New Desert Arc building unveiled

Desert Arc celebrated a huge achievement Wednesday, aimed entirely at giving back to the clients it serves.

Whether it’s a day of playing games or sports, making crafts or music, learning a trade, or even life skills, hundreds of valley adults with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, or other developmental disabilities rely on Desert Arc.

“We had a waiting list, and we were running out of space, and needed space for people to attend programs with a bigger facility,” said an enthusiastic Desert Arc President and CEO Richard Balocco at a ribbon-cutting Wednesday morning for a new component of Desert Arc’s Palm Desert campus.

“We have an old building. It was originally a garage, and we needed to convert it to programming (space) later. It was inadequate, we tore it down and put up a new building,” explained Balocco.

The new 7,000 square-foot space welcomes the organizations 650 clients and 250 staff members. They’ll get the chance to overcome their disabilities and advance their opportunities, Desert Arc’s core mission.

“Since I have a handicapped child, I can understand it better,” said Patrick McCarthy, who along with his wife Edeltraud, is one of three generous benefactors. The Beneto Family Foundation and the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation also contributed toward the $1.5 million needed to put up Desert Arc’s new Building #2.

“It’s an organization that someone has to speak for them.,” said McCarthy. “We have to speak for them.”

“We’ve been supporting them for 20 years now,” explained Sherrie Auen, who along with her husband Ron, attended as donors of the Berger Foundation. “We really feel like it’s so important to be cared about and they are loving people and you want to help and care for them. “

Desert Arc was the December 2015 recipient of the CBS Local 2 Berger Foundation Coachella Valley Spotlight $25,000 grant.

Brooke Beare is on the board of directors for Desert Arc