2024 Community Impact Honorees
Community Impact Award Honorees
Bonnie and Alan Cashman
Bonnie and Alan Cashman have been married for more than 52 years. They met at Seattle University in 1971. Working together for over 27 years in financial services they built successful businesses which they ultimately sold to a national firm.
In 1975 they attended an insurance convention in Palm Springs staying at the old Rivera Hotel on Vista Chino. Falling in love with Palm Springs they would vacation here at least annually thereafter.
While visiting Palm Springs to celebrate their wedding anniversary, they purchased their first part-time vacation home in the Movie Colony in the summer of 2000. In 2016, they moved to their current home in Old Las Palmas where they are active in the community hosting many different organizations and corporate events. The Cashmans made Palm Springs their full-time and permanent residence in 2022 after selling their award winning condo in Seattle that they developed and completed in 1987.
The Cashmans have been members of the O’Donnell Golf Club since 2001. Alan was the Co-Founder of the Old Las Palmas Neighborhood Organization and Bonnie currently serves on the Board of Governors of the Eisenhower Foundation. Both are dedicated supporters of the 24/7 program.
Community Impact Award Honoree
Nino Eilets
Nino Eilets will receive the Community Impact Award. He has been a steadfast supporter and advocate for AAP and our community for many years. After leaving his native Puerto Rico, Nino served in the Air Force for twelve years and has been a resident of Palm Springs since 1996. He is a generous, gentle soul with a big heart who has helped elevate many community organizations by donating his platform for outreach and education through advertising and editorial coverage. His involvement in the community started in earnest during his 12-year tenure as General Manager of The Bottomline Magazine and has continued for the past 11 years as the owner/ publisher of The Standard Magazine.
Nino has been involved with several local organizations and charities including AAP – Food Samaritans, American Cancer Society, DAP Health, Harvey Mill Diversity Coalition, PS Pride, and The Trevor Project, to name a few. Nino also is the co-producer & owner of the International Bear Convergence, an event that helps encourage several thousands of visitors to Palm Springs that helps bolster our local tourism.
His life has brought him a wealth of experience and passion that he uses to raise awareness of advancing equality, promote diversity, and celebrate the strength and talent of the LGBTQ+ community.
Community Impact Award Honoree
Ruta Lee
Certainly, one of Hollywood's most glamorous ladies, Ruta Lee is also one of its most multifaceted and top-notched civic contributors. Ruta has been a very staunch supporter of AAP – Food Samaritans for decades.
A celebrated actress, Lee has appeared in many films, including “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,” “Funny Face,” “Witness for the Prosecution,” and as Frank Sinatra's leading lady in “Sergeant's Three.” She has appeared on more than 2,000 television shows, including “Perry Mason,” “Twilight Zone,” “Murder She Wrote,” “Hogan's Heroes,” “Love Boat,” and “Roseanne.” She has also headlined around the country in many musicals as “Dolly,” “Annie,” “Peter Pan,” “Mame,” “Irene,” “Nelly,” “Irma,” “Rose,” “The Woman of the Year,” in “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” “Unsinkable Molly Brown,” and “Goodbye Charlie.”
Ruta is highly acclaimed for her leadership role with The Thalians –Hollywood for Mental Health, an organization committed to good mental health from pediatrics to geriatrics. She has been either chairman or president for more than 50 years, roles she regularly exchanged with best pal and sister in charity Debbie Reynolds. Recently The Thalians refocused attention to the dire need of mental health services for our returning Vets and joined with UCLA’s Operation Mend. OP MEND heals broken bodies, the Thalians heal broken minds and spirits.
She has served as Commissioner on the Los Angeles Board of Environmental Quality and as a member of the Economic Development Board, acted as a national spokesperson for the American Cancer Society, was honored Woman of the Year by B'nai B'rith, received the Humanitarian Award from the Beverly Hills Business Women's Association as well as top honors from the City of Hope. She is also the proud recipient of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Palm Springs Walk of Stars and the Celebrity Walk at the Thalians Mental Health Center at Cedars-Sinai. More recently, Ruta was honored as a "Woman of Achievement" by Northwood University, joining a roster of some of the most prestigious women in America.
Her memoir "Consider Your Ass Kissed" is a treasure trove of wonderful personal stories and anecdotes with rare first hand and authentic memories of the entertainment industry.
