Compiled by Kelly Ryan
Canyon Acres Children and Family Services, which runs a home for abused and emotionally troubled children in Anaheim Hills, reached a $4 million fundraising goal. Donations were raised as part of the nonprofit’s 25th anniversary. The money is set to go toward The Ranch, Canyon Acres’ home for kids.
Mazda North American Operations, the Irvine-based U.S. arm of Japan’s Mazda Motor Corp., joined with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation as presenting sponsor of the Walk to Cure Diabetes. The event raised $1.1 million. Mazda donated a car to the top fundraiser, MacMillan’s Ladera Ranch Walk Team.
Phyllis Fender, wife of late guitar pioneer Leo Fender, presented a $20,000 check to The Smile Train, a nonprofit that provides free cleft surgery to kids in poor countries. Fender also is honorary chairperson of Fullerton-based G & L; Musical Instruments, part of Huntington Beach’s BBE Sound Inc. Leo Fender began G & L; after he started what’s now Fender Musical Instruments Corp. in Scottsdale. The donated money came from sales of G & L;’s G7L Phyllis Blondie guitar (Blondie was Leo Fender’s nickname for his wife). G & L; presented the money at January’s NAMM trade show in Anaheim.
The J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center met an $850,000 challenge grant by Jenny and Bill Klein. The Kleins made the challenge last year at the Shea center’s barbecue after donating $1 million. The money will help with the group’s building of a family and education center.
Huntington Beach-based BJ’s Restaurants Inc. gave $250,000 to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. BJ’s Cookies for Kids program set aside a portion of money from every Pizookie dessert sold.
UnitedHealth Group Inc. and its Cypress-based PacifiCare unit gave $360,000 to the Institute for Healthcare Advancement in La Habra. The money will go toward electronic medical records and practice management systems for a pediatric community clinic.
The Fraxa Research Foundation raised more than $250,000 at its November Lingerie Fashion Show and Gala at the Island Hotel Newport Beach. A live auction featured a Mini Cooper car, Lugano jewelry and vacations. The foundation raises money for research on Fragile X syndrome, which causes mental impairment, autism and attention deficit disorder.
The Anaheim Ducks raised $120,000 at the 2008 Anaheim Ducks Wives and Significant Others Fashion Luncheon. The money will be used to create a teen room on the oncology floor at Children’s Hospital of Orange County. The event included an auction with the chance to bid on a day of golf with Ducks player Teemu Selanne.
JSerra Catholic High School raised $80,050 for its Over the Rainbow Gala fundraiser. Seventy-six friends of the school attended a party hosted by Marty and Stefanie Colombatto.
Wells Fargo gave $50,000 in response to last fall’s wildfires. Money was given to the Orange County Rescue Mission, Volunteer Center of Orange County, Community Action Partnership and the Penny Pines Reforestation Program of the Cleveland National Forest. Wells Fargo contributions manager Jack Toan and coastal Orange County region President Keith Kobata gave the Dana Point Ocean Institute a $7,500 grant.
This year’s Athletes and Aces Casino night raised $55,000 for the Child Abuse Prevention Center. The event was hosted by Wives of Professional Athletes, a support group for the abuse prevention center, and sponsored by the Anaheim Ducks, Honda Center, Harrah’s Casino, Melissa’s Specialty Produce and Shulman Hodges & Bastian LLP.
Fountain Valley-based Working Wardrobes received $25,000 from Ameriprise Financial Inc. for a career development center. Financial adviser Jacob Shen, who works from Irvine, recommended Working Wardrobes for the grant.
The Newport Beach Public Library received $20,100 from the Friends of the Newport Beach Public Library. The money will go toward children’s programs, book purchases and other materials for the summer reading program. The library’s Books and Buses outreach program will allow first and fourth graders to make class visits.
