Donations and Diamonds
The Disneyland Resort concluded its yearlong 60th Diamond Anniversary Celebration on Sept. 5. As part of the celebration, the resort contributed more than $4.4 million to nonprofits over the course of the year.
Seventeen Orange County nonprofits, including Girl Scouts of Orange County, Community Action Partnership of Orange County, Project Hope Alliance, Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Pacific Marine Mammal Center and the Orangewood Foundation, received $60,000 each for a total of more than $1 million.
The results of the donations include one Habitat for Humanity home built for a veteran, four Disney Musicals in Schools funded, 20 sea lions rehabilitated and released, 26 laptops for disadvantaged students, 100 families supported with events for critically ill children, 108 scholarships for foster youth toward a college education, and participation of 486 at-risk children in literacy programs.
Ducks for Duchenne
For the sixth year, Ryan Getzlaf, captain of the Anaheim Ducks, and a team of professional athletes supported the annual Getzlaf Golf Shootout, presented by Laguna Niguel-based ActivePDF. The event was Aug. 26 and 27.
The shootout raised $380,000 to support CureDuchenne’s efforts to find a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Getzlaf Golf Shootout sponsors include ActivePDF, Gateway One Lending & Finance, The Sports Corporation, Independent Capital Management Inc., Air Control Systems, CNC Motors, Team Lally, Carlile Coatsworth Architects, Fullmer Construction, Ayres Hotels, G&M Oil, FR Construction, and Stella Artois.
The two-day event kicked off with a party at the Sutra Lounge in Costa Mesa. With more than 320 guests present, the sold-out party included athletes, celebrities and supporters. The shootout was held the following day at the Monarch Golf Links in Dana Point.
Kids, Classic Cars and Caring People
The world tour celebrating the 100th birthday of the late founder of Lamborghini sports cars made its first pit stop in the U.S. at the Marconi Automotive Museum in Tustin in the form of a fundraiser to help feed and house Southern California’s “motel kids.”
The Aug. 28 event was attended by more than 40 car enthusiasts, philanthropists and community members. Guests viewed Lamborghinis specially selected for the event, along with the rest of Marconi Automotive Museum owner Dick Marconi’s multimillion-dollar car collection. A cocktail reception, dinner and auction completed the evening.
The event raised $382,000 to support Caterina’s Club, which was started by restaurateur Bruno Serato and provides a daily pasta dinner to approximately 2,000 Orange County children who live in local motels. The organization also works to move families into permanent housing.
National Child Awareness Month Creator Named Woman of the Year
Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, co-managing partner at South Coast Plaza, was recognized as “2016 Woman of the Year” at a reception in June. The award is given to an outstanding woman making a significant and meaningful contribution to her community and across the state.
As founder and executive director of Festival of Children Foundation, which raises funds for children’s charities and works to build a coalition of youth-serving organizations, Segerstrom Daniels successfully lobbied the U.S. Congress to declare September as National Child Awareness Month, which is now in its ninth year.
South Coast Plaza has since then held its monthlong Festival of Children each September to highlight the needs of children and recognize the diverse civic, business and nonprofit organizations that come together to support them.
Bits & Pieces
Wells Fargo employees joined with the OC United Way on Aug. 6 to stuff hundreds of backpacks with school supplies, which were distributed to underserved Orange County children. … On July 23, the Pacific Symphony held a concert featuring Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony to raise awareness for LUNG FORCE, an initiative led by the American Lung Association to fight lung cancer, the No. 1 cancer killer in the nation. … Norm Reeves Honda Superstore and Wells Fargo Dealer Services presented a $12,900 donation to the Newport Harbor Educational Foundation.
