Nonprofit News

Lift to Rise takes over Palm Desert building to use for staff offices and community events

Lift to Rise is excited to announce its relocation to a new mid-valley headquarters with further plans in the coming year to create a dedicated community gathering space for collaboration with its network of partners.
Located at 75-175 Merle Drive in Palm Desert, the 12,000-sqare-feet campus will provide expanded and flexible workspaces for Lift to Rise staff to meet with community members and partners in their work to increase affordable housing options in the Coachella Valley. It will also eventually offer a centrally located and welcoming space for professional and informal gatherings at low or no cost to community-focused residents, organizational leaders, public officials, and private-sector partners.
“We are thrilled to be taking this unique building and turning it into a new community asset,” said Lift to Rise CEO Heather Vaikona. “Our wish it that it not only becomes an inviting place that centers us in our work to build a Coachella Valley with opportunities for everyone, but also provides the space and resources for activities that ground us in community, enrich our spirits, and strengthen our connections to one another.”
Lift to Rise purchased the property earlier this year, and the staff are moving this month. Extensive renovations are planned, and more information about the design and function of the updated space will be shared as work moves forward next year. The property contains a two-story main building for offices and meetings and a separate warehouse building with parking between the two buildings. The architecturally distinct structure was designed by the esteemed home-building firm Van Vliet and Company and housed the firm’s offices.
Since its founding in 2018, Lift to Rise has rented office space in the Park View complex along Fred Waring Drive in Palm Desert. The new location maintains the same central Coachella Valley convenience while increasing accessibility from the I-10 freeway.
“I am thrilled we’ve completed the purchase of our new building, a significant milestone for Lift to Rise,” said Lift to Rise Board Treasurer Chris Kennen. “With this building comes opportunities to foster stronger partnerships, create shared solutions, and further our mission of supporting and uplifting the communities we serve. This is a proud moment for all of us, and I look forward to seeing the impact it will have for years to come.”
As of this month, the new mailing address for Lift to Rise is: 75-175 Merle Drive, Suite 100, Palm Desert, CA 92211.
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About Lift to Rise
Lift to Rise is a cross-sector, community-driven movement to create a future where all families in Southern California’s Coachella Valley are healthy, stable, and thriving. With input from more than 75 collaborative partners and countless community members, Lift to Rise created a 2024-2026 Action Plan that serves as a roadmap to radically increase housing stability and advance economic opportunity for all valley residents. Learn more about its recent work at liftttorise.org/impact.
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