Our Dedicated Board In Action

Mission Statement

The Well in the Desert is a 501c3 non-profit organization that provides daily nutritious hot meals, emergency food assistance, weekly supplemental food distribution and a wide array of services through  advocacy to those
affected by poverty, including the working poor, the homeless, seniors, the handicapped and others in need throughout the western end
of the Coachella Valley.

Our mission fuels programs for poverty prevention, direct services for poverty intervention, and an organized effort to advocate for the poor.

ARLENE ROSENTHAL, President
I was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA and got a B.A. in Spanish at U.C.L.A. After graduating in 1966, I worked for the Probation Department as a counselor and then as a bilingual teacher in the L.A. District. The lure of Berkeley and all the social change happening there was too great so I picked up and left L.A. for life in the Bay Area. I spent several years there teaching school and enjoying all the political ferver, the S.F. Opera House, the Symphony, theater, and all the natural outdoors where one could hike and commune with nature. I came to the desert in 1973, worked as a bilingual teacher until starting my own custom-clothing business. My spirit of community stuck and I found myself involved in social change and working in organizations where I could help to bring that about for those who were unable to advocate for themselves. It was as a child that my parents taught me the value of community action and interaction and the idea that we had an obligation to help make things better in the world in which we lived. After years of serving on many boards and raising much money I was asked to sit on the Board of the Well in the Desert. I later became its President and serve with much pleasure. I am also proud to serve as President of OperaArts, an organization created to provide quality cultural events to the public for free or for affordable prices.

MATT NAYLOR Vice President

Matt Naylor was born in Los Angeles, and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah.

He had a rich upbringing in the Arts, and Music, and thanks to that plays the piano; classical music, his own compositions, and all other genres of music.  He also plays the violin.  So engrained in him was the love of music that he opened the Marquee Academy of Performing Arts, where music is taught to the students who attend their classes, along with dance, drama, and other performing arts.

Matt’s professional career is that of Pool Designer and Builder.   His company, Architectural Blue, is a testament to excellence; his pools are some of the most beautifully designed in the Coachella Valley.  Matt does everything with passion and excitement;  and the end results are proof of that.  Just recently he bought a coffee plantation in Puerto Rico after finding out he was of Puerto Rican background.  He has undertaken the job of bringing the plantation back to its rich state, and photos tell us that he has a Midas touch in all that he is involved with. He joined the Board of the Well a few years ago and has been a major part of the Well’s growth and well-being.   He is one to roll up his sleeves and gets involved in all aspects of the Well in the Desert business.  He is dedicated to the well-being of our clients and to the Well in the Desert.

CARDRINER BOWDEN

Treasurer
Cardriner hails from North Carolina. She received her B. S. degree from North Carolina A & T State University in Greensboro, NC, which is the home of the sit in demonstrations at the Woolworth counter.  She spent eleven days in jail while in attendance for trying to integrate a movie theatre.

She taught for six years in the Prince George’s County Maryland school system before moving to Inglewood, CA.  For the next 35 1/2 years, she was employed by the LA Unified School District as a teacher and in various administrative positions.  Her M. Ed. degree was received at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

She has been volunteering practically all her life.  “I believe in helping people and trying to help them better their lives and make a positive difference.”   While in Los Angeles, she served as treasurer and president of the Los Angeles Urban League Urbanites which was a financial support of the LA Urban League and held other positions in various other organizations.

She retired in 2007 and moved to the Desert.  Since arriving, she has volunteered at Eisenhower Medical Center, served as treasurer of Democratic Women of the Desert, currently volunteers as an usher at the McCallum Theatre, serves as an education ambassador for the Muses and Patroness Circle, the current women’s fellowship leader of her church, drives for Neighbor 4 Neighbor, is the current vice chair of the Public Safety Committee for her community, was honored in 2012 as volunteer of the year by Democratic Women of the Desert, and participates in many other organizations.

She was very elated when she was asked to join the Well in the Desert Board of Directors.  “I am honored that they felt I had something worthwhile to add to this organization which does so much good for so many people.”

In her spare time, of which she has very little, she loves listening to jazz and soul music, attending concerts, reading, dining at fine restaurants, traveling, and of course volunteering..

