Looking back at Impact Grants in 2025
COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) - News Channel 3 and the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation presented Impact Grants to several Valley nonprofits in 2025, working to improve lives and help those in need.
At the beginning of the year, a $50,000 charitable gift was awarded to Coachella Valley Rescue Mission. The Impact Grant was used throughout the year to provide food, shelter, and programs for more than 100 seniors, one of the fastest-growing segments of the Valley's homeless population. And that includes people like Ernest Gonzales from Indio. "I had no way out. Nowhere to go. And I felt like God led me here, pushed me towards this place. And I'm just so honored to be here," he said.
In the spring, a surprise gift of $30,000 was presented to Big Hearts for Little Hearts Desert Guild, which is dedicated to supporting Loma Linda University Children's Hospital. Cancer remains the leading cause of death from diseases among children and teens. Each year, more than 2,200 children from the Coachella Valley, including James Crieglow, receive treatment at Loma Linda. "They not only provide the treatment and care for him, but they also provide support to the families. Everything from the medications, the operations, the countless clinic visits and stuff, but they help with travel costs as well," Jameson's father Jeff said. Jameson is now doing much better, and in good spirits as he continues his recovery.
A $5,000 charitable gift was awarded to 29-PSP, which provides complimentary transportation for active-duty military members and their loved ones between Twentynine Palms and the Palm Springs and Ontario airports. The Impact Grant helped the nonprofit with insurance costs to rent 15 passenger vans for shuttle service. 29-PSP has provided nearly 1,500 rides to military personnel and their families, an increase of 35 percent from last year.
In the summer, Songshine Foundation in Palm Desert received a $10,000 Impact Grant to help with its ongoing program support and long-term sustainability. The nonprofit provides a music-based arts in healthcare program for those with Parkinson's, stroke, or other neurological challenges. It's fantastic, because I can tell a huge difference. When I don't sing, my voice gets very quiet and people have a hard time hearing me. But when I sing, my voice gets stronger and it's great. It's made a big difference," student Pamela Alms said.
The Soroptimist House of Hope received a $50,000 charitable gift. The residential addiction program in Desert Hot Springs is helping women to establish and maintain sober and healthy lives. The Impact Grant contributed to the nonprofit's capital campaign to transform its new ranch into a 14-bed residential facility.
And finally this year, Variety Children's Charity of the Desert received a $40,000 Impact Grant to support satellite offices in Mecca and Desert Hot Springs to bring services directly to these communities.
So add everything up: This year, Impact Grants totaling more than $186,000 were presented to six Valley nonprofits. The grants are awarded on the concept that through service, funding, and awareness we are making a difference together. And in 2026, Impact Grants will continue to improve lives and help those in need!
