The Auen Foundation partners with many organizations year-round. Find out about our recently funded projects. For other news items, please visit our News Archive page.
Auen Foundation grants will help students in financial “gap”
While college is an exciting time for many students, others have the stressful reality of financing their education to support their dreams. Two grants from the Auen Foundation aim to alleviate that burden for some local college students caught in what is termed a “gap.” This is where many students fall when they don’t qualify for state and federal need-based aid, but have difficulty paying for college expenses, particularly when unforeseen circumstances arise.
“Many students are above the income threshold, but are still struggling to pay for school and the cost of living,” said Peter Sturgeon, with the College of the Desert (COD) Foundation, which received a $50,000 grant to assist students in its rigorous nursing program. “This is especially difficult for those people supporting more than just themselves. Many of our nursing students are single parents and veterans, looking to improve their lives and the financial security of their families.”
“These funds will help students who are probably already making sacrifices and facing challenges to attend university,” said Dr. Sharon Brown-Welty, Dean of California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) Palm Desert Campus, which received a $50,000 grant earmarked for emergency assistance for qualifying students.
As students apply for these emergency grants, CSUSB Palm Desert Campus administrators plan to collect additional data to determine consistent obstacles that impede on college students’ successes. It is already known that the college attainment rate in the Coachella Valley is less than 30 percent for all adults, and only 12 percent for Hispanic adults, which make up 40 percent of the community. Understanding how to attract and support additional students is a component of how the Auen Foundation gift will further assist CSUSB Palm Desert Campus.
“The Auen Foundation believes in the importance of higher education in our community, and we continually look for ways to partner with our local colleges and universities,” said Catharine Reed, Senior Program Officer of the Auen Foundation. “A college education is becoming increasingly critical for job security, and we want to support those students in our area who are making a commitment to achieve that goal.”
Each institution has its own application process to qualify students for grants between $1,500-$2,500 per calendar year to support immediate and short-term challenges that hinder individual success. Funding is allocated on a case-by-case basis, but possible uses may include textbook and other course supplies, short-term transportation needs, support for household basics in extraordinary circumstances, or temporary childcare resources.
“An incredible 60 percent of our students qualify for maximum federal and state financial aid, and 36 percent of our students live at or below the poverty line. For students scraping to assure they are in college, the expenses of books and even food and transportation can be additional barriers we are working to overcome by establishing this program through the generous support of the Auen Foundation,” said Dr. Brown-Welty.
Support of higher education, particularly in fields related to medicine and services aimed at meeting the needs of mature adults and their families, aligns with the Auen Foundation’s mission to enhance the quality of life for the aging population.
For more information about these emergency scholarships contact the independent institutions. CSUSB Palm Desert Campus is located at 37500 Cook Street, Palm Desert; visit www.pdc.csusb.edu or call (760) 341‑2883. For College of the Desert, located at 43–500 Monterey Ave, Palm Desert, visit: www.collegeofthedesert.edu or call (760) 346‑8041. D
Auen Foundation sponsors two guide dog puppies in training
Representatives of the Auen Foundation recently met two puppies they are sponsoring for guide dog training at Guide Dogs of the Desert. Sherrie Auen, Program Director, and Catharine Reed, Senior Program Officer, named the standard poodles Katie and Sandy after family members.
“It was great to meet these puppies, which will be trained to make an important impact in two people’s lives,” said Reed. “These lovable puppies have no idea how important that are.”
The puppies will first be raised by a foster family until they are 18–20 months old, and then they will live and train at the facility in Whitewater where they will participate in a rigorous 4–6 month training. If the dogs complete the program and reach graduation, each will be placed with a person who is visually impaired. Together this new team will train further at the organization’s live-in facility for 28 days in order for the dog to help provide its new owner safe mobility, companionship and independence.
Since 1972, Guide Dogs of the Desert has graduated more than 1,375 teams from its program, all accredited by the International Guide Dog Federation. The organization breeds and has relationships with breeders of Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Standard Poodles, and some German Shepherds.
“By carefully maintaining a specific pedigree, we increase our success of graduating highly qualified dogs that can truly enhance a person’s life,” said Sarah Clapp, Executive Director of Guide Dogs of the Desert.
