In this weekly feature, The Desert Sun spotlights Coachella Valley firms performing good deeds.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, and here the focus is on area businesses showing their generosity in support of cancer victims and local organizations dedicated to fighting cancer.

Pendleton Foundation

The Pendleton Foundation is a local charity that provides financial assistance to Coachella Valley cancer patients who need help paying for treatment and life-related expenses.

Annually they hold a live chef's auction where people bid on a chef to come to their home and cook a private meal for eight to 12 people. Last year, the event raised $165,000.

The restaurants and chefs that participate in the event provide all the food, wine and staff for these dinners, often providing plates and flatware as well as a server and dishwasher.

Here is the list of local businesses participating this year:

Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa, the title sponsor, is donating its facility and equipment to host the event.

Wally's Desert Turtle

Mr. Parker's

Miramonte Resort & Spa

Bing Crosby's

JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa

Lantana at Hyatt Grand Champion

Ruth's Chris Steakhouse

The Rattlesnake

Indian Wells Gold Resort

Arnold Palmer's

The Club at Morningside

Toscana Country Club

Cork Tree

bluEmber

This year's event is at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 18 at Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa in Rancho Mirage.

Tickets are $95 and on sale now at thependletonfoundation.org

Charity walk

Known as the Shops at the Fountains, a block of stores on El Paseo across from The Gardens in Palm Desert united together in the spirit of the Paint El Paseo Pink charity walk on Oct. 4.

They greeted about 500 walkers with refreshments, prizes and encouragement.

After the walk, the stores, including Mister Marcus, The Upper Crust, Frasca Jewelers, Pampered Bath, The Pastry Swan and Palm Desert Tobacco Shop, presented Desert Cancer Foundation with a check for $300.

Leeds & Son

In commemoration of National Breast Cancer Awareness month, Leeds & Son Fine Jewelers and Mikimoto will donate 20 percent from sales of two specially selected Mikimoto necklaces through the month of October.

The funds will be donated to the Desert Cancer Foundation.

The Pearls in Motion necklaces were inspired by the pink ribbon symbol for breast cancer awareness and are priced at $2,200 for 8-mm pearls and $2,900 for 9-mm pearls.

Leeds & Son is at 73-670 El Paseo in Palm Desert. Information: 568-5266

What is your business doing to give back to the Coachella Valley? Share your thoughts with us by e-mailing Nina Ronda at nina.ronda@thedesertsun.com for our feature The Business of Giving Back.