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When we fund COD students’ basic needs, we empower them to overcome obstacles and pursue their dreams. By investing in their education and well-being, we are not only transforming individual lives but also enriching our communities and creating a more equitable society. Together, we can make a lasting impact and pave the way for a brighter future.
California’s higher cost of living has left students with significant financial barriers to college completion, including tuition, technology, textbooks, childcare and food and housing insecurity. We thank you all for supporting the Fund for Student Success. Because of you, thousands of low-income students can complete their studies because they have their essential needs met, allowing them to begin their climb up the economic ladder.
I personally want to congratulate everyone who has contributed to and been a part of the COD Foundation’s success for the past 40 years. When we provide comprehensive access to education, we produce a professional workforce to strengthen our Valley’s social and economic infrastructure. We believe that no student should miss out on a class or find they are unable to complete an assignment due to a lack of supplies, books or equipment. You, too, can Empower COD Students to Spread Their Wings.
Diane Rubin Chair, COD Foundation Board of DirectorsOfficers
Diane Rubin Chairperson
Christine Anderson, Ed.D. Past Chairperson
Tom Minder
Chair-Elect
Jake Wuest Treasurer
Barbara Fromm Secretary Directors
Christine Anderson, Ed.D.
Norma Castaneda
Bill Chunowitz
Carol Bell Dean
Marge Dodge
Kim Dozier
Carol Fragen
Barbara Fromm
Martha Garcia, Ed.D.
Jim Greene
Paul Hinkes
Joan R. Lamb
Dale Landon
Connie Lurie
Donna MacMillan
Tom Minder
Barbara Foster
Monachino
Rob Moon
Marlene O’Sullivan
Diane Rubin
Jane Saltonstall, Ed.D.
Shari Stewart
Charles Townsend Vinci
Jenell VanDenBos
Jim Williams
Jake Wuest
CHAIRS
Academic Angels Committee
Marge Dodge
Advancement and Stewardship
Rob Moon
Audit Committee
Barbara Foster
Monachino
Executive Committee
Diane Rubin
Finance and Investment Committee
Jake Wuest
Legacy Committee
Charles Townsend Vinci
Nominating Committee
Jane Saltonstall, Ed.D.
President’s Circle, Events
Rob Moon
President’s Circle, Membership
Rob Moon
Stepping Out for COD Committee
Co-chairs
Norma Castaneda
Jenell VanDenBos
Executive Director
Catherine Abbott
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” | NELSON MANDELA
1,471
SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED in the 2022/2023 fiscal year.
1,557
INDIVIDUAL GIFTS RECEIVED in the 2022/2023 fiscal year, gifted from 498 donors including new donor gifts.
206
The COD Foundation manages nearly
$43.5M
IN ENDOWMENTS held in perpetuity to support a variety of scholarships and programs.
520
STUDENT EMERGENCY GRANTS AWARDED since 2020 fund inception.
$230K
PURCHASED GRADUATION REGALIA for graduating seniors from 2019-2023.
80
of every dollar supported SCHOLARSHIPS AND PROGRAMMING in 2021-2022.
COD students have become the skilled nurses caring for you and your loved ones, the firefighters and EMTs who respond to your 911 calls, the chefs who prepare your meals at your favorite restaurants and the entrepreneurs and business leaders who consistently give back to our community and generate over $300 million annually into our local economy.
Since March of 2020, the COD Foundation has secured more than $470,000 in assistance to 520 students, ensuring critical resources to those impacted by the pandemic. Contributions empower the students to continue learning their trade, preparing for management-level positions and pursuing and completing the quality education that every student deserves.
• $482K Planned Giving
• $1.145M Other Revenues
• $601K Stepping Out Gala
• $322K Grants
• $113K President’s Circle
Funds Distributed by Areas of Impact
• $894K Scholarships including:
EDGE/plEDGE – $200K
Student Emergency Fund – $28K Internships – $44.5K
• $489K Overall Program Support
Stepping Out for COD 2023 Raised $600,000 to Support COD Foundation’s Fund for Student Success
Presented by Alan and Helen Greene and James and Jessica Greene, Stepping Out for COD 2023 was an absolute success! The evening was spectacular, with the crowd dancing in McCallum Theatre’s aisles to Motown music performed by Australian pop vocal group, Human Nature!
