Compiled by Roberta Boginis
Orange County United Way received more than $18 million from employees at companies that participated in its campaign last year. Each person contributed an average of $250 per year.
Laguna Beach residents Hazem Chehabi and wife Salma pledged $1 million to the University of California, Irvine Medal event, the university’s largest fund-raiser. Money raised from the event will go toward supporting campus programs for students, such as the Regents’ Scholarships and graduate student fellowships.
The Cystinosis Research Foundation received $852,401 at a Natalie’s Wish fund-raiser. The money helped fund five new research studies. Natalie’s Wish was started by Jeff and Nancy Stack, whose 14-year-old daughter, Natalie, is affected by cystinosis, which can cause certain human organs to malfunction.
The “Season of Caring” program put on by The Orange County Register and the Orange County Community Foundation raised $100,000 for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County and $600,000 for 25 other nonprofit groups. Both sponsors provided matching funds.
The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association Environmental Fund raised $400,000 during the 16th annual Waterman’s Weekend at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa in Dana Point. The money will be given as grants to 10 environmental groups for programs that protect and preserve the ocean environment.
Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa received more than $600,000 from the Guilds of the Center fund-raisers in 2005.
Hearts of Montage, the community outreach group of Montage Resort & Spa in Laguna Beach, donated $150,000 and a $350,000 challenge grant to the Laguna Beach Seniors for the construction of the Susi Q Senior Center, which is set to open in 2008 in downtown Laguna Beach. The center is named after the late Elizabeth Howe Quilter, who was known as columnist “Susi Q.” Quilter’s sons also gave $750,000 for the project.
Jamboree Housing Corp.’s 15th anniversary celebration raised $400,000 for the resident services program, Housing with Heart, an acronym for helping educate, activate and respond together. Jamboree Housing is a nonprofit housing development company. Irvine-based Western Financial Bank was a title sponsor of the event and donated $50,000.
The first day of the First Team Real Estate Invitational Regatta event raised $210,000 for the Hoag Heart and Vascular Institute, a center at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach. The event was sponsored by the First Team’s philanthropic arm, First in Our Hearts Foundation, and took place at the Balboa and Newport Harbor Yacht Clubs.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County received donations from the following: B.C. McCabe Foundation, $50,000; Pacific Monarch Resorts, $35,000; Dhont Family Foundation, $25,000; George Hoag Family Foundation, $25,000; Order of Malta, $15,000; Pfaffinger Foundation, $15,000; Boeing Co., $10,000; and JP Morgan Chase Foundation, $10,000.
The Orange County Child Abuse Prevention Center and Angels Care, a Fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation received $140,000 from its “2005 Bright Futures Ball.” Nearly 350 business and community leaders from OC attended the event.
The Irvine Barclay Theatre’s fund-raiser, Night in New Orleans, brought in $112,000 for the Irvine Barclay Theatre.
Orange County United Way’s Women’s Philanthropy Fund raised more than $100,000 at its second annual Breakfast for the Women’s Empowerment Portfolio. The first grant recipients of the newly-formed portfolio are: Girl Scouts of OC, Girls Incorporated of OC, WisePlace, Taller San Jose, Human Options and YWCA of North Orange County.
Commercial Real Estate Women, Orange County’s Classic Golf Tournament raised $40,000 for WisePlace and Building Block Foundation.
Aliso Viejo-based Soccer for Hope and Hyundai Motor America donated $5,000 to Children’s Hospital of Orange County for pediatric cancer research. CHOC was the second stop on a nine-city national tour made by the two groups, which raised a total of $45,000 for pediatric cancer research at children’s hospitals.
