Fate Of Ophelia Program Looks Bright In Thousand Palms Through Bus Promotion

The JFK Memorial Foundation's program promotes resilience among vulnerable teenage girls to end cycles of generational poverty and abuse.

By Ashley Ludwig, Patch Staff

Jun 24, 2026 10:08 am PDT

The JFK Memorial Foundation's Ophelia program promotes resilience among vulnerable teenage girls to end cycles of generational poverty and abuse. (Photo Credit: Sunline Bus)

THOUSAND PALMS, CA — When you see the SunLine Transit Agency bus showcasing the purple and butterflies, you'll know why. The bus serves as a tribute to John F. Kennedy Memorial Foundation's Ophelia program, which provides mentorship, leadership and life skills to young women throughout the region.

The newly wrapped bus features local women leaders and alumnae and the program's signature butterfly imagery. It was debuted at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at 32-205 Harry Oliver Trail.

"The Ophelia Program of Coachella Valley began serving a very small group of a few girls, with a few volunteer mentors in a single school in 1998. Some 15 other sites around the United States became affiliates through the early years but all eventually folded for various reasons leaving the Coachella Valley chapter to be the last continuing program," according to organizers.

The Ophelia Program of Coachella Valley not only survived but was greatly successful, growing to 20 school sites across 3 independent school districts, the program is prepared to serve more than 500 girls each year with a volunteer force of 120 professional mentors and business leaders, they said.

"The Coachella Valley Ophelia Program was so strong, had survived the bad economy of 2007/08 and was rapidly growing! Sue Wellman joined the Ophelia Program of Coachella Valley Board of Directors, became a major donor and asked the Coachella Valley Chapter to assume the role of National Headquarters."

Participating attendees will include foundation CEO Peter Sturgeon, SunLine Transit Agency CEO Mona Babauta, community leaders and mentors and students from the program.

Organizers said the event aims to celebrate the program's success stories and the lasting impact it has had on its community members.

The Ophelia program was founded in 2002 and has since trained more than 1,000 mentors and impacted more than 7,000 girls in grades 8-12. Learn more at jfkfoundation.org.