Co-chairs Bill Chunowitz, Tom Minder and Rob Moon shared the challenges COD students have experienced since 2020, which include navigating multiple jobs, battling inflation and struggling to regain years of lost income – all while juggling family issues and striving to complete their education. The Foundation has continued to focus on providing basic, essential needs to low-income students including food, housing, textbooks, technology, childcare and tuition.
Stepping Out also celebrated COD Foundation’s 40th Anniversary, raising over $100 million in the past four decades to support student programs including the EDGE/plEDGE Tuition Assistance program, Fund for Student Success, Student Scholarships, Internships, our Foster Youth Program and more, making it possible for thousands of students to pursue their education and chosen careers.
Each spring, the College of the Desert’s Legacy Leaders (donors who have included the COD Foundation in their estate plans) are treated to a reception in the McCallum Theatre’s Founders Room followed by a performance of the College’s annual musical. This year, the Theatre Department produced the multiple-Tony Award-winning musical, Man of La Mancha.
More than 60 Legacy Leaders, their guests and COD Foundation Board members attended the pre-event where new Legacy Leaders Bill Haines and Ed Oehler, Daniel Pelosi, William Rutherford and Jake and Rebecca Wuest were recognized. They also enjoyed a brief presentation by Janet Miller, head of the Theatre Department and director of the play, who gave some background on the production. Judging by the rousing applause and standing ovations, it was a huge success.
Legacy gifts provide future support for College of the Desert and significantly alter students’ lives using charitable strategies. Contributions by will, trust, other forms of written designation, life-income arrangements and endowment gifts all represent generous forms of legacy giving. These gifts represent powerful and meaningful ways for individuals to create a philanthropic legacy for their community and the organizations they care about. We encourage you to take advantage of the many tax benefits of making a planned gift.
A bequest is one of the most popular and flexible gifts to make. With the help of an advisor, you can include language in your will or trust specifying a gift be made to family, friends and the COD Foundation as part of your estate plan.
• You leave a lasting legacy to be remembered.
• You lessen the burden of taxes on your family.
• You may receive estate tax savings.
A bequest can be made in several ways:
• You can gift a specific dollar amount or asset.
• You can gift a percentage of your estate.
• You can make a gift from the balance or residue of your estate.
• You can make a beneficiary designation of certain assets.
You may be tired of living at the mercy of the fluctuating stock and real estate markets. A charitable gift annuity is a gift made to the COD Foundation that can provide you with a secure source of fixed payments for life.
Benefits include:
• Receive fixed payments to you or another annuitant you designate for life.
• Receive a charitable income tax deduction for the charitable gift portion of the annuity.
• Transfer up to $50,000 directly from your IRA to a Charitable Gift Annuity.
• Benefit from payments that may be partially tax-free.
• Further our mission to enhance the quality of education at College of the Desert.
How a Charitable Gift Annuity works:
• You transfer cash or property to the institution managing the annuity.
• You will receive a charitable income tax deduction for the gift portion of the annuity.
• The benefit to you is a charitable tax deduction and income for your lifetime.
• You also receive the satisfaction of knowing that you will be helping to fur ther our mission of supporting student success.
If you decide to fund your gift annuity with cash, a significant portion of the annuity payment will be tax-free. You may also make a gift of appreciated securities to fund a gift annuity and avoid a portion of the capital gains tax.
IRA Charitable Rollover
If you are 70½ or older, an IRA Charitable Rollover is a way you can help continue our work.
• Avoid taxes on transfers of up to $100,000 from your IRA to the COD Foundation.
• Satisfy your required minimum distribution (RMD) for the year.
• Reduce your taxable income, even if you do not itemize deductions.
• Make a gift that is not subject to the deduction limits on charitable gifts.
• Transfer up to $50,000 directly from your IRA to a Charitable Gift Annuity.
• Help further the work and mission of the COD Foundation.
