As part of the UW's Dawg Days in the Desert, our fourth annual Coffee and Conversation scholarship luncheon was held March 16 at Toscana Country Club in Indian Wells, Calif.

This event was coordinated by a committee of former UWAB members living in the Palm Springs area. The committee includes both winter and permanent residents of the Coachella Valley who receive support from the UWAA and Courtney Acitelli, assistant director of alumni and student programs.

The fund-raising event included a luncheon, boutique shopping with vendors, silent auction and a guest speaker: Howard Behar, former president of Starbucks International and author of It's Not About the Coffee: Leadership Techniques Learned at Starbucks. In appreciation, and to further add to his busy wall of framed mottos, Howard was presented with our framed motto, "Changing Lives, One Scholarship at a Time."

Again this year, photos and focus statements from several of the 2008-09 UWAB scholarship recipients were displayed as table tents. These tents, created by George Zeno, executive director of scholarships and student programs at the UW, made it possible to bring the scholarship recipients to life and were a powerful way to motivate guests to give generously.

The student profiles and the sincere and sensitive "ask" by Co-Chairwoman Kay deMars resulted in willingness by the guests to give to UW student scholarships. Proceeds from the luncheon made it possible for our desert group to fund one-plus scholarship.

We invite all UW alumni to join us for the 2010 Coffee and Conversation next March. The scholarship luncheon will again be held at beautiful Toscana Country Club in Indian Wells. Check with us in January and look for the Dawg Days in the Desert invitation for details about the 2010 guest speaker and luncheon. See you there!

Kay de Mars and Kay Smith Larson
Co-Chairs, Coffee and Conversation

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