Having a Ball
Court Appointed Special Advocates of Orange County held its annual Celebration of Children Black & White Ball on April 27 at Hotel Irvine, which netted in excess of $1.3 million. It’s the fifth year in a row that CASA has broken the previous year’s net, becoming the organization’s most successful fundraiser in its 34-year history.
More than 400 guests were in attendance to support CASA’s mission of serving abused, abandoned and neglected children in Orange County with a trained and supported volunteer advocate. Event sponsors included Twila True Fine Jewelry & Watches, Edwards Lifesciences, Stark Fitness, Wells Fargo, Taco Bell and South Coast Plaza.
The event included Fund the Mission, which hauled in over $670,000 by itself, with donations ranging from $500 to $100,000 from guests.
The William, Jeff and Jennifer Gross Family Foundation was named as this year’s Children’s Champions for their commitment and support of CASA’s organization and mission. Twila True Fine Jewelry & Watches was awarded Outstanding Corporation. The Tarsadia Foundation was recognized as Foundation of the Year.
Betting on the Kids
Poker tables were packed and active with serious poker playing during the 10th annual Pretend City Children’s Museum’s Poker Fundraising Night on May 9, held at Big Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach.
More than 120 Orange County philanthropists and business leaders took to their poker chips and cards to participate in a five-hour poker fundraising tournament. This year’s tournament raised more than $200,000 to support Pretend City Children’s Museum’s educational mission for Orange County’s children and families.
Hirad Emadi, founder and president of Innovative Construction Solutions, was honored at the tournament for his longtime support of the nonprofit’s programs.
“Hirad Emadi has been with this poker tournament from the beginning—we’re so glad to have an opportunity to recognize his contribution to the children of Orange County” said Randy Wood, partner, Morgan Lewis, who chaired the tournament. “Since the fundraising event’s inception, the museum has seen many familiar and new faces take action and give meaning to purposeful play through hands-on exhibits, engaging programs, special events, and scholarships for the underserved.”
The Poker Fundraising Night was made possible by key sponsors, among them Lyon Living, William Lyon Homes, London Group Sabra, Health Care REIT Inc. and Morgan Lewis.
Playing for the Children
The Orange County Chapter of Childhelp raised more than $530,000 at the 60th Childhelp Rich Saul Memorial Golf Classic at the Pelican Hill Golf Club in Newport Coast on May 16.
About 144 golfers participated in the sold-out tournament. After the golf portion of the event, an additional 100 guests joined the group for a dinner, followed by silent and live auctions. Event sponsors included Connor, Fletcher & Hedenkamp LLC, Fidelity National Title Group, Los Angeles Rams and Merrill Lynch.
In attendance were former standout Rams players Jackie Slater, Eric Dickerson, David Hill, LeRoy Irvin and Mike Lansford. Childhelp Celebrity Ambassador and NASCAR great Paulie Harraka stopped in to lend his support. Tournament winners were the foursome from Wedbush Securities.
The Wild West of Fundraisers
WHW, which provides the unemployed and underemployed the skills and resources they need to get and keep a good job, hosted 275 supporters, volunteers and community members to empower employment success and raised more than $200,000 during its Annual Luncheon and Fashion Show on April 27 at the Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach.
With the “Old West” theme, the event featured silent and live auctions, a gourmet luncheon, a presentation from a WHW job seeker and a Western-inspired fashion show from WHW’s retail store, Deja New, which supports WHW with all income directly helping to provide services for WHW job seekers. Freeman, U.S. Bank, Capital Group, UPS, EY, Wells Fargo, The Bascom Group, Wright Ford Young & Co. and CommerceWest Bank were among the event sponsors and underwriters.
Bits & Pieces
Down Syndrome Association of Orange County, Project Independence, Dayle McIntosh Center, Family Support Network, Speech and Language Development Center, UCP of Orange County, Vocational Visions and Free Wheelchair Mission are coming together to raise $100,000 for OC neighbors with disabilities on May 30, through a joint online fundraising campaign called Empowering Possibilities … Community Roots Academy, a K-8 charter school in Laguna Niguel, received a $2,000 grant from the Whole Kids Foundation to help sustain the school’s edible education garden program that encourages students to learn about fresh fruits and vegetables by tending the Discover Garden in the center of the campus … The Anaheim White House, owned by humanitarian and Chef Sir Bruno Serato, is among three restaurants nominated for the prestigious Judges Special Award of Excellence for its architectural and interior design, which will be presented at the Golden Nugget Awards on May 31.
