Fundraisers and charitable donations from companies and people
Mustard Seed Ranch raised almost $300,000 at its Golf for Youth event last month in Newport Beach. The golf tournament included a buffett dinner, prizes and an auction. Sponsors included Burnham Benefits Insurance Services in Irvine, Kansas City, Mo.-based Lockton Insurance Brokers Inc., which has an office in Irvine, and Chicago’s R-T Specialty Group LLC, which has an office in Costa Mesa. Mustard Seed Ranch is a nonprofit that offers horsing and other programs for abused and neglected youth in Southern California.
Children’s Hospital of Orange County received $100,000 from the Orange County Credit Unions for Kids Advisory Board. The money is set to go toward statues for CHOC’s seven-story patient care building, which is expected to open in 2013. Two 1,000-pound, 6-foot teddy bear statues and an outdoor play area are planned. CHOC hopes to raise $125 million for the project by July 2013.
Goodwill of Orange County raised $335,000 at its fifth annual Working for Independence Fundraising Luncheon in October. More than half of the money was made up of pledges made prior to the event, which took place in Newport Beach. The keynote speaker was Steve Churm, chief executive and president of Newport Beach-based Churm Media. Goodwill of Orange County operates 20 thrift stores, an online auction site and provides business services such as document shredding, electronic waste recycling and packaging.
Alzheimer’s Association of Orange County raised nearly $500,000 during two fall walks. The first walk was in October at California State University, Fullerton, and drew more than 3,000 people. The second walk took place in Huntington Beach and drew about 2,500 people last month. Both walks had two- and four-mile routes, along with exhibits and remembrance ceremonies. Wahoo’s Fish Tacos cofounder Wing Lam and Harry Crowell, chairman of Insco Insurance Services Inc., were honorary chairs for the walks. CBS news correspondent Barry Peterson was the honorary grand marshal.
More than $220,000 was raised at the fourth annual Ante Up for Autism fundraiser on Nov. 17 in Dana Point. The money went to nonprofit Talk About Curing Autism, a group that serves more than 20,000 families affected by autism nationwide. Several celebrity guests were on hand at the event, which included casino games and live entertainment.
Citi Foundation, a charitable arm of New York-based Citigroup Inc., donated $29,000 to Newport Beach-based Project Access to support the Capacity Building for Adults/Financial Literacy Program. More than 1000 adults have participated in the program, which works with non-English speakers. Project Access provides health, education and employment services to individuals in poor communities.
Costa Mesa-based Human Options Inc., a domestic abuse shelter, raised $190,000 during its fall fundraiser last month in Newport Beach. About 460 people attended the event, which featured author Leslie Morgan Steiner. Attendees also donated clothes to Human Options’ Classy Seconds resale store in Costa Mesa. The nonprofit offers services to battered women, including educational programs and a community resource center.
Cox Communications Inc. sponsored a carnival and donated $2,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach last month. The carnival, which took place at Cox’s West Coast hub in Rancho Santa Margarita, included obstacle courses, puppet shows, food and live entertainment. More than 100 children attended the event.
Wells Fargo Community Development Foundation, a charitable arm of San Francisco-based Wells Fargo & Co., gave $10,000 to Santa Ana-based Orange County Child Care Connections, a group that supports the expansion of affordable childcare facilities in the county. The money is set to help build local childcare centers and train workers.
American First Credit Union gave more than 550 books and magazines to La Habra High School. The credit union donated books in order to support the school’s literacy program, which promotes student-mandated daily reading.
Newport/Mesa Pro Literacy program was awarded $7,500 by State Street Corp., a Boston-based financial service provider. The program offers free literary instruction to adults in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach. More than 130 adults currently are enrolled in the program, which relies on about 100 volunteer tutors.