How an IRA Charitable Rollover gift works:
• Contact your IRA plan administrator to make a gift from your IRA to us.
• Your IRA funds will be directly transferred to the COD Foundation to help continue our important work.
• Please note that IRA Charitable Rollover gifts do not qualify as a charitable deduc tion.
• Please contact us if you wish for your gift to be used for a specific purpose.
To learn more, please visit www.codlegacy.org or contact Liz Chambers with the COD Foundation at 760.773.2561 or echambers@collegeofthedesert.edu.
“We believe strongly in the community college system. California has one of the best community college systems in the country, and COD ranks high within that system. COD plays an important role in the Valley by educating a large portion of our workforce.”
“I am passionate about COD for two reasons. I believe people must be educated to ensure a prosperous future, and College of the Desert has identified, developed and provides the education programs that meet our community’s needs.”
| PATRICIABill Haines and Ed Oehler chose to make a difference in students’ lives by including College of the Desert Foundation in their estate plans.
The College of the Desert Foundation holds immense gratitude for donors who support COD students in meeting their most basic needs and providing valuable resources so they can achieve their educational goals. Your generous contributions give students an opportunity to transform their lives and make a significant impact on their future, the future of their families and their communities.
For many community college students, financial challenges hinder their educational pursuits. Juggling work, family responsibilities and the rising costs of tuition, textbooks, childcare and living expenses can create barriers to academic success. Your funding signifies an emotional belief and tremendous potential, Empowering Students to Spread Their Wings.
Attaining an associate degree is a significant milestone that opens doors to numerous opportunities, equips students with essential skills, enhances their employability and increases their earning potential. The ripple effect of your donations extends beyond the individual student. They become role models for their families, serving as beacons of hope, determination and contributions to the betterment of society. Together, through your acts of generosity, donors and the COD Foundation are building a brighter future, one student at a time.
$250,000 +
The Estate of Nancy C. Bonner
$200,000 +
Richard Brooke Foundation
$100,000 +
Alan and Helen Greene & Jessica and James Greene
William Drake Rutherford
Jordan Schnitzer and the Harold and Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation
$50,000 +
Edeltraud M. McCarthy Foundation
Friends of the College of the Desert Library
Manilow Fund for Health and Hope McCallum Theatre
The Estate of Joy B. Plein
The Estate of Bob Pollock Schlinger Chrisman Foundation
$25,000 +
Arthur N. Rupe Foundation
Edison International
Eisenhower Health Highland Street Foundation
The William C. Hunter Family DAF at IECF
Connie and Bob Lurie MAAS Companies, Inc.
Harold Matzner
The Estate of Henriette R. Morris
$20,000 +
Mrs. Svanhild Dolin
Lillie and Ken Goto
Louise E. Schulz
Western Wind Foundation
$15,000 +
Wendy and Bob Goodfriend
Tom Minder and Duke Kulas
Riverside County Board of Supervisors
University of California, San Diego
Diane and Gerry Wendel
Music icon and Grammy award winner
Barry Manilow believes in the gift of music and has generously donated $50,000 to enhance COD’s musical education process. The 110 students currently working towards their degree will have access to the tools and resources they need to succeed. Support our talented students by giving at codfoundation.org.
“Our students go on to work at the best hotels, open up their own bakeries and show appreciation for the knowledge they have learned.”
| CHEF CALVIN YEAP“I can only imagine my mother’s struggles in raising me. Working in the Central Pantry makes me appreciate how hard she worked to provide me with diapers and food. Now, when I see mothers with their babies, I can see my mom’s face reflected in theirs.”
| DERICK MATTHEW TALAY COD’SDaysi’s son was born with a rare condition and required an intensive and frightening surgery. A very special nurse stayed with Daysi, comforting her and explaining the procedure. She filled her with hope and taught her how to care for him.
Now, Daysi dreams of becoming an ICU nurse and earning her master’s degree so she can teach nursing.
Sherrill B. Schroeder
The Estate of Jackie Story
“While in the EDGE/plEDGE program, I have been completely devoted to earning my degree and accomplishing my educational goals.”
