Compiled by Kelly Ryan
Crevier BMW and Crevier Mini in Santa Ana donated a Mini Cooper car as the featured raffle prize for the Chapman University American Celebration. The Celebration is a Broadway-style, song-and-dance revue performed by Chapman students. Proceeds of the $2.1 million raised will support the Chapman University Scholarship Fund.
Edwards Lifesciences Fund, a philanthropic arm of Irvine’s Edwards Lifesciences Corp., made $1.8 million in grants to 81 nonprofit organizations. Gifts from the fund are categorized as either strategic or community grants. Some local grant recipients are Pacific Symphony and American Heart Association for its Annual Orange County Heart Walk.
The Bank of America Charitable Foundation donated $650,000 to local charities. It gave $250,000 to United Way’s Southern California Fire Fund to aid victims of the recent Southern California wildfires. The money will help agencies and nonprofits serving impacted families. United Way will direct $25,000 to Operation OC and 2-1-1 OC, which links residents to community health and human services. OperationOC helps coordinate responses to local disasters. The foundation also gave $400,000 to nonprofits Taller San Jose and HomeAid Orange County. Each recipient is a winner of the Neighborhood Excellence Initiative. The two collaborated on projects in which trainees from Taller San Jose’s workforce development program constructed and refurbished homes for HomeAid.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County raised $412,365 at its gourmet dinner event. More than 400 people attended the dinner and contributed money to support the nonprofit’s mission of matching adult mentors with children. Big Brothers Big Sisters board member Al Crosson donated $25,000. He presented the donation to Chief Executive Gus Valdespino. Farmers & Merchants Bank donated $20,000.
Bonner Paddock raised $250,000 for United Cerebral Palsy of Orange County’s new Early Learning Childcare Center by climbing Tanzania’s 20,000-foot Mount Kilimanjaro.
The Cystinosis Research Foundation raised $225,000 at its Fore a Cure Golf Tournament. All event proceeds fund research for better treatments and a cure for cystinosis, a rare disease that slowly destroys the body’s organs. The tournament drew 144 golfers and raised money through individual and corporate sponsorships, donations and auctions.
Richard Bonadio donated $100,000 to the Alzheimer’s Association Orange County Chapter to fund the Patricia Bonadio Fund. Bonadio recently lost his wife to the disease. He has promised to raise another $400,000 to complete the fund.
Wells Fargo & Co. donated $75,000 to relief and recovery efforts for victims of the November Orange County wildfires. The American Red Cross Wildfire Disaster Relief Fund, Orange County chapter received $50,000; $10,000 went to Operation OC,The Orange County Rescue Mission; $10,000 to The Orange County Fire Authority Benevolent Association; and $5,000 to the Orange County Animal Care Services. Additionally, Wells Fargo customers contributed $53,000 to local relief efforts.
The Wachovia Foundation gave $53,280 to support Orange County United Way Community Impact programs. The grant will support more than 80 programs offered through partnering nonprofits around the county. These programs help individuals and families meet basic needs, enhance their education and increase their financial stability.
Lake Forest-based Professional Community Management of California Inc. raised $51,500 for Orange County United Way in its annual fundraising drive. The United Way drive is an annual event that includes a luncheon and presentation of charities supported by United Way. PCM employees can pledge cash amounts or utilize payroll withholding if they choose to contribute any personal earnings to the drive.
This year’s National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon raised $40,000 to be donated to local nonprofits. Top Honorees Robert and Margaret Sprague received a standing ovation after their acceptance speech. The Orange County Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Orange County Register were event sponsors. Donations will be used for programs and education and training of association members.
IBM Corp. donated $20,000 and 15 desktop and six laptop computers to Orange County United Way. The computers will go to Orange County Children’s Therapeutic Arts Center to support their media lab. The monetary gift will support programs that provide basic needs, education and financial literacy.
