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Events Posts

Surge Warning: Heightened COVID-19 Aware …

by SteveWolfson

Surge Warning: Heightened COVID-19 Awareness Required

COVID-19 Surge Means Vigilance Must Be Top Of Mind

The Coachella Valley is experiencing a significant surge in COVID-19 infections, especially in the Eastern portion of the County, which accounts for half of all cases. A serious surge is happening throughout our state.

All people in California are now required by law to wear face coverings in most public indoor settings, plus in other situations where exposure is likely. Examples include waiting in line outside, using public transportation, and working with the public. For more guidelines from California Department of Public Health, click here.

Wearing masks, washing hands, and social distancing are making all the difference in preventing new infections. It is extremely important that everyone take heightened measures to protect themselves and others.

By mid June, we surpassed 1,560 clients receiving care at our COVID-19 Clinic since opening in March, and we continue to see numbers rise as more people seek testing and consultations. Our staff are receiving as many as 400 calls per day for information and appointments.

We’re adding a new swab test to our protocol, and it will enable us to serve even more people in our community during this crisis, in less time, and with a lot less discomfort.

The more testing and services DAP can offer means fewer people in our community will have to be hospitalized for this virus. It will also require everyone doing their part to keep themselves and others safe.

Please read our COVID-19 Q&A for regularly update information. Call the COVID-19 Hotline (760) 992-0407 if you’d like to talk to someone about staying safe, or coming in for testing.

Surge Warning, plus Civil Rights Wins an …

by SteveWolfson

Surge Warning, plus Civil Rights Wins and Challenges

Weekend Wrap Message - Friday, June 19 From David Brinkman, Desert AIDS Project CEO

COVID-19 Surge Means Vigilance Must Be Top Of Mind

The Coachella Valley is experiencing a significant surge in COVID-19 infections, especially in the Eastern portion of the County, which accounts for half of all cases.

Wearing masks, washing hands, and social distancing are making all the difference in preventing new infections. We urge everyone to take heightened measures to protect themselves and others as we begin this Father’s Day weekend.

This week we surpassed 1,560 clients receiving care at our COVID-19 Clinic since opening in March, and we continue to see numbers rise as more people seek testing and consultations. Our staff are receiving as many as 400 calls per day for information and appointments.

We’re adding a new swab test to our protocol, and it will enable us to serve even more people in our community during this crisis, in less time, and with a lot less discomfort. The more testing and services DAP can offer means fewer people in our community will have to be hospitalized for this virus.

Please read our COVID-19 Q&A for information. Please call the hotline (760) 992-0407 if you’d like to talk to someone.


Unexpected Justice: Supreme Court Protects LGBTQ Rights to Work

It was a landmark day for LGBTQ equality and our community when the United States Supreme Court codified our civil rights in places of employment this week. This changes the world and it provides the leadership that the United States should be and can be known for. We still have plenty of work to do. Health and Human Services has also rolled back civil rights for transgender Americans accessing healthcare through the Affordable Care Act (ACA).


Transgender Care Program at DAP Is Here For You

The news about HHS removing ACA nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people for health care and insurance does not affect access to care and services at DAP. Anyone can still access Transgender Care at DAP. Thanks to our own state’s insurance practices and civil rights law, LGBTQ people remain protected. Call (760) 323-2118 or email [email protected] for more information.


Rejoicing With Dreamers

DAP stands with DACA recipients locally and across the U.S. We welcome this week’s Supreme Court decision upholding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA). We acknowledge their ongoing contributions to this community and our nation, and we remain committed to supporting them as they make good on their own life dreams.


Celebrate Juneteenth

Juneteenth (June 19, 1865) is the oldest commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Desert AIDS Project continues to stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter and the peaceful protests which continue to energize the movement around the world.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed gaps in healthcare access in the United States. CDC data shows that the death rates among Black people are much higher than for white people, in all age categories. Read more here.


VOICES OF HOPE - Together, We Thrive – Happening TONIGHT

We invite you to join us at 7:00pm tonight (Fri Jun 19) for this star-studded event livestreaming on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. Co-produced and hosted by TV Personality and OUT100 Honoree, Scott Nevins, VOICES OF HOPE features some of the biggest names from Broadway and Hollywood. Find out more here.

DAP Celebrates Juneteenth

by SteveWolfson

DAP Celebrates Juneteenth

Friday is Juneteenth, the oldest commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Desert AIDS Project continues to stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter and the peaceful protests which continue to energize the movement around the world.

"Juneteenth is an opportunity to commemorate the contributions of Black individuals who have inspired, guided, and driven our work at DAP, but also to recommit to our mission of ensuring everyone has access to healthcare information, testing, and treatment," said Desert AIDS Project CEO David Brinkman.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed gaps in healthcare access in the United States. CDC data shows that the death rates among Black people are much higher than for white people, in all age categories.

According to CDC data, Black Americans account for a higher proportion of new HIV diagnoses and people with HIV, compared to other races and ethnicities. In 2018, Black Americans accounted for 13% of the US population, but 42% of the 37,832 new HIV diagnoses in the United States and dependent areas.

On Friday, digital marquee signs at DAP on the corner of Sunrise and Vista Chino, and at Revivals Cathedral City store located on Hwy 111, will recognize the day by displaying the emancipation flag.

Additionally, DAP will be using its social media platforms to educate its followers about the meaning of Juneteeth as we continue our work to end systemic poverty via nutrition, housing, and police safety.

Revivals Stores will be encouraging its shoppers to explore the rich variety of Black-owned businesses in Greater Palm Springs. https://www.pslocalsonly.com/

Further, to engage our employees, there will be a special all-staff virtual gathering on Friday to reflect upon and discuss the importance of Juneteenth’s historic and current significance.

Yesterday, DAP joined Human Rights Campaign and 350 LGBTQ organizations united in calling for transformational change in policing. The letter reads in part, "We cannot sit on the sidelines, we cannot acquiesce, and we cannot assign responsibility to others. We, as leaders in the LGBTQ movement, must rise up and call for structural change…” You can read the full letter here.

And, most importantly, DAP continues to listen to persons of color in the community in which we serve to learn how DAP can become a stronger ally and co-worker in the movement to end racism.

Finding Hope in Uncertainty

by Dustin Gruber

Finding Hope in Uncertainty

Weekend Wrap Message - Saturday, June 13, From David Brinkman, Desert AIDS Project CEO

Back on: VOICES OF HOPE -Together, We Thrive.

In solidarity with Black Lives Matter, we delayed the original Voices of Hope streaming date.

As we move forward together, we invite you to join us at its rescheduled date and time: Friday, June 19, at 7:00pm, livestreaming on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.  Co-produced and hosted by TV Personality and OUT100 Honoree, Scott Nevins, VOICES OF HOPE features some of the biggest names from Broadway and Hollywood. Find out more here.

U=U = Freedom to love without shame over HIV

We all live with uncertainty, and when we can focus on fact, science and certainty it is very affirming. With a science-based message, Bruce Richman and Prevention Access Campaign have radically improved the way people living with HIV look at themselves, and this transformative campaign has gone global.

U=U, short for Undetectable = Untransmitable, is helping people unlearn decades of fear about people living with HIV, and it’s even helping lessen fear around getting tested. Bruce was interviewed by Steven Henke on DAP LIVE this week, and I urge you to watch it below, or read the excerpts that we’ll be sharing in our News section in the coming weeks.

Applying Prevention Access Campaign values locally

When we hear experts like Bruce Richman say that half of Americans with HIV are not accessing the type of treatment and services they need to thrive and prevent transmitting to others, I immediately think about the people of this valley who need our services.

