Compiled by Kelly Ryan
More than $600,000 was raised at the third annual Miocean Foundation Blue 42 gala in Dana Point. The event featured a VIP reception with singer Chris Isaak, auctions and a Tiffany & Co. diamond cocktail watch prize. Irvine-based SunCal Cos., Newport Beach’s Makar Properties LLC, Rolls-Royce PLC and the Tiffany Foundation were major sponsors. Miocean’s goal is to clean up the 42 miles of beaches in Orange County.
The UCI Brain Imaging Center received anonymous gifts of $500,000 and $100,000. The donations will fund research and development of tools to monitor gene and stem cell therapies. The center’s faculty performs research using a high-resolution brain-imaging scanner that allows them to evaluate brain function without harming people.
Irvine-based Outreach to Africa and Jordan Property Group in Laguna Beach joined together for the third annual benefit to raise $200,000 for orphaned children in Uganda. The funds will be used to build a school for 300 students, housing for eight teachers, a dormitory and a water well for the community of Fort Portugal, Uganda, providing water for 1,500 people.
OC Vons shoppers and employees raised $196,846 in June to fund research programs to find a cure for prostate cancer. This marks the seventh year that Vons stores have worked with the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Funds raised will be used to support innovative cancer research projects directed by young scientists and enabling them to launch careers in prostate cancer research.
Anaheim-based Mobile Edge, a maker of carrying cases for notebook computers, gave more than $177,000 to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. This is the fourth year Mobile Edge has partnered with Komen. Mobile Edge gives 10% of the retail sales price of each laptop bag from its Komen-related collection, which include the Komen Paris backpack, the Pink Milano and the Pink Suede tote.
More than 5,000 people attended the 12th annual Taste of Anaheim and Taste of the Canyon, raising $13,000. The event was held at the Grove of Anaheim. More than 50 local restaurants participated in the food, wine and music festival. Proceeds from the Food for a Year raffle benefited the Anaheim City School District’s Outdoor Science Education program.
Homebuilder Lennar Corp. in Aliso Viejo, Ayres Hotels in Costa Mesa, Burba Hotel Network LLC in Costa Mesa and Black & Decker Corp.’s Price Pfister of Lake Forest helped raise more than $35,000 at Corona-based Materials Matter’s second anniversary blockbuster sale and fund-raiser. The funds were donated to dozens of OC nonprofits including Habitat for Humanity of OC and Working Wardrobes.
The Robert R. and Helga Pralle Family Foundation donated $25,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of OC. The money will support the Bright Futures program, offering female empowerment activities to girls ages 10 to 16. Recent activities include career days, self-defense classes and tours of college campuses.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of OC donated 21 new bikes to little brothers and little sisters at its Tustin office. The children were selected based on need and many of them have never owned a new bike. The bicycles were bought from Wal-Mart at a discount.
