Beautiful Way to Support
Newport Beach-based cosmetics company Urban Decay donated $50,000 to Laura’s House to help fund the nonprofit group’s community programs, emergency shelter, and legal advocacy services for domestic violence survivors in Orange County and elsewhere.
The donation was in recognition of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Urban Decay founder and Chief Creative Officer Wende Zomnir, along with employees, also participated in the Laura’s House social media challenge, #StrandAgainstDV. The team colored strands of their hair purple, the national color of domestic violence awareness, in solidarity of the fight against such violence.
It’s in the Cards
In support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County’s “High School Bigs” mentoring program, Angelitos de Oro, a Newport Beach-based volunteer women’s auxiliary group, raised $310,000 for the nonprofit organization during its 14th annual Angelitos Card fashion fundraiser from Oct. 7 through 13 at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa.
The Angelitos Card program, presented by Angelitos de Oro and program partner South Coast Plaza, consisted of 115 boutiques and restaurants at the mall that offered 20% savings when the Angelitos Card was presented. The card was sold for $60, and all proceeds benefited the nonprofit’s High School Bigs program, which matches a volunteer high school “Big” with an elementary school “Little.”
A Preview Day event was held Oct. 6 in South Coast Plaza’s Jewel Court, where fall fashion trends were presented by participating luxury boutiques, including Burberry, Bottega Veneta, diptyque, DKNY, Anne Fontaine, Intermix, J.Crew, J.Crew Men’s Shop, M Missoni, Donna Karan New York, St. John Knits and Oscar de la Renta. Boutiques participating in Preview Day donated 10% of sales proceeds that day to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County.
Talk About Raising the Bar
Orange County business leaders, philanthropists, and poker pros gathered on Nov. 7 at the St. Regis Monarch Beach to support the ninth annual Ante Up For Autism casino and gala event, raising more than $500,000 for Talk About Curing Autism, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to educating, empowering and supporting families affected by autism.
The casino-themed event included dinner, live and silent auctions, and a poker tournament.
“Funds raised with this event will help us assist families in speeding up the cycle time from autism diagnosis to effective treatments to recovery,” said organization founder Lisa Ackerman, “because recovery from autism is possible.”
Stars Align
Goodwill of Orange County held its second annual gala on Nov. 7 at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott in Dana Point, raising more than $450,000 to further its mission to help people with barriers find employment and secure purpose-filling jobs.
Orange County philanthropists Tom Tierney, chief executive of Vitatech International, and his wife, Elizabeth, were recognized with the Face of Independence Award for their ongoing support. It’s the highest award Goodwill bestows on any person or organization.
Event sponsors included Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, Wells Fargo Bank, Easton Pacific, POMS & Associates and Libre Spirits.
The event, in addition to the more than 550 guests who attended the sold-out gala, was packed with special guests, including actor and OC native John Stamos and the Beach Boys band. Stamos’ cast mates from “Grandfathered” and “Fuller House” also attended.
Funds raised will benefit three programs: the Goodwill Tierney Center for Veterans Services, which provides veterans and their families with housing, employment training and job placement, educational advancement, and wellness programs; the Goodwill Fitness Center, Orange County’s sole fitness center designed for people living with physical disability or chronic illness; and Goodwill’s Assistive Technology Exchange Center, which helps children and adults living with disabilities reach maximum potential via specialized services and equipment.
Bits & Pieces
Irvine-based Piyo Piyo USA is partnering with Orphan Outreach during November by matching dollars raised online through its checkout basket donation program. … Beacon Pointe Advisors LLC’s Newport Beach-based Institutional Consulting Services Group donated In-N-Out Burger lunches to Goodwill of Orange County to kick off the fall season of giving on Oct. 5, serving 400 people.
