Regional Access Project Foundation

Regional Access Project Foundation Newsletter
September 2014
In This Issue
Featured Article


Give Big Riverside County is a 24-hour web-a-thon that raises much needed funds for local nonprofits. Presented by the Community Foundation, the third annual Give BIG Riverside County (GBRC)campaign is scheduled for November 13, 2014

 

Regional Access Project Foundation is partnering with The Community Foundation of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties to bring Give BIG Riverside County to the Coachella Valley.  The fundraising opportunity is critical to many of the valley's nonprofit and other tax exempt organizations.

 

 

Upcoming "Coffee Chat"

 RAP Foundation Offices

75105 Merle Drive #800

Palm Desert, CA 92211

9:00AM-10:00AM

 

For more information, click here

 

 

 

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A Message from RAP CEO

 

As we approach the last few weeks of summer 2014, I want to share some news on happenings and activities which show we have definitely not slowed down during the summer.  

First of all, the RAP team has been working on the Mental Health Initiative (MHI) adopted by the RAP Board of Directors in May.  The MHI will be the focus of RAP resources as we work to implement services that have greater community impact. 

 

In order to acquire evaluative tools to measure impact and to direct future resource distribution, the RAP team has held several Mental Health community forums, met with mental health professionals and enlisted the services of Health Assessment Resource Center (HARC).  And RAP will continue to engage collaborators and community partners with an interest in mental health services as we work to prepare the first MHI Request for Proposal (RFP) expected by the end of this year. 

Also this summer, were able to congratulate 23 students representing nonprofit organizations for successfully completing the 35 week University of California Riverside- Palm Desert Campus' Nonprofit Certificate  Program.
            RAP will continue to offer this opportunity to nonprofit organizations which demonstrate interest in this program to increase employee skills and professional development.

Unfortunately, this summer also brought down the curtain on the AmeriCorps program, which provided tutoring services at several Coachella Valley Unified School District middle schools.  While we were disappointed to see the program end, we want to thank Joe Ceja for doing a great job in managing it.  He provided guidance to the 10 mentors who benefitted from the experience as much as the students they worked with.  

 

Summer also brought to a close RAP's service as fiscal agent for Building Healthy Communities (BHC).  I would like to thank Silvia Paz, Adriana Ortiz, Sahara Huazano and Naomi Soto of BHC for their efforts to improve the quality of life for residents in the eastern Coachella Valley.  Although RAP will no longer serve as fiscal agent for BHC as of September 1st, we look forward to continuing to working with them in future community projects.

 

One thing on our summer "to-do" list which didn't get crossed off was our move across town to a new office near Palm Desert City Hall.  The move was postponed until late September. 

 

As we pass from summer into the seasons following it, RAP will stay busy.  Big items on our plate in the near future include sponsoring the November 9 "Give BIG Riverside County!" online donation campaign and the "Fast Pitch" event which will take place in March.  We'll also add an official opening for our new office to the list of events.   As soon as we decide on a date, you'll be invited to a grand opening at the Parkview Professional Offices, 73-710 Fred Waring, Suite 102  Palm Desert, CA  92211.  

 

Sincerely,

 

Leticia De Lara, CEO 

RAP's Desert Fast Pitch Event 

 

We are excited to offer Desert Fast Pitch for a second year.  This is a chance for non- profit 501 c 3 designated organizations who provide services in the area of health, mental health or juvenile intervention to apply for a chance to compete  for cash grants.  Last year was the inaugural Desert Fast Pitch program that culminated with an innovative, creative, and high energy event held October 24, 2013. 

     "Lideres Campesinas" the 2013 First Place winner
 

 

Once again 12 qualifying organizations will be selected from the applications submittted   Each organization will receive coaching and training in communications and story- telling to develop a compelling pitch" and deliver it in 3 minutes!

 

Check out the Desert Fast Pitch "Call For Applications" information in this issue as well the Application link.  The completed application is due by September 30, 2014.


 


 

For application, click here

 

"Rethink Your Drink" Local Campaign Impact with the Unveiling of a Hydration Station at the Boys & Girls Club in Coachella"

 

Community leaders and public health officials will gather on Wednesday, September 10, to unveil a new water station at the Boys & Girls Club of Coachella Valley - Coachella Clubhouse. Event participants will highlight the benefits associated with improving access to clean drinking water throughout the community.

 

The installation will provide fresh drinking water to approximately 200 Boys & Girls Club members each day. It is one of seven new water stations that have been installed throughout the region. In addition to encouraging the replacement of sugar drinks with water, these stations are projected to save thousands of plastic water bottles from local landfills.

 

The water stations were made possible by a partnership between Building Healthy Communities Eastern Coachella Valley, the Riverside County Department of Public Health and the Regional Access Project Foundation.

 

 

 

 

 

WHEN:     Wednesday, September 10 at 3:00 p.m.

WHERE:   Boys & Girls Club of Coachella Valley - Coachella Clubhouse
 85350 Bagdad Ave, Coachella, CA 92236



 Click here for full press release

   

RAP's Technical Assistance Program (TAP)

 

 

The RAP Foundation is pleased to announce the 5th round of the Non-Profit Management Certificate program sponsored by the TAP program. Attached you can access  a formal nomination form, course description and a copy of the schedule so persons interested in applying can be aware of the dates and confirm absence of any scheduling conflict before applying for a scholarship.

 

 We recently completed a very successful course and had a total of 23 students receive their certificate in Non-Profit Management; we are very proud of them all! All the information you need is in these attachments, please review  through it thoroughly.  Should you have additional questions please do not hesitate to contact Amalia Coyt  @760-674-9992 or acoyt@regionalaccessproject.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

The RAP Foundation will send out this newsletter quarterly.If you would like to include information about upcoming events, job opportunities, grants, please email Trinidad Arredondo, Program Officer, at tarredondo@regionalaccessproject.org 

Sincerely,

Regional Access Project Foundation
75105 Merle Drive Suite 800 Palm Desert, CA 92211
Palm Desert, California 92211

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