Agape Salon & Spa to be honored at annual National Philanthropy Day
“Ana and Ismael Jimenez definitely know what philanthropy can mean in the lives of children who experience poverty. Now the successful owners of Agape Salon & Spa in Rancho Mirage, both Ana and Ismael were raised in disadvantaged families in Palm Springs. As children, they experienced first-hand their families struggling to put food on the table and being unable to buy gifts for their children at holiday time.
Driven by this memory of growing up, they have become enthusiastic and hard-working supporters of Olive Crest, a local leader in the prevention and treatment of child abuse. Besides giving of their own time and resources to help at-risk children and their families within our community, Ana and Ismael have mobilized their clients and staff to donate to and support the organization’s annual back-to-school backpack drive and Be The Miracle holiday campaign.
In addition to supporting Olive Crest annually, Ana and Ismael also run a campaign in recognition of Earth Month each April, raising funds for the charity that brings clean, safe drinking water to people in developing countries. For this campaign, the Agape staff creates incentives for their clients to help support the worthwhile organization.
Agape Salon & Spa is being recognized at National Philanthropy Day in the Desert in the category of “Outstanding Philanthropic Foundation, Corporation or Civic/Service Organization” for having made a singular impact on the quality of life in the community and for having motivated other individuals and organizations to take active leadership roles in philanthropy and community involvement.
Now blessed with a thriving business, Ana and Ismael are both committed to giving back however they can, no matter how large or small the amount of the donation is. “We both strive to give people that same happy feeling we received when we were growing up and were the recipients of the philanthropic spirit of this community,” Ana says.
The couple’s interest in Olive Crest began when one of their clients, Angela Allen, enlightened them on some of the nonprofit’s successful programs. After learning more about the organization’s important mission, they threw themselves into the effort and it snowballed, with some of their clients and staff wanting to give back as well.
Married 19 years, this inspirational couple has four children who also understand the significance of giving back. During the COVID-19 pandemic when they had to close the salon twice, Ana found herself suffering from a bout of depression and a painful back condition. “It was a difficult time, because I felt despair that the business we had worked so hard to build was failing,” she says. “Then we learned that Olive Crest needed backpacks and school supplies, and I felt we needed to do whatever we could to help. In that moment, my depression lifted, and I was filled with energy and purpose again. I knew in that moment that my husband and I, as well as our clients and staff, would be able to make a difference in the lives of these at-risk children and their families.”
Ismael fondly remembers the annual holiday toy giveaway held at the Riviera Hotel in Palm Springs that his family and siblings would attend every year. “I was one of those kids receiving toys because my family did not have the money to give their children gifts at holiday time,” he says. “When I was 7 years old, I received my first set of Hot Wheels at this event. I played with these little cars nonstop until the paint fell off. Many years later, I was able to buy a new set of Hot Wheels because of those fond memories as a child. I keep these little cars to remind myself of that little boy who received the donated gift of Hot Wheels one year at holiday time.”
And now, as an adult, that little boy has become part of a couple who have mobilized others to support those in need within the Coachella Valley.
“We will never stop giving back,” Ana says. “We all must do our part to help out in any way we can. Giving back to our valley’s nonprofits is critical right now, as we start to slowly come out of the pandemic and rebuild.”
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The 15th annual “Change the World With a Giving Heart” National Philanthropy Day in the Desert awards celebration will take place Nov. 5. The event will be livestreamed by KESQ TV.
Madeline Zuckerman is owner and president of Madeline Zuckerman Marketing & Public Relations Inc., a marketing communications firm located in Rancho Mirage and Newport Beach, California. She has been a guest reporter for The Desert Sun for 14 years and is a founder of McCallum Theatre.”
