun and LocaliQ, tickets are available for Members $50 and Non-Members for $65. Reservations can be made at www.afpcadesert.org.

AFP's National Philanthropy Day Honorees will be announced at May 18th luncheon - DCN News May we have the envelope please? After receiving 80 nominations for the 2023 National Philanthropy Day, the Association of Fundraising Professionals CA, Desert Communities Chapter’s (AFP) Blue Ribbon panel has made their decision. Comprised of the Valley’s most generous community leaders, the fi...

https://ranchomiragechamber.org/afps-national-philanthropy-day-honorees-announced-at-may-18th-luncheon/
Thanks for the great shout out Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce. We can't wait to hear who will receive the prestigious Day nomination!

Sponsored by DAP Health and NPD exclusive media sponsors: Palm Springs Life Magazine, Palm Springs California, KESQ News Channel 3, The Desert Sun and LocaliQ, tickets are available for Members $50 and Non-Members for $65. Reservations can be made at www.afpcadesert.org.

HR Advantage, Association of Fundraising Professionals CA Desert Communities Chapter Palm Springs Life Magazine, Palm Springs California The Desert Sun LocaliQ KESQ News Channel 3 DAP Health

AFP’s NATIONAL PHILANTHROPY DAY HONOREES ANNOUNCED AT MAY 18th LUNCHEON - Rancho Mirage Chamber Of Commerce May we have the envelope please? After receiving 80 nominations for the 2023 National Philanthropy Day, the Association of Fundraising Professionals CA, Desert Communities Chapter’s (AFP) Blue Ribbon panel has made their decision. Comprised of the Valley’s most generous community leaders, the fi...

We are so proud to have produced the marketing efforts for the College of the Desert Foundation! Congratulations on such a successful event!

Stepping Out For COD 2023 Raises Over $550,000 To Support COD Foundation’s Fund For Student Success - DCN News On behalf of the College of the Desert Foundation, we want to thank everyone who sponsored Stepping Out for COD 2023. The evening was absolutely spectacular, with the crowd dancing in McCallum Theatre’s aisles to Motown music performed by Australian pop vocal group, Human Nature! We are proud to a...

https://www.dcnnews.com/nominations-are-now-open-for-the-17th-annual-national-philanthropy-day-in-the-desert/

Nominations are Now Open for the 17th Annual National Philanthropy Day in the Desert - DCN News Association of Fundraising Professionals CA, Desert Communities Proudly Recognizes Our Valley’s Most Outstanding Humanitarians who are “Changing the World with a Giving Heart.” Do you know someone who exudes the philanthropic spirit? Perhaps a youth who tirelessly volunteers, an outstanding fu...

How to Create a Productive Home Office Anywhere You Go | Entrepreneur Here's how you can create an effective environment to work from anywhere.

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY!

🌹Happy National Women’s Month!🌹

Tag a woman you know to let her know how special she is to you!

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How Apple treated Rihanna’s Super Bowl halftime show like its most popular new product Apple executives reveal how they created the Apple Music-sponsored Super Bowl halftime show starring Rihanna

So true!

Celebrating your friends accomplishments is just as important as celebrating your own.

When you celebrate their wins, you’re also nurturing your friendship!💙

How do you celebrate their wins? Comment below! ⬇️