<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By Daniel Vaillancourt<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards, DAP Health\u2019s biggest annual fundraiser, also fondly known as The Chase returns to dazzle donors outdoors at the Palm Springs Convention Center on the evening of Saturday, March 25. Fashion, medicine, and music will take center stage at the starry annual benefit gala.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Created by (and named after) the late, world-renowned interior designer Steve Chase \u2014 an early DAP Health donor, volunteer, and board member who worked touring the globe but loved Palm Springs best \u2014 this glittery gala is a golden star on the desert\u2019s social calendar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYour presence at The Chase, beyond signaling your support for our honorees, shows your continued commitment to DAP Health\u2019s 10,000+ patients and clients,\u201d says DAP Health CEO David Brinkman. \u201cEvery attendee can count themselves among the bighearted humanitarians who help remove roadblocks to quality care and supportive services for their neighbors and friends so that everyone may live life to their fullest potential.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Though it began as Desert AIDS Project in 1984 to fulfill the needs of people gripped by the HIV crisis, DAP Health \u2014 which was recently rebranded and has long been designated as a federally qualified health center (FQHC) \u2014 has opened its doors wide to every individual in the Coachella Valley. The advocacy-based, culturally competent nonprofit now provides everything from primary, HIV\/AIDS, dental, gender-affirming, sexual, women\u2019s, and mental health care to housing, food assistance, recovery, and harm reduction services. No one is ever turned away for inability to pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vision Forward \u2014 the agency\u2019s 10-year strategic plan that will see it grow to serve 25,000 patients annually by 2025 \u2014 has completed 90% of its fundraising, with more than $6 million still needed to complete the expansion of its physical and programmatic footprint. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Presenting Sponsor Eisenhower Health<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This year, The Chase is presented by Eisenhower Health, with special thanks to Amazon. \u201cThe health care needs of the Palm Springs community present unique challenges,\u201d says Eisenhower Health President and Chief Executive Officer Marty Massiello. \u201cAccording to recent statistics, the prevalence rate of people living with HIV in Palm Springs is more than 21 times higher than California overall. Eisenhower Health, like our community partner DAP Health, is dedicated to understanding and treating the specific needs of this first generation of people who are aging with HIV. Providing HIV specialists and focusing on both prevention and treatment are vital to advancing health care equality in our community. It\u2019s events like The Chase that help raise awareness, and much-needed funds, to meet these unique health care advancements that both organizations see among our patients.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eisenhower Health has been a supporter of DAP Health for decades. \u201cDAP Health and Eisenhower Health share the same vision and the same values,\u201d continues Massiello. \u201cOur organizations envision a community where everyone has access to the care they need, when they need it. We continue to collaborate and innovate together to meet the expanding needs of our valley. We are proud to support the work DAP Health is doing to redefine what health care is and what it can be in the future \u2014 including the many social determinants that inform wellness, including housing, health care access, nutrition, and mental health.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Blue Carpet and Amazon\u2019s Amazing Cocktail Party<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It all begins with arrivals on the Blue Carpet, which will pay homage to health care workers. Guests will then be granted entrance into Amazon\u2019s Amazing Cocktail Party, where nattily attired attendees will be urged to engage in meaningful conversations while feasting on beverages and hors d\u2019oeuvres accompanied by local music maven DJ Modgirl spinning her tuneful magic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe imagine a room filled with local leaders communicating bold ideas that inspire our community to create a better path to health care,\u201d says Amazon\u2019s Head of External Affairs & Community Engagement for The West and Inland Empire David Ambroz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Explaining the synergy between DAP Health and Amazon, Ambroz continues: \u201cWhat I saw during my first tour has stayed with me all year. I noticed that DAP Health approaches innovation the same way Amazon does \u2014 we start with our customers and work backward. DAP Health remains patient-centric in its delivery of human care and development of new ways to improve health and wellness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Brinkman: \u201cAmazon serves the valley\u2019s residents, business owners, and employees. The organization has made a long-term commitment to our community, having done business here for more than 10 years, and we are grateful for the company\u2019s prioritization of equitable access to health care for everyone. DAP Health looks forward to partnering with Amazon all year long as we increase the positive impact we can make together. As a leader in our community, Amazon has a vision for \u2014 and commitment to \u2014 our success.