Variety Children’s Charity of the Desert will recognize five local women who have made an impact on the lives of Coachella Valley children at its 3rd Annual Women of Wonder Luncheon on Friday, February 19, 2024. This champagne reception and awards luncheon will be held at Agua Caliente Resort, Spa and Casino in Rancho Mirage, beginning at 11 a.m.
This year’s honorees include:
Jill Beighley – President of Assistance League Coachella Valley, which transforms the lives of children and adults through community programs. Jill is especially committed to helping children in underserved communities.
Sofia Campos – An experienced grant writer who has dedicated over 20 years to the special needs field. She is passionate about serving the needs of the intellectually and developmentally disabled population.
Andrea Hecht – Executive Director of Tools for Tomorrow, a local organization that promotes cognitive, emotional, social, multi-sensory and critical thinking skills by offering children a hands-on experience.
Jan Lupia – Founder of Mama’s House, which offers a safe and nurturing environment for pregnant women and mothers with an infant or small child who are in crisis as well as education and counseling at its Hope Center.
Dawn Rashid – An early childhood educator of 35 years and an advocate and mentor to children, including her dedication to the Big Hearts for Little Hearts Guild of Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital.
The Women of Wonder Award Luncheon is an annual event that was developed to recognize local women leaders who have made a difference in the lives of Coachella Valley children – which is synergistic with Variety’s own mission of funding and delivering life-changing programs that give Coachella Valley children a better future, ensuring every child experiences equality and inclusion.
“We are so looking forward to celebrating these extraordinary ‘women of wonder,’ and we’ll also be honoring their many accomplishments which have benefitted Coachella Valley youth,” said Heidi Maldoon, Executive Director of Variety Children’s Children’s Charity of the Desert.
Formed in the Coachella Valley in 1987, Variety – the Children’s Charity of the Desert is dedicated to promoting the health, mobility, independence, and social inclusion of special needs and disadvantaged children throughout the Coachella Valley. By providing life-enriching assistance to
Coachella Valley children, Variety helps children experience all the joys of childhood while growing to become confident, independent, and free to access all that the world offers. Recently the organization has expanded its services by establishing an early childhood development resource center to help parents in the Coachella Valley identify and recognize early childhood development concerns and provide them with the appropriate resources to help overcome challenges and set their children on a path to success.
Tickets are $125 per person. For more information, visit www.varietyofthedesert.org or call (760) 773-9800.
