Compiled by Julie Anne Ines
Donald Bren, chairman of The Irvine Company, is giving $1 million for after-school programs in Santa Ana. The gift, from Bren and the Irvine Co., is the largest for Think Together, which provides tutoring and mentoring to needy and disadvantaged kids in Santa Ana. Think Together is set to get $100,000 per year for the next 10 years. The group plans to use the money to expand its programs to schools across Santa Ana.
Patrick Flanagan, a former executive vice president for Irvine-based New Century Financial Corp., gave $500,000 to Aliso Viejo’s St. Mary and All Angels school’s $10 million Com-
pleting the Dream campaign. The campaign is raising money to build and renovate various facilities, including building a new playground and renovating the athletic field. In addition, the school is going to name the theater it is building the Flanagan Family Performing Arts Center in honor of his donation. Four of Flanagan’s five children attended the school.
Boeing Co.’s donation of a Delta III rocket to the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana now is on display near the center. During the past six months, volunteers from the company spent more than 300 hours preparing the rocket for display. Other supporters of the exhibition included aircraft engine maker Pratt & Whitney, part of United Technologies Corp., which donated an RL 10B-2 cryogenic engine, the California Cultural and Historical Endowment, which gave $262,000, and the city of Santa Ana, which provided land for the rocket. Boeing and the state of California also gave money for the exhibit.
Orange County United Way received $200,000 from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation at the Real Estate and Building Industry luncheon, which was sponsored by Bank of America. The luncheon is held annually to raise money for the group’s Keeping Kids On Track programs. The donation will go toward partnering various groups that provide educational programs, leadership training and scholarship money to children in need.
The La Habra Fact Community Collaborative, a group of La Habra agencies, received a $225,000 grant for one year from the County of Orange Social Services Agency. The collaborative is made up of the Institute for Healthcare Advancement, Western Youth Services, the Public Law Center and the Boys and Girls Club of La Habra. The institute is set to use the grant money to fund free programs at its La Habra Family Resource Center.
The Irvine Children’s Fund raised $130,025 at the 19th annual Irvine Junior Games. The money is set for the Irvine Child Care Project, which runs before- and after-school programs for the city. Official sponsors Irvine Regional Hospital and Medical Center and the Irvine Co. each donated $15,000.
Kaiser Permanente Orange County awarded the Children’s Health Initiative of Orange County a $100,000 grant, which will support the initiative’s efforts to provide countywide programs for health insurance enrollment for uninsured children.
St. Joseph Hospital in Orange raised $100,000 during its 10th annual Circles of Life Cancer Fashion Show and Luncheon, which featured 22 cancer survivors and cancer patients as runway models. The money raised will go toward the development of the hospital’s new cancer center, which is set to break ground this fall.
The Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club raised $86,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society during the club’s 2006 Leukemia Cup Regatta. The regatta is a series of four events that started in April and finished in May. Racers competed to raise funds to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which focuses on improving the lives of patients with such diseases as well as finding a cure.
The Disneyland Resort gave $50,000 in scholarships to Orange County high school students participating in its scholarship program. The program was part of Disneyland’s 50th Anniversary Celebration. Ten students were selected to receive $5,000 each in scholarships.
The Orange County Rescue Mission received $25,000 from Disneyland Resort, as part of its Show Your Character Community Outreach Program Excellence award. The mission received the money and recognition for community service efforts with the Lutheran High School of Orange County. About 200 Lutheran High School seniors volunteered at the mission’s Village of Hope facility, helping to renovate it, as well as the playground area. The students also worked on the Mustard Seed Ranch, a horse riding facility for abused children.
The Newport Beach Public Library received $14,213 from Friends of the Newport Beach Public Library. The money will be used to replace old children’s books at the Donna and John Crean Mariners Branch Library. It also will go toward the expansion of the central library’s Local History Room, which houses rare and out-of-print records of Newport Beach’s history.
Working Wardrobes,a nonprofit that provides job services to at-risk men, women and teens,was one of 20 recipients of a special $10,000 20-20 Vision grant from the Irvine Health Foundation, as part of the foundation’s 20th anniversary. Working Wardrobes will receive other services and support to help raise awareness of the group, including online marketing and a page on the foundation’s Web site.
Laura’s House, which works to prevent and reduce domestic and family violence through shelter and support programs, received a $10,000 20-20 Vision Grant from the Irvine Health Foundation. It also will receive additional services and support to help raise awareness of its program.
Downey Savings gave fifth-grader Sarah Ryan of Barcelona Hills Elementary School in the San Juan Capistrano a $2,500, five-year certificate of deposit. Ryan was awarded the first-place prize from Downey for her art and essay submission in the Downey Savings Banking Basics Program. In addition to the certificate, Downey donated $7,500 to her school. The Downey Savings program is designed to help students understand the fundamentals of personal finance and the importance of saving.
Gift of Hope Gala Raises $420,000, Honors Wahoo’s Execs
The Muscular Dystrophy Association raised $420,000 at its 11th annual Gift of Hope Brazilian Night gala. The money is set to go toward the association’s summer camp and Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
Augie’s Quest was started by Augie Nieto, who founded Life Fitness Inc., an exercise bike maker. Nieto was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s in 2005.
The event also named its 2006 Men of the Year Award recipients,Wing Lam, Ed Lee and Mingo Lee of Wahoo’s Fish Taco. Mingo Lee is chief executive of Wahoo’s, Lam is director of marketing and Ed Lee is head of real estate development and acquisition.
“We are honored to accept this award from such a worthy organization whose determination to find a cure for Muscular Dystrophy we strongly support, and we continue to help in any way that we can,” Mingo Lee said in a release.
