2025 Impact Report
advocacy
affordable housing dentistry
ending epidemics
equitable access
family medicine
food assistance
gender-affirming care
harm reduction
health equity
HIV prevention, testing, treatment
DAP Health
infectious diseases
mental health
OB-GYN pediatrics
pharmacy services
primary care
racial equity
recovery services
sexual wellness
social services
urgent care
women’s health
health care is
Dear DAP Health Community
For more than 40 years, this organization has been shaped by a simple but powerful commitment: listening to the voices of the community members it serves. Those voices — diverse, passionate, and ever-evolving — have guided our growth from a single service rooted in compassion to an award-winning, internationally recognized network of nonprofit community health centers.
Today, I am incredibly proud to say that nearly 1,000 dedicated team members work across 23 fixed locations and six mobile units to care for almost 80,000 patients from the Coachella Valley to the San Diego coast. We meet people where they are, bringing high-quality, affirming care close to home and removing barriers to access.
As community needs have grown, so have our disciplines. DAP Health provides primary care, mental health care, dentistry, women’s health (including OB-GYN), pediatrics, pharmacy services, LGBTQ+ health and wellness, specialty HIV care, and more — all grounded in our enduring vision of a world where everyone achieves their full potential, and our mission to provide comprehensive health care and support services where everyone is seen, heard, and affirmed. Throughout these pages, you will read for yourself about the impact DAP Health’s expert professionals and invaluable supporting players make in the lives of those who have come to depend on us, knowing that here they’ve found their health care home.
Since transparency is paramount at DAP Health, this 2025 Impact Report also includes a detailed financial disclosure outlining where our funds come from and how they are invested to advance our mission.
I dedicate this annual publication to our team members, volunteers, donors, community partners, elected officials, and — most importantly — our patients. You have always been, and always will be, the lifeblood of DAP Health. Our success is only possible thanks to the role each and every one of you plays.
In gratitude and partnership, David Brinkman,
MBA Chief Executive Officer, DAP Health
Vision: DAP Health envisions a world where every person achieves their full potential.
Mission: DAP Health provides comprehensive health care and support services where all people are seen, heard, and affirmed.
Visión: DAP Health visualiza un mundo donde cada persona alcance su máximo potencial.
Misión: DAP Health brinda atención médica integral y servicios de apoyo donde todas las personas son vistas, escuchadas y valoradas.
empathy words health care core values actions positivity possibility
DAP Health’s Core Values
As voted on by all team members, they are:
• Empathy Wins
• Providing Health Care Is My Superpower
• Our Words and Actions Align
• Positivity Promotes Possibility
Understanding DAP Health:
From our roots to our reach
What is DAP Health?
Since 1984, DAP Health has remained committed to its founding principles based on equitable access to health care. Guided by the voices and needs of the diverse communities it serves, the nonprofit has protected and expanded access to quality programs and services for people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, orientations, and socioeconomic statuses.
Why does DAP Health focus on culturally competent care?
That focus leads to better health outcomes. Culturally competent health care refers to the ability of clinicians and institutions to deliver services that are respectful of and responsive to the cultural and linguistic needs of diverse patient populations. It involves understanding and addressing the unique cultural factors that influence patients’ health beliefs, practices, and behaviors.
Why is the patient’s experience important at DAP Health?
DAP Health puts its patients’ individual needs first as an acknowledgment that each person requires customized communication and care to ensure comfort and ease along their health care journey, and to improve health outcomes.
What are social drivers of health, and why are they important to DAP Health?
Social drivers of health, AKA social determinants of health (SDOH), are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, worship, work, play, and age that affect their health outcomes. These factors influence a wide range of health, functioning, and qualityof-life outcomes and risks. Some key SDOH include economic stability, education (language, literacy, access to higher learning), social and community context (discrimination, incarceration), and environment (housing, food, transportation, safety).
What medical services does DAP Health provide?
DAP Health ensures access to care by removing barriers and offering a sliding scale fee for income-qualified individuals who are uninsured. It addresses urgent needs, providing a foundation for patients to achieve positive health outcomes. Medical services include dentistry, family
medicine, gender health and wellness, HIV care, infectious disease care, LGBTQ+ care, mental health care, pediatrics, pharmacy services, primary care, sexual wellness services (HIV testing, STI testing and treatment, PrEP and PEP for the prevention of HIV, DoxyPEP for the prevention of STIs, pregnancy testing, and birth control consultations — all free or at low cost), urgent care, and women’s health, including OB-GYN.
What social service programs does DAP Health provide to eligible patients?
The Sunrise campus in Palm Springs offers 141 units of onsite affordable housing: 81 units for people with HIV/AIDS at Vista Sunrise I and 60 units for unhoused individuals and those suffering from chronic illness at Vista Sunrise II. Additional services include case management, home care, social support groups, and employment, food, transportation, and housing assistance.
In which communities does DAP Health serve?
DAP Health’s reach extends across 136 urban and rural zip codes in Riverside and San Diego counties, from the Coachella Valley to the San Diego coast. Just some of the Southern California cities served include Anza, Borrego Springs, Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, El Cajon, Escondido, Indio, Nuevo, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, San Jacinto, Thermal, and Vista.
Passing the Torch
A new chapter in DAP Health’s governance
As longtime DAP Health Board Chair Patrick Jordan concludes his distinguished service, former Co-Vice Chair Eve Fromberg Edelstein, Esq., steps into the role with vision and resolve — supported by remaining Vice Chair Kevin Bass.
