The Pimco Foundation, the charitable arm of Newport Beach-based Pacific Investment Management Co., donated $20,000 to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County’s school-based programs in Tustin.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County in Tustin held its 45th annual Gourmet Dinner at the Hyatt Regency Irvine. The evening drew 400 attendees and raised a record $550,000.
Costa Mesa-based Share Our Selves’ 19th Annual Celebrity Chef Dinner at the Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa raised $230,000 to support the Share Our Selves Orange Aid Project. The project collects food from restaurants, grocery stores, bakeries and caterers to distribute to needy Orange County residents.
Newport Beach-based Project Access’ Fourth Annual “Keys to Success” Awards Dinner and silent auction held at the Island Hotel Newport Beach raised $215,000. The money will be used for various programs of Project Access, which provides healthcare, education and employment opportunities to children, families and seniors living in low-income housing.
Newport Beach-based CureDuchenne donated $200,000 to find a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which involves the rapid weakening of muscles, and to start the West Coast’s first Duchenne clinic, which will treat patients with the disease.
Mustard Seed Ranch in Newport Beach raised $170,000 at its seventh annual golf tournament fundraiser held at the Pelican Hill Resort. The group provides group homes, horse-assisted therapy and life-experience programs to abused and neglected children.
Huntington Beach-based El Viento Foundation, an organization that provides academic and enrichment programs to children in the mostly Hispanic, poor neighborhood of Oak View in Huntington Beach, raised $60,000 at its fourth annual Golf Classic.
Professional Community Management of California Inc. in Lake Forest raised $53,900 for United Way in its annual fundraising drive. Employees pledged cash amounts or withheld payroll to contribute to the drive. The campaign ended with a barbecue and dunk tank to raise extra money.
Easter Seals Southern California’s eighth annual Walk With Me at the Santa Ana Zoo walk raised $50,000. The local office of Easter Seals, based in Santa Ana, supports people with disabilities such as autism, Down Syndrome and cerebral palsy.
Costa Mesa-based National Charity League, a mother-daughter group whose members participate in philanthropic and volunteer activities in their communities, received $50,000 from Kappa Delta Sorority to support leadership development programs.
California State University, Fullerton, received a $41,500 grant for its Ocean Rocks marine and coastal education project. The project is a collaboration among the university, the Ocean Institute in Dana Point and Anaheim Union High School District and was initially funded by the California Coastal Commission’s Whale Tail grants program. It focuses on global climate change and the relationship between the atmosphere and the ocean.
Costa Mesa-based Vital Link, a nonprofit organization that mentors students with their future careers, received $21,300 in contributions from three OC groups. The Irvine branch of State Street Corp. donated $12,200 and Western Digital Corp. of Lake Forest donated $2,500 toward educational programs. Garden Grove-based Strawberry Festival Foundation donated $6,600 toward technology.
