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Thursday, May 21, 2026

PHILANTHROPY

Bountiful Harvest

More than 750 Pacific Investment Management Co. employee volunteers, friends, and family members joined the Community Action Partnership of Orange County on Dec. 1 for the organization’s 11th annual Share the Harvest event at the OC Fair & Event Center.

Volunteers packed more than 12,000 boxes of food, which provided a holiday meal to those in need. The food was distributed through the Orange County Food Bank to families, veterans, seniors and disabled individuals throughout Orange County.

“Food security and adequate nutrition are a basic human need around the world,” said PIMCO Chief Executive Emmanuel Roman. “PIMCO is focused on ending hunger, locally in our communities and globally, as a supporter of the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals. We are extremely grateful to the OC Food Bank who help make our Share the Harvest event in Orange County so impactful each year.”

Building a Foundation

Building Block Foundation Fund raised $195,000 at its third annual White Party to benefit at-risk youth in Orange County.

The White Party, the Foundation’s signature commercial real estate industry charity event,  helps local programs that impact the lives of Orange County youth, including Boys Hope Girls Hope, Career Beginnings Mentoring Program, Joyful Child Foundation, Kids Konnected, Taller San Jose, Project Access, KidWorks and Orangewood Children’s Foundation.

It was attended by more than 400 leaders in the Orange County commercial real estate, business and nonprofit sector. The event was held at the Noguchi Garden in Costa Mesa.

The event was underwritten by donations from commercial real estate industry sponsors including CapRock Partners, RETS Associates, Buchanan Street Partners and Voit Real Estate Services Inc., as well as law firm Rutan & Tucker.

Funds raised will help to mentor teens and move otherwise unskilled young adults into economically self-sustaining, skilled jobs and productive lives guided by fundamental values.

Holiday Fantasy

Vanguard University’s award-winning music department celebrated the 22nd anniversary of its Christmas Fantasia concert at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa on Dec. 10.

More than 1,500 community members gathered to enjoy the Vanguard University Orchestra perform their annual Christmas Fantasia concert to ring in the holidays.

The annual concert, presented by Farmers & Merchants Bank, showcased more than 150 students from Vanguard University’s music programs in a production of holiday classics.

The event raised $118,000, including corporate sponsorships from Meguiar’s, AT&T, OC Fair & Event Center, Trilogy Financial Services Inc., Haskell & White LLP, Mesa Water District and Forum of Christian Business Leaders, which will support music student scholarships and other educational resources.

An Enormous Mission

The Mission Hospital Holiday Gala raised more than $2 million, thanks to the engagement of more than 550 community members, business leaders, physician partners and other supporters.

The event took place on Dec.1 at the Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point and was sponsored in part by Idit and Moti Ferder of Lugano Diamonds and Healthcare Trust of America Inc. The funds raised will expand cancer programs and services within the Mission Viejo hospital’s new Judi and Bill Leonard Institute for Cancer Prevention, Treatment and Wellness.

Guests enjoyed bidding on live and silent auctions, including two front row tickets to a Gwen Stefani concert, an exclusive meet and greet after the concert and transportation to the Las Vegas venue in a private jet. The Ferders donated an exquisite set of white and black diamond bangles, valued at $27,800, which was raffled at the event.

Bits & Pieces

Cox Communications is offering $35,000 in college scholarships to high school seniors in Orange County and Palos Verdes in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, with a deadline of Feb.1. … The 2018 Tel Aviv University gala held Dec. 12 at the Skirball Cultural Center honored philanthropist winners Susan and Henry Samueli, co-founder and chief technical officer, Broadcom, for their commitment to technology, education, health and Israel. … On Dec.15, Bob’s Discount Furniture, in partnership with the Teen Project, delivered three truck beds of bedroom furniture to furnish all bedrooms at the new Vera’s Sanctuary for Women in Trabuco Canyon.

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