Halloween Fun at the Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert

Posted on October 29, 2008 by Daryl Binkley

Halloween celebrations are in full swing as we approach Friday the 31st, and I am reminded again how much fun kids have picking out their costumes and dressing up. Just this past Sunday, my family along with friends and their kids spent a wonderful couple of hours at the Children's Discovery Museum Halloween party.

My daughter Isabella was Cinderella (yes, she is definitely in the princess stage) and she couldn't wait until she got dressed and look at herself in the mirror.

"Daddy, I am a real princess!" she said

And yes, I agreed. She was and is a princess. She walked in royal fashion and she smiled the entire day. When we got to the museum, my Cinderella was strolling on the beautiful landscaped grounds getting her face painted, eating caramel apples and making her candy bag fill up. While waiting for the candy hunt, I was amazed at the number of teen and adult volunteers that made this event happen. I was thinking that one day, when my Cinderella grows up she will be there as well, making the magic happen for other kids.

The Children's museum is truly one of those amazing places for kids here in the desert. It is a place of playfulness and fun, where kids learn through play and education becomes exciting. So many of the great programs and events, such at the Halloween party, are supported by volunteers and by the donations from local businesses & regular people like you and me. It is another great opportunity to volunteer your time or make charitable donations. And the museum is planning to grow too, for example additional gallery space is planned to provide more fun activities for kids.

We asked Judi Miller, Associate Executive Director, to provide us with some information to be included in this Blog, and here is some of the future plans of the museum and contact information on how to help:

"We are excited about the Museum’s future and its upcoming expansion. Our community has asked for additional quality gallery experiences, more opportunities for classrooms to learn, additional skill-building classes for early learners and more ways for families to learn and enjoy their time together. Our first phase expansion includes:

  • additional safe parking 
  • additional hands-on exhibit learning experiences
  • additional classroom learning space 
  • separate early childhood learning program space
  • an expanded gift store

Every donation is an important part of the Museum's success. It takes many investors to support these dreams. 

We invite you to be a part of the future of the Children's Discovery Museum through a tax-deductible contribution to our Capital Campaign program or volunteering in our growing programs. Your support will help to support the education of future children by the opening of a child's imagination and dreams while providing parents and caregivers the tools to support their children’s tomorrows.

To explore opportunities to become a supporter of the Capital Campaign call Lee Vanderbeck at (760) 321-0602, ext. #103 or email to lvanderbeck@cdmod.org."

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You Don't Have to be Leona Helmsley to Care for Your Pet

Posted on October 10, 2008 by Daryl Binkley

On a typical day, my Yorkie, Boots (pictured at left) forces me out of bed for his pre-dawn walk, he hides my socks before I go to work, and begs me for food every chance he gets. He is a constant source of entertainment as he slides down the hall running after me or when he barks at his own shadow. He is a great snuggle buddy and playmate for my daughter and definitely a member of our family.

Pets add so much excitement and joy to our daily life that it is common to find people on El Paseo walking their dogs and referring to them as their children. As we age, I think, the role of pets becomes even more significant in our lives.

Here in the Desert, many retired residents live far away from their immediate family—so their pets become their daily companions—a source of love, companionship and emotional support on a continuing basis.  In some cases maybe their only companion. However, there are various opportunities for pet owners to socialize and bond with others like them.

Pet owners can bond together, in various pet clubs like the Standard Poodle Club of the Desert to get a sense of community and enjoy their common interest—the love of pets. Meg Doolittle, the founder of the Standard Poodle Club of the Desert even participates in the Palm Desert Golf Cart Parade, and tells other poodle owners to "Come to the parade, bring their Standard Poodle, and join in on the fun."  She can be reached via email at: QueenBaba@aol.com

And still other activities involving pets abound; such as volunteering or working at some of the various non-profit organizations supporting animal related causes. One example is the Animal Samaritans of the Desert, this organization and others like it provide another way for pet lovers to get involved with pet-friendly causes.

