News from Coachella Valley Housing Coalition:
The Coachella Valley Housing Coalition (CVHC), a non-profit developer of affordable housing, awarded 39 scholarships to its residents attending a 2-year college, 4-year university, or Graduate School. The Annual Luncheon and Awards Ceremony took place on Friday, June 22nd beginning at 11:30 AM at the Heritage Palms Country Club in Indio.
This year’s recipients, their parents, and invited guests were treated to an exceptional and touching keynote address by former CVHC resident Rigoberto Gonzalez. Mr. Gonzalez resided with his grandparents in the Fred Young community in Indio from 1983-1988. Currently residing in New York, Mr. Gonzalez is a Professor of English at Rutgers University and the State University of New Jersey. He is a published author of 17 books of poetry and literature and the recipient of many awards including, the Lambda Literary Award and the Lenore Marshall Prize from the Academy of American Poets, the Poetry Society of America, and the Barnes and Noble Writer Award. As of 2016, he serves as critic-at-large with the L.A. Times and sits of the Board of Trustees of the Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP).
Established in 2002 by the employees of CVHC and named after its Founding Executive Director John F. Mealy, over $700,000 in financial assistance has been awarded to eligible college students residing in its multi-family and single family housing.
“A decent, stable home is a foundation for success in education and a career. CVHC understands the responsibility it has to provide safe and affordable housing as well as opportunities to develop the potential of our residents”, stated Julie Bornstein, CVHC’s Executive Director.
Besides offering the JFM Scholarship Program and constructing beautiful affordable housing, CVHS continues providing other resident services including after school Kids Clubs, English as a Second Language, computer technology, gardening skills, health and nutrition, STEM Robotics, Tennis Camp, financial literacy, Mariachi Music Instruction, cultural dance instruction, college scholarships, and day care services. They help eliminate barriers to success and link them to their community in ways they could never find possible without them. These programs are made possible through the generous support of individual donors, corporate and foundation support, and CVHC’s business network.
To learn more about the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition or on donating and supporting the JFM Scholarship Fund, please call us at 760-347-3157 or visit our website at www.cvhc.org. And don’t forget to like us on Facebook (facebook.com/CVHousing)!