Madeline Zuckerman
| Special to The Desert Sun
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Desert Arc hosted its 15th annual golf classic fundraiser at the Eagle Falls Golf Course at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio. A full flight of golfers and 180 dinner guests came out to support this charitable human social services organization, which has championed the rights of people with disabilities since 1959.
Serving 700 adults, Desert Arc offers programs designed to give each individual a safe and supportive person-centric resource base to reach their highest potential to live, work and socialize in the community.
“To quote famous golfer Arnold Palmer, ‘Always make a total effort, even when the odds are against you,'” said Desert Arc board chair Doug Watson. “Desert Arc is celebrating 66 years of turning disability into ability in fulfillment of our mission and service to adults with disabilities who benefit from our programs.”
“It was my honor again to chair this annual golf classic fundraiser to benefit the many outstanding programs offered by Desert Arc, which are not funded by the state of California,” said Nancy Singer, event chair and secretary of the Desert Arc board of directors. “We are grateful for the support of the community as well as staff members as we continually strive to enhance the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Chef Freddy once again prepared an amazing barbecue lunch and buffet awards banquet for all guests to enjoy. A special thank you goes to the companies who donated the many incredible raffle prizes.”
Co-emceed by Jay Chesterton, Fantasy Springs interim general manager and former Desert Arc board member, and Brooke Beare, Emmy Award-winning journalist and vice chair of the Desert Arc board, the event featured a scrumptious lunch, followed by a shotgun scramble, cocktail reception and golf awards banquet dinner.
During the awards program, a special champagne toast was made in honor of Richard Balocco, who is retiring from Desert Arc after serving as its president and CEO for almost 18 years.
The coveted golf awards went to Rivco Mechanical (first place team), Richard Balocco (second place team), Cathy Condon (women’s closest to the pin), Nick Prudhomme (men’s closest to the pin), Wendy Beerbower (women’s longest drive) and Nick Prudhomme (men’s longest drive).
Raffle prizes included two VIP passes to the 2025 Coachella music festival, two VIP passes to the 2025 Stagecoach music festival, four tickets to a CV Firebirds Game at Acrisure Arena, two electric bikes donated by Hot Purple Energy, dinner for four at The Bistro at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, golf for four at Eagle Falls Golf Course, an autographed Eagles band photo, a signed golf lithograph by Sam Sneed, two cases of wine from Bello Winery and $500 worth of gift cards for Dining in the Desert.
Event sponsors included Hot Purple Energy, the Beneto Foundation, Decorators Depot, SA Recycling, H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation, Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Nancy Singer, Balocco, Banc of California, Burrtec, Charles Schwab, Eisenhower Health and Strategy/Innovation Co.
Media Sponsors included Desert Sun & LocaliQ, KESQ News Channel 3, Alpha Media Palm Springs and Desert Golf & Tennis magazine.
To learn more about Desert Arc or to make a donation, call 760-404-1368 or visit desertarc.org.
Madeline Zuckerman is owner of M. Zuckerman Marketing & Public Relations Inc., a strategic marketing, branding, public relations and special events firm with offices in Rancho Mirage and Newport Beach, Calif. She is a founder of McCallum Theatre, a board member of the One Valley Foundation, the official nonprofit of the Coachella Valley Firebirds and has been a guest reporter with The Desert Sun for the past 17 years.