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Evening\u2019s Program<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n To kick off the programmatic portion of the evening \u2014 set against stunning sunset views of the majestic San Jacinto mountains \u2014 Tony Award nominee (and Drama Desk and Obie winner) Saycon Sengbloh will perform an opening set prior to event co-chairs and DAP Health Board Members Kevin Bass, Lauri Kibby, and Scott Nevins officially welcoming the audience. They\u2019ll then cede the spotlight to Brinkman, whose speech will address the future of health care in the Coachella Valley and the role the organization will play in guaranteeing health care access to every member of our desert community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Returning host Michael Urie \u2014 a veteran of stage, TV, and film who currently stars alongside the legendary Harrison Ford in the new Apple TV+ hit comedy series \u201cShrinking\u201d \u2014 will then shepherd the evening, which will include the bestowing of honors onto Desert Healthcare District & Foundation, its board of directors, and its CEO Dr. Conrado E. B\u00e1rzaga (who are jointly receiving the DAP Health Humanitarian Award) and fashion icon and philanthropist Donna Karan (who will be granted the DAP Health Equity Award).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Between those two tributes, Nick Adams \u2014 who not only originated the role of Adam\/Felicia in the Tony-winning Broadway music \u201cPriscilla, Queen of the Desert\u201d but co-starred in Hulu\u2019s queer-themed comedy \u201cFire Island\u201d \u2014 will regale the crowd with his crooning. Leading up to the live auction and live appeal, helmed by veteran auctioneer Dale Johannes, two patient videos that exemplify the lifesaving work done by DAP Health will be shown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once Urie wraps up the program, headline entertainer Darren Criss \u2014 the Emmy-, Golden Globe-, and Screen Actors Guild Award-winning star of such pop culture sensations as \u201cGlee,\u201d \u201cAmerican Buffalo,\u201d and \u201cThe Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story \u2014 will delight the audience with an eclectic musical set. (Read more about Criss in the Q&A, below.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, what would The Chase be without its infamous, rollicking afterparty, which will see DJ Modgirl return to her turntables to usher guests onto the dance floor before the night comes to a close?<\/p>\n\n\n\n For more information about this sure-to-be sensational soir\u00e9e \u2014 or to procure tickets \u2014 please visit daphealth.org\/thechase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Up Close with Headliner Darren Criss<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Darren Criss \u2014 the 36-year-old \u201cGlee\u201d alum who won an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for playing gay serial killer Andrew Cunanan in Ryan Murphy\u2019s \u201cThe Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story\u201d \u2014 may be making his professional desert debut when he headlines the 2023 The Chase for DAP Health, but he\u2019s no stranger to the Coachella Valley. Since he reports he has a \u201csignificant amount of family in the Palm Desert,\u201d he\u2019s somewhat of a regular. \u201cI\u2019ve got all my favorite spots, let\u2019s put it that way.\u201d He even made it to fellow performer Harry Styles\u2019 last North American \u201cLove On Tour\u201d stop (and impromptu birthday bash) on February 1 at the new Acrisure Arena.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I chatted with Criss over Zoom while he was in Los Angeles to talk about what we can expect at his show, his love of all things show biz, and his ties to queer audiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tell me a bit about the show you\u2019ll be presenting at The Chase.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When I have the opportunity to play events like this, which are very fun \u2014 I know The Chase is very big and I\u2019m very thrilled to be there \u2014 I\u2019m the court jester. I\u2019m just making sure I\u2019m servicing people having a good time. So, I tend to stray away from deep cuts [in favor of] any smattering of things that people would be familiar with from, Broadway or the stuff I did on \u201cGlee\u201d or just covers in general that are fun to play and that kind of seem appropriate for the vibe. I\u2019m notorious about not coming up with a set list until a few days before. I\u2019ll have a band [that night], so I have to be a little more fastidious with the organizing of that. The nice thing about being a musician is you\u2019re your own accompanist. If this was just me, I wouldn\u2019t have an answer for you. Maybe about an hour before I went on stage \u2014 \u2019cause I would go to the party, kind of get a vibe from people, have a couple drinks \u2014 I\u2019d go, \u201cOK, I think I get the playlist,\u201d and then I\u2019d just do it\u2026 I\u2019d just show up and try to make people happy. You can quote me on that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Acting, singing, or songwriting and producing \u2014 what would you say is your favorite?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s a great question, because usually the question is, \u201cWhich one do you consider yourself?\u201d And my answer is, they\u2019re all the same because they\u2019re all connected. They\u2019re all storytelling. It\u2019s just different tailoring. Different dress codes. But it\u2019s the same party, the same venue\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You know, I\u2019ve been very lucky, where I\u2019ve gotten to do everything. I will say the most fulfilling would probably have to be songwriting\u2026. Songwriting and producing probably consume most of my soul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Talking acting, is it film, TV, or theatre?