In support of the teens at SafeHouse of the Desert, Paduano recently organized an outing and a guided tour of The Living Desert, along with lunch at California Pizza Kitchen on El Paseo.

SafeHouse of the Desert is for teens facing difficult situations such as domestic violence, drug addiction, unplanned pregnancies, gender identity issues, suicide and even life on the street. SafeHouse is a center that offers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week care for teens.

Several teens from SafeHouse were accompanied by staff member Brea Evans, volunteer Esmeralda Beclolla, Michael Paduano and WFPS board member Gerald Begy Ph.D.

The teens at SafeHouse got the opportunity to visit The Living Desert with a private group tour with Mike Chedester, Curator of Education. “We started the tour off passing the G-Scale Model Train and off to see the animals of the African wildlife exhibits,” says Paduano. “The Living Desert has worked many years to successfully increase the world’s population of slender-horned gazelles, sand cats, addax and Arabian Oryx. Mike explained some of the several projects The Living Desert is involved with throughout the world helping endangered species and releasing animals back into the wild to increase their population and survival. The Wildlife Hospital was also a very unique opportunity to see the highest quality of care given to animals while allowing visitors the chance to see while visiting,” adds Michael.

While at The Living Desert, many of the youth mentioned that they had never been to The Living Desert before, and many of them had never been to a zoo before.

After The Living Desert the teens received lunch courtesy of California Pizza Kitchen on El Paseo. General Manger, Justin Jordan and Assistant General Manager Bruce Bradford were generous and welcoming hosts for lunch.

The Wellness Foundation Palm Springs 501 ( c ) 3 Tax ID #26-4397952, is located at 125 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way #203 Palm Springs, CA. 92262. Contact Michael Paduano, Executive Director at 760-831-3761.

Please welcome Victoria Calender, Rancho Mirage; Dan Conover, Palm Desert Cook and Hovley; Angie Dominguez, La Quinta; Daniel Dominguez, La Quinta; Kathy Dool, La Quinta; Gloria Gutierrez, Cathedral City; Penny Poynter, Indian Wells Main; Cyra Valenzuela Cathedral City; Juan-Carlos Vizaga, Cathedral City and Susan Zazzetti, Palm Springs South.

“As we continue to grow, opening new offices in Cathedral City and Indio, we offer full coverage for Buyers and Sellers in the Coachella Valley, as well as the surrounding areas,” says Windermere owner Bob Deville.

Windermere Southern California is pleased to announce the opening of our newest San Diego office, conveniently located in the heart of Downtown, just blocks from the Convention Center and the Historic Gas Lamp District.

Representing some of San Diego’s finest properties, Windermere Signature Properties serves buyers and sellers from the vibrant Downtown area to the beach communities of the North County. Office owners, Francine Finn and Raye Scott, offer over 45 years of combined real estate expertise.

“We are very proud to have Francine and Raye as the newest members of our Windermere Southern California family,” says Bob Deville, Windermere Services Representative for Southern California. “Their stellar reputation in the real estate industry and the respect they receive from their peers is typical of what Windermere Owners represent.”

Office location is 560 First Avenue, San Diego CA 92101, phone 619-481-6300.

Windermere Real Estate Coachella Valley is proud to announce the recent association of The Shams Group. “Niloo and Negin are a formidable force within our local real estate community and we are proud to have them on our team,” says Windermere owner Bob Deville.

Fraternal twins Niloo & Negin Shams started The Shams Group real estate in 1990, and are established industry leaders in the valley’s real estate market. They have more than 20 years experience, listing and selling properties in some of the desert’s most prestigious communities, and they provide their clients with expert knowledge in the high-end luxury home market. The Shams Group will continue to operate as a team, working out of their current office at 75-270 Highway 111, Suite 204, in Indian Wells.

With over $500,000,000 in sales, The Shams Group is among the top 1% of agents nationwide. They pride themselves in effectively marketing their portfolio of luxury homes globally. They are members of Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate and FIABCI International, both powerful global real estate networks with more than 5000 offices and 80,000 top real estate professionals worldwide.

Joining Windermere was a natural progression in providing the highest level of exposure and service to their clients. “We strive to exceed our clients’ expectations with global market reach and with the real estate services we provide. We have associated ourselves with the best available luxury real estate networks worldwide to provide maximum exposure and now we proudly have joined the leading real estate company in the desert area,” says Niloo Shams.

“Windermere provides us with all the tools we need to ensure the absolute best service to our discriminating buyers and sellers. It all makes for a real estate experience that is seamless and enjoyable,” says Negin Shams.

Together The Shams Group and Windermere provide a powerful Real Estate force for buyers and sellers of luxury homes. The Shams Group can be reached at (760) 340-6300.

Windermere Real Estate Palm Desert Broker Don Rossignol (pictured above left), and Windermere Indian Wells agents Jeff Miller (above right) and Diane Busch modeled at the Women’s Council of Realtors (WRC) Fashion Show Fundraiser, Friday, May 7th at the Indian Wells Country Club to show their support of the organization.

