A local nonprofit organization that helps people living with disabilities stay active purchased a new van to help transport equipment thanks to a $25,000 grant from a local foundation.
“Desert Ability Center provides people living with disabilities with specialized equipment, but there was still a missing element to transporting all of it,” said Judy May, executive director of Desert Ability Center. “The Coachella Valley Spotlight grant will allow us to purchase a van, which will take our organization and our clients, quite literally, to new heights.”
The Frances C. Berger Foundation awarded Desert Ability Center $25,000, which the nonprofit organization used to purchase a 2019 cargo van from Palm Springs Motors.
The dealership discounted the price of the van, and pickled up all additional fees to make sure the cost did not exceed the amount of the grant, according to the foundation.
Desert Ability Center shares its inventory of adaptive sports equipment — sports wheelchairs, paracycles and transport trailers — with local residents.
The nonprofit organization holds wheelchair tennis clinics for youths and adults with physical disabilities at the J.W. Marriott Desert Springs Resort every Sunday, and paracycling clinics two times per month in La Quinta.
More information about Desert Ability Center is available at www.desertabilitycenter.org or by calling 760-674-7073.