Taking Steps to Cure Alzheimer’s
The 2014 Walk To End Alzheimer’s raised $375,000 toward finding a cure for the disease.
First American Trust in Irvine, a wholly owned subsidiary of First American Financial Corp., was the presenting sponsor of the Nov. 15 event, which took place at Angel Stadium.
It was the final and largest of the four Alzheimer’s Association fundraising walks in Orange County. A group of First American Trust employees participated in the walk, led by Jody Hudson, vice president and relationship manager and a board member of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Orange County chapter. Hudson has been personally affected by the realities of the disease and was named the 2014 Alzheimer’s volunteer Partner of the Year earlier this year.
“When my family needed it most, the Alzheimer’s Association has been an invaluable resource,” Hudson said. “I am proud that First American Trust has assumed the Presenting Sponsor role, and I personally am thrilled to take such an active role at the walk.”
Hard ACT to Follow
ACT Anaheim, a collaboration of Disneyland Resort, the Anaheim Ducks, and the Angels Baseball Foundation, was honored at the National Philanthropy Day Orange County awards luncheon with the Outstanding Large Corporation award.
More than 850 guests attended the 29th annual event on Nov. 20 at the Hotel Irvine.
It recognized organizations and community members identified as outstanding philanthropists in Orange County. The event has showcased more than 1,000 honorees since its inception.
Doug Freeman, executive vice president and director of Trust Services and Consulting at First Foundation Bank, founded National Philanthropy Day, and in 1986 President Ronald Reagan marked Nov. 15 as its day of observation.
The 2014 honorees also included Gen. William and Willa Dean Lyon, Outstanding Legacy Award; MOST Brand Development + Advertising, Outstanding Corporation or Business (Small); Rutan & Tucker LLP, Outstanding Corporation or Business (Medium); and Building Block Foundation Fund, Outstanding Philanthropic Group.
$525K Raised for KidWorks
The 2014 KidWorks’ Foundation for Success luncheon on Nov. 13 at the Doubletree Hotel in Santa Ana raised $525,000 in support of the nonprofit group’s mission to provide education and leadership development programs at the KidWorks Dan Donahue Center in Santa Ana. The annual event has raised more than $3.7 million over the past eight years.
Former UCLA coach Terry Donahue and Donahue Shriber Realty Group Chief Executive Pat Donahue were given the KidWorks’ Lifetime Giving Award by KidWorks Board Chair and Deloitte partner Rachid Chamtieh. The Donahue family was chosen to receive the recognition for its financial and volunteer contributions and those of deceased brother Dan Donahue, after whom the main KidWorks’ learning center was named.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Toyota Financial Services, and West Coast University/American Career College were acknowledged as the returning and committed presenting sponsors for this year’s event.
Rocking Out For a Good Cause
Nearly 160 Orange County philanthropists and business leaders attended Pretend City Children’s Museum’s third annual Rock the City Gala and Auction on Nov. 8 in the museum in Irvine.
Attendees helped raise $255,000, which will benefit the museum’s educational mission for Orange County children and families, including funding for its free autism and development screening programs for children.
Sponsors included Fast Toys; RUHM Destination Marketing; William Lyon Homes; Solvay Solexis Inc.; STA Jets; Applied Medical; Fidelity National Title; First American Title; KPMG; Wells Fargo; and STA Jets.
Bits & Pieces
California State University-Fullerton received $16 million in gifts this year, almost twice the amount raised in 2013, including $580,000 from the estate of emeritus professor and administrator Giles Brown and $1.6 million from the estate of Russell Benson, emeritus professor of mathematics. … Pacific Symphony received two new principal chair endowments from longtime supporters Catherine and James Emmi and Elizabeth and John Stahr. The Stahrs endowed the principal second violin chair, and the Emmis endowed the orchestra’s principal cello chair.
