Walk This Way
More than 2,500 volunteers from the Orange County community laced up their shoes in support of critically ill children and their families at this year’s Orange County Ronald McDonald House Walk for Kids.
This year’s walk took place at the Honda Center and featured family-friendly carnival games, activities, Kids Zones, food, music and more.
The walk raised $298,000 to support families who must travel outside their communities to access medical treatment for their critically ill children at local hospitals. Talonvest Capital was the top donor, its team members raising $38,000.
Proceeds support the Orange County Ronald McDonald House, which last year provided a second home to more than 800 families.
Giving Close to Heart
Irvine-based Netwrix Corp. donated $165,000 this month to several Orange County nonprofit organizations, among them the Surfrider Foundation and the Laguna Ocean Foundation.
“Being a surfer and beach goer myself, I understand the great importance of protecting our coastal ecosystems and I am thrilled that Netwrix now supports this great cause,” said Netwrix co-founder Michael Fimin.
Another portion of the donations was earmarked for organizations that focus on enhancing the education and well-being of children in underserved communities, including the Bright Horizons Foundation and several local schools.
“I truly believe that there is one thing in this life that matters more than anything else: our children,” Fimin said. “They represent our future. The future of our local communities in particular. And we can change the future by investing more into their education and happiness.”
Lucky and Lively
Olive Crest saluted the Wearin’ of the Green at its St. Patrick’s Day Celebration for a sold-out crowd of 435 on March 17 at the Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort in Huntington Beach. The event netted more than $125,000 to support children and families of Olive Crest programs.
The affair featured music by Irish band Cillian’s Bridge, Irish dancers, whiskey sampling, silent and live auctions and a sit-down dinner.
Olive Crest recognized Applied Medical in Rancho Santa Margarita with its Champion for the Children Award. The medical device company has given $99,114 in donations since 2011 to support children and families of the nonprofit organization.
Thanks for the Memories
Alzheimer’s Orange County’s sold-out fundraising gala, headlined by title sponsors Julia and George Argyros, was a smashing success, raising more than $550,000 for the organization, a record-breaking amount in the event’s 19-year run.
The gala, held on March 24 at Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach, was themed Broadway Memories: Backstage. In addition to the Argyroses, sponsors included the Iacocca Family Foundation, Bette and Wylie Aitken, Antis Roofing & Waterproofing, Assured In-Home Care, Irvine Cottage, Kaiser Permanente Orange County, Vista Gardens Memory Care, Squar Milner Financial Service and Ingram Micro.
Gala proceeds were generated through sponsorships, underwriting, ticket sales, donations and silent, live and fund-a-need auctions. Money raised will go toward care, support and research efforts in Orange County.
Bits & Pieces
Bank of America is partnering with the nonprofit groups Pathways of Hope, Working Wardrobes and South County Outreach to provide financial literacy classes to help Orange County’s most vulnerable residents find a path to financial independence, including topics like repairing credit and creating a budget. … Restaurateur Zov Karamardian received the Community Epicenter Award from the OC chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association on April 13. … Santa Ana-based nonprofit MOMS Orange County received an $87,072 grant from the HealthCare Foundation for Orange County to support MOMS’ program of monthly home visits to help mothers and their families have healthy babies; the organization will work with Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian to implement the program.
