Silver Anniversary
Nearly 400 supporters of Laura’s House came together to celebrate its 25th anniversary on Sept. 7 at the Fashion Island Hotel in Newport Beach. The gala, themed “25 Years of Silver Linings,” netted $835,000 for services benefiting domestic violence victims, spanning residential shelter services, counseling and legal services, as well as prevention and community outreach programs.
Laura’s House recognized two longtime supporters, Western National Group’s President Laura Khouri and CEO Michael Hayde, with a Crystal Heart Award in appreciation for their commitment and contributions to the nonprofit.
Khouri and Hayde, who are married, announced a $1 million gift to kick-start and support the nonprofit’s efforts to raise funds for a planned Aliso Viejo facility. Hayde also matched all live auction and “Rebuild a Life” donations made to Laura’s House, amounting to an additional $300,000 donation in honor of his wife, who is the board chair for the organization.
Presenting sponsors for the gala included Khouri and Hayde. Other sponsors included the Nancy and Geoffrey Stack Family Foundation and ruby sponsors Julia and George Argyros, and Lisa Argyros/Argyros Family Foundation. Emerald sponsors included Haskell & White LLP, The Joe Macpherson Foundation, Rancho Mission Viejo, and Salinas Construction. Additional sponsors included Farmers & Merchants Bank, Verizon, Aviso Legal Group LLP, The Busch Group/Napa Institute, Hall Griffin LLP, IHP Capital Partners; Kimball, Tirey & St. John LLP; Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC, J.P. Morgan, R.D. Olson Development, and US Bank.
Global Influence
An enthusiastic crowd of 330—elegantly attired in black tie and glittering masks—raised a record-breaking $350,000 on Sept. 14 at the Celebration of Global Friendships Masquerade Ball, hosted by Plasticos Foundation. The fundraiser at the Balboa Bay Resort commemorated the nonprofit’s 20th anniversary, honored three dedicated and passionate humanitarian volunteers, and set the stage for the announcement of its new name, Mission Plasticos, and new tag line: Treat. Train. Transform.
This year’s Global Humanitarian Honorees included Drs. Philippe and Isabelle Schaison for providing leadership and innovation that is helping the organization reach new heights, and Rachel Russell, a registered nurse at Hoag Hospital, who has led the organization’s Mission Supply Team for years.
Key sponsors included Pacific Communications, Nutrafol, Allergan, Bio Creative Labs, Craig Drill Capital, Miracle Mile Advisors, Pacific Center for Plastic Surgery, and RealSelf.
Vocational Visions’ Enchanted Evening took 280 guests on a journey “Under the Sea” on Sept. 7 at the Hyatt Regency John Wayne Airport. The event raised nearly $115,000 to continue providing programs, services and support to develop the talents of adults with disabilities.
Some Enchanted Evening
Vocational Visions honored three businesses for their continued support of the nonprofit. Employer of the Year was Whole Foods, Laguna Niguel and Newport Beach, for employing Vocational Visions’ clients. Vendor of the Year was Rancho Mesa Insurance. Park Terrace was acknowledged as Paid Internship Employer of the Year, while the nonprofit Pretend City was honored as Volunteer Site of the Year.
Business sponsors included Electron Beam Engineering, Cotti Foods, Wahoo’s Fish Taco, Rutan & Tucker, Enterprise Fleet Management, Pacific Western Bank, Samueli Foundation, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, and Greystar.
Fore the Kids
YMCA of Orange County hosted its ninth annual Fore the Kids Golf Tournament on Sept. 13 at the Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo. The event raised more than $96,000 to benefit youth and families with essential programming in South Orange County at the Mission Viejo and Laguna Niguel Family YMCAs, which provide care to more than 3,100 kids daily.
The event, presented by South County Lexus, welcomed YMCA supporters to the Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club’s 18-hole championship length golf course set amidst Trabuco Creek and The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo. Guests also enjoyed a live auction and dinner, featuring complimentary wine, appetizers, dinner, and a live auction.
All proceeds benefit YMCA youth programs, including: After School Care, Earn a Bike, Safety Around Water, and Summer Camp at the Mission Viejo and Laguna Niguel Family YMCAs.
Bits & Pieces
Radiant Health Centers has received a two-year, nearly $2 million grant from the California Department of Public Health to provide quick treatment for individuals who test positive for HIV … Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County was recently awarded a $200,000 grant from Living Legacy Foundation in support of the Mobile School Pantry program, which will allow the food bank to provide critical hunger relief to the food insecure population in Orange County by expanding to nine new Mobile School Pantry sites and maintaining 39 existing sites … YMCA of Orange County recently received more than $85,000 in Community Development Block Grants to support programs and services at various locations throughout Orange County, including the YMCA’s Richman Youth Achievers Afterschool Program at the Richman Neighborhood Center in Fullerton, the YMCA child care/tutoring program for Tustin residents, the Santa Ana Family YMCA and Santa Ana YMCA child care programs, and the YMCA Teen Programming at Don Juan Avila Middle School in Aliso Viejo.