Our Community Health Director C.J. Tobe wrote about the practical work he and others at DAP are doing to help Coachella Valley residents become undetectable if they have HIV, as well as other methods for preventing and treating HIV in our community. You can read that here.

Safe Chiropractic Services back on at DAP campus with Dr. Jim Cox

Hunkering down is the right thing to do for many, but our clients are developing back and shoulder pain because of the new normal. That’s why we were so happy to have Dr. Cox resume safe chiropractic services onsite at DAP. You can read more about hours and some tips on preserving your back from him by clicking here.

Clarifying how we charge for antibody testing

Our ability to offer rapid antibody testing to the uninsured and underinsured of the Coachella Valley and Riverside County was made possible because of a generous grant.

Our clients with commercial PPO coverage will notice we are billing their insurance company. This should not result in a direct bill to the client. There is no co-pay, and no additional expense to worry about.

Please call the hotline (760) 992-0407 if you’d like to talk to someone about your coverage and the cost of COVID-19 testing at DAP. We will always work to provide you the quickest and most reliable testing option possible. You can read more in our Coronavirus Q&A by clicking here.

More ways to shop at Revivals        

The new tag says it best—home means more now. Our team at Revivals has opened up all three stores for safe in-person shopping, and they’re also bringing the joy of the hunt to residents of our valley with a new online shopping site featuring its best-selling brand new Mode furniture items. Revivals is a significant financial contributor to DAP client services. You can see what the team has created by clicking here.

Broadway and Hollywood come together for …

by Dustin Gruber

Broadway and Hollywood come together for Voices of Hope: Together, We Thrive Benefitting Desert AIDS Project

Palm Springs, CA May 22, 2020  Desert AIDS Project will present ‘Voices of Hope: Together, We Thrive’  - a star-studded live streaming event for the community on Friday, June 5 at 7:00 pm. 

The event will be co-produced and hosted by TV Personality and OUT100 Honoree, Scott Nevins, and feature some of the biggest names from the entertainment industry. The one-hour entertainment special will broadcast across Desert AIDS Project’s social channels including Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. The event is free, but registration is encouraged, and proceeds support DAP’s COVID-19 response.  Viewers are encouraged to enhance their viewing by ordering take-out or delivery before the show, a move to support local restaurants. Learn more at DesertAIDSProject.org/Hope

“We want to bring people together around a message of hope during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said David Brinkman, CEO. “We also want to support local restaurants with this entertainment experience. We thank our patrons who support them by ordering takeout or delivery on that day.”

DAP has provided continuous primary healthcare to its patients throughout this health crisis and embraced the new normal to open its doors wider. Telehealth is making everyone safer by giving patients the power to choose between an in-person doctor visit or a Virtual Visit. The technology rollout is also helping DAP clients access therapy more than ever, from California licensed clinical psychologists. 

The fight to end HIV in the Coachella Valley hasn’t taken a break, either. DAP has made free HIV home-testing by mail available for anyone who can’t come to the DAP campus for testing. And counselors quickly turned to Virtual Visits when it became clear they could continue offering access to HIV and STI prevention, testing, and treatment in the face of a crisis.

A full list of restaurants providing take-out can be found at the DiningOutForLife/PalmSprings website.

Top Talent Will Dazzle

Performers scheduled to appear include; Emmy and TONY Award-winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth, TONY Award Winner Betty Buckley, EMMY, Golden Globe and Tony Award Nominee Matthew Morrison, Tony Award Nominee Megan Hilty & Brian Gallagher, TONY Award Nominee Ann Hampton Callaway, TONY Award Nominee Max von Essen, TONY Award Nominee Saycon Sengbloh, Television and Film stars Erich Bergen, Carla Jimenez, Emerson Collins, and Blake McIver, plus celebrity vocal impressionist and YouTube sensation, Christina Bianco.

Click here To Register Now To Watch on June 5, 2020 at 7:00 PM

Complete Star Bios

TONY® and EMMY® Award-winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth’s career spans film, television, voiceover and stage. Stage, (“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”, “Wicked”, “On the Twentieth Century”), film (“Rio 2”, “My Little Pony: The Movie”, “Four Christmases”) and television (“Trial & Error”, “The West Wing”, “Pushing Daisies”, “Glee”, “Descendants”, “Hairspray” and “American Gods”). Her latest album “For The Girls,” was released in September 2019 and was a heartfelt tribute to the great female singers throughout history. To celebrate the release of her new album “For The Girls,” Chenoweth returned to the Broadway stage this past November in an eight-performance concert engagement at the Nederlander Theatre. Recently, Chenoweth starred alongside Scott Wolf in the holiday film “A Christmas Love Story,” which premiered on Hallmark Channel in December 2019.  Along with the holiday season, Chenoweth released her latest stand-alone Holiday e-single titled “White Christmas.” Upcoming, Chenoweth will star in the film “Holidate,” which will premiere on Netflix in 2020. In addition to starring in, Chenoweth will also executively produce the upcoming comedy series “The Biggest Star in Appleton,” which is currently in the works at Disney Plus. Last December, Chenoweth performed with iconic The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra in their annual Christmas concert, which aired this past December. Previously in 2009, Chenoweth wrote an upliftingly candid, comedic chronicle of her life so far, “A Little Bit Wicked,” which debuted on the New York Times Hardcover Non-Fiction Best Seller List. Chenoweth received a coveted star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame in the category of Live Performance, Stage/Theatre in 2015. Chenoweth is a graduate of Oklahoma City University with a Master’s degree in Opera Performance. She formed a charity partnership with the Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center (BAPAC) Foundation in her home state of Oklahoma. Chenoweth's accomplishments were honored by her hometown with BAPAC naming "The Kristin Chenoweth Theatre" in 2012. Partnering with the BAPAC, she launched an annual Broadway Bootcamp in 2015. Chenoweth is an inductee into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, as well as the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.

Betty Buckley is known as a legendary, multi-award-winning Actress/Singer whose multi-faceted career spans theater, film, television, and concert halls around the world.   She won a Tony Award for her performance in “Cats,” is a 2012 Theatre Hall of Fame inductee and the 2017 recipient of the Julie Harris Award for Artistic Achievement from The Actor’s Fund.  She received her second Tony Nomination for “Triumph of Love.”  Most recently she starred in the National Tour of the new Broadway production of  “Hello, Dolly!”  She co-starred with James McAvoy in M. Night Shyamalan’s International Box Office hit “Split” and guest-starred in Season 3 of the AMC hit show “Preacher”. She has been nominated for two Emmy Awards for her work in television.  A two time Grammy Nominee, she has recorded 18 solo CDs. She has received two Honorary Doctorates and has been a teacher for over 40 years of Scene Study and Song Interpretation.  

Matthew Morrison is a versatile actor who is recognized for his work on-stage and on-screen. He has been nominated for Tony, Emmy, and Golden Globe Awards. 

Morrison studied musical theater, vocal performance and dance at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. He made his debut on Broadway in “Footloose” but his big break came when he was cast as heartthrob Link Larkin in the hit “Hairspray.” Morrison was later nominated for a Tony Award for his role in “The Light in the Piazza,” and received a Drama Desk Nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Musical for “10 Million Miles.” He also starred in the Tony-winning revival of “South Pacific” at Lincoln Center Theater in New York. 
In 2010, Morrison became a true household name when he was cast as a series regular in FOX’s musical comedy television series “Glee,” where he starred as the director of the glee club, “Mr. Schuester.”  The show was created by Ryan Murphy and received the Golden Globe award for “Best Television Series – Comedy or Musical” in 2010 and 2011.  The series wrapped in 2015 after six successful seasons.

