Innovative Partnership
First Team Real Estate partnered with Team Kids, donating $100,000 to the Team Kids Challenge, a six-week program where children participate in weekly challenges geared toward addressing community issues, including homelessness, hunger, literacy and the environment.
Approximately 25,000 children in 38 schools in Orange and Los Angeles counties and Arlington County, Va., take part in the program.
Through the Team Kids Superhero Program partnership, First Team Real Estate agents will serve as mentors to children in their communities, guiding them through challenges to help them make a difference and earn recognition doing so.
“As a real estate organization, we are passionate about the notion that it is our distinct privilege to support (our communities) in every way possible,” said First Team Real Estate President Michael Mahon. “The Superhero Program we’re participating in through Team Kids gives all 2,000 of our sales associates the opportunity to give back in a way that’s truly meaningful.”
United to End Homelessness
Top leaders in Orange County’s corporate, philanthropic, faith-based, government and nonprofit sectors gathered on Feb. 28 at the University of California-Irvine for the official launch of United to End Homelessness, a communitywide initiative led by Orange County United Way that will work to ensure integrated and sustainable solutions are implemented for people suffering from homelessness in Orange County.
“Ending chronic street homelessness will require a sea change in understanding about who our homeless neighbors are, their needs and what it will take to find lasting solutions,” said Ware Malcomb Chief Executive Larry Armstrong, founding chairman of the initiative.
The leadership council includes executives at Disneyland Resort, Angels Baseball, Anaheim Ducks, Kaiser Permanente and Wahoo’s Fish Taco, along with local organizations, including the Orange County Business Council, Orange County Community Foundation, Apartment Association of Orange County and the Hospital Association of Southern California.
Decade of Caring
Hundreds of community and business leaders and philanthropists gathered at the CHOC Children’s Gala to raise $2.7 million for CHOC Children’s. The Feb. 3 event at Disneyland Resort, “A Decade of Caring,” honored the gala’s 10th anniversary.
Premier sponsors included Harry Winston Inc., Disneyland Resort and the Daftarian Group.
The Children’s Champion Award was presented to the Cherese Mari Laulhere Foundation, which donated $5 million to endow the child life department at CHOC Children’s. To honor the memory of Cherese, the department is named The Cherese Mari Laulhere Child Life Department.
Harry Winston received the inaugural chair award. In addition to serving as leading gala sponsor for five years, the company has invested in numerous hospital programs and services, including Seacrest Studios and the new neonatal intensive care unit on CHOC’s Orange campus.
Dux in Tux
More than 500 guests attended the 18th annual Dux in Tux on Feb. 22. The sold-out event, which was held on the ice at Honda Center, raised $475,000. The funds will support the work of the Anaheim Ducks Foundation, including programs such as Ducks S.C.O.R.E., Learn to Play and Top Flight.
The evening featured renowned Orange County and Los Angeles chefs who donated their time to the cause. Each chef was paired with an Anaheim Duck who acted as “sous chef” to help prepare a six-course meal for a table of 14. Participating restaurants included Anaheim White House Restaurant, Anepalco, Ember BBQ, Haven Gastropub, Maggiano’s Little Italy, Orange Hill Restaurant and URBANA Mexican Gastronomy & Mixology.
Bits & Pieces
CHOC Children’s was honored by the Regional Center of Orange County with a Spotlight Award at a dinner-dance on March 2 to highlight CHOC’s work to advance quality of life for people with developmental disabilities. … On Feb. 1, Wells Fargo presented Casa Teresa with a check for $14,000 as part of a special grant. … The Literacy Project teamed up with the Angels Baseball Foundation to put together Readers in the Outfield, when 100 Anaheim second-graders will compete against Angels baseball alumni, community leaders and executives, showcasing newly acquired reading skills. … Community leaders recently read from Dr. Seuss books to children enrolled at KidWorks in observance of National Read Across America Day.
