$900K+ Raised For Kids
More than 450 Southern California business and community leaders helped raise over $900,000 to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County’s professionally supported one-on-one mentoring relationships with at-risk youth.
The money was raised during the organization’s 50th Annual “Gourmet Dinner” black-tie gala on Oct. 23 at the Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach.
Rob Friedman, chairman of Auction.com and a board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County for 25 years, was honored with the Joel K. Rubenstein Award, which is presented to people who have made a lasting impact on the organization.
Friedman is donating $750,000 through auction.com for a new building that will enable the organization to increase its mentorship services by 100% over a decade.
He has also been the principal funder of the “Big” recruitment campaign.
Dinner sponsors included Auction.com; Layer Cake; Farmers & Merchants Bank; Bellingham Marine; Wells Fargo; Balboa Bay Resort; Vizio; COX; Merrill Lynch; Black Starr & Frost; and the Orange County Business Journal.
Home Is Where the Help Is
A real estate and business industry mixer raised nearly $200,000 that will be used to help Orange County United Way battle homelessness and housing insecurity that families face in OC.
More than 200 OC construction and real estate leaders attended the 15th annual event, which took place Oct. 15 at the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach.
“Today, more than 26,000 children and their families are living in unstable situations,” said Max Gardner, Orange County United Way’s president and chief executive and a former housing industry executive. “We can cut this figure in half by 2024, and the leaders here are uniquely positioned to not only lend their financial support but to advocate for change.”
Laura Khouri, president of Western National Property Management and event chair, said, “United Way is uniquely positioned to address housing issues in Orange County because they have a vast network of strategic partners from all sectors that share the same goals in making Orange County an even better place to work and live.”
All ‘Fore’ Helping Those in Need
The New Home Co. held its annual Interval House Golf Tournament on Oct. 6 at the Mission Viejo Country Club. The event raised more than $275,000, a new record for the event.
Funds benefit Interval House, which aids victims of abuse, abandonment and homelessness.
Aliso Viejo-based New Home is Interval House’s main charitable partner. Overall, it’s raised $2 million to support the organization’s efforts to provide crisis intervention and assistance to victims of domestic violence and people at risk for abuse, as well as to help provide solutions to homelessness.
Human Options Raises $250K
Human Options’ fall fundraising luncheon netted $250,000 on Oct. 16.
More than 450 people attended the sold-out event, which took place at the Westin South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa.
The luncheon was chaired by John Drachman, president of Stillwater Investment Group, and Ryan Wilkinson, senior vice president/private banker with First Foundation Bank.
Proceeds will support Human Options’ mission of working with the community to break the cycle of domestic violence.
Keynote speaker Rosalind Wiseman, best-selling author of “Masterminds & Wingmen: Helping Our Boys Cope with Schoolyard Power, Locker Room Tests, Girlfriends, and the New Rules of Boy World,” spoke about the realities of the world that boys and young men navigate today and how to help them become responsible young men.
Bits & Pieces
The OC office of Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP raised $3,000 for the Wounded Warriors Project at the Never Forget event on Oct. 23. Firm attorneys and staff participated in an obstacle race called the Tough Mudder on Oct. 25, with donations being made to the project. … Employees of Irvine-based Antis Roofing & Waterproofing framed five Habitat for Humanity of Orange County homes in Cypress on Nov. 15 in celebration of National Philanthropy Day.