Morrison’s most recent Broadway credit is starring as “J.M Barrie” in the musical “Finding Neverland” from March, 2015 through January, 2016.  The Broadway production is an adaptation of the 2004 film written by David Magee. The story follows the relationship between Barrie and the Davies family, who became the author’s inspiration for the creation of Peter Pan. Morrison received two Drama Desk nominations for his role, and won the category of Favorite Actor in a Musical in the Broadway.com Audience Awards.

Morrison has teamed up with Disney Music Group to release a carefully curated album of Disney classics, set for release in March 2020.  The album, whose songs were personally picked from Morrison’s fondest Disney memories, will cover several eras of classic films.  The album is available for pre-order now. The first single, “Go The Distance” was released on January 10, along with its official music video.

Megan Hilty rose to prominence for her roles in Broadway musicals, including her performance as Glinda the Good Witch in Wicked, Doralee Rhodes in 9 to 5 the Musical, and her Tony-nominated role as Brooke Ashton in Noises Off. She also received rave reviews for her portrayal of Lorelei Lee in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun as part of the Encores! staged concert series at City Center. Last year she fulfilled a lifelong dream of playing Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. She's probably best known for starring as Ivy Lynn on the musical-drama series, Smash. Megan has released three full-length albums, It Happens All The Time, Megan Hilty: Live At The Cafe Carlyle, and A Merry Little Christmas. Megan's voice can be heard as KC the Koala on the Disney Jr series, T.O.T.S., the garden fairy, Rosetta, in the animated Tinkerbell series, the singing voice of Snow White in Shrek the Third, and on several other Disney, Nickelodeon, and DreamWorks series. She has performed with renowned symphonies all over the world including the New York Pops, the National Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the Boston Pops, and just recently headlined her own show at the Sydney Opera House.

Brian Gallagher is a singer/songwriter, musician, and occasional actor whose album All That's Ahead debuted at #1 on the iTunes blues charts to rave reviews. Just last year, he released his second LP, BROWNSTONE, a gritty, bluesy, horror-inspired concept record about a haunted, four "story" brownstone in Manhattan's East Village. He's co-written several songs that have been released over the last several years with partner, Matt Cusson, and is currently putting the finishing touches on his next two full-length concept records, The Grind Show and XIV. Recent theater credits include the Broadway revival of Jekyll & Hyde and the NYC premiere of the rock musical, Chix 6.

Ann Hampton Callaway is one of America’s most gifted artists in pop and jazz. A leading champion of the great American Songbook, she’s made her mark as a singer, pianist, composer, lyricist, arranger, actress, educator, TV host and producer. Voted by Broadwayworld.com as “Performer of the Year” and two years in a row as “Best Jazz Vocalist,” Ann is born entertainer.  She is best known for Tony-nominated performance in the hit Broadway musical “Swing!” and for writing and singing the theme song to the hit TV series “The Nanny.”  She made her feature film debut opposite Angelina Jolie and Matt Damon in the Robert De Niro film “The Good Shepherd", performing the standard "Come Rain or Come Shine" and recorded "Isn't It Romantic?" and "The Nearness of You" for Wayne Wong's “Last Holiday", starring Queen Latifah. Ann also wrote songs for the upcoming movie musical “The Man Who Saved Paris" starring Stanley Tucci and can be heard singing her original song “Pourquoi” in the soundtrack of “Blind” starring Alec Baldwin and Demi Moore. Callaway is a Platinum Award-winning writer whose songs are featured on seven of Barbra Streisand's recent CD's. The only composer to have collaborated with Cole Porter, she has also written songs with Carole King, Rolf Lovland, Amanda McBroom and Shelby Lynn to name a few.  Ann has recorded over 50 CDs as a soloist and guest and her new CD Jazz Goes to the Movies debuted at #12 on the Billboard Jazz Chart and has been in high rotation on Siriusly Sinatra.  Callaway’s performances and recordings have garnered her The Theater World Award, 15 MAC Awards, several Bistro Awards, The Mabel Mercer Award, The Johnny Mercer Award for Songwriting and The Blanton Peale Award for Positive Thinking. 

Max von Essen recently starred on Broadway as Gleb Vaganov in Anastasia and then toured the country as Marvin in the Lincoln Center production of Falsettos. His debut album, Call Me Old Fashioned: The Broadway Standard, was released on April 5th, 2019.

In 2016, Max completed his run in An American in Paris at The Palace Theater as Henri Baurel, a performance which earned him a nomination for the 2015 Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award. He also performed in the revival of Evita, playing the role of Agustin Magaldi and frequently stepping in for Ricky Martin in the role of Che. Other broadway appearances include Enjolras in the first revival of Les Misérables, Alfred in the ill-fated Dance of the Vampires, starring alongside Michael Crawford, Jean Prouvaire in the closing company of the original Les Misérables, and as a disciple in the 2000 revival of Jesus Christ Superstar. In that production, Max understudied the role of Jesus and performed it many times.

Among his numerous New York appearances are Yours Unfaithfully at The Mint Theater, Alfred Dreyfus in The Dreyfus Affair at BAM, Maury Yeston’s Death Takes a Holiday at the Roundabout Theatre Company, The Transport Group’s revival of Michael John LaChiusa’s Hello Again (Drama League nomination), Jerry Springer: The Opera at Carnegie Hall, Finian’s Rainbow at the Irish Repertory Theatre, and The Fantasticks at the Sullivan Street Playhouse.  Max has also found himself roller skating across the country in the first national tour of Xanadu as Sonny Malone, as Mary Sunshine in the national tour of Chicago, as Tony in West Side Story throughout Europe and as a backup singer for the legendary Liza Minnelli.

Tony-nominated actress, Saycon Sengbloh can be currently seen as Jules, a tough, no-nonsense homicide detective in the CW series, “In the Dark.”She recurred on ABC/Shonda Rhimes’ drama “Scandal” as FBI Director Angela Webster. And co-stars in the Upcoming Aretha Franklin Biopic, RESPECT! Recent Drama Desk award nominee for The Secret Life of Bees musical and fave Broadway credits include Eclipsed (Drama Desk Award, Tony Award nomination), Holler If Ya Hear Me, Motown: The Musical, FELA!; Wicked and more! Saycon is the Host of podcast SayconTalks podcast AND YouTube channel!

Actor, Singer, Writer, and Producer, Erich Bergen is best known as the trusty assistant Blake Moran on the hit television show Madam Secretary, which recently completed 6 seasons on CBS. He is also well known for his critically acclaimed performance as Bob Gaudio in the film Jersey Boys, a role he previously played on stage in the National Tour and Las Vegas casts of the Tony Award-winning musical. 

In 2018, Erich made his Broadway debut playing Dr. Pomatter in the hit musical Waitress, written by Sara Bareilles.
In concert, Erich has performed everywhere from Shreveport to Singapore. His original music is available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple Music, and all other major digital music outlets. Follow Erich on Instagram/Twitter: @erichbergen 

Carla Jimenez was a series regular on THE MICK, playing Alba. Her recent credits include recurring roles on “Single Parents”, “Life in Pieces”,  and lending her voice to the newly released Animated Feature Film “Spies In Disguise” starring Will Smith.  Upcoming projects include the feature film “Friendsgiving”.  Her additional television credits include recurring roles on the comedies “Raising Hope” “Last Man Standing,” “Growing Up Fisher,” “Better Off Ted” and “Desperate Housewives,” as well as guest-starring roles on BONES, “The Mindy Project,” “My Name Is Earl” and “Little Britain USA.”

