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$300-million stadium complex coming to the Coachella Valley see page 6.
PERMIT NO 00005
Friday, August 3, 2018 Vol. 12 No. 62
Philanthropy at Work!
Jerry Upham, General Manager of Gulf California Broadcasting; Catharine Reed, Program Director of the H.N. and France C. Berger Foundation; Christopher McGuire, Vice President of Programs for the H.N. and France C. Berger Foundation; Kelley Moody, CBS Local 2 Reporter present a surprise $10,000 grant to Peter Harris, SongShine Program Director and Teacher, members of the organization’s board of directors and class participants. Photo courtesy of the H.N. and France C. Berger Foundation
Two nonprofit organizations surprised with $10,000 check each By Desert Star Staff Palm Desert, Calif., – H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation Board Members surprised two local nonprofit organizations with $10,000 each – while on CBS Local 2’s Live Facebook Feed. The grants were presented
to SongShine Foundation and SAGE (School-aged Gap Elimination) Initiative, Inc. The surprise grants are a supplemental component of a partnership between the Berger Foundation and CBS Local 2, where each month, a local nonprofit
KMIR Claudia Buccio Construction work has often been regarded as a trade that is passed along from one generation to another. However, as more young people head to college and more trade programs are cut from schools, less of this demographic plan to enter that workforce. This has been a trend for the past 20 years. Valentin Morales is a construction worker who has been in this trade for more than 10 years. He said these were skills he learned from his father. “I’ve been in this industry for years, and it’s all I know,” Morales said.
For many people, working under the sun with heavy equipment might not sound appealing. “People don’t really want to work in construction,” Morales said. “I don’t know if they’re scared of the heat, or if they simply prefer to work at fast food places.” While there are constructions sites around Coachella Valley, the reality is that the driving force is aging, and many of the leaders in the industry are retiring. Labor shortages is one of the reasons why housing prices are so high.
organization receives a $25,000 grant and media exposure. But these grants were a complete surprise! “I had chills! This was so unexpected, and so appreciated,” said Peter Harris, SongShine Program Director and Teacher, whose
class was interrupted for the surprise presentation. SongShine Foundation provides classes for people whose speech has been damaged by Parkinson’s disease, stroke, essential tremor, other neurological disorders or aging. The
organization’s vocal methods include singing, breath support, creative drama, role playing, emotional engagement, diction and articulation to restore speech. Last year, the SongShine Continues on Page 3
Construction jobs are not attracting enough young people
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