Moving Experience
Free Wheelchair Mission’s 12th Annual Miracle of Mobility Gala raised over $1.6 million on July 23 to benefit people in need of mobility. More than 630 guests attended the gala at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa. Major sponsors included loanDepot LLC. in Foothill Ranch and imortgage, which has five branches in Orange County. Each donated $100,000.
Funds raised will provide wheelchairs for more than 21,000 people in the developing world. The cost of manufacturing, shipping and delivering a free wheelchair is $77.91. The organization is on target to achieve its goal to distribute 1 million chairs by the end of 2016, thanks in part to the success of the gala.
Other event sponsors included Applied Medical, PIMCO Foundation, Beacon Pointe Advisors, PAAMCO and Alpine Capital Research.
Student Support
Aliso Viejo-based Microsemi Corp. donated $1 million on Aug. 11 in support of Chapman University’s Center for Science and Technology. The center, opening in fall 2018, will be part of Chapman’s Schmid College of Science and Technology, which aims to educate students interested in science and technology careers.
“Investing in such industry-leading higher education institutions allows our company to give back to our community while helping shape the young talent that will provide the future workforce for corporations like Microsemi,” said James J. Peterson, chairman and chief executive of Microsemi.
The center will feature the Microsemi Teaching Electronics Laboratory and Microsemi Software Engineering Laboratory, which will provide dedicated space and equipment to support faculty mentorship of Chapman’s students as they learn to master integrating hardware design and software engineering.
Global Goal of Giving
PIMCO Foundation, the charitable arm of Newport Beach-based Pacific Investment Management Co., recently concluded its seventh annual Global Week of Volunteering.
Nearly 900 PIMCO employees participated in more than 100 community-based projects around the world. The effort is part of the year-round global volunteer initiative spearheaded by the PIMCO Foundation, which was established in 2001 to support nonprofit organizations operating in the firm’s communities.
“The spirit of volunteering is intrinsic to the PIMCO culture,” said Doug Hodge, PIMCO’s chief executive and president of the PIMCO Foundation. “Employees want to give back to their communities and the annual Global Week of Volunteering gives us the opportunity to partner with local organizations to help empower those most in need.”
PIMCO employees in OC’s volunteer activities presented an interview-skills workshop to military veterans at Working Wardrobe’s VetNet program, painted and repaired an emergency housing unit with the Illumination Foundation, and served lunch to the homeless at Someone Cares Soup Kitchen.
Lots of Love for Charities
Southland Industries, based in Garden Grove, hosted its annual Southern California Golf Tournament on July 30, attracting 144 participants and more than 50 partners and sponsors.
The tournament, held at Hacienda Golf Club in La Habra Heights, raised more than $80,000 in net profits. The American Heart Association and Children’s Hospital of Orange County each received half of the proceeds.
CHOC Children’s Foundation Director of Special Events Zach Abrams said, “The generosity and support that CHOC receives from Southland Industries is truly humbling. Their entire team works so hard all year, reaching out to their incredible family of supporters to create a philanthropic golf tournament that focuses on the needs of the children and families CHOC serves.”
Bits & Pieces
McKenna Claire Foundation and Chevron Corp. partnered to create the Butterfly Tour, where Chevron patrons donated up to $5 for a paper butterfly to support the foundation, raising $112,000. … Every month, Meathead Movers donates free moving assistance to clients of Laura’s House, which serves the survivors of domestic abuse. … Girls Incorporated of Orange County welcomed seven new members to its board of directors, including Rhonda M. Bolton, head of corporate diversity initiatives at Kia Motors America Inc.; Sherry Delaney Deke, managing partner and chief financial officer of New Market Wealth Management; and Deborah Rodriguez, senior vice president of talent at ALPHAEON.
