Coachella Valley Spotlight reaches $2 million milestone
After awarding local nonprofit organizations $25,000 each month for nearly seven years, this month’s grant will bring the total of Coachella Valley Spotlight gifts to $2 million. The award is presented to organizations serving the needs of local residents through a partnership of the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation and CBS Local 2.
The $2 million milestone will be marked with an on-stage celebration at the Palm Desert High School Theater on September 22, at 6:50 p.m. as the 80th Coachella Valley Spotlight grant is presented to the Palm Desert High School Foundation. Representatives from all organizations that have previously received the Coachella Valley Spotlight will join the presentation, which will be broadcast live on CBS Local 2.
“When we started the Coachella Valley Spotlight program with CBS Local 2, we didn’t know how long it would last or how far reaching it would be,” said Ronald Auen, President of the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation. “Through this partnership, we have presented 80 grants to 80 diverse organizations, and after receiving nearly 100 applications last year, we know there is more to give. The Coachella Valley Spotlight not only supports these nonprofits financially, but the stories about their good work heightens awareness of them, which perpetuates more giving and often a surge of new volunteers.”
In addition to the $25,000 grant from the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation, beneficiaries of the Coachella Valley Spotlight are featured throughout a predetermined month on Eye on the Desert.
Since its inception, the Coachella Valley Spotlight has been awarded to a different 501(c)3 nonprofit each month. Past recipients of the Coachella Valley Spotlight include organizations that support children, seniors, veterans, the homeless, uninsured and underinsured residents, people living with debilitating medical conditions, animals, education, the arts, and more.
“Each year, it is interesting to review the applications and see the services in our community – each of them fulfilling real needs,” said Mike Stutz, General Manager of Gulf California Broadcast Company, which owns and operates CBS Local 2. “We are proud that our partnership with the Berger Foundation continues, so that we can reach even more admirable charities in our area.”
Twelve grantees are selected from about 100 applications each year by the CBS Local 2 Community Advisory Board, which includes representatives from the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation, CBS Local 2 employees and members of the community. Each year, an open call for applicants goes out to charitable organizations that serve Coachella Valley residents. Applications can be found on our website. This year’s deadline for submission is October 9, 2015.
