Girls Inc. of Orange County, a local affiliate of a national youth organization aimed at youth ages 5-18, announced that Sierra’s Light Foundation offered $5,000 to the organization for safety upgrades at its Costa Mesa center. Girls Inc. also received a $20,000 grant from the nonprofit segment of the Anaheim Angels, Angels Care. The organization used a portion of the funds for scholarships, which were awarded to Violeta Bega, Livier Gonzales and Brenda Velasquez for their accomplishments and commitments to pursue a post-secondary education.
Newport Dunes Resort donated $1,300, from its “Chowder Chow Down” to the American Red Cross, Orange County.
The Laser Eye Center (LEC), Irvine, raised more than $100,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Orange County. In all, over $1 million was raised for various charities involved in LEC’s program. To thank volunteers who assisted in fundraising, LEC performed LASIK procedures at no cost to 20 volunteers.
The Sisters of St. Joseph Healthcare Foundation, a ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, awarded $10,000 to the Huntington Beach Community Clinic to support the teen stop-in centers at two local high schools and in support of the Ocean View School District’s middle and elementary counseling program. In addition, the Orange County Community Foundation gave the clinic $10,000 for its “Medigap” program, designed to provide medical care for those between the ages of 55 and 64. And California Endowment donated $50,000 to the clinic.
Fashion Island, Newport Beach, co-hosted the 11th Annual Fashion Show to benefit the Pediatric Adolescent Diabetes Research Education Foundation (P.A.D.R.E.), a nonprofit organization that provides numerous programs at Children’s Hospital of Orange County and Children’s Hospital at Mission to help children with diabetes mellitus, a chronic illness for which there is no cure.
California State University, Fullerton’s Center for Careers in Teaching received $10,000 from the Orange County Teachers Federal Credit Union.
Alliance Imaging pledged $100,000 to the Radiological Society of North America Research and Education Foundation. The funds will be used to support research grant programs for individuals in radiology.
The Festival of Arts Foundation board of directors, Laguna Beach, awarded $59,000 to local cultural organizations. This donation, along with $90,000 previously awarded in art scholarships to graduates of Laguna Beach High School, brings the foundation’s total grants to $149,000 for 1999-2000.
BMC Software Inc., Irvine, provided $50,000 in sponsorship funds to Alternative Repertory Theatre of Santa Ana for the remainder of the theater’s 2000-2001 season.
The Southern California Spring Garden Show preview gala was held at South Coast Plaza with proceeds benefiting Friends of the Mission, a support group of Mission San Juan Capistrano, founded to raise funds for the restoration of the mission.
Cal State Fullerton President, Milton A. Gordon, rededicated the school’s baseball facility as Goodwin Field. The ceremony was held in honor of Jerry and Merilyn Goodwin, who provided the first $1 million toward the $3 million-plus expansion of the baseball and softball facilities.
First American Financial Corp., Santa Ana, held a blood marrow drive in honor of Jordan Bolles, the 16-year-old daughter of a Jacksonville, Fla. company employee.
Orange County received national grants for self-help programs aimed at improving the circumstances for low-income residents. The grants came from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development and went to Taller San Jose (St. Joseph’s Workshop), Santa Ana.
The Mighty Ducks Care Foundation donated almost $50,000 from auctioned off game jerseys to the Disney GOALS (Growth Opportunities through Athletics, Learning & Service) program. GOALS also held a benefit hockey game for SCORE, a nonprofit fund set up to support spinal cord research and to help youth with sports-related spinal injuries, which raised approximately $40,000.
William and Lorraine McCune of Huntington Harbour were recognized at the commencement exercises of Western State University College of Law for the McCune Scholarship Fund that has granted over $200,000 to 48 Western State students. The endowment was established in memory of the McCunes’ son, Scott, who died in 1989.
The American Institute of Wine & Food held a fundraiser featuring Zov Karamardian of Zov’s Bistro, with proceeds going to the OC College Culinary Art School.
MossWarner Communications of Mission Viejo and the American Cancer Society promoted the annual “Dogs Walk Against Cancer” via the Web. The proceeds from the event will benefit the fight against human and animal cancers.
St. Joseph Hospital Foundation of Orange held the fourth annual “Circles of Life” Lunch & Fashion Show, featuring 32 cancer survivor models and the hospital’s physicians. The event was aimed at raising awareness about cancer.
