Good Neighbors
OC Human Relations and Bracken’s Kitchen were named the 2021 Bank of America Neighborhood Builders awardees for their work in the Orange County community addressing important issues that impact the community and future of Orange County.
As a Neighborhood Builder, each organization receives a $200,000 grant over two years, comprehensive leadership training for the executive director and an emerging leader on topics ranging from increasing financial sustainability, human capital management and strategic storytelling, joins a network of peer organizations across the U.S., and gets the opportunity to access capital to expand their impact. The program continues to be the nation’s largest investment into nonprofit leadership development.
OC Human Relations’ received the award for its work to create more compassionate and safer schools, neighborhoods and workplaces through dialogue and training more important than ever.
Award-winner Bracken’s Kitchen addresses hunger in Orange County through its unique food-waste program that repurposes food that would otherwise be thrown away by creating and distributing meals through their own food trucks and an existing distribution network of nearly 70 agency partners.
“As the Orange County community continues to recover and heal, our nonprofit partners like Bracken’s Kitchen and OC Human Relations are on the front lines of addressing critical local issues,” said Allen Staff, Orange County Market President, Bank of America. “Programs like Neighborhood Builders helps these organizations grow sustainably and strategically for greater positive impact in the community.”
Let’s Be Frank
The seventh annual “Let’s Be Frank About Cancer” gala raised nearly $1.5 million for the City of Hope to support life-saving cancer research and programs. Funds raised at the gala will support research by oncologist Sumanta Pal, M.D., co-director of the Kidney Cancer Program at City of Hope.
Orange County cancer survivors, community leaders, and noted physicians attended the Oct. 23 event at the Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach, with talk focused on City of Hope’s comprehensive cancer center opening at Irvine’s Great Park Neighborhoods in 2022. Another forthcoming facility at the new City of Hope campus, the county’s only specialty hospital exclusively focused on treating and curing cancer, is scheduled to open on the site in 2025.
The gala honored Joe Kiani, founder, chairman and CEO, Masimo, with the Frank Di Bella Humanitarian Award.
The fundraiser is in honor of Di Bella, who in 2011 was diagnosed with bladder cancer that had spread to his lungs, ribs and spine; he received a prognosis of just two to three months of life. After speaking with some colleagues and hearing about City of Hope, he went for a second opinion, and eventually overcame the disease.
The black-tie affair also recognized Frank’s longtime friend, the late S. Paul Musco, founder of Gemini Industries and a prominent Orange County philanthropist. Musco, who has been the gala’s title sponsor since its inception, died in September at the age of 95.
Among the 350-plus guests were Dr. Hazem Chehabi, founder, Newport Diagnostic Center; Lynn Jochim, president and COO, FivePoint; Gary Hunt, vice chairman, California Strategies LLC; and Steve Jensen, partner, Knobbe Martens, who were all top supporters of the evening, as well as Brett Park, managing principal, Brightview Design Group, and Hensel Phelps Construction.
Marybelle and S. Paul Musco were the evening’s platinum sponsors, along with FivePoint as the event’s diamond sponsor, and The Hardin Family as gold sponsors. Additional sponsors included Masimo, Chapman University and Medical Waste Services.
Beyond the Trees
Illumination Foundation, which provides services for the homeless, hosted its inaugural Women’s Philanthropy Luncheon and Festival of Trees on Nov. 11 at the Historic San Clemente Cottage in San Clemente. The sold-out event illuminated the growing number of women experiencing homelessness in the community, as well as recognized women volunteers who are making a difference. The event raised more than $226,000.
“There has been an increase in the number of women experiencing homelessness coming through our programs, especially single moms and senior women,” said Pooja Bhalla, executive director healthcare services, Illumination Foundation. “This event highlights the barriers women experiencing homelessness face as well as celebrates our female frontline staff and honors community supporters.”
The Women’s Philanthropy luncheon was sponsored by title sponsors The Haynes Fund and Sun Family Foundation, and other sponsors, including West Coast University; Dr. Jacqueline DuPont-Carlson, board chair, Illumination Foundation and CEO, Assured In-Home Care; The Duchess on Cambridge; Liz Holt, founder, Limitless Life by Liz; and First Foundation Bank. Specialty sponsors included Rancho Capistrano Winery and Gorjana.
The event also showcased a “Festival of Trees,” decorated Christmas trees that were auctioned off at the luncheon to raise money to support Illumination Foundation’s programs and services. Tree sponsors included The Duchess on Cambridge, Strongwater Anaheim, HB Corner Market, and HB Community Greystone Landing.
Bits & Pieces
In lieu of the annual Champions for Girls Luncheon, in October and November Girls Inc. hosted a series of five “Patio Parties” to reach new members of the community while also raising nearly $70,000 in support of the organization’s programming, including College Bound, Literacy Lab, STEM, Social & Emotional Learning, and Intro to Girls Inc. … Dr. Willie Banks, vice chancellor of student affairs, UC Irvine, has joined the Project Hope Alliance (PHA) board. … On Dec. 4, Pimco hosted its 14th annual “Share the Harvest” drive-thru event where employees donated 1,216 pounds of food such as canned goods and nonperishable items, diapers, baby formula and toys, that will be distributed by the OC Food Bank, ahead of the holiday season. In addition to these items, Pimco has donated funds to help purchase 14,000 prepacked food boxes which will benefit thousands of Orange County families.