Words by Staci Backauskas •
Photos by Demarcus O’Dell
When Eve Fromberg Edelstein, Esq., became the new chair of DAP Health’s board of directors last May, it wasn’t a changing of the guard. It was more a passing of the baton. “Changing of the guard sounds like things are going to be dramatically different,” says Kevin Bass, current vice chair. “The leadership style may change a little, but we all work in tandem and the basic principles of what we do remains the same.”
Fromberg Edelstein takes the reins from Patrick Jordan, who served as chair since 2020 and, along with DAP Health CEO David Brinkman, steered the organization not only through the COVID-19 pandemic, but also the acquisition of Borrego Health. “The bottom line is the buck stops with the board of directors,” says Jordan. “We are responsible for an organization that impacts almost 80,000 human lives.”
The strategic plan developed for 2025-2028 addresses how to continue providing the highest quality health care for current clients while adding bold goals, especially around health equity. “Our strategic plan takes everything we’ve learned, combines it with where we want to be, and memorializes it,” says Fromberg Edelstein, who lives in Rancho Mirage with her husband and son. She wants to lead the organization by ensuring the needs of marginalized populations beyond the HIV/AIDS community — women, children, those with chronic health issues due to poverty or exposure to toxic environments — are addressed.
Jordan wants to allay any concerns the HIV/AIDS community might have about DAP Health expanding its client base. “What people need to realize is that the HIV/ AIDS crisis — which isn’t over, by the way — is what built DAP Health. From it, the phoenix rises from the ashes and is able to care for and protect other vulnerable populations.”
Fromberg Edelstein points out that, from its inception, DAP Health was created to be a port in a storm, a place for people to go when they were in a health crisis. “That has continued,” she says. “First with AIDS, then COVID-19, mpox, and the opioid crisis.”
With managing new crises of political strife and funding issues around the sensitive populations that DAP Health serves, her objective is to elevate the organization. “From each one of these dilemmas, we learn something that we then take into our DNA that makes us more resilient and stable. That epitomizes DAP Health.”
Fromberg Edelstein is deeply appreciative to Jordan for his leadership and the work he’s done over the last five years. “Patrick’s intention when he started was probably to serve as a three-year chair, the lifespan of most board chairs,” she says. “But because of the merger and the current climate, Patrick stayed on. He has created continuity and stability because he’s such a great leader.”
Jordan, who will remain on the board for a year to support the transition, believes it’s important to use this strategic plan as a map to grow. “You have to be like Gumby and bend and change with whatever shows up. Thankfully, we have a board of directors that is of a size that we’re able to make decisions quickly and move on those decisions just as quickly.”
Fromberg Edelstein is thrilled about the future. “We are in a growth and branding pattern,” she says. “Part of that is to broaden our understanding of the populations we serve and explore those microcultures to make sure we are talking to patients and clients in a way they understand and trust.”
In addition, she wants to help the organization expand its role as a national player, citing the size of DAP Health as one of the largest organizations of its kind. She knows implementing the plan will require a lot of energy and collaboration, but perceives the work as a calling.
“We’re looking at how we can be the most powerful voice for those we serve [while continuing] to see and treat them holistically,” she says. “How do we enlist those people in our society who feel like they’re not seen, heard, or affirmed? We want them to know you are seen. You are heard. And we will affirm you.”
“The bottom line is the buck stops with the board of directors. We are responsible for an organization that impacts almost 80,000 human lives.”
Bass believes Fromberg Edelstein — as both a female lawyer and a DAP Health board member for four years — brings a unique perspective to the position. “We’re all equal,” he says. “But a woman’s approach and perspective are different from a man’s.”
In addition, her nonprofit and business experience, along with her understanding of the legal obligations necessary to keep the board healthy, are a winning combination. “Eve’s background and absolute passion for the work we do makes this an exciting time.”
2025
Another year of growth, service, & impact
DAP Health is an award-winning, internationally renowned humanitarian health care organization and community health center (CHC) network whose goal is to protect and expand health care access for all people — especially the disenfranchised — regardless of who or where they are, their health status, or whether they have health insurance.
In 2025, its nearly 1,000 team members continued to serve almost 80,000 patients of all ages, genders, ethnicities, orientations, and socioeconomic statuses at 23 fixed locations and six mobile units from the Coachella Valley to the San Diego coast.
About Our Data
Looking at the total FQHC patient population is fundamentally different from looking only at the UDS patient population because UDS represents a subset of care, not the full scope of services or patients the FQHC touches.
Our numbers reflect the full reach and operational reality of DAP Health. This broader view may include:
• Patients receiving enabling services (case management, care coordination, outreach)
• Patients seen in programs or settings not fully captured in UDS
• Individuals engaged through health initiatives, screenings, or grant-funded programs
• Patients with limited/ episodic contact that doesn’t meet UDS visit thresholds
2025 Data Source: DAP Health EMR, OCHIN, Epic
In 2025, plans were made to make capital improvements to DAP Health’s Sunrise campus (which will include relocating its Palm Springs Family Health women’s health practice there), and to opening a new sexual wellness clinic in Oceanside in North San Diego County. Both of these projects are geared toward a 2026 completion.
Just some of our impact for 2025 includes:
79,470 patients served
200,701 medical clinic visits
24,499 dental visits
10,643 mental health visits
14,107 sexual wellness visits
41,530 immunizations
9,289 flu vaccines
2,440 COVID-19 vaccines
7,099 colorectal cancer screenings
3,248 breast cancer screenings
7,699 cervical cancer screenings
OB-GYN and Pediatrics
Women and children
DAP Health is committed to providing compassionate, whole-person OB-GYN and pediatric care designed to support individuals and families at every stage of life.
Women have access to comprehensive prenatal care delivered by skilled physicians, nurse practitioners, and midwives, along with continued care and guidance following childbirth.
