Words by Daniel Vaillancourt
On the evening of Saturday, March 29, DAP Health hosted its 31st Annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards — the organization’s largest annual fundraiser and a perennial highlight of the desert’s social season. Held at the Palm Springs Convention Center and presented by Desert Care Network, the evening was a vibrant celebration of community, compassion, and commitment to health equity.
A Glamorous Start on the Pink Carpet
The evening began on the pink carpet with a quintet of photographers capturing guests dressed to the nines in their creative formal. DAP Health Chief of Brand Marketing Steven Henke served as special correspondent for NBC Palm Springs, joined by TV personality Chloe Carlson on a media stage featuring floral décor by Ronn Burns of Vaso Bello. The duo delivered live reports throughout the evening broadcast as attendees mingled over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, exploring an expansive silent auction featuring everything from original art and designer apparel to luxury vacations and home décor treasures.
Scene at The Chase
As always, The Chase delivered on its reputation for bold and playful fashion, turning the event into a visual feast of personal style and creative expression. Lance and Scot Karp stole the spotlight in matching floral ensembles, joined by several other couples rocking coordinated dinner jackets.
Meanwhile, Sue Burnside and Palm Springs City Councilmember Grace Garner turned heads in outfits made from the exact same fabric — an unexpected moment of twinning that captured the night’s whimsical energy. A guest in a Thom Browne suit with tailored shorts and a metallic finish added an edgy twist to the formalwear scene. And DAP Health patient Tracey Engelking shimmered in a sequin skirt and matching top.
Celebrity hairstylist Jason Balke made a daring statement in a powder blue tuxedo paired with a crimson pussy bow blouse, and city of La Quinta Mayor (and Presenting Sponsor Desert Care Network Chief Strategy Officer for Community Advocacy) Linda Evans exuded old-Hollywood glamour in a vintage-inspired gown trimmed with bright yellow ostrich feathers. Pastel-hued suits and floral dresses completed the evening’s colorful runway, proving once again that fashion at The Chase is as unforgettable as the cause it celebrates.
Disco Vibes & Powerful Words
As guests entered the ballroom for dinner, the room’s dynamic setup drew audible admiration and inspired a sea of social media videos capturing the experience. A central stage pulsed with energy as DJ Clifton Weaver spun classic disco hits beneath a constellation of glowing kinetic orbs. After his set, the DJ booth ascended into the ceiling and the room dimmed, marking the transition to the evening’s program.
The first thing seen onscreen and heard over the sound system were the words of one of only two surviving co-founders of what would become DAP Health — retired registered nurse Kathleen McCauley, 93 — speaking about the dawn of Desert AIDS Project. “In 1984 in Palm Springs, testing was offered at the health department, but the concern was, in such a public place, could the results be kept anonymous,” McCauley was heard saying in an audio clip recorded mere weeks earlier. “When knew how to help. We established a small anonymous testing site in Palm Springs. It was manned two nights a week by volunteer doctors and nurses who understood our purpose and mission: test as many people as possible and counsel them on how to stay safe.
“We became very busy as word spread that this was a safe space to get tested. We quickly outgrew that site and settled on a property on Vella Road — a rundown, drab building in need of a lot of repairs, but it had potential and would allow for future expansion. Our board of directors, including Steve Chase, did a walkthrough. Steve immediately took charge, saying, ‘I want to design this space to be a beacon of hope for AIDS patients.’” He did just that, and its place in history remains as the beginning of DAP Health.”
Following thunderous applause, gala chair and DAP Health board co-vice chair Kevin Bass welcomed the crowd with infectious energy, rallying them to celebrate and to dance. Shifting to a more somber tone, he drew a poignant parallel between today’s challenges and the early days of the AIDS epidemic, quoting activist Dan Savage: “During the darkest days of the AIDS crisis, we buried our friends in the morning, we protested in the afternoon, and we danced all night. The dance kept us in the fight because it was the dance we were fighting for. It didn’t look like we were going to win then, and we did. There are times it doesn’t feel like we will now … but we could. Keep fighting. Keep dancing.”
Honoring Humanitarians, Changing Lives
Following a tribute to event sponsors, guests enjoyed a dinner curated by Lynn and Brad Toles’ Savoury’s Catering. The evening then honored beloved local caterer and humanitarian Lynn Hammond with the Partners for Life Award, presented by two-time Steve Chase Humanitarian Award recipient Dr. Terri Ketover.
