Philanthropy

Decades-Long Commitment to Education
On Jan. 19, Irvine Co., led by chairman and owner Donald Bren, presented Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) with a $2 million check as part of its Excellence in Education Enrichment Fund. This contribution, part of a 20-year, $45 million funding commitment by Irvine Co., enables IUSD to maintain the highest level of arts, music and science education in times of constrained local and state budgets, and invest in new educational platforms and technologies.
“Education has always been at the core of our planning efforts in Irvine, and today’s contribution continues our company’s decades-long partnership with IUSD, students and families to support enrichment programs in science, art and music,” said Jeff Davis, vice president of Irvine Co., in a statement. “These programs have helped create one of the highest performing districts in California.”
Since its inception in 2006, the Excellence in Education Enrichment Fund has provided funding consistency, particularly during times of declining state and local budgets. As a result, IUSD students outperform their peers in California and the nation in many of these subjects.
Instruction includes two one-hour science lessons per week, two 40-minute music lessons per week, and six one-hour art lessons per year—each taught by highly specialized instructors. By utilizing these dedicated specialty teachers, IUSD has created smaller groups for in-person and hybrid instruction. Additionally, investments in classroom technologies and innovative educational platforms have enabled students to collaborate and perform complex symphonies and science labs virtually with fellow students.

Celebrating the Past, Looking to the Future
On Feb. 6, community champions and business leaders came together to attend Radiant Health Centers’ marquee annual gala, held in a virtual format. The event raised $181,000, which will be used to provide specialized, stigma-free medical and social services for the LGBTQ+ community. Sponsors included Union Bank, Pacific Life, Gilead, Avita Pharmacy and Janssen/Johnson & Johnson
The gala’s theme was “Back to the Future” celebrating the past, present and future of Radiant Health Centers. Special guests included actress Lea Thompson from the “Back to the Future” movie franchise, who made a video cameo to support the center and the gala.
The inaugural Radiant Compassion Award was given to Jeanne Pepper and Gideon Bernstein, principal and CIO, Leisure Capital Management, for their commitment to promote compassion, acceptance and kindness through the #BlazeItForward movement, which they launched in honor of their son, Blaze Bernstein, who was killed in a hate crime in 2018. The mission of #BlazeItForward is to make the world a better place with one intentional kind act at a time.

Fulfilling Holiday Wishes
The Anaheim Ducks held their 13th Annual Holiday Shopping Spree on Dec. 17, benefitting students from The Wooden Floor, an arts-based youth development nonprofit that seeks to transform the lives of children from low-income communities through the power of dance and access to higher education. The shopping spree was furnished by the Anaheim Ducks management and players, who fulfilled the holiday wish lists of more than 20 children.
The event, held virtually, connected players and children via a Zoom gathering that included a Q&A and games, and concluded with each participating family being surprised with a 40” TV.
Participating Ducks personnel included Dallas Eakins, head coach; Bill Foltz, president, chief financial officer, Ducks; Cam Fowler, defense; John Gibson, goalie; Josh Manson, defense; Todd Marchant, Director, player development; Rickard Rakell, forward; Carter Rowney, forward; and Jakob Silfverberg, forward.  
“Our students come from families that are classified by HUD as extremely low-income,” said Dawn S. Reese, CEO, The Wooden Floor. “This event each year lifts up our students’ spirits. When they see adults investing their time in them, especially those at the highest level of their profession like these players, it shows them that there are people who care for them in the world and want the best for them.”

Record Year for Philanthropic Performance
City National Bank contributed monetary and in-kind support of more than $1.2 million to 53 nonprofits, schools and community organizations in 2020. In addition, bank colleagues donated more than 750 hours of volunteer service through virtual volunteerism including reading to students, teaching online financial literacy classes to K-12 students, board and committee virtual calls and packing and shipping school supplies to elementary schools.
“What we did this past year, along with what we are continuing to do this year from a philanthropic standpoint, is perhaps some of the most important work we’ve ever done in our 60-70-year history,” said Joe McHugh, senior vice president, Orange County regional banking manager, City National Bank. “I am so proud of our bank and what our colleagues have done to help so many nonprofits keep their doors open to help a growing group of people and families in need.”
The organizations helped by City National Bank included California State Fullerton Philanthropic Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, Orange County Museum of Art, Second Harvest Food Bank, Small Business Development Corp. of Orange County and University of California Irvine Foundation.

Bits & Pieces
Goodwill of OC and SoCalGas have partnered to bring information for qualifying customers to save on their monthly gas bill and no-cost energy-efficient home improvements through SoCalGas’s Energy Savings Assistance program and California Alternate Rates for Energy bill discount program by providing applications at ten local Goodwill thrift store locations. … McKenna Subaru joins Orange County School of the Arts as a season partner for the balance of this school year through 2021-2022 with a gift of $35,000, which will play a key role in supporting more than 200 virtual and in-person performances. … To help nurses feel extra loved on Valentine’s Day, UVé Beauty, a beauty brand which focuses on minimizing bacteria by utilizing the power of UV-C light, donated 500 medical-grade beauty products, a $10,000 value, to nursing staff at Providence Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo and their Laguna Beach location.