BY MADELINE ZUCKERMAN
Desert Arc, a leading Coachella Valley nonprofit who is currently celebrating its 65th Anniversary milestone, is proud to announce Angelique Ontiveros, Desert Arc’s Vice President, Business Development, has been named Volunteer of the Year at the 2024 State of the City of La Quinta Business Awards and Expo, which took place on Thursday, September 19, at the La Quinta Resort & Club located in La Quinta, California.
Co-presented by the La Quinta Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce, this prestigious award received by Ontiveros honors outstanding achievements and notable contributions to the community by local business leaders.
“Everyone at Desert Arc is very proud of Angelique’s accomplishments including her volunteer engagement and contributions to our community,” said Richard Balocco, President/CEO of Desert Arc. “Her leadership role in developing and growing our Business Services program has been a driving force of our success! Desert Arc’s Shredding & Recycling, Janitorial, Landscape Maintenance, and Fulfilment divisions provide excellent service offerings to residents and companies alike, and paramount in importance, these micro-enterprises employ our clients, people with disabilities served by our mission.”
“I’ve been with Desert Arc for the past 25 years, and am a proud resident of La Quinta,” says Angelique. “My clients at Desert Arc inspire me each and every day, because working alongside people with disabilities is so rewarding. They give back so much, and are such a strong part of our community. How could anyone not want to volunteer and become more involved?”
In her 25 years at Desert Arc, Angelique has led the development of its social innovation initiatives under the umbrella of its Business Services Program, encompassing Shredding & Recycling, Landscape Maintenance, Janitorial, and Fulfillment Divisions. These micro-enterprises offer area residents, as well as, businesses key services in tandem with fulfilling Desert Arc’s mission of enhancing the quality of life and creating opportunities for people with disabilities through vocational training and gainful employment.
Angelique’s Dad was her “Giving Back” role model who was very involved in his community, having served in Rotary and Chamber of Commerce for many years. Angelique is so dedicated to Desert Arc and to the greater Coachella Valley community as a whole. She serves actively on the Board of Directors of the La Quinta Chamber of Commerce and the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission. She is currently Board President of the Rotary Club of Palm Desert, and also serves as an Ambassador for the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce. She is an alumna of Leadership Coachella Valley.
“Everyone needs to give back to their community,” says Angelique. “Not only do you get involved but you get to know your neighbors and your local business owners. Everybody together makes a community. Volunteering is what everyone needs to do. As a Rotarian, our motto is Service Above Self. This award should be a group award. I am honored that I was chosen, however we do it as a team. Not only is it a team effort, but we have fun giving back at the same time.”
ABOUT DESERT ARC
Desert Arc is a leading nonprofit currently celebrating its 65th Anniversary year of providing comprehensive services for nearly 700 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities within the Coachella Valley, the Morongo Basin, Palo Verde Valley, and the surrounding desert communities. Since 1959, Desert Arc has been offering person-centric programs and resources designed to meet the needs of its clients (people with disabilities served by its mission) including: an adult day program, healthcare, nutrition, and sports and recreation programs. Its FYI-For Your Independence team of life skills coaches work with clients in independent and supportive living 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 clients, 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, working directly for Desert Arc or within their fellow employment network.
Over its consistent and financially sound 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 feet of space. In addition, Desert Arc has a Shredding & Recycling Center and Transportation Depot in Indio, and another program site in Yucca Valley.
For general information on Desert Arc, please call 760.346.1611. For information on Desert Arc’s Business Services, please call 760.404.1370. For information on Desert Arc’s fundraising events, please call 760.404.1368 or visit www.desertarc.org