Pediatric services include newborn exams, well-child visits, immunizations, school and sports physicals, and care for both routine and complex medical conditions.
By building longstanding, trusted relationships between patients and care teams, DAP Health helps families receive consistent, personalized care that promotes lifelong wellness for children, parents, and growing families throughout each one of the diverse communities it serves.
23,246
OB-GYN visits
HIV Care
Our lasting legacy
From the dawn of the HIV epidemic more than four decades ago, DAP Health has led with compassion and expertise in caring for people living with the virus. What started as a pressing, grassroots call to action has grown into an awardwinning, nationally recognized model for inclusive, patientcentered, whole-person care that honors dignity while delivering measurable outcomes.
Today, DAP Health remains at the forefront of HIV care. Newly diagnosed individuals — or those who are positive but have fallen out of care — are quickly connected to treatment. Longterm survivors — most of whom are aging well with HIV — receive the specialized services, resources, and ongoing support they need to continue to thrive well into their senior years.
303
Rapid StART visits delivered
56 patients newly diagnosed with HIV (or reconnected to care) started treatment immediately
80% linked to care without delay
3,324 patients received ongoing HIV specialty care
Sexual Wellness & HIV Prevention
You can’t have overall good health without good sexual health
DAP Health has long provided free, judgment-and-shame-free sexual wellness services — including HIV testing, STI testing and treatment, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for the prevention of HIV, Doxy-PEP for the prevention of STIs, pregnancy testing, birth control consultations, and preventive vaccines for mpox and HPV — through its dedicated clinics: the Orange Clinic on the Sunrise campus in Palm Springs, as well as the sexual wellness clinics at Stonewall Medical Center in Cathedral City, in Indio, and (seasonally) at College of the Desert in Palm Desert.
Additional care is delivered throughout California via mobile outreach and mail-order programs, and via DAP Health’s mobile sexual wellness services.
Coming soon is the sexual wellness clinic and pharmacy at Oceanside in North San Diego County.
14,107 patients were served by DAP Health’s sexual wellness clinics
15,552 HIV-negative patients were prescribed PrEP
277 switched to injectable PrEP
67,916 free HIV tests
652 mobile HIV tests
271 free HIV self-test kits
23,337 hepatitis C tests
7,796 hepatitis B tests
148 pregnancy tests
50 birth control consultations
2,324 individuals treated for an STI
LGBTQ+ Care
At the heart of who we are
DAP Health was founded to combat the apathy surrounding a public health crisis that decimated the world’s gay male population. Our commitment has never wavered since. For more than 40 years, we have delivered culturally competent, comprehensive, and judgment-free care to every member of the LGBTQ+ community who comes through our doors.
At a time when people are again under attack, many are relocating to Southern California in search of safety, dignity, and specialized services — care that is in DAP Health’s DNA. We are honored to be a trusted destination for those seeking a more welcoming place to live and thrive.
From primary care and sexual health (including HIV specialty care and prevention) to mental health, gender health and wellness, and social support, DAP Health continues to lead with compassion and purpose at each one of its locations — regardless of a person’s sexuality or gender identity or expression.
10,688 LGBTQ+ patients
2,993 gender health and wellness appointments
George E. Sonsel
Founding visionary of DAP Health dies at 80
April 2, 1945 – April 2, 2025
George E. Sonsel, a pioneering social worker, fearless advocate, and co-founder of Desert AIDS Project (now DAP Health), passed away on his 80th birthday on April 2, 2025. Known for his profound empathy, intellectual clarity, and unwavering commitment to the dignity of others, George leaves behind a legacy that continues to shape the lives of hundreds of thousands throughout the Coachella Valley and beyond.
Born in Cleburne, Texas, and raised in Dallas, George studied behavioral science at Loma Linda University in California. He then pursued a master’s in social work through a National Institute of Mental Health scholarship at Fresno State University. His early career included service in child welfare, mental health, and emergency psychiatric care across California — a foundation that instilled in him a readiness to respond with immediacy, insight, and utmost compassion.
and operating initially under his own business license — the Community Counseling and Consultation Center — DAP was born from necessity, vision, and sheer grit.
George came to the Coachella Valley in the mid-1970s, eventually settling in Palm Springs. There, while working in public mental health and building a private counseling practice, he found himself at the front lines of a mysterious and devastating health crisis that disproportionately affected gay men.
Long before the world had a name for HIV/AIDS, George recognized the urgent need for a major communitybased response. As more patients with advanced symptoms of immune deficiency began to appear in local hospitals — isolated, abandoned by their families — George was often the only professional willing to offer both clinical support and human connection.
In 1983, drawing on his own clinical experience and his intimate understanding of the human toll of the epidemic, George convened a group of like-minded professionals and advocates. Together, they launched what would become Desert AIDS Project. Under George’s leadership,
In 2005, George met the Dutch-born Sven Paardekooper. For more than 20 years, they remained utterly in love and devoted to each other. Soul mates. In 2020, after spending a few years traveling through Europe, the couple returned to Palm Springs, where George re-engaged with DAP Health as a volunteer archivist. There, he initiated the formalization of the organization’s archives, ensuring the agency’s history — its people, its principles, and its perseverance — would never be forgotten.
Those who knew George describe him as a gentle giant of public health — soft-spoken, deeply principled, and passionate about justice. His capacity to lead while listening, to act with courage in the face of fear, and to hold space for the most vulnerable among us, defined not only his career but his character. His legacy is not just the institution he helped build, but the lives it has saved, the community it empowered, and the values it continues to uphold.
Sven Paardekooper and George Sonsel.
