Investing in Empowerment
Bank of America distributed $915,000 in grants to 34 Orange County nonprofits that will help drive economic opportunity and upward mobility for individuals and families and put them on a path toward stability and success.
The recipients include Age Well Senior Services, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast, CHOC Foundation, Community Action Partnership Orange County, Girls Inc. of Orange County, Human Options, Families Forward, J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center, KidWorks, HomeAid Orange County, The Wooden Floor and Working Wardrobes.
The nonprofits were selected because they primarily provide workforce development services building pathways to employment, including providing education and resources to rebuild careers that may have been impacted by the pandemic. Additional programs by these grants support basic needs, such as hunger relief, healthcare, and emergency shelter, resources also critical throughout the pandemic.
“The strategic investment into immediate short-term and longer-term needs has been key in helping disadvantaged communities progress as society begins to safely reopen,” said Allen Staff, president, Bank of America Orange County. “By investing in the Orange County’s incredible network of nonprofits, Bank of America provides philanthropic capital to help advance economic and social progress, enabling our community to succeed.”
Stepup for Success
In August, Irvine design firm LPA donated 50 laptops to Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa. LPA answered the call for help from the Architecture Department at OCC, whose students have been especially affected by the pandemic. Coordinated through the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Orange County, LPA committed to refurbishing and donating 50 decommissioned LPA laptops.
“The pandemic has been extremely difficult for many college students and their families,” said Wendy Rogers, CEO, LPA. “When we found out about OCC’s need we were honored to step in and help.”
LPA volunteers removed outdated batteries, installed new ones, reset the computers to factory settings and installed the necessary software for students’ use. The refurbished computers have been distributed to students for use in the 2021-2022 school year.
“We are committed to supporting the next generation of design professionals,” said Dan Heinfeld, president, LPA. “This donation was a concrete way to ensure students are set up for success.”
On the Money
More than 850 gold, silver and bronze medals related to President George Washington that were deaccessioned by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania have been donated intact to the American Numismatic Association’s Edward C. Rochette Money Museum by California rare coin dealer and real estate developer Dwight Manley, managing partner, Manley Fanticola Partners.
The multimillion-dollar donation, which will be known as the Baker-Manley Collection, was announced at the ANA Banquet on Aug. 13 during the Association’s Chicago World’s Fair of Money. Highlights of the donated Baker Collection include a rare 1862 brass Washington, D.C. emancipation medal depicting George Washington, engraved to Henry Clark, who may have been a freed enslaved man; A superb quality example of a silver 1805 medal commemorating the Peace of 1783, the fourth and final entry in the History of the Revolution Medal series; and one of only ten known George Washington Commander in Chief, Armies of the United States silver medals is among the more than 1,000 historic medals and coins donated to the ANA by Manley.
Rapid Funding
Orange County’s Credit Union received $1.8 million as part of the Rapid Response Program COVID-19 relief efforts awarded to select and top-tier community development financial institutions.
As a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) with a low-income designation, Orange County’s Credit Union has focused on providing safe and helpful information, products, and services with the knowledge that many people in the community are struggling financially throughout the pandemic.
This CDFI Rapid Response Grant allows the credit union to continue to provide financial aid to members, particularly those in underserved communities, who are working to get back on their feet after the pandemic’s adverse economic effects.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to focus on our deep-rooted philosophy of ‘people helping people’ and are proud to be more than just a financial institution, but also to be a community partner,” said Shruti Miyashiro, president and CEO, Orange County’s Credit Union. “With the CDFI Fund’s Rapid Response Grant award, we are looking forward to serving even more people financially hurting from the pandemic.”
Bits & Pieces
Decorative Arts Society gave $275,000 in grants for the 2021-2022 year to 12 Orange County non-profit organizations: Mariposa Women and Family Center, Laura’s House, Violence Prevention Program, Breast Cancer Solutions, Intervention Center for Early Childhood, Friendly Center, Beyond Blindness (formally Blind Children’s Learning Center), Taller San Jose/Hope Builders, Casa Youth Shelter, Thomas House and WTLC (Women’s Transitional Living Center). … Second Harvest Food Bank broke ground on the 45-acre “Harvest Solutions Farm” on August 31, planting 26,000 tiny cabbage transplants at the South Coast Research and Extension Center to generate a steady flow of fresh, locally grown produce for residents in Orange County. … In response to the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti on Aug.14, Free Wheelchair Mission will be shipping five containers with a total of more than 2,500 wheelchairs to Haiti, which will arrive in the hands of local distribution partners within weeks.