$10,000 + Annexstad Family Foundation
Bank of America and Cerity Partners
Miles Berger
Barry Berlin and Mary Reisher
The Coeta and Donald Barker Foundation
David Cohan and René Bernard, PeaksCo, LLC
The Dean L. and Rosemarie Buntrock Foundation
LeAnne and Dan Dunlap
Lillie and Ken Goto
Brian and Patricia Herman
Gerri and Dr. Paul Hinkes
Ann and Bill Iwata
Peggy Jacobs
Michael and Lori Meena
John P. Monahan
Rosemary Ortega
Diane Rubin and Lenny Eber
Nancy and Marty Schechtman
Leslie and Dr. Barry Usow
Visit Greater Palm Springs
Cynthia and James Williams
$5,000 + Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
Bob Archer and Chuck Hilliar
Norma A. Castaneda, HR Advantage and The Competitive Advantage
Joanne and Bill Chunowitz
Patricia Clinton
Marge Dodge
Jeffrey D. Elder and Karla Kjellin-Elder
FirstBank, Jake Wuest
Barbara and Bernie Fromm
Dr. Martha Garcia
Diane and Harold Gershowitz
Louise Kermode
William Kroonen, PhD
Carole and Dale Landon
Barbara and Michael Monachino
Rob Moon and Bob Hammack
Rancho Mirage Woman’s Club
Joseph and Julie Rescigno
Schahet Hotels, Inc.
SGH Architects
Sheilah and Stephen Varon
Charles Townsend Vinci
$2,500 +
Amy’s Purpose Inc.
Christine and Tony Anderson
Anita B. and Howard S. Richmond Foundation
Melissa Austin
Kelly Brower
Lindell Campbell and Mohamed Samir
Chase Bank, Palm Springs
City of Desert Hot Springs
City of Indio
City of Palm Desert
City of Rancho Mirage
Rondi Edwards
Jane Emison and Mike Tierney
Sara Everitt
First Republic Private Wealth Management
Scott and Ella Goldstein
Lynn and Alan Hendershot
Dodi Henry, The Nest
Cathy and Dr. Richard Hirschmann
Suz Hunt
“Going back to school in my forties might be challenging, but everyone here works together and supports one another.”
ELANAWhen Natalie arrived at COD, she was a newly single mother moving away from a bad relationship. Worrying about how she and her one-year-old were going to survive, she knew COD would be the chance to build her future. She shares, “I was excited that COD offered childcare, because I didn’t know how I was going to go to school, work and take care of my baby. Then, all of a sudden, there was this amazing opportunity!”
Candice Connell-Morse and Dr. Barry Morse
CSUSB San Bernardino Campus
Stephen and Linda Dyer, PhD
Steve and Sharon Edelman
“Thanks to the Foundation’s scholarships and programs, I have textbooks, resources and school supplies to support my academic journey. And, thanks to the professors and staff at the Mesa Center, I have found the strength and confidence to take on great challenges, accept meaningful internships and grow as an engineer.”
| GRECIA PAOLA SIONO GUTIERREZ, ENGINEERING STUDENT| NATALIE HOLLAND, COD ALUMNA AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT OF THE KINESIOLOGY AND ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT
|
H., COD STUDENT
Maureen and Wayne Johnson
Marjorie and Stephen Kulp
Mr. and Mrs. Shattuck Lamm
Antonio Guijarro Ledezma
Debbie and Barry Lipsett
Literary Society of the Desert
LPA, Inc.
Marlene Imerzian & Associates Architects
Marcie Maxwell and Rober t Reeder
Ed Oehler and Bill Haines
Renova Energy Corp.
ROI Consulting Group, LLC
Jane Saltonstall, Ed.D.
Gail and Robert Scadron
William H. Schleicher
Linda Selman
Pamela Smallwood
Aviva and Ron Snow
Shari and Marc Stewart
Valley Sanitary District
Mrs. Marjorie Victor
Mr. and Mrs. Walter T. Clark, Walter Clark Legal Group
JoAnn Wellner
Aurora Wilson
$2,000 +
Joni R. Beal
Bernal-Smith Group
Mr. Jerry Blatt
Carol and Edward Dean
Rochelle Goodman
Helen P. Herman
Ironwood Country Club
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Lindeman Jacobson
J. McLaughlin, Palm Desert
Carolyn Kiser
Learning in Retirement
“I thought my first year would be learning the basics of architecture and design, but we are making a difference already by designing and constructing tiny houses for citizens looking for affordable, energy-efficient options.”