Christina Bianco’s singular voice and comedic charm have brought audiences around the world to their feet. Bianco captured international acclaim as a YouTube sensation with her ‘diva’ impression videos, gaining over 25 million views. Dubbed ’The Girl Of A Thousand Voices,’ she’s performed on major television programs including, The Ellen Degeneres Show and The Today Show in the US, and The Paul O’Grady Show and This Morning, in the UK. 

A Two-Time Drama Desk Award nominee, Christina made her West End debut in Forbidden Broadway at the Vaudeville Theatre. Most recently, Christina played the iconic role of Fanny Brice at the Theatre Marigny’s celebrated production of Funny Girl in Paris, earning unanimous rave reviews. 
Television credits include iTV’s The Imitation Game, the POPtv’s Impress Me, Hallmark’s Signed Sealed, Delivered, and frequent voice work for RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Christina has performed her critically acclaimed concerts across the U.S. and abroad, including two UK tours and extended runs in London, Scotland, South Africa and Australia at the Sydney Opera House. Christina frequently performs with US and Canadian symphonies. Her live album, Life Of The Party was released last year.

Emerson Collins is an actor/producer/director known for four seasons of BRAVO’s “The People’s Couch” and “RENT” on FOX.  He produced and starred in the films “A Very Sordid Wedding” and “Southern Baptist Sissies.” He produced and starred in the national tour of Sissies and Sordid Lives. Emerson won the Desert Theatre League Award for Best Actor in a Comedy for the regional premiere of the one-man show Buyer & Cellar with Coyote Stageworks. Collins co-produced and recurred in LOGO’s “Sordid Lives: The Series” and produced “Blues For Willadean.”  He directed Del Shores’ one-man play “Six Characters In Search Of a Play” on stage and for film.

Blake McIver has been performing since the age of six when he won Star Search as Junior Vocalist Champion and he has been working as a professional singer, actor and entertainer ever since in film, television and theatre.  His film work began with a breakout performance as “Waldo” in The Little Rascals.  In television, he starred as a series regular for three seasons as “Derek” on Full House opposite Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen and went on to guest star on The Drew Carey Show, Clueless, Home Improvement, and The Nanny.

Blake played “Edgar” in the United States Premiere of the musical Ragtime with the original production team including composer Steven Flaherty, lyricist Lynn Ahrens and librettist Terrence McNally.  He was the youngest person to ever be nominated for a Los Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation Award for his performance.  Other theatre highlights include Freddie in Chess, Fabrizio in The Light In The Piazza, Radames in AIDA and Link in Hairspray.

Blake has also worked extensively in voiceover and animation including Tarzan, The Little Mermaid II, Anastasia, Recess, and as the beloved “Eugene” on Hey Arnold.  Blake has also worked extensively as a session vocalist, backup singer and featured soloist for recording artists such as Michael Jackson, David Foster, Natalie Cole, Phil Collins, and Barry Manilow. 

Blake recently starred on 4 seasons of BRAVO’s hit social series The People’s Couch, toured nationally as director and choreographer for recording artist Ariana Savalas, and made his Off-Broadway debut with his critically acclaimed one-man show, Blake Sings Barbra: The 1994 Concert.

Scott Nevins is an award-winning TV/Radio personality, host, producer, writer, comedian, news pundit, and LGBTQ/HIV awareness activist. Best known for being one of the breakout stars and original cast members of Bravo TV’s series “The People’s Couch”, and formally from truTV’s hit show “truTV Presents: World’s Dumbest…”, he has hosted hundreds of live events, performed his acclaimed solo shows to sold-out audience around the country, and has worked with some of the industries biggest names, both on stage and on camera. He has appeared on national TV on NBC, FOX, Bravo, CNN, CNN International, HLN, truTV, The Style Network, Fuse TV, LOGO, and MNN Television. He has hosted several red carpet events for TVLand.com, received high praise for his work as the co-host of “The Ann Walker Show with Scott Nevins” (Universal Broadcasting Network), as a fill-in host on Sirius Satellite Radio and KNews Radio, and most recently as a regular contributor for NewNowNext.com. By the age of 24, Scott headlined his own shows at the famed Carolines on Broadway in NYC, and went on to win critical and audience raves for his solo comedy tours. Scott also Produces and Hosts the hugely successful yearly fundraiser “SPARKLE: An All-Star Holiday Concert”, benefiting The Actors Fund. In addition, Scott has proudly donated his talents to numerous organizations like HRC; PFLAG; God’s Love We Deliver; Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids; The Matthew Shepard Foundation; Desert AIDS Project and many more. Scott was chosen as an honoree for OUT Magazine's prestigious OUT100 list and is the recipient of the Out There Award and the Silver ADDY Award (from the American Advertising Federation) for his work as an LGBTQ and HIV Awareness Activist. He was chosen by New York Magazine in their ‘Best of New York’ issue and has appeared as the cover story for INSTINCT magazine.

Click here To Register Now To Watch on June 5, 2020 at 7:00 PM

About Desert AIDS Project
Desert AIDS Project (DAP) is a humanitarian healthcare organization in Palm Springs, CA offering– a combination of medical, dental, counseling, social services, support groups, alternative therapies, in-house pharmacy and lab, and other health and wellness services. DAP’s sexual health clinic, The DOCK, offers STI testing and treatment, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), and HIV and HCV testing. DAP’s Get Tested Coachella Valley campaign, the nation’s first region-wide free HIV testing and access to care initiative, was recognized by the White House for helping to bring about an AIDS-free future. DAP  earned a “Four Star” rating from Charity Navigator for the twelfth consecutive year – landing DAP in the top 6% of nonprofits rated. The distinction recognizes that we exceed industry standards in terms of our financial health, accountability, and transparency. 

Visit www.desertaidsproject.org, www.thedockclinic.org, and www.gettestedcoachellavalley.org to learn more.

Hearing messages of hope all around us

by Dustin Gruber

Hearing messages of hope all around us

Weekend Wrap Message-Saturday, May 23, From David Brinkman, Desert AIDS Project CEO

Voices of Hope on June 5, 7pm PT

We’re bringing our community together around a message of hope with the help of Broadway and Hollywood stars while we continue supporting our local restaurants. “Voices of Hope: Together We Thrive” is a free, one-hour entertainment special that will broadcast across DAP’s social channels on Friday, June 5 at 7pm PT.

Let Kristin Chenoweth, Betty Buckley and about a dozen other stars entertain you in your home. Complete your experience by ordering take-out or delivery from local eateries before the show, and you’ll know you’re preserving one of this area’s finest gems—its restaurant scene.  

To learn more about the show and restaurant ideas, click here.

DAP Talks – Hearing the message of hope

You can hear this DAP Talks by clicking here.

Anxiety and depression are getting in the way of many people’s health and resiliency, especially with isolation from social distancing and sheltering in place. We started the audio series DAP Talks to give people one more way to receive the message of transformation from healers like Dr. Jill Gover. Her first audio installment is “Taking Care of Your Mental Health During COVID-19” and more are coming.

COVID-19 Triage Clinic Update

We saw almost 200 clients this week for antibody and diagnostic testing for COVID-19 and treatment for respiratory symptoms.

We are taking what we’ve learned so far on the frontlines fighting COVID-19, and we are sharing it with the County of Riverside as we continue partnering in this health crisis. As the County looks at an antibody program and contract tracing, the hard work from Dr. Foltz and his team will help others avoid suffering. Through this tragedy, we are working to be part of a solution.

The Coachella Valley Weekly featured our COVID-19 Triage Clinic as its cover story. You can read it here.

Gratitude for Drop-Off Donations Resuming at Revivals

It felt great being reminded of how much this community cares after the first week of contact-free donation drop-offs at all three Revivals. We put the safety of our volunteers, clients, and staff first, and changing the way we accept donations was the first step.

