LEADERSHIP
Officers
Grant Fuhr
President, One Valley Foundation and 2023 NHL Hall of Fame Member
Grant Fuhr is a Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender best known for his pivotal role in the Edmonton Oilers dynasty, winning five Stanley Cups and earning six NHL All-Star selections during his storied career. In 2003, he became the first Black player inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and was later honored as one of the NHL’s 100 Greatest Players.
Beyond his achievements on the ice, Grant has dedicated himself to philanthropy and community impact. As President of the Grant Fuhr Foundation, he champions initiatives that support mental health, addiction recovery, and youth sports. In partnership with One Valley Foundation, his organization co-hosts the annual Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament, a marquee event that brings together athletes and celebrities to benefit youth sports programs throughout the Coachella Valley. Grant’s leadership reflects his lifelong commitment to creating opportunities for young athletes and fostering a stronger, healthier community.
Kate Spates
Vice President & Executive Director
Kate Spates is the Executive Director of the One Valley Foundation, bringing more than 25 years of experience in business, marketing, and nonprofit leadership. A 40+ year Coachella Valley resident, she has built a distinguished career as an entrepreneur, community leader, and philanthropist. Spates previously founded and led Image Marketing Concepts for nearly two decades and later launched CollabWithKate.com, supporting organizations in strategic growth and communications.
Deeply engaged in the community, she has served in numerous leadership roles, including co-founder and volunteer CEO of AMP, President of PSWIFT, and board and advisory positions with several local nonprofits. She is a graduate of Cal State San Bernardino – Palm Desert Campus and College of the Desert, and her contributions have been recognized with honors such as the Mary T. Roche Community Leadership Award and induction into the COD Alumni Hall of Fame.
Ruth Hill
Treasurer One Valley Foundation, VP of Finance & Administration
With over 20 years of experience in the entertainment and hospitality industries, Hill serves as Vice President of Finance & Administration at OVG. In her role, she oversees the financial infrastructure and ensures compliance, develops budgets and monthly forecasts, assists in projecting event deals and P&L, and manages the daily operations of human resources, accounting, and finance functions.
Before joining OVG, Hill held positions with several prominent NBA teams, including the Utah Jazz, Sacramento Kings, and San Antonio Spurs, as well as with the NHL’s Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars. She also worked at the full-service marketing agency Mod Op and taught accounting at the University of San Francisco’s Masters in Sports Management program.
Hill earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and an MBA from the University of Utah.
Alyssa Savala
Secretary, One Valley Foundation; Coachella Valley Firebirds Community Relations Manager
Board of Directors
John Page
Senior VP, Acrisure Arena, Coachella Valley Firebirds & OVG 360
John is a Senior Vice President at the Oak View Group, the global leader in venue development, management, and premium hospitality services for live events. Specifically, John is responsible for the management and oversight of the new Acrisure Arena, the Coachella Valley Firebirds and OVG360 Facilities.
Before joining OVG, John served as President of Spectra, where he supported 10,000 employees across the company’s wide portfolio of venues and stadiums. He holds both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in public administration from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Known for his ability to motivate employees, John emphasizes a “Client First” approach. His success has resulted in being nominated ten times by Pollstar as Facility Executive of the Year.
The former USC Trojans offensive lineman got his start in 1991 as an event coordinator at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Sports Arena. His passion for sports has followed him to the Coachella Valley with his commitment to the One Valley Foundation which is the philanthropic arm of the CV Firebirds.
John and his wife, Kellie have been married for 24 years and have three college aged children, Jack, Sam and Grace.
Gino LaMont
Host, Hockey Night Coachella Valley
A 30 year desert resident Gino LaMont spent 25 years anchoring the news on NBC Palm Springs. In 2022 Gino stepped down as NBC’s main anchor and News Director to join the Coachella Valley Firebirds broadcast team. In addition to the One Valley Foundation Gino also sat on the board of the Plaza Theatre Restoration Foundation as well as the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce “Walk of Stars” board.
Madeline Zuckerman
Owner & President M. Zuckerman Marketing and Public Relations
Madeline Zuckerman is Owner & President of M. Zuckerman Marketing & Public Relations, Inc., a full service Marketing Communications firm with two offices located in Rancho Mirage and Newport Beach, California, to service her clients throughout Southern California.
Madeline began establishing her career within the Marketing industry in the 1970s in New York, where she was Vice President & Partner with Letitia Baldrige, known for her role as Press Secretary to Jacqueline Kennedy in The White House. Madeline has represented a stellar list of clients on both the East and West Coasts during her career.
She and her husband raised a son and daughter, and currently reside in Rancho Mirage with their beloved two-year old Australian Labradoodle, Sadie!
Dr. Ezekiel Bonillas
Dr. Ezekiel Bonillas is a respected educator, entrepreneur, and civic leader whose work reflects One Valley Foundation’s commitment to strengthening community, expanding education, and broadening access and opportunity. An Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship at Cal State San Bernardino, Dr. Bonillas brings deep expertise in supporting diverse and underrepresented entrepreneurs—particularly within Latino communities.
He currently serves on the Governing Board of Desert Regional Medical Center and contributes to The Desert Sun’s Editorial Board, helping elevate regional dialogue and community engagement. Dr. Bonillas also supports philanthropy and economic opportunity through his service with Eisenhower Health Foundation’s Latinos in Philanthropy and as a board member for Get in Motion Entrepreneurs.
With a background spanning economic development, consulting, and small business support—including leadership roles with the 29 Palms Band of Mission Indians and the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership—Dr. Bonillas brings valuable insight into building inclusive pathways for growth and impact. His experience and passion make him a meaningful addition to One Valley Foundation’s work throughout the Coachella Valley.
Dr. Joe Boffa
Dr. Joe Boffa is a lifelong educator, coach, and community builder whose career reflects One Valley Foundation’s pillars of Community, Education, and Access to Hockey. With more than 30 years of service in Coachella Valley schools and nine years with the Riverside County Office of Education, Dr. Boffa has trained and mentored much of the region’s current teacher workforce while advancing inclusive and culturally responsive practices.
Rooted in the deep hockey tradition of Northern Minnesota, Dr. Boffa brings a lifelong passion for the sport to his work in the Valley. A USA Hockey Level 5 Master Coach, he has spent decades coaching local youth—including with the Coachella Valley Jr. Firebirds—and remains a dedicated advocate for expanding access to hockey for all ages.
Dr. Boffa’s extensive academic background includes serving as a university professor, supporting teacher preparation programs, and leading induction for new educators across multiple districts. His long-standing commitment to young people, families, and community engagement makes him a powerful champion for the Foundation’s mission to create opportunity and inspire the next generation across the Coachella Valley.