Connecting
Creative youth development nonprofit organization The Wooden Floor welcomed nearly 200 guests for the opening night reception of its 34th Annual Concert: Connected Spaces at the Irvine Barclay Theatre on June 8. The performance featured a collaboration between nearly 120 under-served youth and three of the nation’s top contemporary dance choreographers, Keely Garfield, John Heginbotham and Laurel Jenkins.
Underwriting for the annual concert raised $345,000Â for the organization and its year-round dance, college and career readiness, and family service programs for 375 economically disadvantaged youth.
The Wooden Floor’s 2016-17 corporate partners include the Anaheim Ducks and Honda Center, Bank of America, Edwards Lifesciences, First Republic Bank, Haskell & White, Nordstrom, Opus Bank, PIMCO Foundation and Taco Bell.
Boldly into the Future
On June 3, more than 270 philanthropists gathered at Kia Motors America in Irvine to celebrate more than 4,000 girls this year who participated in Girls Inc. of Orange County programming.
My Bold Future raised $325,000, which will help Girls Inc. provide programs such as College Bound. Thirty-seven girls completed the program and are now headed to colleges that include California State University-Long Beach; California State University-Fullerton; San Francisco State University; and San Diego State University.
“At Girls Inc., we have a unique opportunity to help shape the future for girls in our community,” said Elizabeth Weldon, partner in the Costa Mesa office of law firm Snell & Wilmer and president and chairwoman of Girls Inc. of Orange County. “We see girls’ lives change and improve every day. What’s more rewarding than helping to teach girls the value of being strong, smart and bold?”
Investing in Community
More than 575 professionals from top real estate companies and financial institutions attended the 2nd Annual Orange County Real Estate Luncheon on April 20 at Hotel Irvine. The event was held in partnership with the Orange County Community Foundation and raised more than $680,000 to support critical needs of local military veterans. The foundation will distribute the funds to nonprofit organizations serving local veterans based on their ability to effectively provide services for them and their families.Â
The presenting sponsor was Bank of America, joined by founding sponsors CBRE, Craig Realty Group, Fidelity National Title, Donahue Schriber Realty Group, KBS, Lyon Living, Mark IV Capital and Rancho Mission Viejo.Â
“People want to help, but they want to see their money put to good use with measurable results,” said Patrick S. Donahue, chairman and chief executive officer of Donahue Schriber. “That is why Donahue Schriber and its executives underwrite the cost of the luncheon. We want sponsors and attendees to know that their money is going directly to the nonprofits that support our local vets.”
Meeting Global Needs
The 21st Annual Stars & Stripes Tournament raised more than $3 million for youth charities in Orange County, San Diego and Mexico. This year’s tournament took in more funds than any year in the fundraiser’s 21-year history. Â
The event was comprised of a three-day fishing tournament, golf tournament and music festival, with an exclusive VIP Night to kick off the weekend.
This year’s sponsors include: SASCO, the Anaheim Ducks, the Honda Center, Majestic Realty and Miller Environmental.
More than 600 people joined in on the four-day adventure June 22 to 25 at the Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort in Mexico in support of seven youth organizations: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County, Miracles for Kids, Orangewood Foundation, HomeAid Orange County, Tilly’s Life Center, South Bay Community Services and Building Baja’s Future. Honorary Charities included: Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, PLASTICOS Foundation and Halo for Freedom Warrior Foundation.
Bits & Pieces
Irvine-based clothing company Grayse, through its San Clemente store, donated $24,000 worth of merchandise to Laura’s House that will be sold in the nonprofit organization’s resale stores to support programs and services for victims of domestic violence … Newport Beach-based Orange County Community Foundation announced that Bank of America awarded a grant of $30,000 in support of its Orange County Veterans Initiative and Accelerate Change Together Anaheim … Rising Above Disabilities, a residential camp for adults and children with developmental disabilities, hosted its first Pep Rally and Jog-A-Thon on July 5, raising more than $10,000.