“It was wonderful to see how these puppies are cared for and trained in a very specific way that has a high success rate,” said Auen. “We are looking forward to coming back to watch our Katie and Sandy graduate with their owners and see them off to a life of service that only these specially-trained dogs can provide. It’s all very heartwarming, and we are happy to be a part of this process.”
Guide Dogs of the Desert is located at 60735 Dillon Road, Whitewater. For more information visit guidedogsofthedesert.org or call (760) 329‑6257.
Coachella Valley Horse Rescue receives relief for summer camp
Coachella Valley Horse Rescue was thrilled when two air conditioning units were donated to the nonprofit organization by Tarkett, based in Solon, Ohio. The AC units were installed in the ranch’s clubhouse, where the nonprofit teaches kids 7–18 years-old equine education during summer camp. However, after the AC units were installed, organization representatives – which spend all year rescuing, rehabilitating and finding loving homes for neglected and abused horses – were faced with the reality that they needed to upgrade the facility in order to efficiently cool the clubhouse, even with the new AC units. The organization appealed to its supporters, who contacted the Auen Foundation.
“We never want to be a rescue facility that needs to be rescued,” said David DiMeno, President of Coachella Valley Horse Rescue and Coachella Valley Mounted Rangers. “The Auen Foundation helped make this possible. Now we can start summer camp with a cool clubhouse and then use it all year long as we continue to educate the community.”
The Auen Foundation provided a grant to insulate a portion of the clubhouse, add an interior wall, install a sliding glass door, drop a portion of the ceiling and redo lighting within the lower ceiling. All of the upgrades – to increase the facility’s maximum cooling potential – were managed by Superior Heating and Air Conditioning.
“Often, projects are best accomplished through a partnership,” said Catharine Reed, Senior Program Officer for the Auen Foundation. “Coachella Valley Horse Rescue found that an air conditioner donation was not enough. They discovered they also needed additional upgrades in order for the AC units to run most efficiently. We are happy we could help this organization that helps many animals and people in a number of ways.”
The primary mission of Coachella Valley Horse Rescue is to rescue and care for abused and neglected horses and find them safe homes. In addition, the organization partners with other nonprofit organizations throughout the Coachella Valley to educate children and adults about animal cruelty and equine education.
Beginning June 12, Coachella Valley Horse Rescue is offering three 3-day summer camp sessions. Campers learn to ride and care for horses daily from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. at the organization’s 8-acre facility in Indio. And, now, classroom time will be especially cool – thanks to the grant from the Auen Foundation.
For more information about Coachella Valley Horse Rescue or the summer camp call 760–808-6279 or go to cvhorserescue.org, or email the summer camp director at rescuedirector@cvhorserescue.org.
Foundation continues support of AAP food voucher program
AAP — Food Samaritans (AAP) announced today that the Auen Foundation recently awarded a $25,000 grant to the organization to support its food voucher program for low-income Coachella Valley residents who suffer from HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses. This is the 18th consecutive year that the Auen Foundation has supported this program.
“We are impressed by the AAP – Food Samaritans recent expansion of its mission,” said Catharine Reed, Senior Program Officer for the Auen Foundation. “For more than 26 years, this organization has offered nutritional support to Coachella Valley residents that need it the most. Originally, AAP was focused on serving people living with HIV/AIDS, but they recently expanded their mission to include people living with other chronic illnesses. We applaud this expansion and outreach to some of our community’s most vulnerable residents.”
AAP – Food Samaritans was founded in 1991 to help the most at-risk members of the Greater Palm Springs community – people who are low-income and compromised by HIV/AIDS. It recently expanded its services to include people suffering from cancer, MS, heart or liver disease, and other chronic illnesses. Its ongoing mission is to ensure that all AAP clients can continue to live their lives with dignity and self-respect.
“I’m pleased that AAP – Food Samaritans has had such a beneficial and long-standing relationship with the Auen Foundation,” said Mark Anton, CEO and Executive Director of AAP. “Their ongoing support of AAP has played a vital role in ensuring that we continue to fulfill our mission of providing monthly nutritional support to low income Coachella Valley residents who live with chronic illness. AAP does not receive federal or state financial assistance, so generous private donations like this allow us to continue to support the people who need it most.”
