Cathedral City Senior Center expands, promises A Night to Remember
“We don’t age here, we thrive here” — that’s the slogan of Cathedral City Senior Center (CCSC), a one-stop resource center for seniors located at 37-171 W. Buddy Rogers Avenue in Cathedral City. If fun-loving front desk volunteers David Sullivan and Sharon Nelson are any indication, that motto is true.
Sullivan and Nelson are but two of the jolly volunteers and members enjoying the camaraderie, recreational, educational and nutritional services boosting the vitality of adults aged 55 and up through CCSC’s more than 25 weekly activities and initiatives promoting happiness and well-being.
The 5,000-square-foot space occupies the ground floor of the Terra del Sol low-income housing complex whose residents are all members, raising the center’s membership to more than 600 seniors, 5,000 older adults utilizing services multiple times and more than 40,000 people across the valley visiting CCSC annually.
July and August’s visitors reached 19,000, forecasting a larger number for this fiscal quarter, which means they’re quickly outgrowing their space.
One reason for the growth was recognizing their demographics. Cathedral City is 56.7% Spanish speaking and, unfortunately, even after 42 years of community outreach, CCSC had no programs specifically designed for Hispanics and Latinos. Geoff Corbin, the organization's president and CEO, recognized they weren’t serving the city’s largest population and, with COO Vic Ide, set out to cure their own lack of diversity with the Edmundo & Herlinda Carrillo Equity in Aging Initiative.
A significant contribution from local supporters allowed CCSC to bring bilingual Community Outreach Coordinator Laura Gutierrez on board in 2021. Since then, they have observed an exponential increase in Spanish-speaking participation across the board.
Along with robust programming of crafting, exercise, dance, painting, games and language classes, Corbin and Ide are particularly proud of their food bank.
“The first hour is low-income seniors, so HUD housing folks get priority shopping,” Corbin says. “After that it opens to the public. We have fresh fruits and vegetables, donations from Panera Bread, Trader Joe's, Grocery Outlet. Today we handed out Krispy Kreme donuts. We do it every Friday, and all the different agencies in town donate food. It’s a very dignified shopping experience.”
Senior Advocates of the Desert is another service (available by appointment on Tuesdays and Thursdays) offered by CCSC. The organization provides assistance with navigating complicated government programs such as Medi-Cal and Medicare; supplemental Social Security benefits including disability and retirement; veterans aid; in-home services; and utility, emergency and subsidized housing financial assistance. In addition, Buddy Ticman’s free tax preparation is there to assist seniors with their tax returns to get every benefit available.
Incorporated in 1981, Cathedral City has done a great job focusing on business expansion and has experienced a growth spurt, both economically and socially. CCSC has stepped in by offering space where city social services can operate. They're also working within the fire and police departments with both chiefs.
“We set up a program helping to reduce their unnecessary 911 calls that come largely from seniors,” Corbin says.
Cathedral City Senior Center exists solely on grants, gifts and fundraising. That’s where galas come in.
On Nov. 1, the center is holding A Night to Remember gala, presented by Steve Tobin, Johnny Krupa & the Grace Helen Spearman Charitable Foundation and produced by Frank Goldstin’s Momentous. The gala will be emceed by Emmy-award winning anchor Peter Daut of KESQ News Channel 3 and will feature a concert performance by Grammy winner Jody Watley. A previous recipient of the BMI Medal of Honor, Watley was inducted into the Women Songwriter Hall of Fame in 2022.
Kicking off at 6 p.m. in the Cahuilla Ballroom at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa in Rancho Mirage, the gala will honor David Mizener and Arturo Carrillo of Contractors State Licensing Schools and Chuck Leachman and Mickey Feigelson with Community Impact Awards for their significant and respective contributions to improving the lives of seniors in the community at large.
There will be a live auction offering unique local items, exciting trips and a Saks Fifth Avenue shopping experience. In addition, guests will have the opportunity to win a 5-carat diamond tennis bracelet valued at $10,000 from El Paseo Jewelers, generously donated by Jaishri and Raju Mehta.
For more information on the event or to purchase tickets, visit theccsc.org/gala.
Kay Kudukis has written for a number of local publications, including Palm Springs Life, Me Yah Whae, R/M: The Magazine of Rancho Mirage, Broadway World and the official Modernism Week program.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Cathedral City Senior Center expands, promises A Night to Remember