Listening, Learning, and Showing Up in Service of the LGBTQ+ Community
As we proceed in 2026, we continue to look outward, guided by the voices, needs, and leadership of the LGBTQ+ community we were founded to serve.
What began in 1984 as a lifeline for gay men dying of AIDS and their loved ones has grown into one of the nation’s most respected community health center networks, now serving tens of thousands of patients across Southern California, a scale that brings both opportunity and responsibility to get care right.
That growth has brought valuable lessons about how systems must evolve while staying accountable to the communities that built them. It has been about responsibility — to adapt, to expand, and to better meet the evolving needs of the diverse communities that have come to rely on us.
Pride as health care
For DAP Health, participation in Pride celebrations is guided by listening to LGBTQ+ leaders and organizers who understand that visibility, joy, and affirmation are essential to health. Research supports what the community has long known: connection and belonging are protective factors for mental and physical well-being.
Throughout 2025 and 2026, DAP Health has strengthened partnerships with Pride organizations throughout Southern California.
prevention, free DoxyPEP for STI prevention, and care always delivered without stigma or shame.
At each event, DAP Health shows up at the invitation of community partners — sharing resources, offering education, and listening to feedback about how care can be improved. The goal is not visibility for its own sake, but fostering continued trust, accountability, and ongoing dialogue.
Expanding sexual wellness and OB-GYN services
Listening to community needs also drives DAP Health’s clinical expansion plans. In partnership with the North County LGBTQ Resource Center in San Diego County, a new sexual wellness clinic and pharmacy will open on their Oceanside campus in early 2026 — extending services shaped by years of patient input and community collaboration.
The clinic will offer care designed to reduce barriers rather than replicate traditional models. Services will
DAP Health is also expanding access to inclusive OBGYN services. Its Palm Springs Family Health practice is relocating to the Sunrise campus, where providers trained in culturally competent care will serve a large swath of the local population, including lesbians and pre-operative transgender men — communities that have consistently shared concerns about discrimination and barriers in traditional health care settings.
These changes reflect lessons learned directly from patients: that preventive care works best when people feel safe, respected, and understood.
Honoring the past while shaping the future
DAP Health’s approach to the future remains rooted in remembrance. Each year on World AIDS Day, the organization partners with artists, advocates, and peer organizations to honor lost lives and acknowledge the work still yet to be done.
Recent observances included its December 1, 2025, display of AIDS Memorial Quilt panels honoring late queer activists Pedro Zamora of “MTV’s The Real World” fame, pop artist Keith Haring, and others. A candlelight vigil, plus national virtual programming developed in collaboration with Philadelphia’s Mazzoni Center, also attracted many community members. These moments were about the organization’s responsibility to carry history forward with humility and resolve.
Collaboration is key
In 2025, DAP Health joined a national consortium of fellow AIDS service organizations and LGBTQ+ health centers to share advocacy strategies and mutual support during this challenging political climate where so many from the queer community feel shunned or
continues, guided by listening first and acting with humility.
Mobile Health
Meeting people where need is greatest
From remote farms to rural schools, DAP Health’s fleet of six mobile medical and dental units (including one Sprinter van), brings compassionate, high-quality care directly to those who might otherwise go without due to barriers related to distance, income, language, and access.
4,995 mobile health medical visits
4,014 patients served via mobile health
3,104 new mobile health patients
762 vaccines administered to those of all ages
440 patients vaccinated through mobile outreach
3,774 mobile health dental visits
250 health education sessions hosted
386 patients connected to long-term care at fixed DAP Health locations
The Happy News of Community Outreach
At a time of year when most kids write to Santa to ask for toys, all one local boy wanted was a blanket to keep him warm at night
In the unincorporated communities of Oasis, Thermal, Mecca, and North Shore, thousands of families live in aging trailer courts where winter nights turn bitterly cold, arsenic-laced tap water is unsafe to drink, and the average household survives on less than half the income of the rest of Riverside County. Most are farmworker families, the very people who rise before dawn to pick the produce that fills our holiday tables, but who struggle to afford enough food to fill their own.
It is here, among these communities too often overlooked, that DAP Health’s Winterfest — an annual Saturday afternoon celebration historically held at the community health center’s Oasis clinic — became a beacon of relief and joy. During the last few Decembers, free toys, blankets, and bicycles were distributed to needy families in the East Valley, alongside a free hot meal.
2026 was different
But this year, due to escalating anti-immigrant activity and residents’ increasing fear of leaving their homes, DAP Health made the difficult decision not to hold this Yuletide fiesta. Instead, the organization reimagined Winterfest completely, transforming it into a compassionate door-to-door humanitarian operation to protect vulnerable residents while still delivering the essentials they depend on.
On December 3 and 10, 2025, a team of more than two dozen drivers and “delivery elves” distributed more than 900 toys, 700 blankets, and 800 bags of groceries to more than 650 homes in five East Valley trailer court communities. For most families, these deliveries did not provide holiday extras but essentials.
Community impact so deeply felt
“As difficult as it was to postpone our traditional Winterfest out of an abundance of caution, the compromise of personally delivering vital nutrition, warmth, and joy to these families was more than a win-win,” says DAP Health CEO David Brinkman. “My tremendous gratitude goes out not only to our team members who stepped up to be our version of Santa’s helpers, but to our bighearted donors who did not have to be asked twice to help subsidize this worthwhile endeavor.”
