Philanthropy

Passion and Purpose

CureDuchenne and Vintner Chair Bryant Estate hosted its Seventh Annual Napa in Newport Wine Auction on Nov. 6 at the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point. The annual event raised more than $1.5 million for CureDuchenne to support the nonprofit’s efforts to find a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Napa in Newport brought 45 vintners from Napa Valley together to offer their best wine experiences to more than 450 of Orange County’s top business leaders, philanthropists, and wine connoisseurs. Guests were treated to vintner-hosted dining tables, a celebrity chef-designed dinner menu from Chef Chris Shepherd and an auction featuring collectable wines, exotic getaways and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

“We are so thrilled with the outcome of this year’s Napa in Newport gala, connecting passion and purpose to help improve the lives of everyone affected by Duchenne and accelerate a cure for my son and all the individuals living with Duchenne around the world,” said Debra Miller, founder and CEO, CureDuchenne. 

High-Flying Fundraiser

Tilly’s Life Center (TLC) raised nearly $750,000 at its seventh annual I Am Giving Gala, Come Fly with Us on Oct. 16. The event was held at Hangar 21 in Fullerton. The funds raised from the gala will help expand TLC’s mission to inspire today’s youth to reach their full potential as productive, kind, happy, and responsible individuals.

Sponsors included Tilly’s, Sonance, Union Bank, Latham & Watkins, CSI Electrical Contractors, Inc., Wells Fargo, Dickies, Frome Family Foundation, Goldman Sachs, BioLargo, and The Medicine Woman.

The evening began with “paparazzi” greeting guests on the red-carpet entrance. Cocktail hour on the tarmac featured wine and jewelry pulls combined with cigars and champagne surrounded by private jets, pilots, flight attendants and a Rolls-Royce, sponsored by O’Gara Coach and JP Logistics.

Inside the hangar, guests enjoyed a fine dining experience, with tray-passed hors d’oeuvres, scotch and martinis, as well as a three-course gourmet dinner amongst airplanes.

The program opened with Tilly Levine, co-founder and vice president, vendor relations, Tilly’s, founder and president, TLC, urging “that by addressing health as a “whole self’ approach, which includes students’ emotional wellbeing, it prepares our youth with the tools they need to thrive in this world.”

Scott Struthers, co-founder, Sonance, received TLC’s I Am One of a Kind award. Union Bank received TLC’s I Am Inspiring award. Tilly’s was recognized for generating $1.5 million for TLC with small dollars through their Round Up 4 Change initiative that launched last holiday season. 

Promise of Home

More than 100 Orange County philanthropists, business leaders and community champions gathered on Oct. 23 for the annual Help, Hope, Home Gala to benefit the Family Promise of Orange County (FPOC). The event raised more than $214,000, enabling FPOC to continue providing emergency shelter, short-term transitional housing and holistic services to help families overcome homelessness, end the cycle of poverty and rebuild their lives. Sponsors of the 1920s-themed annual benefit, held at The Villa in Orange, included The Kenneth H. Dart Foundation and Wright Ford Young & Co.

The evening kicked off with a cocktail reception featuring a red carpet, guests dressed to impress in their 1920s attire, dancing flappers, lively music and tray-passed hors d’oeuvres. The dinner and program offered a special presentation of the House of Ruth campaign and Reagan’s story, a single mom and her son who were in crisis and now are graduates of FPOC.

The gala fundraiser provided many opportunities to support FPOC with items donated by community partners such as Anaheim Ducks, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Aquarium of the Pacific, Spirit Cruises and The Broad.

During the gala, the organization announced its House of Ruth building campaign, which will construct and staff a new housing community and comprehensive center that will triple the organization’s overall capacity. Developed in partnership with HomeAid Orange County and the city of Tustin, House of Ruth will support more than 200 struggling families each year. The campaign seeks to achieve a total of $3.7 million by the end of 2022.

Hope for the Holidays

Community Action Partnership Orange County (CAP OC) kicked off its Hope for the Holidays campaign during its A Night of Hope event on Oct. 13. The event, held at The Fifth in Anaheim, raised funds for CAP OC’s programs and services, which provide stabilizing services for clients impacted by the pandemic, such as rental assistance, financial empowerment and a new initiative for workforce development that focuses on young adults, in an effort to end poverty in two generations.

Disneyland Resort was honored for their philanthropic work and the numerous contributions they’ve made to the underserved communities throughout Orange County in collaboration with CAP OC for over 30 years. Ken Potrock, president, Disneyland Resort, accepted the award.

The organization’s Hope for Holidays campaign is an annual program which aims to spread hope and cheer to families in need during the holiday season.

“It was such an incredible night for us as we all came together, especially after a time like the past 18 months; it is a true testament to how partnerships are critical, and we are grateful to have raised crucial funds for the underserved in our midst,” said Gregory C. Scott, president and CEO, CAP OC.

Bits & Pieces

Extraordinary Lives Foundation generated over $60,000 in net proceeds at its fourth Comedy Night fundraising gala, held at the Wilcox Manor in Tustin, on Oct. 20, which featured comedian and former KNBC weather forecaster Fritz Coleman. … Kia donated $10,000 to Girls Inc. as part of its Rebelle Rally, all-women off-road navigational competition that covers more than 1,400 miles of the western desert in the U.S., as well planning to host two virtual workshops for Girls Inc. members to cheer on the teams taking on the challenge. … JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort, is partnering with CHOC to spread holiday cheer to its guests while also raising proceeds for CHOC by donating portions proceeds from a specially-appointed CHOC holiday hotel suite and the CHOCtail—a mocktail beverage—available at the hotel’s rooftop bar, as well as a virtual toy drive to raise funds for the CHOC Child Life Department.