Olive Crest hosts annual Power of One luncheon, opens children and family resource center

Known for its dedication to preventing child abuse, to treating and educating at-risk children and to preserving the family, Olive Crest Desert Communities hosted its annual Power of One luncheon Feb. 1 with more than 150 guests in attendance.

KESQ News Channel 3 anchor Karen Devine served as emcee of the event, which honored and celebrated the Olive Crest Champions of Hope, who have been dedicated to protecting and serving children and families in crisis. Raising close to $200,000, the elegant luncheon was chaired by Leslie McGrath.

"We all know someone who has made a lasting positive impact in our lives," said Tracy Fitzsimmons, the nonprofit's executive director. "Today we take a moment to celebrate exceptional individuals who have made a lasting imprint in our community through their partnership with Olive Crest. We honor their commitment to at-risk children and families, and we affirm the truth that one community, one church, one business, one volunteer, one donor, one mentor and one individual can create massive impact.

"I'm excited and grateful to come together and celebrate the positive change the power of one has made in the lives of vulnerable kids and families within the Coachella Valley."

Luncheon keynote speaker Peter Mutabazi, best-selling author of "Now I Am Known," talked about his personal journey regarding foster care, adoption, child advocacy and parenting.

As an African-born foster kid, Mutabazi only learned about foster care in the United States after his parents sent him to America for higher education when he was in his 20s. Mutabazi has overcome a variety of life challenges and encourages listeners to love those around them and to see the hope in their stories. His remarkable ability to turn his challenging upbringing into a life of service to others, especially children, is an amazing example of the power of one.

"As a child, I ran away from an abusive home and was helped by the kindness of strangers," Mutabazi said. "As an adult, I found myself in a position to be able to help foster children, so I began taking children into my home years ago, to give back what was so freely given to me."

Olive Crest Champions of Hope who were honored at the luncheon included Dermatology & Plastic Surgery Specialists' Dr. Natalie Driessen and Dr. Michael J. Messina (Champion Business of the Year), Judy Sanders (Champion Volunteer of the Year), the Kyle and Stephanie Hinkle family (Champion Family of the Year) and Sean and Leslie McGrath (Champion Donors of the Year).

Luncheon event sponsors included Dermatology & Plastic Surgery Specialists; Stonegate West Real Estate Group; El Paseo Jewelers; K. Hinkle Painting; Associa Desert Resort Management; Sun Community Federal Credit Union; Hydes Air Conditioning, Heating & Electrical Services; Manny and Linda Rider; and Capobianco Law Offices PC.

Coachella Valley-based optometrist Dr. Athena Brasfield was the lucky winner of the El Paseo Jewelers $20,000 raffle package, which included a 14k white gold 5ct diamond bracelet in addition to a catered bracelet-fitting reception at El Paseo Jewelers for 10 guests, each receiving a gift card valued at $1,000.

Event media sponsors included The Desert Sun & LocaliQ, presenting newspaper and digital media sponsor; Inland Empire Magazine, exclusive magazine media sponsor; KESQ TV News Channel 3, exclusive TV media sponsor; and Alpha Media Palm Springs, exclusive radio media sponsor.

Since 1973, Olive Crest has transformed the lives of more than 200,000 children and their families. On Jan. 23, the organization opened its new Children and Family Resource Center at 39-820 Portola Avenue in Palm Desert. This was the culmination of a long-awaited and much-needed expansion within the Coachella Valley, where the organization's successful and impactful programs for at-risk youth and their families will be available for the first time in one location on this comprehensive campus.

For general information or to make a donation, call (800) 550-2445 or visit olivecrest.org. For information on the new Children and Family Resource Center, visit olivecrest.org/coachella-valley.

Madeline Zuckerman is owner of M. Zuckerman Marketing & Public Relations, Inc., a strategic marketing, branding, public relations and special events firm with offices in Rancho Mirage and Newport Beach, Calif. She is a founder of McCallum Theatre, a board member of the One Valley Foundation, the official nonprofit of the Coachella Valley Firebirds and has been a guest reporter with The Desert Sun for the past 16 years.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Olive Crest hosts annual Power of One luncheon, opens resource center