We’re changing the way we work so Revivals can outlive COVID-19 and carry on as this community’s favorite place to find treasures new and old. We’re looking at new ways that you will be able to ‘Find Yourself at Revivals’, whether that’s online or through contact-free curbside services like order pickup.

We’re preparing for when the city of Palm Springs and the state of California clear us to re-open. That includes being armed with effective sanitization measures and protocols, and only opening if we have confidence we can ensure the safety of our employees, volunteers, and customers.

Kristin Chenoweth to Headline Steve Chas …

by Dustin Gruber

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Steven Henke

[email protected]

(760) 656-8401

‘The Chase’ 2020 Honors Humanitarians Removing Roadblocks to Human Potential

PALM SPRINGS, CA- January 1, 2020 – Desert AIDS Project (DAP) has announced that Kristin Chenoweth will headline its 26th Annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards on February 8 where Hank Plante, Garry Kief and Ambassador Deborah L Birx, M.D. will be honored for their work in removing roadblocks to human potential.

Emmy and Tony Award winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth’s career spans film, television, voiceover and stage. In 2015, Chenoweth received a coveted star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2009, she received an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in “Pushing Daisies”. In 1999, she won a Tony Award for “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” and she was also nominated for her original role of Glinda the Good Witch in “Wicked” in 2004. Chenoweth has been nominated for two Emmy Awards and for a People’s Choice Award for her role on “Glee.”

Returning as co-chairs are Desert AIDS Project Board Members Kevin Bass, Patrick Jordan, and Lauri Kibby. Kibby recently shared the co-chairs vision. “This year’s Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards will focus on how Desert AIDS Project and the people who support the organization remove blocks to human potential,”she said. “The work we honor is deeply personal and about human well-being.”

Desert AIDS Project CEO, David Brinkman is expected to share DAP’s vision for the future during the event. “Desert AIDS Project’s story includes a long history of identifying and responding to epidemics,” he said. “We intend to pay forward what we’ve learned during our first 35 years by reaching more people and changing more lives. We have and continue to be a humanitarian organization which removes road-blocks to human potential.”

The last decade alone has seen DAP make substantial in-roads in addressing epidemics.

2010 2.7 million people worldwide were newly infected with HIV in 2010. DAP begins the decade focused on ending the epidemic.

2012 Annette Bloch donates $1 million to fund a cancer care center dedicated to specialized HIV-related cancer research, screenings, treatment and prevention.

2014 DAP launches Get Tested Coachella Valley as the nation’s first non-profit-led, region-wide HIV testing, prevention, education and linkage to care initiative.

2015 DAP launches The DOCK, a walk-in clinic that provides HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing, linkage to care and access to HIV preventative medication Pre-Exposure Prohylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP).

2016 The DAP Hepatitis Center of Excellence opens to deliver comprehensive state-of-the-art expertise to manage, support and cure those afflicted with Hepatitis C.

2017 DAP opens Transgender Health Program offering gender-affirming services and care.

2018 DAP kicks off Vision 2020, a capital campaign which will result in the agency more than doubling its ability to provide patient-centered primary, HIV Specialty, Dental and Behavioral Health care to our community.

2019 Desert AIDS Project Celebrates 35 Years of Caring for our community.

How Desert AIDS Project Removes Roadblocks to Human Potential:

  • Medical Care- 7,000 clients call DAP their patient centered medical home, and about half do not have HIV. In the earliest days of the AIDS crisis, DAP discovered health outcomes for our HIV positive clients increased when we provided health care to their life partners and family members who were acting as caregivers. Today, DAP offers leading HIV specialty care as well as primary care for our community members not living with HIV. Because there is enough love in this valley to help everyone thrive and also prevent new cases of HIV.
  • Transgender Care- DAP is guiding more and more transgender, intersex, and gender diverse clients on their gender journeys. In a little over a year, DAP has seen its client enrollment quadruple for these services. Too many transgender individuals in the Inland Empire assume they won’t ever access stigma-free and competent care. At DAP they never have to worry.
  • Hepatitis Center of Excellence- 202 clients have been cured of Hepatitis C since 2017. DAP averages 9 weeks to cure clients, and never turns people away if they do not have insurance. HCV is a silent killer, but DAP’s advocacy is a lot louder.
  • Dental Care- Dental access is vital for good health, especially for people living with HIV. DAP’s dental clinic had 5,354 visits last year, and continues to add clients. A healthy mouth helps clients stay ahead of HIV, and everyone smile wider.
  • The DOCK-- $25 STI screening and treatment. Free Confidential HIV and HCV testing. PrEP and PEP navigators to onboard new clients and help access cost assistance. Because we won’t stop the spread of HIV and STIs in the Coachella Valley if we don’t make testing and treatment available to everyone.
  • Behavioral HealthCare—Psychiatrists, Psychologists and Psychotherapists. Coping with HIV and life can be overwhelming. DAP Behavioral Health clinicians help clients find hope. Because with the right support, we can get through almost any storm.
  • Social Services –Case managers make accessing healthcare and support services a reality for DAP clients. Transportation, food, housing, and enrolling for federal, state and local resources to cover care. In a complex healthcare system, DAP takes the worry out of obtaining and keeping care. 
  • Housing - DAP helps clients into permanent residences, and is developing more opportunities. Housing assistance is part of our prescription. Because access to medication is not enough to treat HIV—it also requires a place to live.
  • Back to Work—DAP’s back to work program has assisted over 200 clients re-enter the workforce when they were ready. This includes computer access, resume coaching, and job placement. DAP helps clients determine readiness for employment, and supports them throughout the process. Because having a job can be powerful medicine.
  • Client Wellness—A range of services, classes and support groups make DAP a community hub. Chair massage, yoga, tai chi, acupuncture and reiki. Because the AIDS crisis taught us that holistic health works. Strength training, art, sculpting and sewing classes. Because curiosity is healthy. Aging with HIV, addiction and recovery advocacy, and many other support groups. Because DAP understands that when a few people get together to support each other, an entire humanitarian movement can be born.

2020 Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards Honorees:

Hank Plante will receive the Arts & Activism Award, Garry Kief will receive the Partners for Life Award and Ambassador Deborah L Birx, M.D. will receive the Science & Medicine Award.  

Henry A. "Hank" Plante is an American television reporter and newspaper columnist. He is on-air at NBC Palm Springs and he is a member of the Editorial Board of Gannett's Desert Sun newspaper in Palm Springs. Winner of the George Foster Peabody Award and multiple Emmys, he covered California for three decades for TV stations in San Francisco and Los Angeles. He now writes occasional columns for newspapers in California, usually focusing on politics or gay and lesbian issues. One of the first openly gay TV reporters in the United States, Plante is the recipient of various honors from LGBTQ rights advocacy organizations and trade groups. In addition, Plante was featured in the documentary "5B" 5B (film), which was honored at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. The film is about the first AIDS ward in the nation, which Plante covered as a reporter. A native of Detroit, Plante worked in both radio and television journalism, including 25 years at KPIX-TV (CBS 5) in San Francisco, before retiring in April 2010. Before that, he worked in print journalism, including at The Washington Post. At KPIX-TV, he interviewed a range of national and state political figures, including five U.S. Presidents and numerous Governors, legislators and opinion makers from Richard Nixon to Al Gore, George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Barack Obama, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jerry Brown and Hillary Clinton.

