Fest for the Future
The Orangewood Foundation hosted its most successful community event to date, the 2025 OrangewoodFest and Orangewood Challenge on May 3. The family-friendly event was held at Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina, bringing together hundreds of supporters who helped raise over $645,000 to fund programs that help Orange County youth achieve self-sufficiency through education, housing, employment and wellness.
Event sponsors:Â Samueli Foundation, Alexandra Rose, Beacon Pointe, Anita Marie Coffee, Brown-Forman, Haynes Boone, McCandless Tile, Wells Fargo, Gallagher, Snyder Langston, Verkada, US Bank.
The day featured live music from the Lucky Devils Band, exotic cars, fitness sessions by MOXIE and food and wellness tastings from more than 20 vendors. Families also enjoyed interactive games and activities in the Kid Zone.
A major highlight was the Orangewood Challenge, a spirited, team-based obstacle course open to adults of all fitness levels. Designed to test physical and mental strength, the Challenge embodied the Foundation’s mission of equity, resilience, and community.
“This event was about more than just coming together as a community. It was about building brighter futures,” said Paul Tobin, partner, Haynes & Boone, board chair, Orangewood Foundation and founder, Orangewood Challenge.
Power Breakfast
Orange County United Way hosted its 22nd Annual Women’s Philanthropy Fund Breakfast on May 20 at the Hyatt Regency Irvine, raising $570,000 to support women and families in need across Orange County. The event welcomed more than 700 philanthropists, community leaders and changemakers for a morning of connection, impact, and purpose.
Sponsors included BMO, U.S. Bank, Disneyland Resort, Ducommun, Edison International, EY, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Link Logistics, Niagara Cares, Pacific Life, PNC Bank, Samueli Foundation, UCI Health and Orange County Department of Education.
“It was an inspiring and energy-filled morning at our annual Women’s Philanthropy Fund Breakfast,” said Susan Parks, president and CEO of Orange County United Way. “Thanks to the incredible support of our attendees, sponsors, and donors, we raised crucial funds to directly uplift the women in our community.”
A highlight of the morning was the Mothers and Mentors panel featuring Cynthia Bissett Germanotta, president and co-founder, Born This Way Foundation; Helen Wilmot, senior vice president, chief facilities and sustainability officer, Stanford Health; and Heshmat Behzadi, poet. The panel was moderated by Scharrell Jackson, founder, STJ Consulting Services LLC.,, international keynote speaker, global executive coach, author and longtime supporter of the Women’s Philanthropy Fund.
Attendees also assembled 2,000 self-care kits for women served by the Women’s Philanthropy Fund.
Funds will benefit programs such as SparkPoint OC, a financial empowerment center in Anaheim, as well as services for survivors of human trafficking.
Playful Possibilities
Pretend City Children’s Museum hosted its 8th Annual Start Smart FUNdraising Luncheon on April 25 at the Newport Beach Country Club, raising more than $210,000 to support early childhood programming. The event gathered corporate and community leaders, education experts and donors who share a commitment to early childhood development, early intervention and play-based learning as essential foundations for school readiness and long-term success.
PNC Bank served as presenting sponsor for the second consecutive year, with major support from Capital Group, City Lights/Cornerstone Communications, London Consulting Group USA, Ernst & Young, KPMG, Lyon Air Museum, The McHenry Family Foundation, Shah Family, Snyder Langston and U.S. Bank.
The luncheon featured a panel of thought leaders including Steve Brittan, president and CEO, Laguna College of Art + Design; Ken Cruse, co-founder and CEO, Alpha Wave Investors and Soul Community Planet; his daughter Kyla Cruse; and Sanjib Sahoo, president, Global Platform Group, Ingram Micro; moderated by Jamie Annunzio Myers, chief operating officer, PBS SoCal. Their discussion emphasized how creativity and curiosity foster problem-solving and innovation from an early age.
Pretend City was recently named 2025 Nonprofit of the Year by Cottie Petrie-Norris, Assemblymember, 73rd Assembly District, Irvine.
Bits & Pieces
The OneRoot Foundation, established by the Pyle family of Newport Beach, has provided a $20,000 gift to South Coast Repertory to replace a withdrawn National Endowment for the Arts grant for The Staircase, honoring actor Denver Pyle, father of trustee David Pyle, founder and CEO, American Career College and shareholder and trustee, West Coast University … Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and the Inland Empire has partnered with former NBA star Josh Childress and the Childress Family Foundation to launch the Sports Buddies program, a new initiative in Orange County and the Inland Empire that uses sports-based, fully facilitated group activities to connect youth, especially those on waitlists, with mentors and positive role models … On May 24, Ronald McDonald House and Timeless Skin Care held a brunch event unveiling the new Salon Room at the Ronald McDonald House in Orange County, which provides parents and caregivers of critically ill children with complimentary salon services in a private, comforting space that honors their need for care and dignity during a difficult time.
Updated: This article has been updated to reflect the correct event sponsors for OrangewoodFest. The Business Journal regrets the error.
