Temecula Cancer Resource Center Celebrates 25th Anniversary With Gala, Fundraisers

TEMECULA, CA ? Just a few weeks before Thanksgiving, Michelle?s Place Cancer Resource Center is holding a food drive for those in need. It's one of numerous ways that this southwest Riverside County non-profit gives back to individuals and families battling cancer.

The Thanksgiving Food Drive officially runs from Nov. 17 through Nov. 19, they said, at the drop-off location at Michelle's Place main office, located at 41669 Winchester Road in Temecula.

Still, a large-scale donation from the Four Seasons Murrieta community kicked off the annual food drive with generosity and heart. "Your kindness is helping make the holiday a little brighter for Michelle's Place families," a spokesperson for the cancer resource center said over social media. "Thank you for helping ensure that no one faces cancer over the holidays alone."

That statement embodies the goal, and has for 25 years.

Michelle's Place Cancer Resource Center was established in 2001 by Michelle Watson's parents, Bill and Marilyn Watson, in her memory. Since that time, it has served individuals and families affected by cancer. The 25th Anniversary milestone was made possible by the compassion, strength, and generosity of the community it calls home, a spokesperson said.

Michelle's Place has evolved from a purely Breast Cancer Resource Center to assist anyone in need of information related to battling all forms of cancer, helping to find necessary resources like a trusted friend who's been there and understands the perils and pitfalls of facing a difficult diagnosis.

Founded in 2001, the Watsons wanted Michelle?s Place to embody a simple promise: to make sure no one faces cancer alone.

Since that time, Temecula and Southwest Riverside County has embraced the resource center. The staff and volunteers are constantly at work in the community, hosting events for families and fundraisers in support of monthly efforts to assist those in need. Indeed, the CEO Kim Gerrish was named Temecula's Citizen of the Year for 2025 by the Temecula Chamber of Commerce.

To celebrate, Michelle?s Place is planning its 25th Anniversary Gala, Unmasking Cancer, which will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at Pechanga Resort Casino in the Grand Ballroom West. (See ticket information below).

The evening promises to be a celebration of hope, resilience, and
community with dinner, entertainment, and inspiring stories, organizers said in a recent news release.

What began as a small effort to provide comfort and support has evolved into a vibrant center offering free resources, programs, and services to people across Southern California, Kim Gerrish, the center's Executive Director, said.

?This anniversary is about so much more than our history,? Gerrish said. ?It?s about the amazing community that built Michelle?s Place, continues to sustain it,
and gives it life every day. Volunteers, donors, staff, and friends all carry forward Michelle?s spirit by making sure people have a safe place to turn in their most difficult moments.?

Bill and Marilyn Watson recently reflected on the milestone with a joint statement:

?We wanted to create a center that captured Michelle?s heart, her love for people, and her joy for life. We are so grateful for 25 years of support and generosity from this community. Seeing Michelle?s Place grow beyond our hopes is truly an honor, and this anniversary reminds us to keep moving forward with the mission of bringing hope to those who need it most.?

The February gala will be an evening you will not want to miss, a chance to honor 25 years of impact and help shape the next chapter of Michelle?s Place.

Tickets and tables are available at www.MichellesPlace.org/Fundraising. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Amber Berkey at Amber@MichellesPlace.org.