DAPHEALTH PARTNERS FOR LIFE SEASON FINALE HONORS DONORS AND CALLS FOR CONTINUED COMMITMENT BY DANIEL VAILLANCOURT PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALBERT ANGELO
DAP Health supporters gathered at the iconic Abernathy House in Palm Springs on Thursday, May 8, for the community health center’s end-of-season Partners For Life (PFL) celebration. It was an evening filled with gratitude, reflection, and purpose. The Abernathy House, also known as the James Logan Abernathy Residence, is a distinguished example of midcentury modern architecture. Designed in 1962 by renowned architect William F. Cody, the home exemplifies the Desert Modernism style, characterized by clean lines, expansive glass walls, and a seamless integration of indoor and outdoor spaces. The setting was perfectly suited to pay tribute to a donor community rooted in legacy and vision. PFL Co-Chairs Grant Elder and Read Brown kicked off the event, welcoming guests and recognizing the gathering as an ode to philanthropy, community, and generosity. They then introduced Board Chair Patrick Jordan, who delivered a deeply personal and inspiring address. From the Outgoing Chairman of the Board Jordan reflected on his journey with DAP Health, recalling how
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he and his business partner Stewart Smith became involved in 2006 by raising funds for the AIDS Walk. “Like so many of you tonight, I wanted to get involved and pay the gift of my own achievements forward as I recognized from the AIDS crisis that I was one of the lucky ones,” he said. Jordan emphasized both the courage it took to care openly at a time when stigma still surrounded HIV/AIDS, and the joy of finding community through action. “It was so easy — to care, to give your heart,” he revealed, referencing the sense of belonging the Walk fostered. His moving anecdotes, including one involving heartfelt thanks from a father at DAP Health’s Winterfest last December, and another from a restaurant manager grateful for care given to her trans child, underscored the real-world impact of DAP Health’s mission. Jordan also looked back on the organization’s transformation — from a grassroots response to HIV/AIDS to a community health center (CHC) in 2015. He proudly noted that DAP Health now provides care that goes far beyond HIV prevention, testing, and specialty care: women’s health, mental health, gender health and wellness, services for farmworkers, and so much more — all within an environment free of shame.