Bountiful Breakfast
Bank of America, Charter/Spectrum, Albers Consulting, WealthWise Financial Services, Wells Fargo and other leading Orange County businesses joined forces to sponsor Orange County United Way’s 14th annual Women’s Philanthropy Fund Breakfast.
The May 10 event at Hotel Irvine drew more than 700 business and community leaders. In all, the breakfast raised more than $400,000 to fund United Way-led initiatives supporting low-income women and children throughout Orange County.
The keynote speaker was Leigh Anne Tuohy, the mother whose real-life story about adopting a troubled young man who eventually became an NFL star inspired the hit movie “The Blind Side” starring Sandra Bullock.
Swing into Action for Kids
John Jory Corp., Radiation Protection and Specialties Inc., Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Rudd & Romo, Purus Wealth Management, Allied Universal, K2 General Contractors, California United Bank, City National Bank, Chase Bank Growers and Mutual of Omaha were among the sponsors of the Community Service Programs’ 34th annual Swing for Kids Charity Golf Tournament.
A full field of 144 golf enthusiasts, community members and CSP supporters came together on May 18 at the Oak Creek Golf Course in Irvine. Longtime CSP supporter and board member John Jory, president of Radiation Protection and Specialties Inc., was honored at the event dinner for his work on behalf of youth through CSP.
The tournament net proceeds—$78,000—will directly benefit CSP and its programs for serving abused, runaway and struggling children in Orange County through its Youth Shelters and Family Counseling Programs.
Business Leaders to Board
The Orange County United Way added four of Orange County’s top business leaders to its 32-member board of directors. The members of the board have strong community connections that help United Way address the education, income, health and housing challenges facing OC residents and improve lives.
• Adrian Griggs, chief operating officer, Pacific Life Insurance Co.
• Joan P. Kelly, corporate director, Psomas
• Tom Cuce, president, South California District, UPS
• Lawrence R. Armstrong, chief executive, Ware Malcomb
The new board members were elected by the incumbent board to serve three-year terms that began in April.
Celebrating Firsts
Orangewood Foundation celebrated its first graduating class at the nonprofit’s Samueli Academy charter high school on June 12 at the Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.
The 116 graduates were joined by almost 1,700 guests, including family, friends, faculty, Orangewood staff, board members, donors and others. Henry Samueli, chief technical officer of Broadcom, was commencement speaker.
The graduation closely followed the recent announcement that Samueli Academy was named a California Gold Ribbon School, putting it among only 8% of schools in California to receive the designation.
Major corporate supporters of the school include Experian, Fluor, Lennar Corp., Microsemi Corp. and Wells Fargo.
Opened in August 2013 with only a freshman class, Samueli Academy is a free public charter high school. The 9th through 12th grade student body now totals almost 500.
The academy incorporates educational best practices, such as STEAM curriculum (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), a project-based learning approach, and small class sizes.
It’s named after longtime Orangewood supporters and noted Orange County philanthropists Susan and Henry Samueli.
Samueli Academy was originally conceived by Susan Samueli and fellow Orangewood board member Sandi Jackson to improve graduation rates of foster youth. The Santa Ana school guarantees admission to foster children.
The school has a 98% graduation rate and a 95% college acceptance rate. In the fall, graduates will attend schools throughout the U.S., including Carnegie Mellon, the University of California-Los Angeles, University of Southern California, the University of California-Irvine and California State University-Fullerton.
Bits & Pieces
On June 7, LoanDepot presented Think Together with a $30,000 check raised by the company and its employees to support summer learning programs for 90 students this summer. … Orange County Family Justice Center Foundation was awarded $10,000 from Huggins Dreckman Insurance Agency Inc. through the Safeco Insurance Make More Happen Award program. … Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California has awarded $33,000 worth of college scholarships to 85 students in Southern California, including 12 in Orange County.
