Filling Empty Bowls
On April 7, South County Outreach (SCO) hosted its 9th Annual Empty Bowls Event at the Segerstrom Shelby Event Center. More than 220 guests attended the sold-out event, raising $179,000. The funds will benefit South County Outreach’s programs that feed and house thousands in need.
“Our first in-person event in the last few years, this year’s Empty Bowls fundraiser was truly one to remember and exceeded all our expectations, and fundraising goals,” said LaVal Brewer, CEO and president, South County Outreach. “We are honored and exceptionally grateful for all of the attendees, sponsors and volunteers whose unwavering support was exceptionally apparent at the event.”
The event featured food and soup tastings, as well as wine pairings in collaboration with locally renowned chefs and restaurants including Bracken’s Kitchen, FKN Bread, Taylor Made Cuisine and Trevor’s At The Tracks. Guests received a handmade ceramic bowl, which served as a reminder of how they have helped fill the empty bowls of their Orange County neighbors by attending the impactful event.
Event sponsors included Ralphs, Technology Resources, Deloitte, F&M; Bank, Capital Group, Experian, Banc of California, Sysco, Tilly’s Life Center, Quadrant, Kitchen Table Marketing, In-N-Out Burger and The Bowen Team.
Beauty in Grace
Saddleback Medical Center Foundation held its annual Beauty In Grace member luncheon on March 15 at Montage Laguna Beach.
Each year, Beauty In Grace pools its membership gifts of $1,000 or more to make a significant donation to women’s health services at Saddleback Medical Center. The luncheon raised more than $100,000 to benefit the Breast Cancer Navigation program.
The Breast Cancer Navigation program provides each patient with a Patient Navigator who helps them understand their diagnosis, reviews treatment options, makes appointments, and guides them through every step of their journey.
“Beauty In Grace members’ generous contributions make it possible for all patients to receive this extra level of care without cost to them,” said Marcia Manker, CEO, MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center.
Over the past six years, Beauty In Grace has raised more than $450,000 for women’s health services at the hospital.
Harvesting Solutions
Bank of America (BofA) is partnering with Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County to support its 45-acre farm, called Harvest Solutions Farm, which harvests 20,000 to 40,000 pounds of food locally each week.
Upkeep for Harvest Solutions Farm is dependent on a reliable source of funding and volunteers. BofA provides year-round funding to the Food Bank, most recently with a $200,000 grant. In addition, BofA also organizes local employees who volunteer twice monthly to help harvest produce at the farm.
Recently, BofA employees held a scarecrow-making contest to help keep the crops safe from birds. The scarecrows will be placed throughout the fields in honor of Earth Day. BofA says it has achieved carbon neutrality for its own operations by procuring 100% renewable electricity, and now works to help its partners use less carbon, conserve water, land use and waste.
Bits & Pieces
Cox Charities awarded its first $40,000 “Impact Grant” to the Boys & Girls Club of Capistrano Valley’s Aliso Viejo branch that will help it grow its science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) IMPACT program, for area K-12 students to expand their skills to succeed in education, the workforce and in life. … American Land Title Association Good Deeds Foundation is awarding a $6,000 grant to Mary’s Kitchen in Orange. … Josh Friend, CEO and founder of Insellerate, has joined the Project Hope Alliance board, joining his sister Jennifer Friend, who is CEO of the organization. … CureDuchenne announced the addition of its newest key leaders, Kent Mora, who boasts more than 20 years’ experience using data-driven and entrepreneurial approaches in team management,Â
as its chief of staff and Nancy Young, MPA, CFRE, who has extensive experience varied fields, including healthcare, education and the arts, as national director of development.
Correction: The photo caption for the April 18 item detailing the New Directions for Women event in March misidentified one of the attendees, Carole Pickup, with a different family member.
