Fundraiser

of the back door of her restaurant, explained CEO and Executive Director Mark Anton. The program later evolved into distributing monthly food vouchers, which are used to this day for food, household needs and other personal items.

In 1993, the board of directors organized a small fundraising garden party, which took place in a board member’s backyard, and included a series of performances. From there, AAP – Food Samaritans’ annual fundraiser grew over the years to include more than 1,500 guests, a formal dinner service and entertainment by performers such as Barry Manilow, Cyndi Lauper and Gladys Knight.

The last Evening Under the Stars was held in May 2019. Concerns with COVID-19 and public health uncertainty have led to a three-year hiatus, explained event producer Tim O’Bayley.

As organizers started planning for this year’s fundraiser, Anton found that catering prices and other costs skyrocketed following the COVID-19 pandemic. “Hard costs” would have come out to about $750 per person, which would have meant selling tickets for the evening at $1,000 “to make it make any sense.”

“It’s a big risk, especially when you’re a small grassroots charity, to spend that kind of money and then hope that you sell enough tickets to cover the expense,” Anton said. “As stewards of our donors’ money, we can’t risk spending their money in the wrong way.”

As a result, the organization is channeling the energy of that 1993 fundraiser with this year’s iteration. Anton said the community has provided positive feedback on the change. It’s also been a reminder that it’s not all about the glitz and glamour, but about coming together to support those who need it most.

“People are loving the simplicity and the idea and the fact that we’re not having to charge a lot of money for a ticket,” he said. “It enables a lot of people to spend $200 and come to a nice event and virtually be the same as always, except without fireworks and dinner service.”

Guests of honor

The honorees selected to receive this year’s Community Impact Award have spent several years giving back in the desert.

Aubrey Serfling served as president/ chief executive officer of Eisenhower Health from November 2001 until his retirement in March 2021. He is currently vice chairman of the McCallum Theater’s board of directors and a member of the board of directors for the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

Lori Serfling has a background in the administration of biomedical research and pharmaceutical research and development. She volunteers her time to various community projects and currently serves on the board of directors for Desert Arc. Serfling also co-chairs the Animal Samaritans Men of the Desert Fashion Show and Luncheon and is a former board member of ACT for MS and Guide Dogs of the Desert.

Linsk has been a long-time supporter of AAP – Food Samaritans and was a very close friend of co-founder Rockefeller. Many will also recognize her as the forever immortalized stylish woman in yellow in Slim Aarons’ iconic 1970 photo “Poolside Gossip.” To make this year’s Evening Under the Stars even more fun, Anton decided to call up his good friend Tomlin to join. “She’s wonderful,” Anton said about the Emmy-winning actress.

“She helps out whenever she can.”

Tomlin has had a decades-long career in comedy, film and television, starring in “9 to 5,” “Nashville,” “The West Wing” and “Grace and Frankie.” She’s garnered seven Emmy Awards, a Grammy Award and two Tony Awards over her career.

In January, Tomlin hit the red carpet at the Palm Springs International Film Festival to celebrate the world premiere of “80 for Brady” with costars Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno and Sally Field.