News from: Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez

This week, Riverside County and all nine cities of the Coachella Valley will join in hosting the Senior Inspiration Awards, which honor 11 local active senior volunteers who continue to give their time and effort to volunteer on behalf of the community.

Over 500 people are expected to attend this event which recognizes the honorees’ ongoing service and the inspiration they provide to people of all ages to get involved in an organization that helps their community.

The 33rd Annual Senior Inspiration Awards will be held Thursday, March 27 at the Fantasy Springs Resort Special Events Center, Hall A, 84-245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio.

This year’s honorees are: Linda Blair and Maria Alcala (Riverside County, residents of Bermuda Dunes and Blythe, respectively), Antonio Baciu (Cathedral City), Gabriel Hernandez (Coachella), Sally Hedberg (Desert Hot Springs), Ilene Heller (Indian Wells), Gladys Vargas (Indio), Mario Sewell (La Quinta), David MacFarlane (Palm Desert), J.R. Roberts (Palm Springs) and Murray Bryant (Rancho Mirage).

The program will be emceed by Emmy Winning Communicator Brooke Beare and Hernán Quintas, Anchor and Journalist, Telemundo 15 – KESQ.

“The Senior Inspiration Awards has been going on for 33 years now, and it’s a beautiful event, every city is involved and quite a bit of folks show up,” said Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. “This dates back to Supervisor Corky Larson and as well, Jean Benson, who was a Councilwoman for Palm Desert, and it continued with Supervisors Roy Wilson and John J. Benoit, and I’m trying to carry that tradition as well. Staff has been very great in making this effort, pushing this forward and, advancing and growing this event. The honorees are 60 years and older, they had their careers, raised their families. What connects all of them is that they still continue to give back and consistently show up to serve.”

Tickets are still available to purchase through Eventbrite. Tickets are $45 per person, and include salad, a chicken and salmon pairing or vegan entrée, and dessert, along with refreshments. All meals are gluten-free.

Guests can come as early as 10 a.m. and enjoy live music by Eevaan Tré and The Show, as well as a caricature artist, manicures and a custom typewriter poetry experience, all complimentary for guests. The luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. and the awards program concludes by 1:30 p.m.

The Senior Inspiration Awards is hosted by Supervisor Perez and the cities of the Coachella Valley (Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, Indio, La Quinta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage).