Fundraisers and charitable donations from companies and people
The Pimco Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Newport Beach-based Pacific Investment Management Co., awarded a $300,000 grant to the students of Olive Crest’s Nova Academy. The grant will go toward college preparatory programs in the next three years. Olive Crest, a charter school that works with at-risk youth, is in Santa Ana. The grant will allow incoming 9th graders to attend a summer program focused on math and English. The program also includes individual mentoring. The school’s 11th graders are set to receive assistance with college preparations through the two-week summer program. The grant also will provide renewable annual scholarships to some students. Pimco previously has worked with the Nova Academy on a number of programs, including the “Tools for Tomorrow” financial literacy class. Nova Academy recently received Pimco Foundation’s 2010 “Excel-lence Award,” which included a $25,000 donation.
Wells Fargo & Co. has donated $300,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Orange County. Most of the money will go toward Habitat for Humanity’s Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, which builds and repairs low-cost housing for needy families in areas hit hard by foreclosures. The initiative plans to build 17 new houses and refurbish 30 more in cooperation with the city of Santa Ana.
More than 600 guests gathered to raise some $170,000 at the annual “An Evening for Autism” in Newport Beach. Real estate entrepreneur Barry Saywitz hosted the event at his home on June 3. The money will be given to nonprofits Autism Care and Treatment Today, Autism Society of America, Easter Seals Southern California and Talk About Curing Autism. Some of the money also will go toward the Newport Mesa Unified School District’s autism programs. Saywitz’s son was diagnosed with autism at the age of two.
The Orange County Rescue Mission has received a $100,000 donation from Tustin-based Sunwest Bank. The money will go toward the creation of a job center—The Sunwest Bank Success Center—at the nonprofit’s housing facility for the homeless, the Village of Hope. The Success Center will offer job training and career counseling for residents. The center also will give residents an opportunity to earn their GEDs, enroll in community college courses and vocational programs, and provide job searching techniques. The Orange County Rescue Mission expects to have the center up and running in the next two years.
The Balboa Bay Club’s 1221 Club Foundation gave $100,000 in scholarships to 12 college-bound seniors in the Newport Mesa Unified School District. The students were honored during an awards presentation and reception on June 7. Each recipient was nominated and underwent an interview process conducted by the Balboa Bay Club’s Board of Governors.
