Merry Givemas to All
Anaheim-based Credit Union of Southern California (CU SoCal) is donating $150,000 to more than 50 Southern California businesses and their employees, as well as two nonprofit organizations as part of its “Merry Givemas” event, held Dec. 18.
Of that amount, $100,000 will go to small businesses hard-hit by the pandemic and its economic fallout, including Crepes & Grapes, Poets Garden, Salon Cheval, Say Cheese Photography, Rocky’s Frozen Yogurt, A Special Event and Brickhouse Pizza.
“We’re honored to help those businesses and their employees in our community negatively impacted during these challenging times,” said Dave Gunderson, president and CEO, CU SoCal. “Credit unions were founded as financial cooperatives specifically to help one another. And, in good times or in bad, that purpose has not wavered.”
In addition, the credit union is donating the rest of the $50,000 to the Women’s and Children’s Crisis Shelter and the Interfaith Food Center.
Fundraising Team of Rivals
School rivals USC and UCLA gathered for Kure It Cancer Research’s Third Annual Rivals Golf Tournament at Pelican Hill Golf Club on Nov. 6. The event raised more than $105,000, which benefits Kure It Cancer Research’s mission “Together We Can Eradicate Cancer.”
Sponsors included US Storage Centers & Westport Properties, Sperry Equities, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Nahin Group, City National Bank, Brigg’s Electric, NPV Advisors, Main Electric, The Leeson Group and The Long Drink.
Because of COVID-19 concerns, tee times were staggered, with each golfer receiving their own cart and cooler, as well as a boxed lunch. A silent auction was offered online prior to the tournament and included signed sports memorabilia, golfing opportunities at prestigious locations, a wide selection of fine wines, travel experiences, and holiday gifts of the entire family. Hole-in-one prizes were offered at several different holes, including an Aston Martin from Aston Martin Newport Beach and a Rolex Explorer timepiece from Bob’s Watches in Newport Beach. A live streaming wrap-up party was held at one of the Pelican Hill Resort villas, sponsored by Lugano Diamonds.
35 Years of Philanthropic Efforts
National Philanthropy Day celebrated its 35th anniversary with an event themed “Bringing Philanthropy Home.” The philanthropic recognition event was a virtual, pre-taped program that featured a performance of the National Philanthropy Day Song by student singers and musicians from OC Music & Dance and video snippets of past honorees receiving their awards.
Sponsors of the event included Orange County philanthropists Ling and Charlie Zhang, founders, OC Music & Dance; City of Hope; Chapman University; FivePoint Holdings LLC; Hoag Hospital Foundation; loanDepot; Simon Scholars/Simon Foundation; Cornerstone Communications; Edwards Lifesciences; Laguna College of Art + Design; Orange County Community Foundation; California State University-Fullerton; Illumination Foundation; The Wooden Floor and UCP of Orange County. Media Sponsors included Orange County Business Journal, PBS SoCal and the Orange County Register.
The effort netted $94,000 for the support of the ethical advancement of philanthropy in the community by the Orange County Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
2020 honorees included Doug Freeman, founder, National Philanthropy Day, who received the 35th Anniversary Founders Award; Laurie Zagon, founder, Art & Creativity for Healing, who received the Outstanding Founder Award; and FivePoint, which was presented with the Outstanding Mid-Sized Business Award.
More Than Money
First Foundation Inc. announced the recipients of its “Supporting Our Communities” philanthropy initiative on Dec. 23.
The initiative, which includes a cash grant as well as the opportunity for in-kind consulting services for each recipient, connects the nonprofit with First Foundation employees for volunteer and long-lasting community building activities.
The 2020 Supporting Our Communities recipients in Orange County include Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, Hart Community Homes/Monkey Business, Taller San Jose Hope Builders and WISEPlace.
“The Supporting Our Communities initiative feels more important in 2020 than ever before,” said Scott Kavanaugh, CEO, First Foundation. “By partnering with these nonprofits, we are able to build deeper relationships and help those in the communities when it matters most.”
In addition to the cash grant, the nonprofit recipients will receive in-kind professional guidance related to the organizations’ daily activities, including fundraising; donor cultivation and stewardship; gift planning design; staff and board training; campaign planning; board building; development of critical policies and protocols; organizational planning; and counsel on ensuring best practices in their own fiscal matters such as cash management, wealth planning, and investment management.
Bits & Pieces
Meals on Wheels Orange County has produced the documentary “Step Up to the Plate: Our Community in Action,” a 20-minute film available to view at MealsOnWheelsOC.org and sponsored by Acacia Home Health, Alignment Healthcare, GrandPad, Kaiser Permanente and Masonry Concepts Inc., which has helped raise $83,000 toward the organization’s $100,000 goal. … On Oct. 15, Human Options hosted its first-ever virtual fundraising event, the annual Fall Event, which drew approximately 530 viewers from across the country and raised $200,000 in critical funds to support Human Options’ relationship violence prevention programs. … Pacific Life Foundation granted $50,000 each to Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast and Boys & Girls Clubs of Huntington Valley as part of Pacific Life Foundation’s support of COVID-19 relief efforts in several communities across the country where Pacific Life employees live and work.
