Senior Inspiration Awards Celebrate 11 Coachella Valley Seniors

PALM DESERT, CA - Senior citizens from around the Coachella Valley were to be honored Friday for their contributions to their communities during the 25th annual Senior Inspiration Awards.

More than 600 people were expected to attend the luncheon celebrating 11 senior citizen volunteers.

The event began at 11:30 a.m. at JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa, 74855 Country Club Drive. Brooke Beare and Kris Long of CBS Local 2 served as masters of ceremonies.

Honorees included:

• Edie Del Fiorentino, 94, of Cathedral City
• Paul Lira, 68, of Coachella
• Paul Miller, 74, of Desert Hot Springs
• Donald Pelegrino, 81, of Indian Wells
• Priscilla Garcia, 84, of Indio
• Linda Williams, 68, of La Quinta
• Hal Gruen, 91, of Palm Desert
• Charles Dunn, 72, of Palm Springs
• Margi White, 77, of Rancho Mirage
• Barbara Eves, 72, of Palm Springs
• Bill Claborn, 73, of Indio

"The Senior Inspiration Awards is a tradition started 25 years ago that recognizes phenomenal senior citizen volunteers from Riverside County and each Coachella Valley city," said Jan Harnik, Palm Desert mayor and chair of the Senior Inspiration Awards committee.

"The honorees are unsung heroes who volunteer, not for recognition, but out of their love for making our community better. It is inspirational to hear the great stories of the thousands of hours they have devoted and their encouragement to us to be active."

– By City News Service / Image via Shutterstock