Philanthropists Sue and Ralph Stern pledged $5 million to Girls Inc. in Costa Mesa.
It’s the largest donation the nonprofit has received and is set to be used to expand the group’s Eureka Program, which encourages girls to pursue careers in science and math. The nonprofit plans to put the money toward a new site for its summer program at Santa Ana College.
The Eureka summer program now is held at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa. The Eureka program also provides classes in self defense, sports and personal development. The program now serves up to 70 girls per year and hopes to expand to 500. The nonprofit, an affiliate of New York-based Girls Inc., offers after school and summer programs in Costa Mesa and at 54 elementary, middle and high schools.
Sue Stern is a longtime board member for Girls Inc. here. The nonprofit held a thank you reception for the Sterns’ last month.
“We are deeply thankful for (their) bigheartedness,” Girls Inc. of Orange County Executive Director Lucy Santana-Ornelas said.
Ralph Stern founded CareCredit LLC in Anaheim and sold the healthcare finance company to General Electric Co.’s GE Capital in 2002. The business now is based in Costa Mesa. Stern, a native of South Africa, also is a big supporter of Jewish causes.