Another positive organization is the Humane Society of the Desert (Orphan Pet Oasis).  Malinda Bustos, the organization's President tells me that the Humane Society of the Desert has been serving the Coachella Valley since 1961. That the organization began with a simple concept...help those who cannot help themselves. To hundreds of abandoned, neglected and abused animals, this Sanctuary is their home. They provide medical care, training, shelter and most important offering these animals a second chance in life.  They will be hosting their "The Blessing of the Animals" on October 25, 2008.

With pets playing an important role in the life of their owners, it is not that difficult to understand why some pet owners begin to think of who or how their pet will be taken care of when they are gone (especially elderly owners). 

It is interesting to note that there are various options to ensure a pet will be cared for--such as through a pet trust, or nominating a person or organization to take care of a pet in the event they pass away, or even other ways too.

For people that really want to donate some of their wealth to pet-friendly organizations, there is the potential to provide a charitable gift in their estate planning documents.

Some benefits of doing so include:           

                1) Ensure that your pet is taken care of

                2) Naming short-term and long-term guardians for your pet

                3) Providing clear instructions for any pet beneficiaries

Even though a pet may be a star in our lives—every so often a celebrity pet is in the limelight. Such is the case with a Maltese named TROUBLE.

Leona Helmsley’s famous, or more correctly stated, infamous dog received a distribution in the millions of dollars, creating a lot of hostility in the audaciousness of her distribution. A recent New Yorker article examines the history of providing for pets in estate planning documents and more particulars of Leona Helmsley’s estate planning involving her dog. The article includes several negative comments about Leona Helmsley’s “Trouble-d” planning.

Unlike Leona Helmsley, you don’t have to leave everything to your pet, however, there are several ways to provide for your pet in a reasonable fashion (without breaking the bank or giving away everything you own). This type of planning ensures that even after you are gone your pet (your surrogate family members/friendly companions) will continue to enjoy the rest of their lives.

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Cherry Picking Your Charity Picking

Posted on September 25, 2008 by Daryl Binkley

The Community Foundation presented its Coachella Valley edition of The Philanthropic Series at Rancho Las Palmas in Rancho Mirage on September 25.  The event included some great speakers across various topics, including:   "Real Estate Exit Strategies" in relation to charitable giving; a crystal ball look into the future of all types of taxes; and some insight into "What's Ahead for the U.S. & California Economy." 

This was a top-notch event put on by the charitable organization and allows them a chance to strengthen ties with the Coachella Valley.   

Michael McGreevy, from Private Asset Management, and Board Member of the Coachella Valley Fund said, "The Philanthropic Series seminar was full of useful estate planning information.  I was particularly impressed with the segment that addressed the future of the U.S. and California economies."

In setting up an overall estate plan, charitable gifting is an often overlooked option.  For example, some people might have a hard time coming to a decision about which charity to give to, or if they want to give to more than one charity, then they become worried about creating additional complications to their estate plan.   

The Community Foundation has made Cherry Picking your Charity easy.  You just put them as the recipient of your charitable gift, and then they distribute your gift to other non-profits aligned with your charitable interests.

Depending on the type of gift you want to establish with the organization, it can be spread across many charities. As stated on their informational materials:

"In response to the wishes of Coachella Valley leaders, The Community Foundation...has created The Coachella Valley Fund to match donors' philanthropic interests with gifting opportunities to a wide variety of charitable organizations solely within the Coachella Valley.  Funds given to The Coachella Valley Fund shall be used exclusively to benefit causes in the Coachella Valley."

There are many great charitable organizations in the Desert, The Community Foundation is another one worth your consideration.

Further, it is my understanding that they have contributed more to Coachella Valley projects (nonprofits) than they have received from valley donors.  Desert it is time to give back.

In another blog post I will discuss the possible benefits of charitable giving when coordinated with an overall estate plan--but I will state here that the benefits are significant.  Further, the pride one feels knowing that at least part of their estate will truly make a difference in many people's lives can be quite heavenly, I would like to imagine. 

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