Santa Ana-based Mind Research Institute raised $450,000 at its recent gala held at Dis-ney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa.
The institute develops math software and systems for schools. About 350 people attended.
There was a silent auction and a Great Minds auction, in which bidders won meetings with notable persons, including Jack Lindquist, first president of Disneyland; U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.); Carl St. Clair, music director of the Pacific Symphony Orchestra; Gaddi Vasquez, former head of the Peace Corps and past U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture; Arnold Hano, sportswriter, publisher and author; UCLA Distinguished Professor Leonard Kleinrock, inventor of Internet technology.
Mind Research also recognized teachers, school districts and others including:
• Corporation of the Year: Irvine-based Microsemi Corp.
• District of the Year: Anaheim City School District
• School of the Year: Alexander J. Stoddard Elementary in Anaheim
• Math Champion: Leisha Morton, curriculum specialist, Anaheim City School District
• Rising Star of the Year: C.T. Sewell Empowerment School in Henderson, Nev.
Mind Research’s software is used by 320,000 students in 1,200 schools nationwide.
San Juan Capistrano-based Mustard Seed Ranch’s recent 9th Annual Golf For Youth Event raised about $335,000 for abused and neglected children.
Mustard Seed Ranch uses horses to help abused and neglected children. The event, attended by 140 people, was held at the Pelican Hill Golf Club in Newport Coast and featured golf, dinner and an auction.
The tournament is Mustard Seed Ranch’s primary fundraiser, supported by many Orange County business leaders, including Kristen Allison, owner of Irvine-based Burnham Benefits Insurance Services; Phil Arciero, president of Placentia-based Arciero Bros Inc.; Martin Pickett, chief executive of Costa Mesa-based Cla-Val; and Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, managing partner of C.J. Segerstrom & Sons.
Easter Seals Southern California opened its new headquarters in Santa Ana, and more than 100 volunteers and supporters toured the 10,375-square-foot building.
Easter Seals helps people with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and other special needs.
“Our headquarters is the central hub, not only for services in Orange County but for Easter Seals services throughout Southern California,” said Mark Whitley, CEO and president.
An Easter Seals Walk With Me fundraiser at Knott’s Berry Farm raised $340,000. More than 500 people attended.
Fullerton-based Yokohama Tire Corp. planted 300 more tree seedlings at its U.S. headquarters.
Yokohama Tire is the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of The Yokohama Rubber Co. in Tokyo. Yokohama planted a variety of trees indigenous to the area, including sugar bush, California holly and five species of oak trees in a follow-up to a 2010 planting.
Women Helping Women/Men2Work of Costa Mesa—which assist job seekers—announced the recipients of its first annual Employment Leader Award of Orange County: Mari Kurtz, chief executive of Santa Ana-based OC Metals Inc. and Cal Pac Sheet Metal Inc.; Trina Norman, Anaheim package division manager for United Parcel Service Inc.; and Kristin Byrnes, chief executive of Newport Beach-based Project Access Inc. … Donations from Sunwest Bank and the Disneyland Resort helped Tustin-based Orange County Rescue Mission partner with Safe Harbor Ministries to provide services to homeless people in South Orange County. … CNN honored heroes of the year, including Bruno Serato, owner and chef of the Anaheim White House restaurant and operator of Caterina’s Club, which feeds poor children in Orange County and provides other services for the Boys & Girls Club of Anaheim. … Anaheim-based Northgate Gonzalez Markets Inc. gave away 48,000 holiday toys to children at all of the chain’s 33 stores in Orange County and Southern California. … Dentist Emil Hawary, founder of Irvine-based California Smile Design Dental Group, held a good deeds essay contest and awarded a computer to 6-year-old Indiana Lee from Irvine.