His experience includes reporting and anchoring at TV stations in various cities, including KHJ-TV in Los Angeles, KRIV in Houston, KMSP-TV in Minneapolis and WVEC-TV in Norfolk, Virginia. He also served as Assignment Editor at WTTG-TV in Washington, D.C., and as News Editor at WRC (NBC) Radio in Washington D.C. He began his career as a journalist in Washington, D.C. at the Sentinel Newspapers, where he was managing editor, and at The Washington Post, where he worked on the city desk.  His awards have included several local and national Emmys, as well as the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award, in 1986, as part of CBS 5's "AIDS Lifeline" reporting team. He has also been awarded the Pioneer Award at the GLAAD Media Awards, and the James R. Harrison Award from the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. He was also named "Reporter of the Year" by the Associated Press (APTRA'S "Chris Harris Award"). Hank was inducted into the Emmy Silver Circle by the National Television Academy, which honors individuals who have made a significant contribution to broadcasting. In addition, his work has been singled out for praise by The New York.

Garry Kief is a former DAP Board Member and currently serves on the boards of the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center, Palm Springs International Film Festival, McCallum Theatre, and the Annenberg Theatre Counsel. In addition, Kief has served as National President and Chairman of the Trustees of his national fraternity – Sigma Phi Epsilon, raising money for programs and scholarships to support undergraduate men. Kief is President/CEO at Stiletto Entertainment Group and President of Barry Manilow Productions. He has produced ‘A Gift of Love’ for four years raising millions of dollars for local charities. Kief also oversees the Manilow Music Project which empowers underfunded school music programs to provide quality music education. By donating instruments and equipment and providing scholarships nationwide, it gives disadvantaged young people the opportunity to experience community, passion, and creativity through the gift of music.

Ambassador-at-Large, Deborah L. Birx, M.D., is the Coordinator of the United States Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS and U.S. Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy. Ambassador Birx is a world-renowned medical expert and leader in the field of HIV/AIDS. Her three-decade-long career has focused on HIV/AIDS immunology, vaccine research, and global health. As the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, Ambassador Birx oversees the implementation of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the largest commitment by any nation to combat a single disease in history, as well as all U.S. Government engagement with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Serving as the U.S. Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy, she aligns the U.S. Government’s diplomacy with foreign assistance programs that address global health challenges and accelerate progress toward: achieving an AIDS-free generation; ending preventable child and maternal deaths; and preventing, detecting, and responding to infectious disease threats.

In 1985, Ambassador Birx began her career with the Department of Defense (DoD) as a military-trained clinician in immunology, focusing on HIV/AIDS vaccine research. From 1985-1989, she served as an Assistant Chief of the Hospital Immunology Service at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Through her professionalism and leadership in the field, she progressed to serve as the Director of the U.S. Military HIV Research Program (USMHRP) at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research from 1996-2005. Ambassador Birx helped lead one of the most influential HIV vaccine trials in history (known as RV 144 or the Thai trial), which provided the first supporting evidence of any vaccine’s potential effectiveness in preventing HIV infection. During this time, she also rose to the rank of Colonel, bringing together the Navy, Army, and Air Force in a new model of cooperation – increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the U.S. Military’s HIV/AIDS efforts through inter- and intra-agency collaboration. Then known as Colonel Birx, she was awarded two prestigious U.S. Meritorious Service Medals and the Legion of Merit Award for her groundbreaking research, leadership, and management skills during her tenure at DOD.

From 2005-2014, Ambassador Birx served successfully as the Director of CDC’s Division of Global HIV/AIDS (DGHA), which is part of the agency’s Center for Global Health. As DGHA Director, she utilized her leadership ability, superior technical skills, and infectious passion to achieve tremendous public health impact. She successfully led the implementation of CDC’s PEPFAR programs around the world and managed an annual budget of more than $1.5 billion. Ambassador Birx was responsible for all of the agency’s global HIV/AIDS activities, including providing oversight to more than 400 staff at headquarters, over 1,500 staff in the field, and more than 45 country and regional offices in Africa, Asia, Caribbean, and Latin America. Recognized for her distinguished and dedicated commitment to building local capacity and strengthening quality laboratory health services and systems in Africa, in 2011, Ambassador Birx received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the African Society for Laboratory Medicine. In 2014, CDC honored her leadership in advancing the agency’s HIV/AIDS response with the highly prestigious William C. Watson, Jr. Medal of Excellence.

Headline performer, Kristin Chenoweth is a passionate supporter of charities that dedicate their time and efforts to helping those in need. She formed a charity partnership with the Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center (BAPAC) Foundation in her home state of Oklahoma. Chenoweth's accomplishments were honored by her hometown with BAPAC naming "The Kristin Chenoweth Theatre" in 2012. Partnering with the BAPAC in a labor of love, Kristin launched an annual Broadway Bootcamp in 2015, providing young Broadway hopefuls with the opportunity to take classes, hold performances and learn from top mentors in the entertainment industry including Kristin herself. In her lifelong mission to cultivate arts education across the globe, Chenoweth has also created “Places! The Kristin Chenoweth Tour Experience," a unique educational program for young singers that puts them right next to her performing on stage. Each concert in Chenoweth’s ongoing tour will feature local participants from higher education conservatories, universities, and colleges for the immersive educational experience.

Chenoweth recently released her latest album “For The Girls,” debuting at #3 on the Current Pop Albums chart and #11 on the Billboard Top Albums chart. The album is a heartfelt tribute to the great female singers throughout history, particularly some of Kristin’s heroes and friends. Guest artists include Ariana Grande, Dolly Parton, Jennifer Hudson and Reba McEntire. The album includes Chenoweth’s personally charged interpretations of classic songs identified with such iconic artists as Barbra Streisand, Lesley Gore, Linda Ronstadt, Dinah Washington, Dolly Parton and more.

2020 Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards Sponsors

PRODUCING: Harold Matzner, Walgreens

MAJOR: Elgart Aster & Paul Swerdlove, Desert Care Network, Desert Sun, Eisenhower Health, Grace Helen Spearman Foundation, Living Out, LULU California Bistro

STAR: Mark Adams, Steven Anders/The Elizabeth Firth Wade Endowment, Annette Bloch, Desert Oasis Healthcare, NBC Palm Springs, Saks Fifth Avenue

SUPPORTING: Blackbook, Jim Burba & Bob Hayes, Diageo, Lynn Hammond, Lauri & Charles Kibby, Neil Lane Jewelers, Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel, UC Riverside School of Medicine, Wells Fargo Foundation

BENEFACTOR: Anthem Blue Cross, Carolyn & Daniel Caldwell, Colleen Crowley & Jack Martin, Coachella Valley Health Personnel, Diageo, Freehold Communities, Gilead Sciences, Annette Guzman, Heffernan Insurance Brokers, Image360, Patrick Jordan, Kaiser Permanente Foundation, Frank Kurland, Laboratory Corporation of America, Perry McKay, Supervisor V. Manuel Perez, Revive Wellness, Ann Sheffer & Bill Scheffler, Sysco Riverside, White Cross Pharmacy

MEDIA: CV Independent, Gay Desert Guide, LOCALE Magazine, Palm Springs Life, PromoHomo.TV, Rage Monthly, The Hollywood Times, The Standard Magazine

About Desert AIDS Project

Desert AIDS Project (DAP) is a Federally Qualified Health Center in Palm Springs, CA offering DAP Total Care – a combination of medical, dental, counseling, social services, support groups, alternative therapies, in-house pharmacy and lab, and other health and wellness services.  DAP’s sexual health clinic, The DOCK, offers STI testing and treatment, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), and Free HIV and HCV testing. DAP’s Get Tested Coachella Valley campaign, the nation’s first region-wide free HIV testing and access to care initiative, was recognized by the White House for helping to bring about an AIDS-free future.  DAP has earned a “Four Star” rating from Charity Navigator for the sixth consecutive year – landing DAP in the top 6% of nonprofits rated. The distinction recognizes that we exceed industry standards in terms of our financial health, accountability, and transparency. Visit www.desertaidsproject.org, www.thedockclinic.org, and www.gettestedcoachellavalley.org to learn more.

