Granting Real Workplace Insight
On Oct. 19, Disneyland Resort announced $1.5 million in grants to local nonprofits and school districts. These grants go toward programs like Avanza, operated through the Anaheim Family YMCA, which prepares high school students with networking skills, resume building and interview techniques; and Innovative Mentoring Experience (AIME), which allows students from Anaheim high schools to build relationships with mentors in real workplaces, including Disneyland Resort, to experience the workforce and get a taste for potential career paths.
The grants also support organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and The Inland Empire, which matches high school students with Disneyland Resort mentors for a glimpse into the workforce.
In total, the Disneyland Resort workforce development initiative has contributed $5.5 million to help nonprofits and school districts grow their existing workforce programming and develop brand-new programs to meet residents’ unique needs. These grants support long-term collaborations with organizations like Orange County United Way, Chrysalis, Orangewood Foundation and the Community College District of North Orange County.
Unconditional Fundraiser
Thirty-five Orange County chefs and several top wineries participated in this year’s Chef Masters culinary extravaganza on Oct. 16 at the Festival of Arts grounds in Laguna Beach.
The event, which raised $450,000, benefitted Unconditional, a new senior and special needs dog rescue center. Unconditional is on track to build an 8,000-square-foot rescue and adoption center for senior and special needs dogs, due to open in Laguna Beach in late 2023.
More than 320 guest enjoyed a two-hour reception featuring gourmet food from local restaurants, prepared by renowned chefs. Among these were Donald Lockhart, Terra Laguna Beach; Jacob Davis, Balboa Bay Resort & Club; Eugene Jang and Jorge Valines, Bluegold; Antonio Roa and Enrique Valenzuela, C’est La Vie and The Greeter; Jose Angula, Descanso Restaurant; Lindsay Smith-Rosales, Nirvana Grille; Adam Navidi, Oceans & Earth; Ugo Allesina, Prego Restaurant; Peter Moon, Seabutter; and Yvon Goetz, The Winery Restaurant.
Peter Chang, executive director, Unconditional, announced that a sister entity to Unconditional called Rise Pet Care will be launched soon. “It’s a separate for-profit run specialty animal hospital, which will be open to the public,” Chang said. “But more importantly, it will also provide all the medical care needed for the animals at Unconditional at no cost.”
Event sponsors included The Bone Adventure, JustFoodForDogs, Petco Love, JP Morgan Chase & Co., and Sonance Foundation.
A Dream Come True
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Anaheim-Cypress hosted its annual gala and auction, Field of Dreams, to a sold-out crowd of over 300 guests at Angel Stadium on Sept. 24.
The Los Angeles Angels and the Angels Baseball Foundation were this year’s Presenting Sponsor.
The event raised $283,000 to support the club’s mission of inspiring and empowering young people, especially those in need, to reach their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. All proceeds raised will provide a safe, positive after-school and summer program for children and youth in the cities of Anaheim, Cypress, and surrounding areas.
“Angels Baseball was honored to host the 2022 Boys & Girls Clubs Field of Dreams event at Angel Stadium,” said Dennis Kuhl, chairman, Angels Baseball Foundation. “We are proud to support an organization that provides so many important resources for young members of the community, as they work towards accomplishing their goals and fulfilling their dreams.”
This year’s festivities commenced on the Centerfield Patio of Angel Stadium, where guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres as they mingled and perused the several hundred silent auction items. Following this, guests took their seats to enjoy dinner and live entertainment.
In addition to Los Angeles Angels and the Angels Baseball Foundation, other major event sponsors included Anaheim’s Extron and The Ranch Restaurant & Saloon, this year’s the Hall of Fame Premier Sponsors, and Disneyland Resort, this year’s All-Star Sponsor.
Bits & Pieces
The Boeing Co. awarded Girls Inc. of Orange County a $100,000 grant. The money will ÂÂÂfund specialized STEM and Social, Emotional (SEL) instruction through the SMART Girls initiative, which helps at-risk middle school and early teen girls develop enthusiasm and skills in the areas of science, math and relevant technology. … Irvine Company Apartment Communities, which was Families Forward’s first housing partner in 2008, received the No Place Like Home award at the Families Forward 11th Annual Housing Partner Appreciation event for its long-standing commitment to housing families, including 14 families in the last year alone. … Burnham Benefits Insurance Services raised $25,650 to provide 1,000 pairs of new athletic shoes to homeless students in need through their 4EveryKid initiative, which partners with Soles4Souls, a nonprofit organization that benefits homeless youth living in LA and Orange counties.
