Giving Never Tasted So Good
More than 500 “foodies” gathered at Montage Laguna Beach on May 15 for the city’s premier culinary event for a cause, Laguna Beach Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry. The annual tasting event, which featured top chefs, sommeliers and bartenders, raised nearly $200,000 to support No Kid Hungry’s work to end childhood hunger in America.
Local sponsors included Epstein Becker Green, Karma Automotive, Montage Laguna Beach, Southern CA Gas Co., BREAD Artisan, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Orange Coast Magazine and S.Pellegrino Natural Sparkling Water.
Second Harvest Orange County Food Bank and Community Action Partnership of OC were among the nonprofit organizations that received support through the event.
Song of Hope for Homeless Teens
The Kylie Schuyler and Doug Hodge family, DSW Shoe Warehouse, Arizona Canning Co., Coca-Cola Refreshments, Monster Energy, Niagara, Pepsi Beverage Co., Snyder’s Lance/Jack Links, Sunny Delight, The Performance Group, and Young’s Market were among the key sponsors of the Olive Crest-sponsored Jimmy Wayne concert. Wayne is an award-winning country musician and best-selling author.
The concert, which was attended by more than 320 guests, took place May 7 at Downtown Disney’s House of Blues in Anaheim. Wayne, a former foster child, spoke about his mission to bring awareness to kids who age out of the system and become homeless.
The concert earned net proceeds of $118,500 to benefit Olive Crest’s Project Independence, a comprehensive program that provides foster youth ages 14 to 24 the support to become independent and successful adults.
The evening included the presentation of the Founder’s Award, which was presented to Dave G. Hirz, chief executive and president of Smart & Final Stores Inc., in recognition of his efforts to help children in need. Rutan & Tucker LLC received the Champion for the Children Award.
Summer School Kids Like
The University of California-Irvine Paul Merage School of Business, with support from Pacific Alternative Asset Management Company, held two week-long summer finance programs for underprivileged high school students in Orange County. More than 60 boys and girls ages 14 to 18 participated in the sessions.
A one-week, on-campus program took place July 17 to 23 that taught ninth and 10th grade students life skills in money and investment management. The second program, which took place July 25 to 29, focused on helping students gain a deeper understanding of macroeconomics and global financial markets.
Speakers included Ryan Bailey, a sales executive at Fidelity National Title Commercial Services; Richard Umphrey, senior vice president, wealth management at Umphrey & Associates; and Joan Payden, president, chief executive and chairperson of Payden & Rygel.
A Million Reasons to Play
TCA Architects raised more than $108,000 at the sold-out 16th annual Charity Golf Tournament at Oak Creek Country Club in Irvine benefiting Habitat for Humanity of Orange County. The event has raised more than $1.1 million for the nonprofit organization since its inception in 2000.
All proceeds will be used by Habitat to build and repair affordable homes for limited-income families in Anaheim, Cypress, Fullerton, Santa Ana and Westminster.
“Hosting this tournament every year provides that consistent opportunity to live up to our core values,” said Aram Chahbazian, TCA Architect’s president and managing partner.
Bits & Pieces
Garden Grove-based boutique Blue Moon donated $2,300 to MOMS Orange County following a month-long June campaign that donated goods to the organization for 10% of every purchase of clothing, accessories and home goods. … The First Tee of Orange County, an organization dedicated to teaching local youth ages 7 to 18 life skills and healthy habits through golf, added three members to its board of directors: Gary Bridge of First American Title; Colin Higgins of Snell & Wilmer; and Melissa Davis Lowe of Shulman Hodges & Bastian.
