Hundreds turn out for fourth annual Rae of Hope Retreat

It was a girl’s day out for hundreds of middle schoolers across the Coachella Valley. The fourth annual Rae of Hope Leadership Retreat, founded by KESQ News Channel 3 anchor Bianca Rae, took place in Indian Wells.

“I wanted to come here so I could have the experience because I knew the retreat was going to change something in me,” said Arlette Vanezuela, who is in the sixth grade.

Four years ago, the event started with 100 girls. It has since bloomed to more than 500.

“It’s just grown to be such an in-demand event, which I think is so exciting because it just shows that these girls are eager to learn and they are eager to learn about leadership and self-love,” said Rae.

The event covers topics ranging from anti-bullying and health and wellness to make-up and fashion.

“We just want to show them all elements,” Rae added. “It’s the whole dinner plate. It’s the vegetables that you need and the fun dessert that you want too.”

Saturday’s event had a ‘we can be heroes’ theme and included female leaders from the community, like Palm Desert Mayor Jan Harnik, and the women of KESQ News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2.

“I know how important it is to take care of each and to lift each other and to let young women know how great they can be,” Harnik said.

“We all have role models, and for these young girls, sometimes I think it resignates more when they hear from the girls they see on T.V. everyday talking about how we take care of our selves and we’re leaders and we’re classy ladies in the community,” Rae said.

A suprise celebrity guest was 13-year-old actress Amiah Miller, most recently seen in Planet of the Apes.

Girl power at the event was abundant.

“I hope that this retreat goes on forever because its a good thing to learn that a man can do anything a woman can do,” said sixth grader Victoria Stauch.