LEO DANIEL MILMET Director

Leo was born in Detroit, MI on January 28, 2003 to Sarah and Morris Milmet. Leo’s dad passed away when Leo was 9 months old. When Leo was one, he began reading, and at age two he attended Stepping Stone school for gifted children. His hobbies are reading books, writing plays, acting, and traveling. Leo has been to England, The Netherlands, Israel, Canada, Mexico and many of the 50 states.  He was personally invited to attend a Captain’s ceremony on The USS Ronald Reagan. When Leo was 6, he and his mom moved to Rancho Mirage. Leo never buys a present for himself, only friends and family. After Leo asked to help a homeless man, Leo began serving meals at the park, where he met Arlene Rosenthal! Just before Leo turned nine years old, Arlene Rosenthal and the Board of Well In The Desert, invited Leo to be an ambassador, and subsequently a board member. Leo has been blessed to remain on the board, and has been fortunate enough to make speeches for various charities including: The Well In The Desert, OperaArts, Jewish Community School of the Desert and ACT for MS. Leo is the youngest Founder of the McCallum theater and one of the youngest Uncles at the Sinatra Center for Abused Children. Leo’s motto is taken from his late father’s page, “Always help others, and always give back!” Leo Milmet is now 15 years old and currently starring in the play, “ The Drowsy Chaperone”, at Palm Valley School.

Dan Kerrigan

Director

I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and come from an immigrant family (Ireland).

My education included 4 years in the Seminary and 4 years at the University of Notre Dame de Namur in Belmont California. I graduated with a degree in Business Administration and Economics. I served as the Student Body President, as a member of the Board of Regents and graduated as Valedictorian.

My business career was always in communications and sales with my first job in the produce industry with Dole. I introduced winter Chilean grapes to the US and Canadian markets in the 1970's making fresh table grapes a year round commodity.

With Dole I proceeded to be the face of the company as a motivational speaker in the US and Canada working with all major retailers in North America delivering multi day seminars on produce for groups of 40-400.

With those contacts I started a produce distribution company in Nogales Arizona in the 1980's specializing in imported Mexican Vegetables to the United States and became one of the premiere suppliers to the North American Market.

I sold the business in the early 1990's to Food Services of America and was VP of marketing and sales for North American operations of FSA.

After finishing my contract with FSA in 1993 I became an independent contractor and developed marketing programs for Organic Melons in North America with premiere Organic growers. We are currently the largest marketer of Organic Melons and supply Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Costco, Kroger (Ralph's locally Ralph's), Publix, Loblaws (Canada) and a myriad of smaller chains.

I am happily married to my wonderful husband Luis Noe Luna and consider that my most successful accomplishment along with being a daddy to our wonderful Standard Poodle Molly.

MarJon Hudson Director

MarJon Hudson is a finance and development professional with twenty years of experience in public and non-profit sectors overseeing major fundraising initiatives, marketing campaigns, auditing, forecasting and budgeting. A dynamic leader with broad knowledge in project management, campaign development, fundraising events, and community relations. She is a hands-on problem solver that is dedicated to her community through involvement in non-profit organizations, community outreach and volunteerism. MarJon holds an MBA from University of Phoenix and is a Palm Springs, CA native that has a passion for people, animals and her community.

Michael Weiner Director

Michael excels in the art of communication and knows how to connect people, products, and services. By instilling in customers that he only sold and serviced the highest quality communication tools in the business and professional markets, Michael Weiner excelled in his sales career.  He is a true seasoned sales professional who has successfully introduced, sold, and designed communication strategies not only for complex environments such as major universities, but also to the demanding individual needs of successful business leaders.  Recognized publicly and professionally for his accomplishments and dedication to excellence, Michael has received numerous commendations for his matchless sales and service. He has served as a team leader managing rollout of new programs, products, and services, as well as developed training programs and evaluation tools for staff development.  After two decades of success in selling technology and communication tools, he then brought his talent, experience, and personality to the real estate market. In addition to his professional activities, Michael has been involved in many community outreach programs for several years, being instrumental in orchestrating programs to assist people in need. His successful fundraising, for example, brought learning tools to underprivileged children that live in poverty.  He views this new opportunity as a “challenging yet logical progression…  since I bring a unique set of experiences and skills to this project.”

Born in Brooklyn, NY, and raised in Jericho, Long Island, Michael earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland, College Park, and then joined the Whirlpool Corporation where he sold appliances to the real estate development market. At Whirlpool, he quickly garnered nationwide recognition, and he was nominated for National Territory Manager of the Year for his performance and achievements. Michael has always involved himself within his local community looking to get involved with organizations that assist the needy. He is a devoted father whose son practices civil litigation law in New York City. He currently resides in Palm Springs, CA, with his husband, Anthony and their dog. They enjoy working out, hiking, theater, desert living, weekend trips to the beach, cooking, and travel.