“Lynn has never hesitated to say yes, to roll up her sleeves, and give of her time, her talent, and her heart,” said Ketover. “And she has had a huge impact on DAP Health as well as countless other desert nonprofit organizations … She does none of it for recognition — she does it because, as she says, ‘We’re all supposed to give back.’”
Hammond’s heartfelt acceptance speech acknowledged both her community and the countless unsung supporters who inspire her to give back. “Thank you to my friends and family who have shown up. And to the multitudes of people, many I don’t know, who have stopped me on the street or written notes on Facebook saying thank you for all you do,” she said. “You have motivated me to do more for those who have less.”
From Survivor to Advocate: Maria’s Story
The evening’s emotional apex came with a video spotlighting Maria, a DAP Health client who courageously shared her journey of escaping abuse and homelessness. She credited DAP Health and her “angel protector,” community health worker Veronica, for helping her reclaim her life and purpose.
“It felt like a dream,” she said of walking through DAP Health’s doors. “One phone call is all it took.” Now employed as a community health worker and medical assistant at the nonprofit that literally saved her life, Maria received a powerful standing ovation as she was honored by CEO David Brinkman. “DAP Health is here to support you on every step of your journey,” he said. “We see you, and we applaud your courage.”
A CEO’s Rallying Cry
Brinkman used the moment to deliver one of his most stirring and impassioned speeches in his entire 18-year reign at the helm of DAP Health. Drawing from personal memories of the AIDS crisis and today’s political threats to health care access, he urged the audience to recognize the urgency of the moment.
“Many of you remember all too well how 40 years ago, the White House deliberately dehumanized and intentionally harmed our loved ones who were dying of AIDS,” he declared. “Back then, like me, you may remember trying to help a loved one get health care only to be turned away or treated like a pariah. Back then, you may remember friends being denied insurance.
“Right now, the new administration is trying to end insurance coverage for millions of low-income people, and reverse our progress toward ending the HIV epidemic. Back then, our friends could be kicked out of their home, fired from their job, made to feel unsafe no matter where they turned. This type of hatred and intimidation is again being used against many in our community. And the progress we’ve made in equality is being dismissed as wokeness.”
The beloved leader then cited DAP Health’s impressive achievements over the past year:
- 8,514 new patients welcomed
- 315,000 medical visits conducted
- 30,000 free STI and HIV tests administered
- 728 lives saved through free Narcan distribution
His closing message was clear: “To care is to see someone’s humanity, when others refuse. To care is to reach out, when the world tells you to turn away. To care is to reject the idea that some lives matter more than others. Health care is caring. Because when you change someone’s health, you change their life.”
Fund the Need: Raising Hearts and Hands
Returning auction host Dale Johannes expertly led the “Fund the Need” segment. Donations poured in, beginning with a $100,000 gift from board member Mark Adams and his husband Tyler Wibstad, followed by superstar Barry Manilow and husband Garry Kief pledging the same wildly generous amount. Board chair Patrick Jordan and his brother George gave $50,000 in memory of their sister, Clarissa Jordan Allen, and a $30,000 matching gift came from Steve Tobin, Johnny Krupa, and the Grace Helen Spearman Charitable Foundation.
As the paddles kept being hoisted into the air, the tally kept swelling. Bass was sure to extend profound thanks to all donors, especially those moved to give in Hammond’s honor. The night’s raffle concluded with one lucky winner taking home a dazzling 12-carat diamond bracelet worth $30,000 donated by Raju and Jaishri Mehta of El Paseo Jewelers.
Dancing the Night Away
The celebration peaked as headline act KC and The Sunshine Band lit up the ballroom with a high-energy 45-minute set of their greatest hits — including “Shake Shake Shake (Shake Your Booty),” “That’s the Way (I Like It),” and “Get Down Tonight” — spreading “instant happiness” through a crowd eager to dance the night away on a lighted dancefloor right out of the classic film “Saturday Night Fever.”
The afterparty, presented by Alan Kaminsky and featuring the return of DJ Clifton Weaver, kept spirits high until the final song was spun.
Looking Ahead
As the event drew to a close, Bass reminded guests to collect their auction prizes and mark their calendars for the 32nd Annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards, to be held in the same venue on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
With a staggering $2.3 million raised for the second year in a row, the evening was not just a celebration — it was a call to action. A reminder that, in the face of adversity, the DAP Health community shows up, speaks out, and gives generously to protect and expand access to care.
Bravo, DAP Health. The fight continues — as does the dance.
