By Madeline Zuckerman
Desert Arc has announced it will host its highly-anticipated Seventh Annual “Champions of Change” Recognition Awards Luncheon, on Thursday, February 6, 2025. This year’s event will honor Desert Arc President/CEO Richard Balocco, who is retiring at the end of January 2025 as its CHAMPION. A host of community leaders will pay tribute to his 17-year legacy of making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities and his unwavering dedication to Desert Arc’s mission. This year’s not-to-be-missed Recognition Awards Luncheon will be held in the Grand Ballroom at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa in Rancho Mirage, commencing at 11:30 am and concluding by 1:30 pm.
This special event annually recognizes its clients, people served by Desert Arc’s mission, for their outstanding work and celebrates local companies and individuals in our Valley who champion Desert Arc’s cause of enhancing the quality of life and creating opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“It has been my privilege to chair all of the Champions of Change Luncheons, but this one is especially heartfelt, as we are honoring our President/CEO Richard Balocco, on the occasion of his retirement,” said Nancy Singer Event Chair and Co-Emcee. “I was on the committee that hired him almost 18 years ago, and what a great ride it has been. Getting to know him, getting to work with him, getting to turn this wonderful organization around for the good has been fantastic. We will miss him, but wish him all the best.”
Distinguished Awards will be presented at the luncheon to recipients in the following categories:
- Clients Of The Year – People Served By Desert Arc’s Mission:
Adam T.
Carolina R.
Inda R.
Joshua K.
- Business Partner Of The Year – SA Recycling
- Champion – Richard Balocco, Desert Arc’s President/CEO
(2007 through January 2025 Retirement)
“Our upcoming Champions of Change Recognition Awards Luncheon is extra special because we get to honor and recognize our fantastic President/CEO Richard Balocco for his many years of incredible service, leadership, and contributions that have transformed Desert Arc into a thriving nonprofit organization.” said Damian Jenkins, Desert Arc’s Board Chair. “I consider myself very blessed to serve our amazing Board of Directors as Board Chair for the past five years, and have thoroughly enjoyed working closely with Richard. We will miss him tremendously! He has left his mark on the Desert Arc brand, and he should be very proud of his and his team’s accomplishments because we certainly are. We wish him all the very best in his future endeavors.”
Nancy Singer, a Desert Arc Board Member and past Board Chair is this year’s Luncheon Event Chair and Co-Emcee. Brooke Beare, Emmy® Award-Winning Journalist, who is a Desert Arc Board Member and Immediate Past Chair of the Board is also Co-Emcee of this event.
Media Sponsors for this year’s Awards Luncheon include THE DESERT SUN & LOCALiQ, Presenting Newspaper & Digital Media Sponsor; INLAND EMPIRE MAGAZINE, Exclusive Magazine Media Sponsor; KESQ News Channel 3, Exclusive TV Media Sponsor; and ALPHA MEDIA – Palm Springs, Exclusive Radio Media Sponsor.
Individual luncheon tickets are $125 per person, with sponsorship opportunities ranging from $1,500 to $ 10,000. For additional event information about Desert Arc’s Seventh Annual “Champions of Change” Recognition Awards Luncheon and/or information on Desert Arc, please call 760-404-1368 or visit DesertArc.org
ABOUT DESERT ARC
Desert Arc is a leading nonprofit, currently celebrating its 65th Anniversary milestone of providing comprehensive services for 700 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities within the Coachella Valley, the Morongo Basin, and desert communities. Since its founding in 1959, Desert Arc has been offering person-centric programs and resources designed to meet the diverse needs of its clients (people with disabilities served by its mission) including: an adult day program, healthcare, nutrition, and sports and recreation programs. Dedicated to social innovation, Desert Arc has also created a variety of enterprises providing Business Services including their Shredding & Recycling, Landscape Maintenance, Janitorial, and Fulfillment Divisions. These are growing micro-businesses developed to provide employment for its client, as well as, an earned income revenue stream for Desert Arc. Pathways to Employment is the umbrella for the organization’s vocational, on-the-job training and individual job placement service programs. Over its consistent and financially sound 65-year history, Desert Arc has been making a difference in the lives of so many people with disabilities!
Desert Arc’s main headquarters is located on Country Club Drive in Palm Desert, consisting of three buildings totaling 50,000 square feet of space. In addition, Desert Arc has a Recycling Center and Transportation Depot in Indio, and another program site in Yucca Valley.
