United Way
According to United Way worldwide, 95 cents of every dollar donated goes to community projects while five cents is reserved for organizational costs. The money raised by the United Way is distributed to a number of local nonprofits to fund community programs that improve health, education and financial stability.
Chances are if someone is experiencing homelessness, they are also in need of food and possibly medical care. They may also need support in finding a job. While the FIND Food Bank can address their hunger, and housing transitions and can assist them in finding shelter, they may also need help from Coachella Valley Volunteers in Medicine or the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission. Money collected by the Inland SoCal United Way is used to support those charities and many others.
Gala guests enjoyed a three-course dinner sponsored by Contour Dermatology. Beginning with a salad of baby lettuce wrapped in grilled zucchini followed by an entrée of slow-braised short ribs with Yukon gold mashed baby carrots and roasted tomatoes with red wine bordelaise, the meal was completed with a delicious chocolate fondant cake.
The evening’s emcee was KESQ News Channel 3’s Peter Daut. To kick off the fundraising portion of the event, $1,000 was donated by local restaurateur Willie Rhine. Following that were several auction items, which included vacations and golfing opportunities. The final fundraising item was a drawing in which guests could offer $100 with their paddles for the opportunity to win a tennis bracelet generously donated by Raju and Jaishri Mehta of El Paseo Jewelers. The lucky winner was Erin Griffin.
The evening ended on a high note with a lot of money being collected to ensure the continued success of the United Way and its amazing work.
The mission of Inland SoCal United Way is to unite people, ideas, and resources to empower our community and improve lives. Can you help? Give a little, share some time? For more information or to make a donation, visit inlandsocaluw.org.
Carole Stephen-Smith began writing in Scotland for a woman’s weekly at the age of 15 and then covered American celebrities for the London Evening Echo. Arriving in the desert, she wrote for Desert Woman in the 1990s. Carole focuses on charities that help women as well as medical causes, especially breast cancer awareness, and all aspects of child abuse.