The fundraiser provides for ongoing education and leadership training for WCR members and event guests. Windermere agents, past and present, have held the following positions in the organization: Susan London, 2003 Local Chapter President; Diane Busch, 2008 Local Chapter President, 2009 CA State District Vice President and 2010 CA State Governor; Wendy Formica, 2009 Local Chapter President and 2010 CA State District Vice President; Linda Novick, 2010 Chapter Vice President of Membership, and Cathi Walter, 2010 Chapter Secretary.

“Windermere has been a committed supporter of the Women’s Council of Realtors and their events. We were happy that three of our agents volunteered to be models for the fashion show,” says Windermere Indian Wells Broker Charlie White.

Windermere Real Estate was proud to be a Platinum sponsor of the California Desert Association of REALTORS® (CDAR) Golf Tournament at Desert Island Country Club on Wednesday, May 5. The Windermere Golf Team included agents Jennie Robinson (La Quinta), Jane Comelli (Rancho Mirage), Ted Morey (Rancho Mirage) and Peter Schmidt (Rancho Mirage). The team played to help raise funds for Semper Fi Air 29 and the CDAR Association’s Scholarship Fund. Windermere also sponsored a booth on Hole 9, handing out cold beverages and Windermere fans, organized by Palm Desert Broker Don Rossignol.

The proceeds will be divided equally between their Scholarship Fund for high school seniors and the Semper Fi Air 29 organization, which provides free air transport for Marines from the Palm Springs International Airport to the Twenty-nine Palms Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center.

“The event was a tremendous success. Our location on the course was perfect and we were able to help golfers quench their thirst with plenty of laughter and drinks!,” says Windermere Broker Don Rossignol.

PHOTO (From left to right): Peter Schmidt, Marcelle Buckee, Don Rossignol, Jeannie Robinson, Jane Comelli, Trent Teigen and Ryan Manos.

“Our high end market is active, and magnificent homes and estates are selling well,” says Windermere Real Estate Coachella Valley owner Bob Deville. “Every transaction is a challenge for buyer, sellers and the real estate agent, in our current market climate, however with the success of our Windermere Premier Properties Program, deals are closing. Windermere has always had a very successful Premier Properties Program. This unique program is represented and managed by Premier Directors – agents specializing in high-end and unique properties,” adds Deville. “With special signage, our award-winning Premier Properties web site, specialized and specific marketing materials and our targeted networking, both within the company and with outside real estate companies and agents, Windermere has been extremely successful in the listing and selling of home in this segment.”

Windermere recently installed its 2010 Executive Premier Directors and 2010 Premier Directors. This special group of Premier Directors are responsible for approving Premier Properties to the program as well as mentoring non-directors by physically previewing prospective Premier Properties. Acceptance and qualification into the program requires the written approval from two Premier Directors. The Directors also provide marketing and advertising advice for agents with a qualifying Premier Property.

“We have a very impressive and powerful 2010 slate of Premier Directors,” says Deville. “As a direct result of their hands-on involvement and team work, our high-end buyer and sellers will continue to benefit from this program, as our numbers clearly indicate, and as the high end market activity increases,” he says.

Nancy Beaty, Indian Wells Main; John Wyninegar, Rancho Mirage; Ed Siegel La Quinta; Mark Gutkowski, Palm Springs South; Peter Walsh, Palm Springs Main; Will Cook III, Palm Springs Main; Jean Van Beveran, Palm Springs Main; Ramon Lara, Rancho Mirage; Laura Cervantes, Rancho Mirage; Madelin Ferguson, Rancho Mirage; Candida Garcia, La Quinta; Vicky Lucas, Rancho Mirage; Leisha Larsen, Indian Wells Main; Mauro Lupian, La Quinta and Lauren Boucher, Palm Desert San Pablo.

“Our real estate market continues to improve and as we continue to grow with new agents and offices throughout the Coachella Valley, our Broad Exposure is benefiting both Buyers and Sellers,” says Windermere owner Bob Deville “The way things look for us I think we will have a longer season this year, as we did last year.”

“With 4,130 licensed real estate agents in the desert, Neuman is solid proof that hard work, tenacity and always placing her clients’ best interest first has established Valery Neuman as a true leader,” says Bob Deville, owner of Windermere Real Estate Coachella Valley.

Valery Neuman has been a licensed real estate professional in California since 1991 and living in the desert since 1992. She represents many of the most expensive and exclusive properties in the Coachella Valley and enjoys a very discriminating client base of Buyers from around the country. “Real Estate is my golf game,” says Valery. “Although real estate is serious business, I find great satisfaction in assisting buyers and sellers to successfully reach their real estate goals.”

“To achieve $58,000,000 in closed sales in a very challenging year is an inspiration not only to her fellow real estate professionals, but it is also encouraging to Buyers and Sellers,” says Deville. “In our ever-changing real estate industry there will always be buyers and sellers. It is imperative that a successful agent not only be in tune with the economic climate of their specific market areas and region, but just as importantly they must adapt with the changing market.”