Bonner Paddock raised $250,000 for United Cerebral Palsy of Orange County’s new Early Learning Child Care Center. He has cerebral palsy and raised the money by climbing Tanzania’s 20,000-foot Mount Kilimanjaro. Paddock is senior manager of corporate partnerships for the Honda Center and the Anaheim Ducks. A documentary of his climb is scheduled for release next year.
Heritage Pointe in Mission Viejo raised $300,000 at its annual fundraising gala. The event honored Allen and Ellie Jaffy for years of support to the community. The nonprofit provides services to the elderly in their homes under a framework of Jewish traditions and values.
Newport Beach-based Project Access raised $200,000 at its Keys to Success Award Dinner, hosted by comedian Jay Mohr. Ranney and Priscilla Draper were honored for their nonprofit work for kids. The Rivera-Moreno family was named Family of the Year. Project Access also presented scholarships to five adults and three children from California.
YMCA of Orange County Community Services Branch raised $190,000 at its Reach Out Awards. The fundraiser honors individuals and groups that help the neediest and most underserved families in Orange County. Frank Scott was honored for his work as chairman of North Orange County YMCA and as chairman of the R.C. Baker Foundation.
The Children’s Bureau Orange County division raised $160,000 at its Mighty Rubber Ducky Derby. More than 3,000 guests attended the family event at Wild Rivers Waterpark in Irvine. Activities included the duck race, access to water park rides and food booths from local restaurants. Presenting sponsors included ABC-7, Anaheim Ducks, the Crean Foundation and Wild Rivers Waterpark.
Several Hilton hotels, including the Hilton Anaheim, raised $150,000 as presenting sponsors of the 2008 AIDS Walk L.A. Twenty employees from Hilton Anaheim completed the 10K walk. The money will help raise awareness and fund research and prevention of AIDS.
The Orange County Council, Boy Scouts of America raised $85,000 at its annual Good Scout Luncheon. Mike Harrison was honored at the event for his 12-year effort to have the Outdoor Education Center built. More than 300 people toured the center, which will open for day use and some overnight camping programs in January.
Nonprofit Orange County On Track raised $67,000 at the Kids On Track Golf Tournament in Costa Mesa. The event included lunch and beverages on the golf course and a contest to win a free one-year lease on a BMW 135 convertible. Santa Ana’s Crevier BMW sponsored the event with Manheim’s California Auto Dealers Exchange of Anaheim, Acra Aerospace Inc., Haskell & White LLP, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and several others.
Rancho Santiago Community College District raised $60,000 at its Asian-themed Chancellor’s Ball, By the Light of Lanterns. Scholarships and college programs will receive $45,000 and $14,000 will be designated for book scholarships at Santa Ana and Santiago Canyon Colleges.
Habitat for Humanity of Orange County and Furnishing Hope raised $60,000 at the Houses to Homes Tea, held at the Island Hotel Newport Beach’s Palm Garden. Proceeds benefit Habitat’s Women Build program, designed to include women on construction sites. Furnishing Hope gives Habitat homes a designer’s touch.
The Wells Fargo Foundation gave $5,000 to the Tiger Woods Learning Center in Anaheim. The money will promote academics, positive attitudes and college enrollment in math, engineering and science programs. Additionally, the foundation donated $15,000 to the St. Joseph Health System for its Care for the Poor program.
California State University, Fullerton, student Sarah Gall received a $10,000 scholarship award from the Commercial Real Estate Women Network. Gall is a business administration major at the university. The scholarship covers the cost of educational expenses and includes an internship at a commercial real estate brokerage.
The Aliso Viejo Country Club gave $9,000 to Aliso Viejo’s Community Trust as part of its clubhouse grand opening celebration. The money will be used to purchase new tables, chairs, a ping-pong table and other recreational supplies for the Family Resource Center at Iglesia Park.
The Red Wagon Foundation donated $6,000 from its lawn bowling event to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County. The Orange County Vintage Chevrolet
Club of America gave $2,760 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County. The money represented a portion of the proceeds from the Classic & Custom All Chevy Car Show at Enderle Center in Tustin.
The Center for Hope and Healing raised $5,000 at its Brain-Wise Book Launch celebration. The Bacchus Society, Chef Sabre and the Landmark Restaurant in Corona del Mar helped sponsor the event. Donations will support long-term therapy to treat and prevent abuse and neglect.
The Orange, Laguna Hills and Anaheim stores of Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market Inc. each donated $1,000 to local nonprofits chosen by their employees. The money was given during a week of festivities celebrating one-year store anniversaries. Those receiving donations were St. Vincent de Paul, Friends of Orange County’s Homeless Pets and South County Outreach.
First Bank, part of Missouri-based FirstBank Holding Co., partnered with Women Helping Women of Costa Mesa to collect business clothing for low-income women. First Bank has several OC branches.
The Stonefire Grill in Irvine and Fountain Valley sponsored a Thanksgiving-themed essay scholarship contest for local children. Participants competed for three U.S. Savings Bond scholarships of $1000, $500 and $250. Jacob Gane won first prize for his essay, detailing how he saved his older brother’s life by giving him bone marrow.
Huntington Beach-based Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group and Borrego Solar Systems Inc. donated solar electric power systems to firehouses in Irvine, Poway and San Miguel. Borrego has an office in Santa Ana.
Executives from Newport Beach-based Integrity Wealth Management joined Someone Cares Soup Kitchen in Costa Mesa to prepare and serve Thanksgiving dinners to 800 people. Additionally, Integrity Wealth Managers made a donation to buy 300 additional meals in December. The soup kitchen serves the homeless, unemployed, working poor and mentally challenged.
The Allergan Foundation gave a $3,500 grant to Newport Bach Public Library Literacy Services. Literary Services provides free literacy instruction to adults who live or work in the Newport Beach area.
Architecture firm LPA Inc. in Irvine partnered with Tustin-based Pro Repro to donate $1,812 to the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach. Both companies raised the money by recycling paper, plastic, aluminum and glass. The donation will send six children to the Boys & Girls Club of America Keystone Conference in 2009.
An Albertsons LLC Fullerton location, Irvine Company and Huntington Beach Toyota made donations to Olive Crest on behalf of their clients and customers. Donations include gift cards, apparel, sports equipment, toys and more. Other local organizations making donations are the Irvine office of Aon Corp., Wet Seal Inc. in Foothill Ranch, Accurate Background Inc. in Lake Forest and Rotary Club of Newport-Irvine.
