Golfers turn out to support Desert Arc’s 12th annual Golf Classic in Indio

Madeline Zuckerman
·3 min read

Desert Arc’s 12th annual Golf Classic showcased a full flight of dedicated golfers and more than 160 dinner guests on April 7. The camaraderie of the attendees was evident all day, with many of the golfers returning year after year to play on the Eagle Falls Golf Course at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio.

The event raised much-needed funds to support Desert Arc’s mission of championing the rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by enhancing their quality of life and creating opportunities for each person.

“We were finally able to return to hosting this event in early April, as we have done for so many years, now that the pandemic is hopefully behind us,” said Nancy Singer, event chair, board member and past board chair. “I truly enjoy being an integral part of this golf event, benefiting the many outstanding programs and services offered by Desert Arc.”

The event featured a scrumptious barbecue lunch, followed by a shotgun scramble, cocktail reception and golf awards banquet dinner, prepared by Fantasy Springs’ Chef Freddy, featuring such culinary delights as a Baja shrimp cocktail bowl, a rosemary-garlic roasted sirloin of beef, pan roasted sea bass and the chef’s meatballs and sweet Italian sausage.

Aubrey Serfling; Lori Serfling, Desert Arc board member; Gina Otto; and Nate Otto, Desert Arc board member and owner of Hot Purple Energy pose at Desert Arc’s 12th annual Golf Classic on April 7, 2022.
Aubrey Serfling; Lori Serfling, Desert Arc board member; Gina Otto; and Nate Otto, Desert Arc board member and owner of Hot Purple Energy pose at Desert Arc’s 12th annual Golf Classic on April 7, 2022.

“Desert Arc adeptly responded to the challenges of COVID-19 on behalf of the nearly 700 people with disabilities served by our mission,” said Richard Balocco, president and CEO of Desert Arc. “Our nonprofit, a human services organization, shifted its on-site programs into ongoing phone meetings with our case management staff and virtual gatherings via Zoom to ensure the opportunity for clients to participate in learning and social activities. The unwavering commitment of our board of directors and staff to our cause and perseverance in providing person-centric programming to enable people to reach their highest potential, is inspirational to all.”

The coveted golf awards went to: Seecon Properties featuring John Tate, Fabian Granados, Brandon Petelski and Jessie Lanham (first place); Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians featuring Geno Dixon, Don Perea, Charley Dalorey and Randy Perea (second place); Larissa Kerstetter, director, lead annual giving for Eisenhower Health Foundation (women’s longest drive and women’s closest to the pin); Bobby Farnham (men’s longest drive); and Jon Doulas (men’s closest to the pin).

During dinner, guests sang "Happy Birthday" to a very special lady, long-time Desert Arc board member Mary Hendler, who was presented with her favorite red velvet birthday cake, lovingly prepared by Chef Freddy.

Desert Arc board member Mary Hendler poses with Darlene Beneto, the event's dinner sponsor, at Desert Arc’s 12th annual Golf Classic on April 7, 2022.
Desert Arc board member Mary Hendler poses with Darlene Beneto, the event's dinner sponsor, at Desert Arc’s 12th annual Golf Classic on April 7, 2022.

Major event sponsors were: Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians (presenting sponsor); Darlene Beneto (dinner sponsor); Hot Purple Energy (luncheon sponsor); the City of Rancho Mirage, Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Pacific Western Bank and Singer (golf cart sponsors); and Balocco, Heffernan Insurance Brokers, The Katharine May Family and Mind & Mill (greens sponsors).

KESQ News Channel 3 was the event’s media sponsor.

Seen in the crowd were Damian Jenkins; Jay Chesterton; Douglas Welmas; Julian Mata; Larry Chisholm; Nate and Gina Otto; Aubrey and Lori Serfling; Laura Fritz; Darrell Mike; Miguel Terriquez; Greg Rangel; Omar Rodriquez; Rob Anzalone; David Peat; Mike Schrim; Tracy Trambley; Peter and Patrick Asten; Jerry Upham; Tim Esser; Ernie Rubin; Teddi Rozell; Glenn Miller and Diane Fesler; Ty Peabody; Bobby Farnham; Guido Portante; Tim and Keri Smith; Bill Banning; Jim Schneider; Don Lindsey; Tim and Monique Marchi; Leonard Zuckerman; Christopher Hoggatt; Buddy Ackerman; Marc and Carol McClure; George Englund; Alex Gomez; Karen Miles; and Katharine, Katie and Steve May.

Desert Arc’s 13th annual Golf Classic will take place April 6, 2023.

For more on Desert Arc, call (760) 404-1368 or visit desertarc.org.

Madeline Zuckerman is owner and president 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, California. Her clients have included South Coast Plaza, Pacific Symphony and Tiffany & Co. in Orange County and Desert Arc, Olive Crest and Mama's House here in the desert. She is a Founder of McCallum Theatre and has been a guest reporter with The Desert Sun for the past 14 years.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Golfers support Desert Arc’s 12th annual Golf Classic in Indio