Charity: The Desi Strong Foundation
By Rich Henrich
Along the winding road of life he lost his passion. Then found it again while being homeless in Palm Springs. His story is an inspiration and a call to action for each of us to connect with our own ability to be a force for good. Peter recently completed his community project, “30 Days of Good,” and shared a bit of his story with us.
His story is an incredible journey, the type of American success story about a man against all odds who pulls himself up by his boot straps, conquers his demons and slays the dragon. Except his sword is a paintbrush, his shield a canvas. His battle cry, a scream for dignity and compassion for those in need. Peter Mikulak is that rare breed of human that sees a problem and feels compelled to take action and right a wrong to the best of his God-given abilities.
“I remember as a kid, I loved the arts. I had an uncle who was a photographer and he used to make a special effort to compliment me. I had a four-year scholarship to a school in NY but lost eligibility when my parents moved to Indio,” says Mikulak.
Originally from Connecticut, his parents moved to the Coachella Valley while Peter was still in high school. The move proved to be a hard adjustment and the teenager found himself hanging out with the wrong crowd. “I got into drugs and partying and really messed up my 20’s,” he recollects a painful misstep. He eventually got his G.E.D. from College of the Desert and studied art.
“I was going back and forth from the desert to Connecticut. I guess it was just maturity that got me back on track. I became a general contractor. I was doing really well. I did jobs for Yale (University) and a lot of rich people rehabbing their investment properties. But “the crash” happened and then companies I relied on to pay me stopped paying and I still had to pay my guys. It was terrible. How long can you keep paying people before you’re broke?”
One morning, he got out of the shower and looked in the mirror and said to himself: it’s a wrap! “I made some coffee and had breakfast then I called up Salvation Army and had them come take all my stuff. I had a suitcase and a backpack with art supplies by the door. I gave the business to my partner and gave my youngest daughter’s grandmother a call. I said, ‘Grandma, you still need a car?’ She said yes. I said ‘drive me to the bus station and you can have mine.’ I jumped on a bus with $500 headed to Palm Springs!” It was the now or never moment to pursue his deepest belief that he was destined to be an artist.
It was a bold move fueled by gut instinct more than sound, logical planning. Scientists now say there is proof to the saying “trust your gut,” but Peter already knew this was his destiny. ”I was going to be an artist. I chanted all the way from Connecticut to New York- no plan B, no plan B! If my art won’t make me money than I won’t have any!” says the defiant troubadour. But when he returned to the desert, things didn’t work out as planned and he needed to find a place to stay.
Without much money, this would be a major challenge. “I ended up living in an abandoned camper I found in the windmill fields. But I could do my art. It was miserable with all the sand. I remembered when I was a contractor, how hard it was to get squatters out of properties. I’m not proud of it but I found a house that had been foreclosed on and I climbed in through the doggie door,” says Mikulak. The neighbors thought he was just an eccentric artist.
Alan at the Renegade Gallery saw his work, and reached out. “I needed to have ten framed pieces. I told him I would meet him but I had no idea how I was going to get to his gallery. It was around Christmas time and his neighbor had extension chords for lights outside. I “borrowed” the extension chords to tie my pieces together and then wrapped it around my body to carry all my pieces. It was so heavy! I started walking and just kept thinking I had to get there. Two Mexican gardeners picked me up. I was sweaty and covered in grass clippings when I arrived. Alan looked at me, and the situation and then just hugged me and said welcome to the family.”
Mikulak’s inspiration behind the 30 Days of Doing Good was the brave and strong Desi Cechin who battled the childhood cancer, Neuroblastoma. Desi brought hope, smiles, love, and laughter to a community while she endured difficult treatments and long stays in the hospital. In her honor, Peter wanted to do something to give back to a community that had embraced his talents. Each day he volunteered at a different organization bringing home the experience in his heart to express onto his art. Peter hopes these 30 Days and the September 30th auction will bring a stronger awareness to each organization that was involved and a desire for others to reach out helping those in need. The 30 pieces of Art that Mikulak painted will be auctioned off at an event in his honor on Friday, September 30 from 6pm-9pm at a private estate located at 925 East Paseo El Mirador, Palm Springs. Open to the public.
$10/ticket.
Below are the charities that will benefit:
American Cancer Society Local Chapter
Desert Best Friend’s Closet
The Desi Strong Foundation
Safehouse of the Desert
Desert Arc
California Paws Rescue
MAKE: CV Art Center
Loving All Animals
CV Volunteers in Medicine
All Desert Wellness Center
Forever Meow
Guide Dogs of the Desert
Mattie Zemira Foundation
Joshua Tree Cultural Preservation
Walk to End Alzheimers
Made for a Miracle
Loma Linda’s Ronald McDonald House
Girlfriend Factor
SOS Rides
FIND Food Bank
Caulfield Counseling and Education Center
Bella Vista School
La Quinta High School
Animal Samaritans
LGBT The Center
Selma Grows
Comic Con’s choice of charity
Coachella Valley Symphony
Coachella Valley Rescue Mission
KMIR’s choice of charity