Auen Foundation grant assists CSUSB Palm Desert Campus students
The Auen Foundation awarded California State University, San Bernardino Palm Desert Campus with emergency and gap funding for students who qualify. The $50,000 grant was presented to CSUSB Palm Desert Campus to create a needs-based, financial support system for current students enrolled in the region’s only four-year public university. “These funds will help students who are probably already making sacrifices and facing challenges to attend university,” said Dr. Sharon Brown-Welty, Dean of CSUSB Palm Desert Campus. “An incredible 60 percent of our students qualify for maximum federal and state financial aid, and 36 percent of our students live at or below the poverty line. For those students scraping to assure they are in college, the expenses of books and even food and transportation can be additional barriers we are working to overcome by establishing this program through the generous support of the Auen Foundation.” Through an application and interview process, students are provided with grants of up to $1,500 per calendar year to support immediate and short-term challenges that hinder individual success. Funding will be allocated on a case-by-case basis, but possible uses may include book and class material expenses, short-term transportation needs, support for household basics in extraordinary circumstances, or temporary childcare resources. As students apply for these emergency grants, CSUSB Palm Desert Campus administrators plan to collect additional data to determine consistent obstacles that impede on college students’ successes. It is already known that the college attainment rate in the Coachella Valley is less than 30 percent for all adults, and only 12 percent for Hispanic adults, which make up 40 percent of the community. Understanding how to attract and support additional students in secondary education is a component of how the Auen Foundation gift will further assist CSUSB Palm Desert Campus. “The Auen Foundation believes in the importance of higher education in our community, and we have been supporting Cal State San Bernardino’s Palm Desert Campus and its students since we moved here,” said Catharine Reed, Senior Program Officer of the Auen Foundation. “Secondary education is becoming increasingly critical for job security, and we want to support those students in our area who are making a commitment to achieve that goal.” CSUSB Palm Desert Campus is located at 37500 Cook Street, Palm Desert. For more information visit www.pdc.csusb.edu or call (760) 341‑2883.
Construction begins on the Kenneth P. Miles Hangar
Representatives from the Auen Foundation joined many other Palm Springs Air Museum donors as construction on the organization’s fourth hanger began. Three years in the making, the Kenneth P. Miles Korean and Vietnam War Hangar will house vintage aircraft and artifacts from the Vietnam, Korean and Cold War eras as well as a POW/MIA display.
As a vintage T-28 amazed the crowd of about 100 with a fly over, Karen Miles, widow of the late Major General Ken Miles, a loyal supporter of the museum, led the beam-signing event. Other donors and beam signers in attendance included Lew and Dorothy Webb, Robert Webb, Fritz Frauchiger, Monte Marts, and Rhonda Smith. Palm Springs Air Museum Board members attending included Fred Bell, Robert Borns, Bill Bramer, Dan Gilbertson, Jim Houston, Bill Hughes, and Dr. Dave Thompson as well as museum staff, volunteers, and various community supporters. Comments were made by Bell, Gilbertson, Miles, Toni Aguillar for Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz’s office and Rita Massie for Supervisor John Benoit’s office. All guests attended a catered lunch by Carousel in the Pacific Hanger after the signing ceremony.
General visitors to the museum were also offered an opportunity to sign the hanger beam throughout the day. The following day, the beam was raised into position. The $2.25 million, 20,000 square foot hangar is 2–3 months away from completion thanks to generous support of many additional community donors including the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation, the Auen Foundation, Toyota Motor Sales of North America, Mona and Ed Sher, Harold Matzner, Jolinda Parker, Phil Hixon and many others.
The Palm Springs Air Museum is located at 745 N. Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs. The museum is open to the public daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. The nonprofit organization’s next fundraising event is the Palm Springs Air Museum’s 20th Anniversary Gala on Friday, February 17. For more information, visit palmspringsairmuseum.org or call 760–778-6262.
