Masimo Gives on Zika; Great Park’s New Leathernecks

Orange County’s community of business plays a big part in the impressive array of philanthropic groups and nonprofit organizations that operate here, as you’ll find on our front page and in the Special Report that starts on page 15 … Some for-profit enterprises contribute in other ways, too, including Irvine-based Masimo Inc. The medical device maker will give from its margin—and offer a counterpoint to recent headlines that suggest price gouging in the healthcare industry—by charging half-price for its disposable continuous hemoglobin monitoring sensors for “any hospital that informs us that they’re dealing with the Zika virus—no questions asked,” according to spokesperson Irene Paigah. The sensors run between $90 and $150, and a typical hospital under normal circumstances might use about one a week, according to Masimo, which estimates 500 to 2,000 hospitals are dealing with Zika in more than 30 countries, including the U.S., where cases of the virus—especially dangerous for pregnant women and fetuses—have turned up in Florida, Texas and New York … Call it addition by subtraction as Jim Doti settles into life after his 25-year tenure as president of Chapman University—with the local philanthropy sector set to gain as he gets more room to range. Among Doti’s first post-presidential tasks will be the keynote address for the Orange County Community Foundation’s annual meeting and luncheon at Hotel Irvine on Nov. 9. This year’s theme: “What’s Your Why?” … Insider job: kudos to OCBJ sales rep Carol Fox, who took it upon herself to spearhead a grassroots philanthropic effort in support of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation five years ago, and last month raised $65,000 at the annual bocce tournament she stages with the help of Il Fornaio and other generous sponsors. Kudos also to tournament winner BBVA Compass Bank, led by Everett Orrick … The Insider hopes to be proven wrong on this prediction, but also offers it up as a reminder of the ongoing need for local philanthropy: Expect legitimate complaints from downtown merchants and homeowners in Washington Square, Park Santiago, French Park and other residential neighborhoods to start just about as soon as city officials in Santa Ana begin taking steps to clear homeless folks from the Civic Center … Worth noting as a seemingly concocted controversy over a veterans’ cemetery drones on at FivePoint Holdings Great Park Neighborhoods: A couple of schools that opened there in recent weeks have taken on institutional identities that pay homage to the El Toro Marine base that preceded the development. The Portola High School Bulldogs mascot will take after the feisty four-legged creature who has represented Leathernecks for 96 years, while the K-6 Beacon Park Bengals are named for a squadron of Marine Corps fighter planes … Related question: Have you seen a more clever use of a Roman numeral than the FivePoint logo? … 3-Paper Town (or They Cover the Waterfront): The Daily Pilot’s front page on Aug. 27: “Cut called for to Banning proposal”; front page of the B section of the L.A. Times on the same day: “A pitched battle brews over Banning Ranch;” the Newport Beach Independent had this ready as the Insider went to press: “Banning Ranch Rhetoric Gets Heated After Staff Suggests Smaller Project.” Advantage to the Independent on clarity and tone.