Celebrated photographer Michael Childers and Palm Springs Life Society Editor Gloria Greer are among the six honorees for the ninth annual National Philanthropy Day awards luncheon on Nov. 18 at the Agua Caliente Casino Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage.
Greer recently detailed her experiences of fighting stage 3 esophageal cancer in the Palm Springs Life publication, Vitality. Childers, who made his career shooting celebrity portraits, completed his tenth run of the musical production, One Night Only in April at the McCallum Theatre to benefit Jewish Family Services. Greer will be honored as Outstanding Founder of a Coachella Valley NonProfit, while Childers is being singled out as Outstanding Fundraising Volunteer.
The rest of the honorees include: Jan Hawkins, Outstanding AFP Fundraising Professional; JoAnn McGrath, Outstanding Philanthropist; Eisenhower Medical Center, Outstanding Philanthropic Corporation, and The Community Foundation for Outstanding Philanthropic Foundation.
The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Desert Communities Chapter celebrate those people active in the Coachella Valley philanthropic community who give generously of their time, talents, financial support, and exemplary skills on National Philanthropy Day (NPD).
The top candidates were culled down from 39 nominations and sent to the top candidates for awards to the Blue Ribbon Committee, according to Liz Chambers, Awards Committee Chair for the past two years. In addition, a Gold Ribbon Committee comprised of Past Fundraising Professional honorees selected three candidates to present to the Chapter membership to choose by vote. In the Committee’s opinion, all of this year’s nominees deserve to be recognized, therefore, awardees and nominees, along with their nominators will be recognized by the AFP Desert Communities Chapter at a reception on Oct. 20, Chambers says.
“The AFP, CA., Desert Communities Chapter and the National Philanthropy Day Steering Committee wish to thank the Blue Ribbon Committee members who volunteered their time to select among this year’s truly laudable nominations,” says NPD Co-chair Andrea Spirtos. “Personally, I am humbled by the magnificent commitment of all the nominees."
Now celebrating its 55th anniversary, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) is an international association of professionals responsible for generating philanthropic support for a wide variety of charitable organizations. National Philanthropy Day was founded and organized by Douglas Freeman in the 1980s, and the first official events were held in 1986 after President Ronald Reagan signed the official NPD proclamation.
Harold Matzner, notable Coachella Valley philanthropist and owner of Spencer’s Restaurant, will serve as this year’s Honorary Chair of National Philanthropy Day. Patrick Evans of CBS Local 2 TV will be Master of Ceremonies. Online registration is underway. The early bird ticket price is $75 per person. After Nov. 1, tickets will be $ 90 per person.
Visit www.afpcadesert.org for tickets and event information, or contact AFP Administrator Scott Evans at 760-449-1971.