Surf’s Up for a Cure
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s 12th Annual Pipeline to a Cure took place on July 13 at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa. The sold-out gala raised more than $400,000 and drew the support of many Orange County businesses, including presenting sponsor BJ’s Restaurants, LAcarGuy, Stacked: Food Well Built, American Airlines, Subaru of America, Kaiser Permanente Orange County, Karma Tequila, Mitsubishi Electric, The Innovation Institute, Coca-Cola, Nick Alexander Imports, C-Squared PR, HB Surf School, PepsiCo, Piercey Automotive Group, Tellone Financial Services, Kloeckner Metals, Quickblade, and Wahoo’s Fish Taco.
Pipeline to a Cure was created to celebrate the role surfers played in the development of hypertonic saline, an important treatment for cystic fibrosis. Event guests were joined by honorary co-chairs and surf legends Laird Hamilton, Dave Kalama, and Reef McIntosh. All the funds raised will support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s ongoing research to find new treatments in pursuit of a cure.
The Orange County Bar Association Charitable Fund held its OCBA Charitable Fund Annual Benefit on Aug. 22 at the Newport Beach Country Club. The event, attended by 350 guests, honored Orange County Superior Court Collaborative Courts Program as its Community Partner Honoree, Keller/Anderle LLP as the Law Firm Honoree, and The Home Depot as the Corporate Honoree.
“This event provides an opportunity for the Charitable Fund to recognize various individuals, law firms, corporations, and community partners for their contributions to enhance the system of justice and expand access to justice through the Charitable Fund,” said Nikki Miliband, partner, Good Wildman, and OCBA Charitable Fund president.
The evening included wine tasting, appetizers, live entertainment, and a silent and live auction. The event raised nearly $270,000. Proceeds from the event will fund donations to law-related charities in the Orange County community.
Making a Plan
More than 225 guests came out on Aug. 9 to help Planned Parenthood of Orange & San Bernardino Counties raise more than $216,000 to further its reproductive healthcare mission at its summer fundraising event, POPP: Protect Our Planned Parenthood. The event was held outdoors near the Irvine Spectrum, where guests ate, drank, and danced under the stars.
A portion of the funds raised at POPP is earmarked for education. The event’s proceeds will directly benefit more than 100,000 patients who receive healthcare at the nine centers in Orange and San Bernardino counties. Preventive care services comprise 93% of the healthcare its clinics offer, including lifesaving cancer screenings, breast health exams, annual well-woman checkups, STD prevention and treatment, family planning, and sexual health education.
Let’s Go to the Zoo…fari!
The Friends of the Santa Ana Zoo raised a record amount at this year’s Zoofari Safari, netting close to $110,000. The profits will be used to help upgrade the primate habitats, as well as general zoo support. Event underwriters included U.S. Bank, Ganahl Lumber Co., Hall Griffin LLP, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, Parties by Panache, and the Orange County Water District.
The black-tie gala took place on Aug. 24. It was held outside and under the stars on the grounds of the Santa Ana Zoo and drew 240 guests.
“Zoofari broke fundraising records for the all the special projects and improvements going on here at our favorite community zoo,” said Cathi Decker, executive director. “We are so thankful for our supporters who helped make this impact as we work on more educational programs, breaking ground on new animal habitats, tackling important conservation initiatives, and upgrading service facilities for our guests to use and enjoy,”
Attendees were greeted by animals from the zoo, including a French rooster, ball python, blue-tongued skink and other animals, along with their docent handlers. Guests toured the grounds and rode the Zoofari Express Train, Conservation Carrousel, and Fifty Monkey Ferris Wheel. They visited the various animal habitats, including the environment that houses the 50 monkeys for which the Santa Ana Zoo is known.
Bits & Pieces
The YMCA of Orange County promoted Emilio Sosa, a 12-year veteran of the YMCA organization as a senior executive director and as an executive director for early childhood education, as the new director of branch operations where he will work with branch leadership to strategically grow membership, increase quality and retention, develop new programs and increase community partnerships … The Orange County Community Foundation appointed Tammy Tumbling, who most recently served as director of government relations at Southern California Edison where she managed the company’s $20 million philanthropic budget, as OCCF’s first chief operating officer and executive vice president, effective immediately.
