Expanding Nursing Education
A $3 million gift to the University of California, Irvine, from the Sue J. Gross Foundation will expand training and education opportunities in the Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing.
The school was established by a naming gift from The William and Sue Gross Family Foundation, where Sue Gross served as co-founder and director.
The gift from the Sue J. Gross Foundation includes $2 million to fund construction of a high-tech simulation center for team-based interprofessional exercises, and an additional $1 million to establish the Founding Dean Adey Nyamathi Endowment, which will provide nursing Ph.D. scholarships.
“I have always cared deeply about healthcare and recognize the critical role nurses play in providing quality care in our communities. Never has their importance been more prominent than it is now with the challenges we’ve faced during the pandemic that have truly amplified the need for, and importance of, skilled nurses throughout our country,” Gross said. “UCI shares my vision to enrich the students, the faculty and, ultimately, the populations in need of treatment and attention, and I am pleased to further support the school.”
In recognition of her support, a 2,290-square-foot, 200-seat auditorium, connected by a bridge to the Sue & Bill Gross Nursing and Health Sciences Hall, will be named the Sue Gross Auditorium. The Sue & Bill Gross Nursing and Health Sciences Hall will open its doors this summer.
Best of the Best
Orange County’s top philanthropists, business leaders and individuals were honored at the 36th Annual National Philanthropy Day Orange County Awards Luncheon, appropriately themed “Illuminating Hope through Philanthropy.”
Produced by the Orange County Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), National Philanthropy Day has become the most prominent philanthropic recognition event in Orange County, with more than 1,000 honorees since its inception in 1986.
Attended by 640 guests on Nov. 17, the affair was held at City National Grove of Anaheim. The event netted an estimated more than $75,000 for the support of the ethical advancement of philanthropy in the community by the Orange County Chapter of AFP.
Honorees included David Sun, co-founder and COO, Kingston Technology, who along with his wife, Diana Sun, founded the David and Diana Sun Foundation, who were named Outstanding Philanthropists. WISE (Women Investing in Security and Education) was named the Outstanding Philanthropic Group. Meymuna Hussein-Cattan, founder, The Tiyya Foundation, received recognition as Outstanding Founder. Taking home the Outstanding Small Business award was the Moxie Marketing Agency. Winner of the Outstanding Mid-Size Business award was Discount Tire & Service Centers while the Outstanding Large Corporation went to Banc of California.
All the honorees were presented a crafted hand-blown glass heart sculpture, created by master glassblower John Barber of Laguna Beach.
Event sponsors included Presenting Sponsor Orange County Business Journal, Broadcast Media Sponsor PBS SoCal, Community Media Sponsor Orange County Register, OC Music & Dance, City of Hope, Hoag Hospital Foundation, UCI Foundation, Banc of California, Sun Family Foundation, Simon Scholars, Edwards Lifesciences, Orange County Community Foundation, Pacific Marine Mammal Center, Providence and the Samueli Foundation.
Homework Can Be Fun
On Dec. 7, Cox Communications sponsored Operation Holiday Homework for members from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley, which provides members an opportunity to shop for their entire family.
This year, 85 members participated in Operation Holiday Homework, where they received nearly 400 gifts for their families.
The event was held in-person, with health and safety measures to protect all members and volunteers.
“(Operation Holiday Homework) really got me into the holiday spirit,” said Ingo Hentschel, senior vice president and region manager, Cox Communications, who was volunteering at Operation Holiday Homework for the first time. “I love sharing in the excitement that these hard-working students have when collecting their gifts for their families. It’s a good reminder of what this time of year is all about.”
Everyone Has a Story
For the second consecutive year, Bank of America is providing financing to support Laguna Playhouse’s Our Stories program.
Laguna Playhouse launched the Our Stories program in early 2020. The program targets underserved individuals, primarily between the ages of ages 16–24, who have experienced life experiences such as homelessness, domestic violence, foster care and debilitating illnesses. Our Stories engages with participants to create original creative works using their own life experiences as inspiration and catalyst for healing and change.
The Our Stories program includes workshops, intensives, special events, presentations, youth theatre productions, and mental health panel discussions to reach and engage with youth and young adults. One of the goals of the initiative is provide an essential tool for promoting mental wellness during a mental health crisis through the isolation and uncertainty of the pandemic.
With the support from Bank of America and others, Laguna Playhouse was able to form partnerships with more than 20 community organizations that serve at-risk youth and young adults, including Community Outreach Alliance, Project Kinship, Latino Health Access, Santa Ana High School, Laura’s House, LGBTQ OC, Project Hope Alliance, and Western Youth Services. The Playhouse has served over 2,000 local individuals through these partnerships.
“The arts provide an undeniable avenue to connect and heal a community,” said Allen Staff, president, Bank of America, Orange County. “In light of difficult and isolating circumstances that have impacted so many of us, Laguna Beach Playhouse pivoted beautifully. They’re providing an opportunity for transitional age youth to create and connect with each other, bringing positive, lasting impacts on their well-being. It’s an honor to partner on the Our Stories project.”
Bits & Pieces
Dr. Willie Banks, vice chancellor, student affairs, UC Irvine, has joined the Project Hope Alliance board, bringing his personal passion to work with a group of individuals dedicated to solving youth homelessness problems. … Coastal Business Group transported and delivered 27 palettes of food, toys and books from Feed the Children, valued at approximately $80,000, to Families Forward which will distribute the goods through its food pantry and other community partners, including Saddleback Church, South County Outreach, Family Assistance Ministries and Laguna Food Panty. … Employees from the accounting and internal audit teams of Newport Beach-based real estate investment firm KBS (see page 39) built and donated 18 bikes for Crittenton Services for children and families.
