A Look Back at Giving
In 2019, City National Bank contributed monetary and in-kind support of over $1.7 million to nearly 70 nonprofits, schools and community organizations, which was a 67% year-over-year increase.
The bank’s volunteer support reached significant levels again last year as part of its philanthropic performance and mission. Bank colleagues donated close to 1,500 hours of volunteer service, which included serving on nonprofit boards, staffing charitable events, reading to students at various elementary schools, and much more. This was a 26% increase from the previous year.
“Our community involvement and support of qualified nonprofit organizations and programs continue to grow through our monetary, in-kind and volunteer support,” said Bob Iritani, Orange County regional executive for City National Bank, which ranks No. 18 on this week’s list of OC’s largest commercial banks (see page 28). “In addition to funding numerous nonprofit groups, our colleagues continue to donate hundreds of hours of volunteer service to so many wonderful and worthy causes.”
Nonprofits that received City National Bank’s monetary, in-kind and volunteer support in 2019 include ALS Therapy Development Insitute, American Cancer Society Orange County, American Family Housing, Augie’s Quest, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast, Chapman University, Easter Seals Southern California Inc., Families Forward, Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach, Orange County Community Foundation, Pacific Symphony and United Way Orange County.
Progress for Vets
The Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF) is partnering with the Orange County Real Estate (OCRE) Luncheon, an annual veteran-focused event among OC’s top real estate companies and financial institutions, to grant $862,000 to local nonprofits serving military veterans and their families. OCCF also announced funding for an evaluation to assess both the progress of the OC Veterans Initiative (OCVI) and future opportunities for continued impact.
In this fifth year of the grant program, the OCVI, in partnership with the OCRE Luncheon, is investing in veteran-serving organizations and programs including California State University-Fullerton’s Veterans Resource Center, Goodwill Industries of Orange County’s Tierney Center for Veteran Services, Irvine Valley College’s Veterans Resource Center, Saddleback College’s VET Center, St. Jeanne de Lestonnac Free Clinic Veterans Dental Clinic,  Strength in Support’s Mental Health Service program and Warrior Scholar Project Veterans Academic Boot Camp.Â
The next OCRE luncheon is scheduled for Thursday, April 23, at Hotel Irvine.
To Finding a Cure
UCI Mind, the University of California-Irvine’s Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, raised a record net total of nearly $475,000 for Alzheimer’s research at its 10th annual A December to Remember Gala on Dec. 7 at the Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach.
Sponsors included Brethren Community Foundation; philanthropists Julia and George Argyros; Harriet Harris, founder, Harris Taylor Management Inc. and her husband, Bill Harris; Mason-Lite; Sperry Commercial and Sperry Equalities; Beacon Pointe; Betty’s Foundation; and JP Morgan Chase & Co.
“We are grateful that the work of UCI Mind and this signature fundraising event are increasingly recognized and supported by the local Orange County community,” said Dr. Joshua Grill, director, UCI Mind. “This support is vital to the cutting-edge research performed at UCI Mind in the race to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.”
Current predictions suggest that more than 16 million Americans will suffer from the disease by 2050. Scientists at UCI Mind are working from a cross-disciplinary perspective to find a prevention or cure for Alzheimer’s.Â
This year’s UCI Mind Award honoree was Harriet Harris, president of Harris Taylor Management.
UCI Mind also honored Betty’s Foundation with the Community Leadership Award. The evening culminated with a live performance by singer-songwriter Ashley Campbell, whose late father, musician Glenn Campbell, suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.
100 Ways to Show Generosity
Irvine Public Schools Foundation (IPSF) hosted its seventh annual Top 100 Reception on Jan. 29 at the Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach. Companies represented on IPSF’s Top 100 List included global brands, as well as some of Orange County’s most influential corporations and foundations, including FivePoint, Google Fiber, Futek, Broadcom Foundation and Paul Hastings LLC.
Corporate giving to IPSF last year, including the City of Irvine Challenge Match Grant funds, totaled more than $3.5 million.
The companies were honored for their commitment to excellence in education by supporting IPSF’s mission. These socially responsible companies are investing in Orange County’s future by ensuring local youth have access to educational resources that will enhance their academic and future success.
Bits & Pieces
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and the Inland Empire announced its new board leadership, which includes Navin Narang, co-founder, FPH Capital Partners as board chair and W. Henry Walker, CEO, Farmers & Merchants Bank, as board vice chair. … The Orange County Community Foundation appointed Dr. Maria Minon, senior vice president of medical affairs and chief medical officer, CHOC Children’s, and Arnold Pinkston, corporate vice president, general counsel, Edwards Lifesciences, to its board of governors. … On Feb. 13, Autism Community in Action launched an ongoing collaboration with UCP of Orange County to conduct monthly “Coffee Talks” at UCP-OC’s Irvine office, which are open to the public at noon and offer moderated roundtable-style discussion groups that provide support, resources and hope to families affected by autism.
