Cortney joins the DAP Health family having had a very specific connection to the early days of the organization, when it was still known as Desert AIDS Project.

Moving to Palm Desert as a teen in 1984, Cortney and her roommate lived in a 10-unit apartment complex where they were the only two women among nine gay male couples of various ages. When those new friends soon became ill with HIV and AIDS, Cortney and Elizabeth provided care and support to them, often driving them to their appointments at DAP. For her, coming to DAP Health in November 2022 was like coming home.

A true California girl, Cortney spent the first half of her life in the San Francisco Bay Area. She moved to the Coachella Valley for the second time in her late 20s. When her youngest son was diagnosed with autism in 1996, Cortney joined a group of other concerned parents to form a local chapter of the National Autism Society in order to better serve the desert community. Thus her love for philanthropy and mission delivery was born.

Cortney has since gained experience working for various national mission-driven organizations, such as the American Heart Association, Best Buddies International (where she was the director of development for 11 states coast to coast), and the Arthritis Foundation (where she served as executive director for six years right here in the Coachella Valley).  Cortney’s most recent venture was as regional director for the California Southland Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, where she worked for nearly six years.

On her successful professional life in non-profit and new role with DAP Health, Cortney reflects, “Knowing that every day I am working to move an important mission forward has been the hallmark of my career. And there is no more compelling and important mission than that of DAP Health and the people and communities we serve. I am so honored to be part of this team.”

Today, Cortney lives in La Quinta with her husband of 34 years, John, and their two rescue dogs, Butler and Maggie, as well as an assortment of rescue cats. She enjoys traveling, reading, movies, outdoor activities, and spending family time with John and her two adult sons, Tucker and Harley.