“This year Winterfest looked different, but it became more meaningful than ever,” says Regional Operations Director/East Heidi Galicia. “After an ICE raid in the area, fear kept many families inside, even for essentials like clean water. One resident told me, through tears, ‘I would rather drink toxic water than risk leaving my home and being taken away.’ These are families who wake up before dawn to work in the fields. They return to overcrowded mobile homes with no heating. Children battle respiratory illnesses because warmth is a luxury they cannot afford. We did more than drop off food, toys, and blankets. We showed them they are seen, valued, and never alone. That we stand with them. We are here for them. We are one of them.”
This is why it matters to meet people where they are. This is why DAP Health shows up.
Harm Reduction
Saving lives with compassion and care
DAP Health’s harm reduction efforts are grounded in a simple concept: everyone deserves safety, dignity, and access to care — no matter where they are in their journey.
Our team meets people where they are, without judgment, to reduce the negative impact of drug use and to connect individuals to health services, peer support, and life-saving resources. Harm reduction at DAP Health is both an evidence-based public health approach and a commitment to social justice.
Tools and services offered include:
• Free HIV and hepatitis C testing
• Clean syringes and safer-use supplies
• Safer-sex kits (condoms and lube)
• Fentanyl and xylazine test strips
• Naloxone/Narcan for temporary overdose reversal
15,580 individuals served
71,062 syringes collected
774 referrals to recovery programs, mental health care, and primary care
1,497 overdoses reversed with naloxone/ Narcan
Social Services
Whole-person care
At DAP Health, we understand that clinical care is only one part of what it takes to support someone’s health. Wellbeing is strongly influenced by the circumstances of daily life — whether a person can afford nutritious food, access reliable transportation, and feel connected to community. These factors, known as social drivers of health (SDOH), are central to our mission and our approach to care.
Since its inception four decades ago, DAP Health has been recognized for its holistic, patient-first model that treats wraparound services such as food assistance, transportation, and social support as essential components of health. Alongside traditional medical care, we also offer services like massage, yoga, meditation, and more — because healing happens in many forms.
1,797 social services clients
1,002 Ryan Whiteeligible clients were provided food vouchers
705 received transportation assistance through gas cards, ride shares, and/or public transit passes
1,241 bags of nonperishable groceries distributed
9,160 people participated in support groups
310 clients attended back-to-work coaching sessions
73 clients were employed through job development initiatives
Housing
Is Health Care
At DAP Health, we know it’s impossible for someone to take care of their physical and mental health if they don’t have a stable roof over their head.
Access to safe and reliable housing improves outcomes, especially for those with chronic conditions.
424 people received housing support
81 residents live at Vista Sunrise I (supportive housing for people with HIV/AIDS)
60 residents live at Vista Sunrise II (supportive housing for unhoused individuals or those with chronic illnesses)
Quality
Always striving to do and be better
In 2025, DAP Health demonstrated meaningful progress across key clinical quality measures reported through the Uniform Data System (UDS), reflecting the dedication of our teams and the resilience of the diverse communities we serve from the Coachella Valley to the San Diego coast.
As a Federally Qualified Health Center caring for predominantly Medi-Cal and Hispanic patient populations, closing care gaps requires culturally responsive outreach, strong care coordination, and a deep commitment to health equity.
This year, DAP Health exceeded goals in several areas, including BMI screening and follow-up, dental sealants for children, depression remission at 12 months, statin therapy, tobacco screening, and HIV screening. We also saw significant year-over-year gains in blood pressure control, and cervical and colorectal cancer screenings. These improvements reflect enhanced workflows, integrated behavioral health services, and a growing emphasis on preventive care.
At the same time, we recognize areas that require intensified focus, particularly childhood immunizations, prenatal care engagement, and diabetes control. Addressing these challenges is critical in a region where many patients face transportation barriers, language differences, and economic hardship.
To further accelerate progress, in February 2026 we launched new a preventive campaign “A Check-Up Is a Check-Up” to help educate our patients about the lifesaving value of preventive screenings. This, along with separate campaigns in English and Spanish, will keep closing care gaps at the top of our entire team’s list of priorities. Together, we are advancing health equity and ensuring every patient has access to the preventive care they deserve.
Chronic Disease Management
68%
blood pressure control (↑ from 62.6%)
80%
statin therapy (↑ from 76.9%)
These gains reduce longterm cardiovascular risk and support improved population health outcomes.
Preventive Cancer Screenings
49%
breast cancer (↑ from 44.0%)
55%
cervical cancer (↑ from 46.6%)
42%
colorectal cancer (↑ from 32.8%)
Screening improvements strengthen early detection and directly impact morbidity and mortality outcomes.
Behavioral & Preventive Care
26%
depression remission at 12 months (↑ from 5.9%) — significant improvement in behavioral health outcomes
63%
HIV screening (↑ from 56.2%)
93%
tobacco screening (↑ from 85.7%)
These results reflect expanded preventive screening protocols and integrated behavioral health support.
Pediatric & Oral Health
82%
BMI screening & follow-up (↑ from 53.8%)
74%
dental sealants (ages 6–9) (↑ from 48.2%)
Progress in pediatric prevention supports long-term community health and aligns with our equity-focused model of care.
Revivals Thrift Stores
Where giving back never goes out of style
DAP Health’s Revivals brand of thrift stores is a powerful extension of our nonprofit mission, and a vibrant hub of community connection. Each year, nearly 400,000 shoppers walk through our doors, forming meaningful relationships with DAP Health, our dedicated volunteers, and one another.
Every day, shoppers Re-Love the Pre-Loved™, discovering unique treasures and saving money while supporting a greater cause. Shopping or volunteering at one of our four Revivals locations directly fuels DAP Health’s lifesaving work.
In 2025, 100% of Revivals profits, nearly $2 million, went straight to supporting high-quality, culturally competent medical and mental health care for the nearly 80,000 patients who rely on DAP Health each year. And its impact didn’t stop there. Revivals also supports DAP Health clients by providing new mattresses, and gently used furniture, home goods, and clothing, investing in the dignity of the people we serve.