Grant supports expanded neurological services
The Neuro Vitality Center is expanding its facilities and its services, thanks, in part, to a grant from the Auen Foundation. The family foundation, which primarily supports charitable programs and services aimed at meeting the social needs of mature adults and their families, presented the nonprofit organizaiton with a $30,000 grant to help open the Luhr & Clarise Jensen Exercise Therapy Facility. This additional building will increase the Neuro Vitality Center’s space by 3,000 square feet, and allow the Center to offer more comprehensive services to people with stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and other neurological diagnoses.
“Support from the Auen Foundation and others are providing us with an opportunity to expand and offer more neurological services in a single setting,” said Beverly Greer, Neuro Vitality Center CEO. “Thanks to the generosity of individual donations and grant contributions, we are able to continue providing patients with exercise and therapy programs even after their insurance is exhausted. Avoiding gaps in service reduces many patient’s recovery times and improves their quality of life.”
For more than 35 years, the Neuro Vitality Center, formerly the Stroke Recovery Center, has offered recreation, speech and exercise therapy to help stroke and TBI victims regain independence and improve their quality of life. In recent years, the Center has also offered services to patients with Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease. Therapeutic rehabilitation programs address the physical, psychological, emotional and re-socialization needs of people with many forms of neurological issues. Services at the center also extend to these patients’ families, who often seek counseling, caregiving skills and other resources.
“The Neuro Vitality Center helps survivors of dibilitating injuries and diseases regain and maintain skills. These valuable services impact people’s lives by not only increasing their abilities but also building confidence levels, which is a benefit that cannot be measured,” said Catharine Reed, Senior Program Officer of the Auen Foundation.
The Neuro Vitality Center, is still located at 2800 East Alejo Road, Palm Springs. For more information about the center, call 760–323-7676 or visit www.NeuroVitalityCenter.org.
Foundation gift will add large print books to library shelves
A $25,000 grant from the Auen Foundation will add more large print books to the Rancho Mirage Public Library’s permanent collection. The gift was recently presented to the Rancho Mirage Public Library Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports the award-winning, independent City-managed library and its programs.
“We are delighted that the Auen Foundation chose to support the Rancho Mirage Public Library Foundation,” said Diane Sagan, the organization’s chairperson. “This generous gift will help the Rancho Mirage Public Library maintain excellence in collections, services and programs.”
“Large print books keep our community’s seniors reading, even when they experience changes in their vision,” said Sherrie Auen, Program Director for the Auen Foundation. “No one should be denied the opportunity to read. It’s a part of lifelong learning that so many people enjoy.”
Now celebrating the library’s 20th anniversary, the Rancho Mirage Public Library has been recognized as one of the busiest and most admired libraries of its size in California. The library offers print publications for all ages, multimedia selections, access to technology. Plus, entertainment and cultural enrichment programs are part of the library’s regular schedule.
“The Rancho Mirage Public Library was built on community partnerships, and we are happy to be a part of what makes this a fine community asset,” said Catharine Reed, senior program officer for the Auen Foundation.
The library has started purchasing and processing a collection that will include at least 1,500 new large print books with the Auen Foundation funding. In recent years, publishers have been actively producing more large print books in paperback. This lighter, easy-to-read format, improves the reading experience for those needing this type of assistance to maintain the pleasure of reading.
“This is a tremendous gift that will have long term impact on the availability of large print books for our patrons who keep reading because of their comfort with this format,” said David Bryant, library director. “Each book we add will have a bookplate, noting that the volume is available because of the generosity of the Auen Foundation.”
All of the new large print books will be available for checkout with a Rancho Mirage Public Library card. California residents with a valid ID can receive a card through an easy registration process. Seasonal residents, showing proof of a Rancho Mirage address, will also be issued a free card. Out-of-state visitors are charged a modest card fee. The library is eager to serve the entire Coachella Valley and beyond.
The Rancho Mirage Public Library is located at 71–100 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage. For more information, go to www.ranchomiragelibrary.org or call 760–341-7323.
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Auen Foundation closes the gap on CVRM summer challenge
The Coachella Valley Rescue Mission met its first summer fundraising goal, thanks, in part, to a grant from the Auen Foundation. At the beginning of the summer, the CVRM began an e-blast campaign titled “Open Your Heart 97 Day Challenge.” The intent was to raise awareness of the scorching summer months that threaten most of the Valley’s homeless and many impoverished families.
