Happy New Year to All Our Supporters and Sponsers

We are so proud to have completed over 1100 mammograms in 2011 and we are looking forward to doing another 13 free clinics in 2012.  We need your support now more than ever.  Old members, please continue sending us your annual contribution and those of you who contribute annually to our program, remember us this year as well.  We know that times are hard but unfortunately that correlates with an ever-increasing need for our services—more unemployed and more women and their families without insurance.  Most women would rather buy food and clothing for their family than take care of themselves—they sometimes make deadly decisions and we’re here to help them with that.  Let’s not let one Coachella Valley woman die unnecessarily in 2012—let’s make sure all women get an annual mammogram.

RANCHO MIRAGE GRANT

We asked for $25,000 but there were so many other organizations asking that we weren’t able to get any money from Rancho Mirage this year.  City Counsel person Iris Smotrich thought we were overlooked and personally gave us her check for three mammograms—she is one of our first 2012 Bosom Buddies times three and now a great supporter of our program.
She told me that DWE should apply again next year—she would put in a good word for our organization. We will apply and hopefully we will not be overlooked again next year. Ironically, one of the women presenting with breast cancer symptoms at our December clinic was a Rancho Mirage resident. 

COACHELLA VALLEY SPOTLIGHT AND THE BERGER FOUNDATION

Rah, rah, rah---We Care has been chosen to be the October 2012 (Breast Cancer Awareness Month) charitable organization to be featured on Channel 2’s Coachella Valley Spotlight and to receive a $25,000 grant from the Berger Foundation.
Channel 2 will do 4 spots on our organization with a focus on the volunteerism that makes us able to function so successfully.  I added it up and our volunteers and Board donate at least $125,000 a year in services if not significantly more. 

^to top

From answering the telephones, making appointments, sending women for urgent care, attending clinics, doing our monthly financials, creating our graphics and maintaining our website, writing grants, checking out sites for clinic, following up with women who have positive mammograms, maintaining our office, coordinating our volunteers, etc., etc. to just caring, we have the best volunteer force in this valley and elsewhere. 
The entire Coachella Valley community owes a thanks to members of the LGBT community and other folks who have stepped up to the plate and are simply helping our women survive this tragic time in our economic history.

December 2011 Donations

Jacqueline Castle, a supporter for so many years, surprised us with almost a full clinic’s donation and told us that we are the one and only organization that she has contributed to twice—we are so fortunate to have you Jacaqueline and so are the women of our Valley.
And thanks to everyone one else who remembered us in December 2011 including Mayor Steve Poignet.  We’ll be sending out personal thank you’s to all of you.

Gift From Desert Healthcare District

Who ever heard of a grantor giving a holiday gift to one of its charities?  Not me.  But now I have---Desert Healthcare District gave us a surprise $1,000 gift as a thank you for doing such great work.  We have always wanted our volunteers to have identifiable vests to wear on clinic days but we hated to spend any money on the vest.  We used some of our gift for them and also have extra money to do our 2012 brochures with the leftovers going for mammograms.
Thank you so much DHCD, Donna Craig, Chief Grant Officer and Kathy Greco, Chief Executive Officer and the entire Board and staff of the District.  I met with Donna and Kathy and we may have some surprises for all of you in 2012—some additional partnerships that will serve more underserved women in our Valley.

Until next time,
Barbara

Tax Deductible Donations

Send your checks to:
Desert Women for Equality
555 S. Sunrise Way, Suite 209
Palm Springs, CA 92264.
Every dollar counts!

________________________________

Membership Questions? Want to Join Our Committee? Contact Us

________________________________

Make a donation using paypal

________________________________

________________________________