Revivals isn’t just a store. It’s a movement of generosity, sustainability, and connection, where community compassion turns everyday shopping into extraordinary impact.
Revivals Palm Springs
147,300 transactions funding patient care
Revivals Cathedral City
107,836 transactions funding patient care
Revivals Palm Desert
97,058 transactions funding patient care
Revivals Indio
43,434 transactions funding patient care
395,628 total transactions funding patient care
$1,786,076 net raised for DAP Health
274 volunteers donating time and talent each month
Supporting nearly
80,000 patients who rely on DAP Health
Getting Back Much More Than They Give
Two very different Revivals volunteers talk about the joys of donating their time to help further DAP Health’s mission
Words by Jeffrey Norman • Photo by David A. Lee
DAP Health’s quartet of Revivals Thrift Stores — in Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Palm Desert, and Indio, each of which donates every dollar of profit to the organization (to the tune of almost $2 million a year) — is a success story made possible only thanks to the generosity of its more than 260 dedicated volunteers. DAP Health magazine recently spoke to two of them.
Elliott Night, 64, is a retiree who’s been donating her time since March 2023, and has just surpassed 500 hours. Her most recent job was running a statewide program for CASA of Contra Costa County, a nonprofit that matches youth in foster care with volunteer clinical therapists for weekly teletherapy. Caleb Calderon — 21, coming up on three years and 260 hours — works full-time at the Starbucks at Vista Chino and North Sunrise Way in Palm Springs while studying at College of the Desert in hopes of becoming an English teacher. The two had never met before, and quickly found out they had much in common. What motivated you to volunteer at Revivals?
Calderon: Well, to be honest, free college. COD required me to do two hours of volunteering to earn my keep. I did my two hours and decided, “You know, that was pretty fun. I want to keep doing this.” There’s a great group of guys in the clothing department with me, and I feel like I’m helping my community a little bit and also giving people a great deal when they shop at Revivals. I also like history, and when I work in the warehouse, I see all sorts of stuff you wouldn’t see in other places. It’s like a little museum for me.
Night: I’ve known about DAP Health for many years. And I love to go to thrift stores. I was a big customer of Revivals, and I thought, “Wow, what a great place to volunteer.” I love fashion, so I like sorting the clothes, but my area is actually men’s underwear, socks, and ties. I have a big tie collection, so it’s right up my alley. I love that the money we make goes to provide health care for people in the community who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford it.
There are so many places to volunteer in the valley. Why Revivals?
Calderon: The Starbucks where I work is right across from [DAP Health Sunrise], so I get to see how they impact people every day. I like the fact that the money I help them earn goes to a good cause. That really makes me feel good.
Night: The impact the stores are able to have on funding DAP Health’s programs and services is really great. Every month, they tell us how much we’ve helped raise. We get to actually hear the impact we’re having.
What stands out about your volunteer experience?
Night: I also volunteer at [DAP Health Sunrise’s] Ms. Dee’s Boutique, which has clothing for people who have an immediate need — perhaps for a job interview or some other important occasion. We also have clothing for people who may just not have a shirt that day. They can come in and shop, and everything is free. Everyone who comes into the boutique is always super grateful. They can’t believe a place like this exists for them. You can see the relief on their face when they see the variety of things available to them.
Calderon: I get a lot of satisfaction out of helping, and making somebody’s day. It’s a good feeling knowing you’re doing something that’s benefiting a lot of people you might not ever meet. You’re helping. That’s what it’s all about at the end of the day.
Why would you tell people to volunteer at Revivals?
Night: The staff and volunteers at all the stores are all so welcoming and friendly. It’s like a family. I would say just come in and give it a try. The work is fun and easy. You don’t have to work in the warehouse. You can be a cashier and interact with people more. And there are many other opportunities to volunteer with DAP Health. You can do data entry, or meet and greets at events. I’ve volunteered at The Chase and Dining Out For Life.
Calderon: I know for people my age, they eat up a lot of time on social media and electronics. I’d say put your phone down for a little while and go make some new friends and help somebody in the process. There are better ways to spend your time than scrolling on your cell phone.
274
Revivals volunteers per month
225 DAP Health volunteers per month
82,661
total hours donated
If you supported DAP Health in 2025, this is your impact too.
Partners for Life
Partners Forever
Capital campaign
Dining Out For Life
Impact Hour pledge
The Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards
Volunteering
Shopping or donating at Revivals
Every conversation you started, every hour you gave, every dollar you invested—it all added up to something extraordinary. Because of you, DAP Health provided compassionate, culturally competent care to tens of thousands of people, many of whom have nowhere else to turn.
You are not just a supporter. You are a catalyst for change.
If you haven’t joined this powerful movement yet, now is the time. Partner with us to build a future where everyone—regardless of who they are or where they come from—has access to the care they deserve.
Philanthropy Plays an Important Role at DAP Health
At DAP Health, the extraordinary generosity of donors empowers us to dream bigger, reach farther, and ensure that every member of our community can live with dignity, health, and hope.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, DAP Health is profoundly grateful to the 4,380 benefactors who contributed nearly $5.9 million in philanthropic support during the 2024–25 fiscal year.
This investment directly fueled life-changing medical and social services for 8,400 uninsured individuals and 75,000 low-income patients who rely on our 23 clinics across Riverside and San Diego counties.
Your commitment strengthened our ability to ensure every person, regardless of their ability to pay, could access the compassionate, comprehensive care they deserve.