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Nice work if you can get it. Listen, I\u2019m a mercenary. I\u2019ll be very happy to have the opportunity to work in any of those fields if they invite me to the party. Lucky me. And I\u2019m always grateful and cherish every opportunity that comes my way. Obviously, I come from the theatre, so it kind of has my heart and soul because there is an immediacy to it. So, yeah, that might be the leading player on the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Between \u201cGlee,\u201d Ryan Murphy, and Broadway, you clearly have a lot of queer fans. Thoughts?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I think the simple answer is I\u2019ve always felt so privileged to be included at what I deem to be the cool kids table. And that\u2019s not me trying to be charming or sucking up to a certain demographic. I\u2019ve spent a lifetime chasing my heroes, wanting to have the people I think are cool think I\u2019m<\/em> cool. And I\u2019ve worked very hard for that. I\u2019ve educated myself. I\u2019ve tried to cultivate my life so that people I respect might go, \u201cHey, this kid ain\u2019t so bad.\u201d And a huge [number], if not the majority, of those people come from the queer community. I feel very privileged to have anybody\u2019s attention, much less that of a community of people I think are rad. I\u2019m just so pleased to have a seat of the table, and I hope that my conversation is interesting enough to hold their attention and to be worthy of their time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you know, The Chase is DAP Health\u2019s largest annual benefit, and the organization began in 1984 as Desert AIDS Project. How have HIV and AIDS touched your life personally?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I was born in the eighties, raised in the nineties, in San Francisco. I\u2019m from a very, very queer city during a very troubled time that didn\u2019t see everybody survive. People\u2019s uncles were dying. I was a little boy. You\u2019d notice, and you\u2019d go, \u201cWait, what\u2019s going on?\u201d But it\u2019s something that didn\u2019t really hit me until much later in life. When you\u2019re old enough to understand and realize, \u201cHoly shit, that was a pretty insane time.\u201d I\u2019m very lucky because I\u2019m of a generation that got to benefit from the slow de-stigmatization and more healthy conversations around HIV and AIDS. The men and women in my circle who are living with it, when we talk about the sort of dark days of AIDS in the United States, they and I are just supremely aware of the people upon whose shoulders we get to live our day-to-day life. I consider myself very, very lucky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Well said. Shifting gears to a lighter subject, The Chase can be quite the fashionista extravaganza. So, here\u2019s the most important question: Have you picked out your outfit?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh, girl. Um, no. [Laughs] And I\u2019m not proud about it. I gotta get on it. Thanks for reminding me. I gotta get a set list together and an outfit. It\u2019s literally the two things that are required of me. And I don\u2019t have either one right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PHOTO CREDITS:<\/strong> <\/strong>Amanda Demme: Blue NY Bomber Jacket, Bright patterned jacket \/ <\/strong>Lindsey Byrnes: Red back drop photos \/ <\/strong>Pierre Hennequin: B&W photo<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Daniel Vaillancourt The Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards, DAP Health\u2019s biggest annual fundraiser, also fondly known as The Chase returns to dazzle donors outdoors at the Palm Springs Convention Center on the evening of Saturday, March 25. Fashion, medicine, and music will take center stage at the starry annual benefit gala. Created by (and named after) the late, world-renowned interior designer Steve Chase \u2014 an early DAP Health donor, volunteer, and board member who worked touring the globe but loved Palm Springs best \u2014 this glittery gala is a golden star on the desert\u2019s social calendar. \u201cYour presence at The Chase, beyond signaling your support for our honorees, shows your continued commitment to DAP Health\u2019s 10,000+ patients and clients,\u201d says DAP Health CEO David Brinkman. \u201cEvery attendee can count themselves among the bighearted humanitarians who help remove roadblocks to quality care and supportive services for their neighbors and friends so that everyone may live life to their fullest potential.\u201d Though it began as Desert AIDS Project in 1984 to fulfill the needs of people gripped by the HIV crisis, DAP Health \u2014 which was recently rebranded and has long been designated as a federally qualified health center (FQHC) \u2014 has […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2080,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[64],"tags":[2558,2709,2563,8,37,38],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thestandardps.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2079"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thestandardps.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thestandardps.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thestandardps.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thestandardps.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2079"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.thestandardps.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2079\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2082,"href":"https:\/\/www.thestandardps.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2079\/revisions\/2082"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thestandardps.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2080"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thestandardps.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2079"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thestandardps.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2079"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thestandardps.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2079"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}