Hope is Priceless
The Salvation Army Orange County’s Night for Others raised a record-breaking $2.2 million at its Dec. 10 gala. Comedian Jay Leno performed to 460-guests at the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach during the event. Swinerton, Cardinal, Spidell Publishing, Kardent, Rainbow Sandals, Caribou Industries, Curt Pringle & Associates, HMG and Direct Finance were among the event sponsors. The funds raised will be used to help support The Center of Hope, a public/private partnership that aims to end chronic homelessness in Orange County. The project broke ground on Jan. 31.
The Center of Hope, which will be built on 6.9 acres in Anaheim, is a $110-million public/private partnership that combines a 325-bed low-barrier emergency shelter with 72 permanent support housing apartments, on-site medical, dental, and pet care. It will be built alongside The Salvation Army Orange County’s 175-bed drug and alcohol rehabilitation center.
The Center of Hope will be the operational hub of the Homeless Throughput System, The Salvation Army’s solution to ending chronic homelessness in Orange County. The Homeless Throughput system is composed of three major movements: intervention, transition, and re-integration. It aims to empower and guide residents toward a new life of physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
Family Photo
Orange Coast College’s School of Photography has received a $450,000 grant from the William, Jeff and Jennifer Gross Family Foundation. The donation will be used to establish the Jeff Gross Photography Endowment and will help fund the purchase and repair of photography equipment for students, as well as pay for advanced photography students to serve as tutors for their entry-level peers.
“The thing that’s so exciting about this gift is its flexibility,” said Blade Gillissen, OCC photography professor, Orange Coast College’s School of Photography. “Annual interest from the endowment can be spent on new equipment, repairing older equipment, or even short-term staffing/tutoring in a limited capacity.”
Students in OCC’s photography program have access to a broad range of photo equipment, including film and digital cameras, lenses, light kits and more. Equipment rentals are available to all enrolled photography students for a low fee to ensure that the program remains accessible to everyone, regardless of socioeconomic circumstances.
Jeff Gross is a professional photographer who graduated from the Brooks School of Photography and has worked as a staff photographer for Getty Images since 1988.
Partnering With Empowerment
U.S. Bank is partnering with Project Access through its “Adopt a Resource Center” program, an initiative that offers skill-building, financial education and other resources for residents of affordable rental communities in Orange County. Project Access operates Family and Senior Resource Centers in low-income and workforce housing communities. Its programs, delivered right in residents’ backyards, provide tools and opportunities to under-resourced individuals so they can stabilize and empower themselves and their households.
U.S. Bank is “adopting” the Windsor Court/Stratford Place Apartments in Westminster by funding the center at that location. In addition, U.S. Bank employees will help lead financial education workshops tailored to youth and adults, as well as participate in other volunteer opportunities focused on enriching and supporting residents.
“We believe in making community possible by providing tools and resources to help stabilize and empower households in the most accessible ways,” said Chris Venhoff, Orange County consumer and business banking leader, U.S. Bank. “U.S. Bank is honored to be a part of Project Access’ Adopt a Resource Center program, especially the opportunity to offer financial education workshops for youth and adults.”
Building a Future Workforce
Cox Communications has awarded Saddleback College a $150,000 grant to support its involvement with Workforce Development Initiative, an Orange County Community Foundation-led effort that is designed to build pathways for graduating high school seniors enrolling in community college, disconnected older youth and underemployed adults who may not have the means to advance their employment opportunities due to lack of access to education and job training. This initiative trains target populations in industry sectors such as telecommunications by utilizing community partnerships. Current partners include Saddleback College, Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Breakthrough San Juan Capistrano and others.
The funding from Cox will help Saddleback College create a talent pipeline for in-demand, middle-skills jobs within Cox’s commercial and retail divisions.
“As an employer of choice for many, I’m confident that our partnership (with Saddleback College) will help us fill high demand jobs for our commercial and retail divisions,” said Jodi Duva, vice president for Cox Business in Orange County. “As a company, we remain committed to innovation, investing in our infrastructure, enhancing the experience for residential and business customers, and attracting employees who are committed to making a positive impact in the communities we serve.”
Bits & Pieces
On Martin Luther King Day, Kinecta Federal Credit Union employees, through its Kinecta Volunteer Corps, honored the legacy and values of Dr. King by painting a two-bedroom apartment operated by Thomas House Family Shelter. … On Dec. 14, the spouses and partners of Anaheim Ducks players hosted a Target shopping spree for the youth served by The Wooden Floor where, in addition to toys and clothes, each participating child received a 43” Roku TV from TCL, a naming partner of the Honda Center. … Year-round and into the foreseeable future, Antis Roofing & Waterproofing is distributing $10 Giving Cards through OneOC to its clients, stakeholders and anyone who requests one that can be used to donate to any 501(c)(3) nonprofit of the cardholder’s choice, more than 10,000 cards since the program began five years ago.