JOHN WARFIELD - DIRECTOR

DENNIS JORY (Secretary)

A retired California high school and university educator for 38 years, Dennis Jory taught art locally at the Mizell Senior Center and the LGBT Community Center for a decade following that.  A long-time champion of the underdog, Dennis helped oversee the Nestegg Food Bank at the LGBT Center for four years and served as secretary for the Center’s Executive Board for seven years.  I addition, he was named California Teacher of the Year, representing California’s 350,000 educators.  He also was selected as one of President George Bush’s Thousand Points of Light for his work with disadvantaged youth and was awarded $25,000 as one of the country’s top educators in 1994.  Dennis was elected to serve as President for the Artists Council at the Palm Springs Art Museum and also was a member of the Museum’s Board of Trustees.  He presently consults for the California Department of Education in their state awards units and was elected to their Executive Board of Directors.

Dennis is a practicing artist who has shown his award-winning art and photographs in museums and galleries throughout California, Idaho and Washington State.  He graduated with honors from the University of Idaho with a double major in art and English and received his Master’s Degree in gifted education from Cal Poly University at San Luis Obispo.

A world traveler whose teaching assignments range from kindergarten to graduate school to working in a maximum-security ward of a federal penitentiary, he is honored to be part of the Well in the Desert Board of Directors where he has serves as secretary.  

Rosemarie (Rosie) Vacano

Born in San Francisco, raised in Seattle; graduated with BA in Art History from Mills College in Oakland, CA and MA in French Literature from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.  Widowed, no children, 1 dog Cassie.  

Worked as a Manager in Accounting for Pacific Northwest Bell/US West/Qwest in Seattle until early retirement in 1991. 

Had a condo in Palm Springs from 1996 – 2005 at which

we spent 3-4 months in winter to escape rain in Seattle.

Moved to PS permanently in 2005, bought house in The Mesa. 

Have been involved in several local organizations and supported many others: 

TMNO – The Mesa Neighborhood Organization: I am on

its Advisory Board & serve as Secretary 2008 to Present. 

ONE-PS – Organized Neighborhoods of Palm Springs: I

am the Representative from The Mesa; served on numerous committees from 2008 to present – Finance, Communications, Code Enforcement, Ecology & others.

PON – Protect Our Neighborhoods (against Short-Term Rentals in PS): I am on its Board and am Treasurer. This organization is no longer active in the community.

 PSOG – Palm Springs Opera Guild: I have been on its Board and have served as Treasurer since April 2018.  WITD -Well in the Desert: I look forward to serve on its Board and volunteer to help out with its events, fundraisers and all the wonderful, unappreciated work it does for our homeless friends. Thank you for your consideration of my desire to work with The Well and be a member of its Board.

Eric Frankson  - Biography 

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Mr. Frankson was surrounded by music from his earliest memories.  His grandfather marched in John Phillip Sousa’s marching band, and his father and uncles performed professionally for years as a combo. He graduated from Indiana University in 1984 with degrees in both English and Political Science.

To earn tuition for college, he started as a salesperson with Lowery Organ & Piano.  To become a top salesperson meant teaching himself piano.  This led to a professional piano playing career that has spanned over 35 years.  From Washington, D.C., to Kauai, Hawaii, to South Beach, Miami Beach, Florida, to Las Vegas, Nevada to finally his permanent desert home.

Besides being the house pianist at some of the most prestigious restaurants in the Coachella Valley, he found a renewed passion for the violin, which he had studied at Indiana University on scholarship.  He has performed as principle 2nd violinist with both the Coachella Valley Symphony and the Desert Chamber Orchestra (featuring soloist Martin Chalifour – concertmaster L.A. Philharmonic, Janet Hopkins – Metropolitan Opera, and many others).  During that time he taught group beginning violin classes to hundreds of valley children, through the after-hours program offered by the Beginning Strings Conservatory, and the Coachella Valley Symphony.  He also was a sitting Symphony board member as well.

His love of all types of music has led him to play for the Valley’s premier rock, country, and jazz bands; including the John Stanley King Band, The Desert All-Stars, his own Country/Western dance band, CINCH, and his jazz project, Acoustic Confusion.  He has played with the likes of Rock-n-Roll Hall of Famers Alice Cooper, Don Felder of the Eagles, Rudy Gatlin of the Gatlin Brothers, and Robby Krieger of The Doors.

Mr. Frankson's activism led him to run for city council of La Quinta in 2010.   He helped develop a fishing program for children at Lake Cahuilla, and performs regularly at nursing homes and Alzheimer's facilities. He currently runs the bike program for the Well in the Desert; rebuilding and gifting donated and purchased bikes and trailers to deserving homeless people in need.

  WELL IN THE DESERT
(760) 285-7297 • (760) 656-8905

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