Mission of Dignity
Mission Hospital 21st annual Holiday Gala raised more than $1 million on Dec. 3 at the Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point. The majority of the funds raised at the black-tie event will support construction of a specialized dual-diagnosis mental health program treating chemical dependency and mental illness.
Event sponsors included Lugano Diamonds, Capstone Partners Financial, Mission Heritage Medical Group Inc., Golden State Foods, Audi Mission Viejo, Citizens Business Bank, Nordstrom Inc. and Luna Marble Granite and Tile.
Former Rhode Island Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy, who founded The Kennedy Forum and One Mind, and Saddleback Church co-founder Kay Warren were the keynote speakers. Both shared their personal and family struggles with mental illness and urged the community to partner with Mission Hospital.
One of the evening’s highlights was a Fund a Need challenge, which raised more than $600,000.
The remaining funds raised will support the hospital’s seven clinical institutes: Cancer, Heart and Vascular, Mental Health and Wellness, Neuroscience, Orthopedics, Trauma and Women and Infants.
Brighter Future for Survivors
Human Options honored Lennar Homes at its annual luncheon on Dec. 1 at the Center Club in Costa Mesa.
The company was singled out for its longtime involvement and commitment to Human Options’ emergency shelter—what it says is the first “built-for-purpose” domestic violence shelter in the state.
Retired judge Sheila Prell Sonenshine was also honored at the luncheon for her involvement with Human Options since the organization’s start in 1981.
The organization recently celebrated its 35th anniversary and has to date counseled and sheltered more than 32,000 victims of domestic violence.
‘No Lunch’ Luncheon
Second Harvest supporters and community leaders joined together on Nov. 22 to launch the holiday season at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County’s annual No Lunch Lunch at the organization’s Irvine-based headquarters.
Second Harvest honored outstanding supporters with its Founder’s Legacy Award. Straub Distributing Company President and Chief Executive Mark Danner was recognized for his guidance and support during Second Harvest’s $8.5 million capital campaign. Ralphs & Food 4 Less was also selected to receive a Founder’s Legacy award. Ralphs has donated 10 million pounds of food for the hungry in Orange County since 1987.
Sponsors of this year’s “No Lunch” Lunch included: Cox Communications; Crawford Custom Homes; Earth Friendly Products; Golden 1 Credit Union; Golden State Foods; Pacific Investment Management Co.; Rutan & Tucker LLP; SoCal Gas; Stearns Home Loans; Union Bank; University of California-Irvine; and Waste Management.
Attendees and sponsors donated the equivalent of 425,322 meals for those in the OC community who struggle to find enough food for themselves and their families.
December to Remember
Sperry Equities & Sperry Commercial, Elite OC Productions, The Crean Foundation, Monster Loans and Irvine Cottages were among the business and foundation sponsors of the seventh annual UCI MIND Gala, A December to Remember.
The sold-out event was held on Dec. 3 at Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach.
More than $345,000 was raised to support Alzheimer’s disease research at UCI MIND, Orange County’s only state- and federally- funded Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.
The event honored longtime supporters Burton Young, principal, founder, Sperry Equities & Sperry Commercial, chairperson, UCI MIND Leadership Council, and his wife, Linda Young, president, managing partner, Elite OC Productions.
UCI MIND is one of only 29 such centers in the country. The annual gala aims to generate the additional philanthropic support required to take Alzheimer’s disease research to the next level.
Bits & Pieces
Future Leaders of Our Community, Yelp, and Givsum, along with 11 participating bars along the Balboa and Newport Beach Piers, were the 2016 sponsors of the 11th Annual Newport Beach Santa Pub Crawl, which raised more than $15,500 for Project Access. … Twenty-five staff members from CPA firm White Nelson Diehl Evans LLP volunteered at the Boys & Girls Club of Tustin Carnival, manning carnival-style games, distributing prizes and playing dodgeball with the children.
