Tuesday evening’s Yucca Valley Town Council meeting had a levity to it that was helped by the very first thing on the agenda: the Yucca Valley Spirit Award presented to Chris and Debbie Gubler. Mayor Jeff Drozd began the presentation with a short speech.
Mayor Drozd: “So I wanna say that Chris and Debbie Gubler, I’ve known them for so many years and they’re very good friends. And Chris Gubler, he contributes to the Landers community and he has since the 1980s by helping establish key local infrastructure such as a new post office, elementary school, the CSA 14 road district, obtained a community block grant for street signs while also organizing community events, including the first Landers firework show, Miss Landers pageant and the annual Willie Boy days.”
Chris Gubler has been a part of the Sunset Rotary for 25 years, which has been a partner with the nonprofit fundraising orchid festival. In 2024, the Orchid Festival raised 40,000 dollars for Morongo Basin nonprofits. Here’s Chris talking to Gary Daigneault on the Up Close Show from September 27, 2204, and Gary had just asked Chris what his favorite part of the Orchid Festival has been over the past 28 years:
Chris Gubler: “Giving out the money. That’s always a good part. Giving out to the non-profits. I mean, what our family does is we give a big check to Yucca Valley Sunset Rotary for the distribution, and they allocate it out to the non-profits.”
Along with the Orchid Festival the couple are responsible for the Dessert Soiree which once again raises money for non-profits like the Morongo Basin Ambulance to purchase lifesaving equipment such as a mobile ventilator, or vehicle transportation for Reach Out Morongo Basin and Unity Home. Drozd says that the couple don’t keep track of their philanthropy, but a quick estimate puts it at seven figures.
This certificate is awarded to Chris and Debbie Gubler in recognition for their outstanding community spirit and dedication to enhancing the quality of life in Yucca Valley, providing commitment to the promotion of volunteerism, recognizing the benefits of the Basin’s nonprofit organizations, and exemplifying the values of compassion, service and civic engagement. Thank you for fostering a stronger, more connected and resilient Yucca Valley and the Morongo Basin.
After a brief photo op with the mayor, Chris Gubler took to the microphone:
Chris Gubler: “First of all, it’s truly an honor to be recognized for our efforts in helping so many. We believe that the spirit comes from the heart and that the spirit knows no boundaries. It’s part of our nature, something that we were fortunate enough to embody.
“Our heart lies in the Morongo Basin. Our family could not have achieved this alone. We need a help from many talented and other spirited people working on a common cause called humanity.
“We’d like to take this moment to recognize them all by saying: thank you!”
With that, Chris unfurled a vertical banner that said THANKS in big block letters, to the delight of the packed audience.
