Singing for Sanctuary
Hot Summer Nights, the annual summer soiree and concert, returned Aug. 2 to Giracci Vineyards and Farms in Silverado Canyon. Hosted and underwritten by Stacy Jones, co-founder and primary organizer of the event, along with her husband Steve Jones, global chairman and chief executive, Allied Universal, the evening welcomed more than 600 guests for a night of world-class entertainment and philanthropy. Headliners En Vogue, Mickey Thomas and CeeLo Green lit up the stage, creating what has become known as one of Orange County’s most exclusive summer concert experiences.
This year’s Hot Summer Nights sponsors included Morgan Stanley, Paul, Weiss, Allied Universal, Fidelity, New York Life, MetLife, Marsh, Verizon, PwC, Littler Mendelson P.C., Deloitte, Covington & Burling, Bank of America, Cigna and Citibank. Their commitment helped fuel an unforgettable evening that raised $2.5 million for Vera’s Sanctuary, a program of The Teen Project and the county’s only licensed residential drug treatment shelter dedicated to victims of human trafficking.
Funding the Future
MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center Foundation awarded more than $71,000 in scholarships to 19 employees at its 48th annual Scholarship Awards Ceremony. The donor-funded scholarships support employees pursuing bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees in healthcare and related fields.
Eligible applicants must be permanent or part-time employees with at least six months of continuous service.
“At Saddleback, we are proud to support a culture where our team members continue to grow, lead and bring new ideas to patient care,” said Shela Kaneshiro, CEO of Saddleback Medical Center. “When our employees are empowered to advance their education, it strengthens the entire community and enhances the quality of care we provide to our patients.”
This year’s program featured remarks from Elizabeth Chassagne, BSN, RN, operations manager, heart & vascular and float and recipient of the Bill Stephens Nursing Scholarship. She is pursuing a graduate degree at the University of Michigan, focused on leadership analytics and innovation in nursing.
“This scholarship made a dream possible,” Chassagne said. “It lifted a burden and gave me the opportunity to bring new tools, ideas and energy back to my team.”
Hopeful Heroes
Hope Builders celebrated its 30th anniversary with the Heroes of Hope event on Aug. 21 at Strawberry Farms in Irvine, kicking off a 10-day fundraising campaign that concluded on Labor Day, Sept. 1. By the end of the campaign, more than $700,000 had been raised to support Hope Builders’ mission of providing opportunities for young adults in Orange County by delivering hands-on training and career pathways in construction, healthcare and child development.
Guests at the kick-off event enjoyed docent-led tours of interactive exhibits that highlighted Hope Builders’ impact over the years, as well as networking opportunities with trainees, alumni, supporters and staff. Evening highlights included a tribute to the real-life heroes who have helped shape the organization’s legacy.
Key campaign support came from The Cedar Foundation, DreamCraft, Guaranty Chevrolet, Palmer Family Foundation, R.J. Noble Company, Carver Family, Sun Family Foundation, Ueberroth Family Foundation and the Linda and Tod White Charitable Fund.
Over the last 30 years, Hope Builders has helped more than 7,500 young adults find their path. Through its social enterprise staffing agency, Hope Builders Career Connections, Hope Builders connects graduates with employers, creating a pipeline of workforce-ready talent.
Bits & Pieces
On Aug. 23, Cox Communications, Los Angeles Angels and the Angels Baseball Foundation hosted a free youth baseball and softball clinic at the Great Park in Irvine, where nearly 500 young athletes, including participants with disabilities, rotated through five on-field training stations led by Angels pitcher Carson Fulmer and players Noé Ramirez, Jesse Chavez, Adam Wilk, Calvin Pickering and Henry Owens, alongside volunteers from Cox Communications, SoCalGas and others ….
Laguna Art Museum (LAM) will offer free general admission for the entire month of November, opening its galleries and community programs to all visitors, made possible by a $50,000 grant from the office of Katrina Foley, vice chair, Orange County Board of Supervisors … On Sept. 3, Hub for Integration, Reentry & Employment (H.I.R.E.) opened its new office in Orange, creating a dedicated space to help people rebuild their lives after incarceration and connect with employers, mentors, and resources that make progress possible.