###

Everyday Heroes Honors Individuals Who I …

by Desert AIDS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Steven Henke

[email protected]

(760) 656-8401

Everyday Heroes Honors Individuals Who Inspire

December 1st Event Marks World AIDS Day

PALM SPRINGS, CA – October 22, 2019 — Greater Palm Springs will come together on Sunday, December 1, 2019  to celebrate Desert AIDS Project’s Everyday Heroes honorees, at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. The annual event, now in its sixth year, shines a spotlight on local individuals who inspire. This year’s honorees include Molly Bondhus and Wil Stiles, Brett Klein, Fiona Foyston, and John Bingle Thompson.

Everyday Heroes was born six years ago and, since then, the annual event has sought to share the inspirational stories of local volunteers and the countless different ways people make a difference in our community, in addition to or instead of writing a check as a show of support. The work of each year’s honorees is heroic and deserves the type of recognition traditionally reserved for major philanthropy in our valley. 

Desert AIDS Project’s CEO, David Brinkman, believes “Everyday Heroes connects deeply to the humanitarian work of Desert AIDS Project because each of the honorees, in their own way, helps DAP do the work we do to remove roadblocks to human potential.”

This year’s event will honor the humanitarian legacy of Barbara Keller by introducing a Community Action Award bearing her name. The award this year will be presented to Bondhus and Stiles, and will honor a different individual’s legacy in the years that follow.

Co-chaired by Terri Ketover, Ann Sheffer, and Tom Truhe.  The event will be produced by Frank Goldstin of Momentous events and feature short films of the honorees created by Abiel Hernandez, and images of the honorees by famed photographer John Paschal.

Broadway star Davis Gaines will perform live during the show. Gaines performed the title role in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera over 2,000 times, during his run on Broadway, in Los Angeles, (where he remains LA’s longest-running Phantom), and in San Francisco, (where he received the Bay Area Critics’ Award for Best Actor). Subsequently, he was chosen by Hal Prince and Lloyd Webber to play the leading role in the World Premiere of Whistle Down the Wind. Gaines has sung for five U.S. Presidents and with every major symphony orchestra in North America, including the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl. His voice can be heard over 30 cast recordings and compilation albums, as well as two solo CDs, Against the Tide and All My Tomorrows: Songs of Sammy Cahn.

The Honorees:

Molly Bondhus and Wil Stiles recently celebrated their boutique’s 10th Anniversary by donating $500,000 worth of new fashion to Revivals Stores, to raise funds for Desert AIDS Project.  The couple has been active in volunteering and fundraising for LGBTQ and AIDS-related charities in both Minneapolis and Palm Springs for over 23 years. Past efforts included several years of coordinating fashion shows at major fundraising events for Design Industry Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA) in Minneapolis. Since the WIL STILES Store opened ten years ago, all excess inventory has been donated to Revivals Stores in support of Desert AIDS Project, as well as cruiser bicycles and gift certificates to various Palm Springs charitable auctions. Bondhus previously served on the board of AIDS Assistance Program (AAP). The couple provides direct financial support to: Sanctuary Palm Springs and NCLR, Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter, Planned Parenthood, Southern Poverty Law Center, RAICES and the Brooklyn Community Bail Fund.

Brett Klein is active in local LGBTQ, and HIV + Aging healthcare. Klein has served in many leadership and committee roles. He currently serves as President of the HIV+Aging Research Project – Palm Springs (HARP-PS), which is focused on HIV+Aging research studies to improve the lives of those living with and affected by the disease. Klein says, “I am motivated by the need to help educate the community regarding issues that are personal to me; cycling and pedestrian safety, HIV+Aging concerns, and helping nonprofits at the grassroots level.”  This year, Klein is honoring his 58th birthday by launching his AIDS/LifeCycle 2020 participation.

Fiona Foyston is a long-time volunteer at Desert AIDS Project having worked on behalf of the organization for nineteen years. In addition to DAP, Foyston volunteers her time and talent at the Palm Springs Art Museum, Palm Springs International Film Festival, Palm Springs Pride, HRC, Palm Canyon Theater and Modernism Week.  She’s also active in One-PS, representing her neighborhood of Rogers Ranch.

John Bingle Thompson is a volunteer at Revivals Palm Springs store where he has been lending his talent since 2015. He handles all of the new clothing merchandise and assists customers in styling when he’s present in the store. Thompson has been featured in magazines for his design work of his homes and consults on the layout of Revivals stores. Thompson also volunteers for Modernism Week, Palm Springs International Film Festival, American Documentary Film Festival and ShortFest.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

5:30 PM – Champagne Reception

6:30 PM – Awards Show and Entertainment

8:00 PM – After Party

2019 Everyday Heroes Sponsors

Major Sponsors
KESQ

Ann Sheffer and Bill Scheffler

Gilead

Momentous Events

LuLu California Bistro

Palm Springs Cultural Center

The Desert Sun

Event Sponsors

Contempo Lending

Grace Helen Spearman Foundation

Gay Desert Guide

CV Independent

The Standard Magazine

John Paschal Photography

Click Here to Reserve Your Tickets for Everyday Heroes

About Desert AIDS Project

Desert AIDS Project (DAP.) is a Federally Qualified Health Center in Palm Springs, CA offering DAP. Total Care – a combination of medical, dental, counseling, social services, support groups, alternative therapies, in-house pharmacy and lab, and other health and wellness services.  DAP.’s sexual health clinic, The DOCK, offers STD testing and treatment, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), and HIV and HCV testing. DAP.’s Get Tested Coachella Valley campaign, the nation’s first region-wide free HIV testing and access to care initiative, was recognized by the White House for helping to bring about an AIDS-free future.  DAP. has earned a “Four Star” rating from Charity Navigator for the sixth consecutive year – landing DAP. in the top 6% of nonprofits rated. The distinction recognizes that we exceed industry standards in terms of our financial health, accountability,  and transparency. Visit www.desertaidsproject.org, www.thedockclinic.org, and www.gettestedcoachellavalley.org to learn more.

Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards 2020

by Desert AIDS

The 26th Annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards will honor Hank Plante, Garry Kief, and Ambassador Deborah L. Birx M.D.

The Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards is attended by more than 2,000 of the Coachella Valley’s most fashionable humanitarians making red carpet arrivals and the after-party events unto themselves. This year marks the 26th year for Desert AIDS Project’s largest fundraising event which is named for one of DAP’s earliest financial supporters, the designer Steve Chase.  

Reserve Your Tickets to the Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards

Watch the NBC Palm Springs Special – Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards 2019

For 26 years, The Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards has been honoring Humanitarians from all corners of the globe. They are people who radiate compassion – who seem to have been born for a higher purpose. Their ex­ample reminds us that everyone can make a positive difference in the lives of others. Since our very beginning, over 35 years ago, DAP has listened to the community we serve and taken its lead in solving tomorrows chal­lenges. This year’s honorees share DAP’s vision of health equity and justice. They are men and women who’ve led and continue to inspire others.

Your presence at the 26th Annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards, be­yond supporting our honorees, also signals your continued support for DAP’s patients and clients. Attendees are humanitarians helping remove roadblocks to access for quality care and supportive services that allow our clients, who are your neighbors and friends, to live their fullest poten­tial. And the impact of your support is very tangible.

DAP serves 7,000 clients today. Last year alone we helped 426 clients with housing, tested 2,784 individuals for HIV, and over 1,300 for Hepatitis C. Our on-site medical teams provided 5,354 dental visits, and 7,160 be­havioral health sessions. Every month, 82 new patients walk thru the doors of DAP seeking quality and comprehensive health care. Because of YOU, those doors are always open.