Robert Roblin
William C. Tumelty
Ron and Kay Williams
$1,500 +
Catherine Abbott
Nori Bambusch
Sera and Gary Brill
Patricia and Robert Dant
Eight4Nine Restaurant –Willie Rhine
Thomas A. Emerton
Judith Friedman
Angie Gerber
Dr. Laurence and Suzanne Gorlick
Laura Graff
Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP
Mary Ingebrand-Pohlad
Kim and Ken Jones
Caroline Maloney
Nancy and Alvin Siwak
Roz Watkins
“Through the EDGE/plEDGE scholarship program, students have the opportunity to attain their degree quicker so they can make their mark on the industry faster.”
| CHEF ISIDRO HERNANDEZ
$1,000 +
Ms. Janet Abrams
Steven Acree
Antonio Aguilar
Judith L. and Barbara B. Appelbaum
Angie Banuelos
Mrs. Rebecca Benaroya
Mr. and Mrs. James S. Borax
Jermaine Cathcart
Sandra and Keith Comrie
Peggy Cravens
John and Nicole Criste
Bob and Carole Dent
Desert Horizons Women's Club
Susan and Jim Eichberg
Phyllis Eisenberg
Linda Emerson
Mrs. Barbara Feldman
Mrs. Barbara Fremont
Alvera and Franklin Gaeta
Donna Greene
Ellen Hardy, PhD
Michael Harris
Mark L. Hayek
Katherine and Greg Hough
Kamp-Mor Inc. – DBA Street Bar
Jeffrey Larson
Ken and Barbara Lieberman
Marilyn Malkin
Felix Marhuenda
Carolyn and Clayton Mayes
Molly McGee
J. Anthony Ogden and William R Poulos
Palms Garden Club
PEO Sisterhood, Chapter CL
Jorge Perez
Barbara Platt
Douglas Redman
Dr. Edwin A. Reed
Monroe and Rella Rifkin
“While in foster care, I always wished I had someone there to talk to me and help me. Now, as an adult, I want to encourage others just like the counselors at COD did for me.” |
| GLEISY ROMERO, ARCHITECTURE & ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN STUDENTSTEPHANIE MONROY, FUTURE CHILD PSYCHIATRIST WITH FRIENDS EVENY FELIX, FUTURE NEUROSURGEON (L) AND JASMINE LOPEZ, FUTURE EMERGENCY ROOM NURSE (C)
Dianne Russom
Maria Elena Cruz Santoyo
Jose Simo
Desert Community College District
Trustee Bonnie Stefan, PhD
Marcia and Rick Stein
Mrs. Jacqueline H. Suitt
Brian Thompson
Barbara and William
Tumelty-Ewall
Lee and Laurie Wielansky
Alvah Wyatt
$500 +
Bert Bitanga
City of Cathedral City
Ruari and Holly Clerkin
Eusebio Cordova
CV Strategies
Ms. Maria Diaz
Craig and Dr. Courtney Doussett
Kim Dozier
Christopher Eloriaga
Kathleen Flora
Clayton France
Eric Hsu and James Chambers
Carole and Ron Johnson
Mr. Shelley Kaplan
Ms. Paula Kennedy
Theresa Maggio
Carlos Maldonado
Cody McCabe
Dr. and Dr. Cameron and Lorri McCune
Davis Meyer
Huitzitzilin Montalvo
Ms. Joyce Montgomery
Juan J. Moreno-Ibarra
Kylan Nakagawa
National League of American Pen Women – PS Branch
One Future Coachella Valley
Ginger Ontiveros
Marlene and Bill O’Sullivan
Jin Suk Park and Kevin Miller
Robert J. and Jean E. Pease
PepsiCo
Claude Raffin
Rancho Relaxo
Judy and Theodore Robinson
Sebastian Russell
Adele Ruxton
Judy Sanders
Frederick Sangiorgio
Dr. Alex Sawa
Beth and Steve Steinberg
Augustino V. Suafoa
Sheila Thorton
John Vierra
Ms. Linda Berg Weakley
Dr. Kori Whitener-Fellows
Rita Wood Organizations
Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
Amazon
Amy's Purpose Inc.
