Calista Vassios

Helping others is a responsibility. At least, that’s how Calista Vassios sees it. That conviction has guided her from her earliest volunteer experiences to a career in philanthropy.

As the first executive director of Girlfriend Factor, she led efforts to provide renewable education grants and mentorship to women returning to school in the Coachella Valley. Her involvement was personal. While working in the financial industry, her boss, Reesa Manning, one of Girlfriend Factor’s founders, encouraged her to volunteer and even gave her time off to do so. “The first time that I got to give out grant checks to the women who were going back to school … was powerful for me,” she says. “It made me know for sure that this was the right place.”

This summer, Vassios began a new chapter at The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert, where she builds relationships with sustaining donors and galvanizes support for fundraising events like the organization’s annual Center Stage gala.

She believes the call to action is simple: If you have the ability to make a difference, you should. It’s why she encourages others to find a cause they care about and get involved, stoking generosity and purpose across the Coachella Valley.