Your generosity removed barriers, restored dignity, and brought health and hope to tens of thousands of your fellow community members who are most in need.
To learn more about DAP Health Philanthropy, please visit DAPHealth.org/support-our-mission.
In 2025:
4,380 donors gave almost $5.9 million
Look above your plans. Walk with renewed purpose.
Your
estate plans gave you peace of mind but was your purpose left behind?
This guided, confidential, and complimentary experience helps you reflect on your passions, align your plans with your values, and walk away with a personalized roadmap to share with your trusted advisors.
We are proud to offer Periscope Path powered by Thompson & Associates to our friends and supporters.
What You’ll Experience
• Discovery: Meet one-on-one with your Periscope Path Associate to share your story and explore what legacy means to you.
• Values Conversation: Reflect on the people, causes, and passions that shape your decisions.
• Personalized Roadmap: Receive a clear, written summary of your renewed goals and values, designed to help your existing plans reflect what matters most.
• Advisor Integration: You’re encouraged to share your personalized roadmap with your trusted legal or financial advisors. Your roadmap provides clarity and confidence for your advisors to make the proper changes.
It’s our gift to you, offered at no cost with complete privacy.
Interested in starting your journey?
760.262.7803
EstatePlanning@DAPHealth.org
Planned Giving Ensures Your Lasting Legacy
Expert firm Thompson & Associates guides supporters in shaping their philanthropic impact beyond their lifetime
As 2026 begins, DAP Health’s Philanthropy Department is reimagining how community support can continue delivering life-changing care for all, regardless of socioeconomic status. Meeting that challenge has prompted the launch of a new planned giving initiative designed to help supporters create a lasting legacy while strengthening the organization’s long-term future.
To guide this effort, DAP Health has engaged Thompson & Associates, a nationally respected estate planning firm specializing in health care systems and higher education. “They offer a very personalized, valuesbased approach to estate planning,” says Chief Philanthropy Officer Chris Kiser.
Even with a will or trust in place, individuals may question whether their plans truly reflect their values and how they wish to be remembered. Through this initiative, supporters are invited to participate in a complimentary, confidential, no-obligation consultation with a Thompson & Associates advisor to review their estate plans.
These conversations do not replace guidance from an attorney, CPA, or financial advisor. Instead, they focus on personal motivations — creating space to reflect on values, priorities, and long-term hopes. Consultants listen carefully, ask thoughtful questions, and help individuals articulate what matters most. While family and loved ones naturally come first, those who wish to include philanthropy often discover ways to structure estate gifts that extend impact while potentially reducing estate tax exposure.
The timing is especially relevant. “We’re in the middle of the largest transfer of wealth from one generation to the next,” Kiser notes, emphasizing the importance of thoughtful planning amid evolving tax laws.
The process begins with a questionnaire, and responses remain private — not shared with DAP Health or any other party. Unlike traditional estate planning meetings, there is no hourly billing or pressure to make immediate decisions. Instead, participants engage in a reflective, values-centered discussion about the legacy they hope to leave. For some, the conversation may extend beyond a single organization to broader community benefit.
Depending on complexity, the process may involve one or more meetings. Participants ultimately receive a professionally bound summary outlining their goals and philanthropic intentions. This document can then be shared with legal or financial advisors, who can formalize
those intentions within trusts or estate plans. The consultation serves as both a planning tool and a bridge between personal values and legal execution.
A common misconception is that planned giving is reserved for the ultra-wealthy. In reality, DAP Health’s initiative is intended for individuals who are comfortably established and thoughtful about the future. They may own homes outright, hold retirement accounts, or have assets that, when directed intentionally, can create meaningful and enduring impact.
Gifts from IRAs, real estate, or other assets often allow donors to extend their support well beyond their lifetimes.
In 2026, DAP Health will also establish formal endowment funds — a model long used by colleges and universities to ensure long-term stability. Legacy gifts are among the most effective ways to build these funds, providing sustained support while allowing flexibility as health care needs evolve.
Through thoughtful estate planning, individuals can care for loved ones, steward their assets responsibly, and help ensure DAP Health’s work continues for decades to come. Supporters are encouraged to reflect on how their values might be expressed through a legacy gift and to take the first step by scheduling a confidential consultation.
To learn more, please email EstatePlanning@DAPHealth.org.
Marketing & Communications
Making multiple good impressions to expand access
In 2025, DAP Health’s Marketing and Communications efforts were guided by a simple principle: listen first. As a community health center network serving diverse and historically underserved populations, we ensure information about care is clear, welcoming, and accessible.
Throughout the year, a coordinated multi-channel approach generated more than 30 million impressions across Southern California, increasing awareness of breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screenings; childhood immunizations; dental care; mental health services; sexual wellness services; pharmacy access; and health care coverage/Covered California enrollment. These efforts resulted in thousands of new patient connections and strengthened engagement across primary and preventive care services.
A more accessible digital front door
Community feedback shaped how we communicate. Patients shared that health information must be easy to understand, culturally responsive, and available where they already seek care. In October 2025, DAP Health launched a redesigned website focused on accessibility, language inclusion, and simplicity. The updated site prioritizes screenreader compatibility, improved color contrast, multilingual functionality, and mobile optimization.
In 2025, DAPHealth.org generated more than 420,000 visits, with over 40% arriving organically. Organic search drove more than half of all key website actions, including appointment requests and service inquiries.
Visitors generated more than 1.7 million on-site interactions, engaging with clinic locations, HIV and STI services, sexual and reproductive health care, mental health resources, and patient tools.
Turning complex medicine into community education
DAP Health translates complex clinical topics — including cancer screening guidelines, HIV prevention, gender health and wellness services, mental health care, and Medi-Cal enrollment — into clear, stigma-free messaging delivered in English, Spanish, Arabic, and Farsi.