Anita B. and Howard S. Richmond Foundation
Annexstad Family Foundation
Bank of America and Cerity Partners
Bernal-Smith Group
Chase Bank, Palm Springs
City of Cathedral City
City of Desert Hot Springs
City of Indio
City of Palm Desert
“I had a loss of a family member in 2019, and the way that the first responders were with me and my family definitely inspired me to want to follow a career path where I can bring a feeling of safety and security for someone who’s potentially going through one of the worst days of their life. I can help them by being the light to help them through the dark during their traumatic time.”
City of Rancho Mirage
The Coeta and Donald Barker Foundation
CSUSB San Bernardino Campus
CV Strategies
The Dean L. and Rosemarie
Buntrock Foundation
Desert Horizons Women's Club
Edeltraud M. McCarthy Foundation
Edison International
Eight4Nine Restaurant
Eisenhower Health
FirstBank
First Republic Private Wealth Management
Friends of the College of the Desert Library
Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP
Harold and Arlene Schnitzer
CARE Foundation
Highland Street Foundation
HR Advantage and The Competitive Advantage
Ironwood Country Club
J. McLaughlin, Palm Desert
Kamp-Mor Inc. – DBA Street Bar
Learning in Retirement
Literary Society of the Desert
LPA, Inc.
MAAS Companies, Inc.
Manilow Fund for
Health and Hope
Marlene Imerzian & Associates Architects
McCallum Theatre
Merrill Lynch, Edwards, Harris, Clerkin and Suafoa
National League of American Pen Women – PS Branch
The Nest
One Future Coachella Valley
Palms Garden Club
Parker & Covert, LLP
PeaksCo, LLC
PEO Sisterhood, Chapter CL
PepsiCo
Rancho Mirage Woman's Club
Rancho Relaxo
Renova Energy Corp.
Riverside County Board of Supervisors
Riverside County Treasurer
ROI Consulting Group, LLC
Schahet Hotels, Inc.
SGH Architects
University of California, San Diego
Valley Sanitary District
Visit Greater Palm Springs
Walter Clark Legal Group
Western Wind Foundation
| RYAN HERDT, FIRE ACADEMY STUDENT
College of the Desert (COD) students have the incredible opportunity to win valuable scholarships during The Great Alumni Hunt as they hunt for COD alumni throughout the Coachella Valley and beyond. Each student will earn points for the greatest number of alumni that they add to their team between September 29th –October 25th, 2023. Throughout the month, these teams will compete in an “Amazing Race-style" competition where they, their team members and notable alumni mentors will sprint to connect with as many COD alumni as possible!
Points will be awarded for each individual who is found. Extra points may be awarded depending upon certain criteria such as profession, location of where the alumni lives now and years attended.
The Launch Party will take place on Friday, September 29th, where students and their mentors will be introduced and have an opportunity to start collecting team members.
Throughout the month, several Quick-Fire events will provide the chance for more alumni to be found. Those who cannot attend can register at CODFoundation.org/GreatAlumniHunt.
The Finale Celebration will take place on Wednesday, October 25th during a Coachella Valley Firebirds game at Acrisure Arena, where final points will be tallied and valuable scholarships awarded.
“COD is proud to produce a professional workforce to strengthen our Valley’s social and economic infrastructure,” shares Catherine Abbott, Executive Director for COD Foundation. “The Great Alumni Hunt will show the impact of talented COD alumns while supporting students who are putting themselves through school to achieve their educational dreams."
Community volunteers and students who want to join in the fun can contact the COD Foundation office at 760.773.2561 or email cabbott@collegeofthedesert.edu.
To learn more about The Great Alumni Hunt view this QR code.