Past Events

Kevin Blessing, Jack Williams, Darcey Deetz, Lynn Moriarty
The Foundation's Teddy Cares Program distributes teddy bears twice a year; during the December holiday season and in April in observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Since 2003, the Foundation has delivered over 7,500 bears to local children in an effort to put a smile on their faces during a very difficult time.

This December, Desert Outreach Foundation distributed more than 500 teddy bears to local organizations to give to traumatized or abused children as holiday gifts. Recipient organizations were: Desert Regional Medical
Center, JFK Memorial Hospital, Healthy Family Foundation, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Children, Barbara Sinatra Children's Center, Betty Ford Center's Children Program, Olive Crest Homes and Services for Abused Children, Shelter from the Storm, Child Protective Services of Riverside County, Palm Springs Fire Department, and Palm Desert Police Department.

Organizations with child abuse related programs have told us that the teddy bear is more that just something cuddly for a child, it becomes an important tool in their efforts to provide counseling for the child and the family. Susan Francis, CEO of the Healthy Family Foundation whose home visitation program directly assists families where there has been child abuse, neglect, substance abuse and domestic violence, has told us "When considering the dire circumstances these families face, one wouldn't expect the amazing difference a teddy bear can make. Giving a soft cuddly teddy bear to a child in this environment relaxes a tense situation and has a positive effect on everyone present. The teddy bear becomes a vehicle for beginning the work of addressing the family's most difficult issues."
This year the Foundation reached out to the local business community to sponsor the delivery of teddy bears to one or more of the recipient organizations. Our sincere appreciation to Capitis/Sotheby International Realty, our first local business to sponsor the recent delivery of 120 bears to the Healthy Family Foundation and Shelter from the Storm. Capitis/Sotheby's sold Teddy Bear Sponsorship Ornaments at their office on Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs. Showcased from their window, overlooking the courtyard at the Corridor, visitors stopped in to purchase a $10 ornament, which would be tied to the wrist of each teddy bear being delivered. Kevin Blessing, the owner of Capitis/Sotheby, personally helped us deliver the bears, and his generosity will enable us to increase the number of bears we deliver next year.
Images courtesy of Lani Garfield
Our Margaritaville Scholarship Awards Dinner held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel was a huge success. Tropical fun was had by all who attended. A special 'Thank You' to our sponsors Capitis/Sotheby's International Realty, True Value Hardware, Palm Springs Life Magazine, First Capital, Party Lab, Tommy Bahama, Macy's, Jensen's, Fazio Marketing, At Hom Staging, 95.9 FM Oasis and everyone who attended! Your continuing support enables us to continue providing scholarships to young people of merit and need. We are very proud to introduce our 2011 Scholarship Recipients.
On March 25, 2011, our Pre-Party was a smashing success! A special 'Thank You' to Fashion Week at El Paseo, Palm Springs Life, Trina Turk, all of our sponsors and everyone who attended! Please visit our Fashion Week page for details and fun photographs of this spectacular event.
On October 29, 2010, the Desert Outreach Foundation held its Classics Night at Spencer's Restaurant in Palm Springs. Here's a message from the Board of Directors:
A heartfelt THANK YOU from the Desert Outreach Foundation Board. Your attendance and support of our Classics Night at Spencer's Restaurant helped to make it a successful sold out event! We were particularly excited that you had the opportunity to enjoy our four time scholarship recipient, J. Scott Beaty, at the piano. It is the generous support of individuals like you that has enabled us to provide over $160,000.00 in scholarships to over 60 students and provide comfort to over 6,000 children in crisis at local desert area police, emergency rooms, and abuse centers. Your continued support will help us to grow these programs so that more students and children in crisis can be helped.
Sincerely,
The Board of Directors of the Desert Outreach Foundation
On September 12, 2010, the Desert Outreach Foundation awarded scholarships to the 2010 recipients at a reception at the Hyatt Regency Suites in Palm Springs.
Congratulations to all of our 2010 Scholarship Awards winners.
Since the beginning of the "Children in Crisis" program, Desert Outreach Foundation has provided thousands of bears to agencies that in turn give them to children who have been victims of child abuse as well as to local hospitals and police departments.

From April 26 to April 29, 2010, as part of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Foundation distributed more than 500 bears to local organizations including Desert Regional Medical Center, JFK Memorial Hospital in Indio, Healthy Family Living, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Children, Barbara Sinatra Children's Center, Betty Ford Center's Children Program, Olive Crest Homes and Services for Abused Children, Palm Desert Police Department, Shelter From The Storm, and Child Protective Services of Riverside County.
Watch the KESQ News Channel 3's coverage of this event:
On August 16, 2009, the Desert Outreach Foundation held a casual brunch to award scholarships to the 2009 recipients. Seven $1,500 scholarships were presented to some very deserving students, representing a diverse spectrum and will be attending schools as far away as Princeton University.
Congratulations to all of our 2009 Scholarship Awards winners.
The Desert Outreach Foundation held its inaugural Teddy Bear Dinner, benefiting its "Children in Crisis" program, on June 4, 2009 at the Indian Canyons Golf Resort. Our sincere thanks to all attendees, entertainment, volunteersand board members for making this event a success.
Desert Outreach Foundation IRS 501(c)(3) Tax ID #91-1940047
1775 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 110, Palm Springs, CA 92264
Telephone: 760-864-1234 Email: info@desertoutreachfoundation.org