Through digital platforms, community outreach, DAP Health Magazine, local storytelling in Borrego Springs, and partnerships such as the Next Gen Care conversation on HIV prevention, our communications work helped normalize preventive care and empower informed decision-making.
Visible, affirming communication
During a time of heightened misinformation around LGBTQ+ health care, DAP Health continued to lead with visible, affirming messaging. Through Pride partnerships, inclusive storytelling, and proactive media engagement, we reinforced our role as a trusted, culturally competent provider.
Marketing at DAP Health is not about promotion. It’s about education, access, and equity. When health information is understandable and culturally relevant, people act earlier. And when people act earlier,
30M+ campaign impressions
420,000+ website visits
1.7M+ on-site interactions
Building the Future of Health, Together
DAP Health’s Strategic Plan: 2025–2028
In its 40th year, DAP Health asked the people who matter most — patients, employees, donors, volunteers, elected leaders, and community partners — what the future of care should look like. Their input shaped a bold new strategic direction rooted not in rapid expansion, but in deep optimization: doing more with what we have to better serve the people who rely on us most.
This four-year plan prioritizes health equity, employee well-being, patient experience, and sustainable partnerships — ensuring that by 2028, DAP Health will be delivering the best care possible to the greatest number of people possible.
The four priorities are #1. Advance Health Equity, #2. Care for Employees, #3. Patient and Client Experience, and #4. Resources and Partnerships.
From 2025 to 2028
Priority #1: Advance Health Equity
We want to create the widest safety net possible.
Goal 1: Study barriers to care in vulnerable populations. Design programs/services that remove those barriers.
Goal 2: Expand the availability of high-quality, comprehensive services.
Goal 3: Improve cultural competency to better serve members of diverse communities.
Priority #2: Care for Employees
We want every team member to love where and how they work.
Priority #1: Advance Health Equity
We want to create the widest safety net possible.
Priority #2: Care for Employees
We want every team member to love where and how they work.
Priority #3: Patient and Client Experience
We want our patients and clients to get the best care and support.
Priority #4: Resources and Partnerships
We want to collaborate with like-minded organizations and individuals.
Goal 1: Enhance workplace excellence — physically, systemically, equitably — to retain and attract the very best professional team members the industry has to offer.
Goal 2: Create a culture of collaboration and compassion that supports the achievement and advancement of all team members.
Priority #3: Patient and Client Experience
We want our patients and clients to get the best care and support.
Goal 1: Achieve consistent, industry-best customer service (both administratively and clinically) across the board, where every patient feels seen, heard, and affirmed.
Goal 2: Develop welcoming, efficient, and comfortable physical environments that reflect the industry’s best.
Priority #4: Resources and Partnerships
We want to collaborate with like-minded organizations and individuals.
We can’t achieve our vision alone.
Goal 1: Diversify and grow financial resources and partnerships to ensure long-term sustainability.
Goal 2: Advance policy and advocacy efforts to serve populations especially vulnerable to poor health outcomes.
Financial News
85% of all DAP Health revenue is spent on the delivery of services to our patients and clients.
How We Earned Our Revenue Through June 30, 2025
How We Spent Our Revenue Through June 30, 2025
DAP Health’s financial position is stable, allowing it to provide medical and support services to its clients and patients. Revenues are generated through medical fees, 340B drug discounts, grants, and donations. Through the generous work of its tireless volunteers, its four Revivals stores are able to generate a net profit. That contribution serves to cover services that are not grant-funded, not billable to insurance, and not covered by another source. As a government-funded community health center, DAP Health provides services to all individuals, regardless of their ability to pay.
Our Grantors
Federal Partners
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB)
Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program
State, County, and Local Support
California Clearinghouse
California Department of Health Care Services
California Department of Public Health
City of Palm Springs
County of Riverside
County of San Diego
San Bernardino County
Foundation & Philanthropic Support
AIDS United
American Cancer Society
Auen Foundation
Bank of America
Borrego Valley Endowment Fund
Broadway Cares
Delta Dental Community Care Foundation
Desert Healthcare District & Foundation
Direct Relief
Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation
Our Leadership
2025 Board of Directors
Eve E. Fromberg Edelstein, Esq, Chair
Kevin Bass, Vice Chair
Fred Drewette, Treasurer
Mark Adams, Secretary
Patrick Jordan, Member at Large
Board Members
Carolyn Caldwell
Frank Figueroa, Ed.D.
Bruce W. Finch
Tim Garnett
Jordan Michael Hall
Scot Karp
Karyl E. Ketchum, Ph.D.
Susan Unger
Veronica Valenzuela Williams, MBA, MSN, PHN, RNC-OB, RN
Fogelson Family Foundation
Gilead Sciences
Grossmont Healthcare District
Houston Family Foundation
Labcorp Charitable Foundation
Martin-Crowley Foundation
Molina Healthcare
San Diego State University
Shanahan Family Foundation
Sierra Health Foundation
Walgreens
Weingart Foundation
National & Regional Collaborators
California Primary Care Association (CPCA)
CHAISR Collaborative
Health Center Partners of Southern California
Loma Linda University
National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)
SURE Housing Initiative
Executive Leadership Team
David Brinkman, MBA, Chief Executive Officer
Joseph Aquilina, MD, MBA, Chief Medical Officer
Dana Erwin, Chief Compliance Officer
Sheri Saenz, Chief People Officer
Judy Stith, Chief Administrative Officer
C.J. Tobe, Chief Transformation Officer
Corina Velasquez, Chief Operating Officer