2020 Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards Sponsors

PRODUCING: Harold Matzner, Walgreens

MAJOR: Elgart Aster & Paul Swerdlove, Desert Care Network, Desert Sun, Eisenhower Health, El Paseo Jewelers, Grace Helen Spearman Foundation, Living Out

STAR: Mark Adams, Steven Anders/The Elizabeth Firth Wade Endowment, Annette Bloch, Desert Oasis Healthcare, Jean-Daniel Kermelly, NBC Palm Springs, Saks Fifth Avenue

SUPPORTING: Blackbook, Jim Burba & Bob Hayes, Diageo, Lynn Hammond, Jerry Keller, Lauri & Charles Kibby, Garry Kief, Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs / GRIT Development, Neil Lane Jewelers, Edward & Marie Lewis, LULU California Bistro, Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel, UC Riverside School of Medicine, Marc Walters & Richard Cassar, Wells Fargo

BENEFACTOR: Anthem, Carolyn & Daniel Caldwell, Colleen Crowley & Jack Martin, Coachella Valley Health Personnel, Freehold Communities, Gilead Sciences, Heffernan Insurance Brokers, Image360, Patrick Jordan, Kaiser Permanente Foundation, Koffi, Frank Kurland, Laboratory Corporation of America, Perry McKay, Supervisor V. Manuel Perez, Revive Wellness, Ann Sheffer & Bill Scheffler, Sysco Riverside, White Cross Pharmacy

MEDIA: CV Independent, Gay Desert Guide, LOCALE Magazine, Palm Springs Life, PromoHomo.TV, Rage Monthly, The Hollywood Times, The Standard Magazine

Sponsorship Opportunities

Please click below to download this year’s sponsorship packet to learn more about how you can activate your companies brand at this annual event while supporting the mission of Desert AIDS Project.

Click Here to Download Sponsorship Packet

Molly Bondhus and Wil Stiles Honor Barba …

by Desert AIDS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Steven Henke

[email protected]

(760)656-8401

PALM SPRINGS, CA- September 17, 2019 – Designers and fashion boutique owners Molly Bondhus and Wil Stiles will celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the WIL STILES store with an ‘Awesome Anniversary Sale!’ exclusively at Revivals Stores (www.RevivalsStores.com). Bondhus and Stiles are donating to Revivals Stores new men’s and women’s clothing valued at over $500,000. 100% of the proceeds will directly benefit Desert AIDS Project (DAP), honoring the late Barbara Keller’s selfless dedication to the organization. Beginning October 16, 2019, customers can shop for the collection exclusively at all three Revivals Stores locations. A special preview event is planned for media and invited guests the evening of October 15, at the Palm Springs Revivals location.

Bondhus and Stiles were part-time Palm Springs residents for five years beginning in 2004 and in 2009 made the desert their official home. WIL STILES first opened its doors the morning of the 2009 Desert AIDS Walk. As Carol Channing sang with a band across the street, crowds of energetic and cheerful walkers made their way down Palm Canyon and past the new store. Simultaneously smiling and teary-eyed as they watched from the doorway of their shop, Bondhus and Stiles knew that they had made the right decision to relocate to Palm Springs. During the past ten years, the store has enjoyed tremendous community support and become a favorite of locals and tourists, alike.

Dane Koch, Director of Retail for Revivals Stores explains the impact of the donation. “Molly and Wil have supported us for many years, checking in with us regularly and reacting to our merchandise needs. We have sold thousands of dollars of their product and made a lot of shoppers happy as they have been able to buy upscale clothing at Revivals prices.  We believe this most recent gift will inspire others in the community to donate to Revivals and support the life-changing work at Desert AIDS Project.”

Desert AIDS Project lost one of its most important advocates and strong voices when Barbara Keller passed this year. Bondhus and Stiles hope to honor the legacy of Keller’s philanthropy with this special anniversary sales event. “When Wil and I were initially approached about being featured for our donations to Revivals, we hesitated.  The goal of our philanthropy is not recognition or seeing our names projected on a wall. We give and support because we believe in our community and giving back,” commented Bondhus, who went on to say, “It is up to all of us, not just the wealthiest, to do as much as we can to contribute. While direct donations get attention, the countless hard-working volunteers in the desert do the bulk of the heavy lifting to support the work of our great charitable organization.”

Bondhus and Stiles shared the impact Barbara Keller made in their lives and how she inspires them to continue giving back to the community. “For those of us who knew Barbara, her exceptional combination of intelligence, strength, and fearlessness got your attention from the moment you met her.  Combine those qualities with her innate glamour and charisma and you had the unstoppable Barbara Keller. Barbara’s commitment to social justice issues, and her ability to reach across the political spectrum to gather support for a worthy cause, was unmatched in the desert. All of us need to take Barbara’s passing as a personal call to step up and take action to improve the lives of others in our community.”

Bondhus and Stiles have been active in volunteering and fundraising for LGBTQ and AIDS-related charities in both Minneapolis and Palm Springs for over 23 years. Past efforts included several years of coordinating fashion shows at major fundraising events for Design Industry Foundation Fighting AIDS(DIFFA) in Minneapolis. Since the WIL STILES Store opened ten years ago, all excess inventory has been donated to Revivals Stores in support of Desert AIDS Project, as well as cruiser bicycles and gift certificates to various Palm Springs charitable auctions. Bondhus previously served on the board of AIDS Assistance Program(AAP). The couple provides direct financial support to: Sanctuary Palm Springs and NCLR, Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter, Planned Parenthood, Southern Poverty Law Center, RAICES and the Brooklyn Community Bail Fund.

About Revivals Stores and Desert AIDS Project

(Revivals Stores) Greater Palm Springs residents know and love Revivals Stores and have voted it as Best Resale \ Thrift \ Furniture \ Consignment\ or Vintage Clothing Store in four local reader contests this year.   Revivals Stores won Best Furniture Store and Best Consignment / Resale Store in Desert Sun’s 2019 Ultimate Pride Contest, Best Consignment / Resale Store in Desert Magazine’s 2019 Best of the Valley, Best Thrift Store in CV Independents 2019 Best of Coachella Valley Contest, Best Thrift Store in GED Magazines 2019 Out Awards Contest, and Best Consignment / Best Thrift Store and Best Vintage Clothing Store in Palm Springs Life’s 2018 Best of the Best Contest. 

Revivals Stores are reinventing today’s thrift store experience, offering selections of new furniture and accessories under their owned brand, Mode at Revivals while featuring national brands such as Scott Living and Ashley Furniture at affordable price-points. Shoppers at Revivals can choose from brand new furniture and accessories while mixing their new style with thrift store finds from the decade of their choice.

Revivals has three locations: Palm Springs, Cathedral City, and Palm Desert.  The stores are staffed by 180 volunteers who support the mission of Desert AIDS Project (DAP), enabling Revivals to make an annual $1 million contribution to DAP. DAP has earned a national reputation as one of the most comprehensive HIV/AIDS service providers in the United States. 

Revivals employees and dedicated volunteers create a unique retail experience for the 29,000 people who shop the stores each month looking for a unique thrift store find while shopping brand new furniture and accessories. “There’s an excitement in our stores that you don’t feel at traditional retailers.  Part of that is the thrill of the hunt, but there’s something else happening and I think that is connection to community.  Our volunteers have created a unique community of neighbors helping neighbors inside Revivals three store locations.  They know we are selling product with a purpose,” says Director of Community Development, Steven Henke.

Visit revivalsstores.com and desertaidsproject.org to learn more.

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