COD Foundation raises money for McCarthy Family Child Development Training Center

How many lives has College of the Desert changed? We'll never know. The same stories are echoed many times over: a young veteran whose world view has broadened since graduating high school; an older student with adult responsibilities reaching for a new goal; a student entering a college classroom, an experience no other member of his family has had; the young mom who wants to acquire a marketable skill.

For these reasons and many more, the College of the Desert (COD) Foundation exists and will mark its 40th year next year.

Members of the COD Foundation met Nov. 10 in the home of Tom Minder and Duke Kulas, poolside, in true desert paradise ambience as the sun set behind Mt. San Jacinto.

Dr. Paul Hinkes came to the podium, welcomed members of the President's Circle and introduced Catherine Abbott, executive director of the foundation.

"What impact has College of the Desert had on the community?" Abbott asked the crowd. "When you meet a nurse, a nutritionist, a mechanic or chef you may have met someone who learned their skills at COD and brought them in service to the desert community."

At times, students have financial problems, and the foundation is there to help. During the pandemic, the foundation received three substantial legacies from academic angels who wished to secure the foundation's continued services to students, including stellar educational experiences such as media/broadcasting students going to New York to participate in intercollegiate broadcasting or music students an opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall.

College of the Desert President Martha Garcia said she was most grateful for the success of the 11,000 students and what the foundation does for them. She said her own educational journey began in a community college and led her to continually higher achievements.

The focus of the evening was on the McCarthy Family Child Development Training Center. The center's director, Dianne Russom, said: "Although it provides a safe place for preschoolers while a parent attends class, it is not a babysitting service. It is a training center for students planning a career in education or as an early childhood development specialist. Prospective teachers or specialists learn how to do lesson plans, interact with students and manage a classroom.

"There are needs, however," she said. "We need teachers, food, diapers … everything."

The seven-classroom center includes other educational opportunities as well. Students in the culinary department preparing to be chefs provide food and agriculture students plant and cultivate gardens to provide that food.

The current need for the center was security cameras which cost $15,000. Edie McCarthy donated $7,500. Other members of the President's Circle immediately stepped up to meet the remainder.

"We are so fortunate to have donors who understand the importance of supporting the whole student," Abbott said. "They demonstrated this through their generosity to this President's Circle event."

For more information, email cabbott@collegeofthedesert.edu.

Joanne Hardy, a teacher with a yen to write (especially historical fiction stories), has published two novels, one set during the Civil War and the other the Great Depression. A desert resident since 1958, she has reported for the Desert Scene for 12 years.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: COD Foundation raises money for family child training center