For more than three decades, the Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards—affectionately known as The Chase—has stood as one of the Coachella Valley’s most meaningful nights of philanthropy, creativity, and community impact. In 2027, DAP Health is reimagining the beloved gala with its most dramatic transformation yet: a fully immersive masquerade experience built around the theme “Come adorned. Leave transformed.”
Presented by Desert Care Network, the 33rd annual Chase will take place Saturday, February 20, 2027, at the Palm Springs Convention Center, ushering in a new era inspired by the art form Steve Chase himself mastered—design as a vehicle for humanity.
Longtime Gala Chair and DAP Health Board Member Kevin Bass describes the vision as “Venetian masquerade meets Bridgerton meets The Phantom of the Opera,” an evening where masks become symbols of courage, generosity, and radiant self‑expression. Guests are encouraged to embrace creative formal attire and their own interpretation of masquerade, stepping into an environment where beauty fuels change.
A Mission Behind the Mask
The Chase honors interior designer and philanthropist Steve Chase, whose early support helped shape DAP Health’s foundation. Today, the gala remains one of the organization’s most vital fundraising engines. Over the past three years, The Chase has generated more than $2 million in net revenue, with nearly $700,000 annually supporting DAP Health’s mission to provide comprehensive, affirming care for all.
Funds raised at The Chase directly support:
- Ending HIV: DAP Health operates the nation’s largest PrEP intervention program among comparable organizations and will expand services with a new LGBTQ+ clinic opening in Oceanside next spring.
- Policy Navigation & Patient Support: More than 6,000 patients lost insurance access this year due to HR1. DAP Health continues to provide care for $25 or less per visit while offering proactive outreach, re‑enrollment assistance, and benefits navigation.
- Women’s Health: A new women’s health center opening in 2027 at DAP Health Sunrise will expand preventive care, reproductive health services, chronic disease management, and access for uninsured women across the valley.
A Gala Reimagined
While The Chase will retain beloved traditions—cocktail reception, silent auction, gourmet dinner, community honorees, and live fundraising—the entertainment experience will be entirely new. Instead of a single headliner, performances will emerge throughout the room, blending contemporary and classical styles and culminating in a DJ‑led dance party.
This shift reflects a broader cultural desire for immersive experiences that pull people beyond screens and into shared moments. For Bass and the creative team, the goal is to honor The Chase’s legacy while crafting an evening guests can participate in, feel, and remember.
As DAP Health continues its four‑decade mission of compassion, the 2027 Chase invites a new generation to step forward—adorned, transformed, and united in ensuring high‑quality, affirming health care for all.
More details, including performers, honorees, and additional surprises, will be announced in the months ahead.
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