Inspiring leaders and organizations working at the local, state, and national levels to increase housing affordability and economic opportunities for everyone will be honored next month at the Second Annual Community Investment Awards presented by Lift to Rise.
The event’s theme, “Together we rise. No exceptions,” expresses a fundamental value held by this year’s honorees, Lift to Rise, and its many partners of believing that communities are truly thriving and healthy only when all people can live with security and opportunities to achieve their dreams. The Second Annual Community Investment Awards will take place Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert.
“This year’s honorees inspire us all to rededicate ourselves to the mission of building a better world for every human who calls the Earth home,” said Lift to Rise CEO Heather Vaikona. “We are excited to recognize these amazing leaders for their unwavering commitment to creating earth-shifting change and their long history of service toward a brighter future for our local communities and communities across America. These are all justice-oriented leaders whose work manifests itself in real change.”
The Community Investment Awards are an annual opportunity for Lift to Rise to spotlight the large-scale investments of time, energy, and resources made by caring individuals and organizations serving their communities in diverse capacities, including public, private, philanthropic, and governmental. Since its inception six years ago, Lift to Rise and its more than 75 collaborative partners have successfully advanced initiatives to increase affordable housing and economic mobility in the Coachella Valley. Together, they are working to meet a 10-year goal of building 10,000 new units of affordable housing in the Coachella Valley by 2028.
Recipients of the 2024 Community Investment Awards include:
Riverside County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez
The People’s Champion Award – recognizes a person who goes above and beyond their formal role to right for community priorities, critical investment, and human dignity
United Farm Workers, with UFW President Teresa Romero
The Historical Impact Award – salutes a person or group whose steadfast leadership over time has worked to right historical wrongs
Ariel Tolefree-Williams, Housing Services Administrator, City of Palm Springs
The Advocate of the Year Award – acknowledges someone who inspires others to make a difference by engaging their community and decision-makers in promoting better outcomes for their community
The California Department of Housing and Community Development
and
The Center for Community Investment
The Changemaker Award – celebrates trailblazing leadership that, in the spirit of change, transformed community well-being in the Coachella Valley
Kaiser Permanente
and
Riverside Legal Aid
The Community Anchor Award – pays tribute to the leadership and/or organizations that nurture community connection and stability while also catalyzing growth
The James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center
The Public Partner of the Year Award – applauds a public sector leader or agency that transcends the traditional role of local government for the well-being of its constituents