$1 Million Month
Orange County United Way found its way into the hearts of employees at Western Digital, who raised $3.2 million in a single month through the annual Live United workplace campaign. Employees at the Irvine headquarters raised $1 million of the total. It’s the second consecutive year the technology company has reached the milestone. The United Way also recently honored Western Digital with the Dimensions in Giving Award, which goes to a corporate partner that affects the local community through money raised for the organization’s Community Impact Fund and active community service.
“Western Digital has once again raised the bar through their commitment to social responsibility,” said Max Gardner, president and chief executive of Orange County United Way. “It’s so inspiring when you see local businesses like Western Digital take the lead in effecting change to strengthen our community.”
Let’s All Go to Colette’s
Colette’s Children’s Home marked its 15th anniversary with a celebration and fundraiser that brought in more than $1 million in a single night, a result that broke all organization fundraising records. The sold-out event was on Nov. 22 at the Hotel Irvine Jamboree Center. The Huntington Beach organization provides homeless single women and homeless mothers with children a safe home and nurturing environment where they receive support and services to achieve self-sufficiency. Money raised from the event will support its emergency shelter program, transitional housing program, and permanent housing program, as well as other services, including job training and counseling. Colette’s has helped more than 3,000 clients since its founding.
“Colette’s is about investing in people, changing lives and building communities,” said Colette Children’s Home founder and President William “Billy” O’Connell. “I believe in, ‘If you save a life, you save a world.’ ”
Komen Grants
Dec. 6 was a big day for 16 Orange County breast health projects. At the Susan G. Komen Orange County Grants Award Breakfast, the organizations received more than $1 million in grants to help provide cancer and health services to women and men in Orange County. The sold-out event was at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach. Grant recipients included: AltaMed Health Services; Breast Cancer Solutions; Central City Community Health Center; Hurtt Family Health Clinic Inc.; Laguna Beach Community Clinic; Latino Health Access; Nhan Hoa Comprehensive Health Care Clinic; Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance; Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties; Serve the People Community Health Center; Share Our Selves; Vietnamese American Cancer Foundation; and the YWCA of North Orange County.
Susan G. Komen’s new president and chief executive, Dr. Judith A. Salerno, delivered the keynote speech, focusing on the national organization’s mission to energize science for the cure and to provide underserved women and men with quality healthcare.
Investing in People
The Pimco Foundation, the charitable arm of Newport Beach-based investment management firm Pimco, awarded $1.4 million in grants to more than 30 organizations. “The [Pimco] Foundation seeks to identify areas of urgent need in our communities, thus enabling [Pimco] colleagues to volunteer time and financial resources to worthy projects that help others less fortunate than ourselves,” said Mohamed A. El-Erian, chief executive and co-chief investment officer of Pimco and president of the Pimco Foundation.
Orange County grant recipients included: Community Action Partnership of OC; Serve the People; Project Dignity; Pathways of Hope; Thomas House Temporary Shelter; Illumination Foundation; Casa Teresa; and Hart Community Homes.
Flying High Over the Holidays
West Coast Aviation Services partnered with Miracles for Kids, an Orange County-based nonprofit group that serves children with life-threatening illnesses, to help make the holidays brighter for more than 500 patients, siblings, parents and caregivers. West Coast Aviation donated toys for the Miracles for Kids’ annual Basket of Miracles program, which delivers holiday bags filled with seasonal gifts, toys, organic food, and necessities to children and their families. Employees also furnished gifts and food to families in need for their holiday celebrations.