After the mission distributed the first email about this community challenge, an anonymous donor came forward with its own challenge: if the CVRM raised $25,000, they would match it, which would quickly raise $50,000 for the shelter. Additional donors met the challenge up to $10,000, and then the e-mail message caught the attention of Catharine Reed, Senior Program Officer for the Auen Foundation. The private, family foundation agreed to contribute the remaining $15,000 that completed the matching challenge and helped the CVRM prepare for the hot summer months ahead.
“Each summer, the mission faces challenges that come with extreme heat,” said Darla Burkett, Executive Director of the CVRM. “A conversation with Catharine about the e-blast and the matching grant brought compassion and a strong offer of help. CVRM and the community we serve are sincerely grateful for the generosity of the Auen Foundation and the other donors that contributed to this successful fundraising campaign.”
During the first two months of summer, funds raised by the $50,000 challenge provided more than 46,000 meals, 15,250 bed nights of shelter, and kept 26 homeless children off the streets.
“We love an opportunity to partner with other donors and make a significant impact quickly,” said Reed.
As Summer 2016 hit record temperatures and representatives from the CVRM went out in the community looking for men, women and children still on the streets, they continued the “Open Your Heart 97 Day Challenge” through August.
“Unfortunately, there is always a need to serve our community’s homeless, said Burkett. “We may help one family off the streets just as another is faced with unforeseen circumstances. In the summer, community needs and costs are greatly increased, yet donations generally decrease, so we have to make an extra effort this time of year to ensure that our organization continues to fulfill its mission of serving those in need.”
Founded in 1971, and located at 47470 Van Buren St. in Indio, the CVRM feeds, shelters, and cares for more than 250 clients each night. A 24-hour hot and cold weather shelter, provides refuge from extreme weather conditions. To find out more about the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, call 760–347-3512 or visit www.cvrm.org.
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Grant Supports Dental Health for People Living with HIV/AIDS
Desert AIDS Project (D.A.P.) received a $25,000 grant from the Auen Foundation to provide dental care to low-income seniors living with HIV/AIDS. The Auen Foundation grant was awarded to D.A.P.’s Dental Clinic. Founded in 2008, the clinic has had an ongoing waiting list, and serves patients living at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty level.
“Most patients come to us after years and years without dental care and require intensive treatment plans requiring many visits to achieve stable oral health,” said David Brinkman, CEO of D.A.P. “Although we recently added staff to better accommodate our long waiting list, we were still in need of supplies. The grant from the Auen Foundation will support this, and help us complete complex dental plans for our local residents in need in a timely manner.”
Last fall, D.A.P.’s Dental Clinic added a second full-time dentist. With 1.2 FTE hygienists and support staff, the clinic has already served 736 individuals this year putting the clinic on track to provide dental care to a record number of patients in 2016.
“D.A.P. is providing a critical service that is not easily found,” said Catharine Reed, Program Director for the Auen Foundation, which is dedicated to enhancing the overall quality of life of the aging population. “Many survivors of HIV are now in their senior years, on a limited income, and many do not have dental insurance. D.A.P.’s Dental Clinic will help these survivors maintain good oral health, which is necessary for their long-term health.”
About 60 percent of the clients seen at D.A.P.’s Dental Clinic are at least 50-years-old, and most of them are long-time survivors who have battled HIV/AIDS for more than 20 years. The extended life expectancy for HIV/AIDS has brought about a challenge for those aging with the condition. Older people and those diagnosed in late stages need a much higher degree of care.
D.A.P. serves our community with primary and HIV-specialty services, including medical care, case management, and social services, including food, housing, and counseling. D.A.P. also provides HIV prevention education and free and confidential HIV testing at dozens of community test sites and events through its Get Tested Coachella Valley campaign. The nonprofit also offers The DOCK, a sexual health clinic, whose services include STD testing and treatment; PEP & PrEP education and referral to treatment; free and confidential HIV testing; and well woman exams. With new advances in treatment, improved access to care through health reform and new prevention technology, D.A.P. is committed to bringing the HIV epidemic to an end. For more information about any of D.A.P.’s services, call 760–323-2118, visit www.desertaidsproject.org.
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