Sharing the Love
More than 700 Pacific Investment Management Co. employee volunteers, friends and family members gathered at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa on Dec. 6 to pack 16,000 boxes with a holiday meal for needy families in Southern California.
The annual Share the Harvest is sponsored by the Pimco Foundation, Pimco’s charitable giving and employee volunteer program. It’s the seventh time Pimco has held it in Newport Beach. The food packed by Pimco volunteers was donated to the Orange County Food Bank and its many member agencies, and the OC Fair & Event Center was a supporting partner for the event.
“The Share the Harvest event is an important and wonderful annual tradition for us, both in our Newport Beach and New York offices. We are pleased to be contributing members of our local communities, serving in need of others less fortunate,” said Doug Hodge, chief executive of Pimco and president of the Pimco Foundation.
“As one of the world’s largest investment managers, Pimco understands the importance of wise investment,” said Mark Lowry, director of the OC Food Bank. “Pimco, their employees, and the Pimco Foundation are investing in the well-being of our community by providing 16,000 vulnerable families the gift of food this holiday season.”
The event has provided meals for 234,000 individuals in OC and New York City since its inception.
Lunch for Special Cause
The Friends of Casa 2014 Holiday Luncheon netted more than $200,000 that will go to support Casa’s mentor-advocate program for neglected and abused children in the foster care system.
Friends of CASA is a fundraising auxiliary of Court Appointed Special Advocates.
More than 520 guests attended the event, held Dec. 10 at the St. Regis Monarch Beach in Dana Point. The luncheon featured a reception followed by a fashion show that was presented by retailer MaxMara at South Coast Plaza.
Aliso Viejo-based Microsemi Corp. and Lugano Diamonds in Newport Beach were among the top-tier sponsors.
Gift-Giving Gala
Huntington Beach-based SeaLegs Wine Bar, a three-time Best Californian Cuisine Golden Foodie Award winner and “Foodie” Hall of Fame inductee, turned its weekly Sunday Brunch into an opportunity for giving.
SeaLegs Wine Bar hosted its Toys for Tots Drive on Dec. 21, inviting diners to donate gifts for underprivileged children. Hundreds of brunch guests donated approximately 300 toys and other gifts.
“Since we typically see Sunday brunch lines around the building, we knew this would be a perfect opportunity for the restaurant and foodies to come together and give back this holiday season,” said SeaLegs Wine Bar owner Alicia Whitney.
The bar partnered with Best Chauffeured Transportation, also in Huntington Beach, to host the event.
Serving Up Smiles
Wienerschnitzel’s “Wiener Wagon” food truck arrived at Children’s Hospital Orange County on Dec. 9 to cook up lunch and deliver holiday gifts to more than 300 CHOC patients, their families and CHOC staff. It was the eighth consecutive year the company hosted the event.
The Weiner Wagon provided hot dogs, chili dogs, and corn dogs, and more than 50 Wienerschnitzel employees volunteered their time to serve the children and hand out toys based on patients’ holiday wish lists. Wienerschnitzel’s mascot, the Delicious One, was on hand to entertain guests.
The Galardi Group, parent company of Irvine-based Wienerschnitzel, donated the toys.
Aliso Viejo-based Microsemi Corp. and its employees donated hundreds of toys and more than three dozen bikes to underprivileged children in Orange County through its Spark of Love toy drive and firefighter luncheon on Dec. 18. … Newport Beach was named a host city for the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, which will take place July 25 through Aug. 2. … Susan G. Komen Orange County distributed nearly $1 million to 11 Orange County organizations that provide breast health prevention and education programs at its December Affiliate of the Year Celebration Breakfast.
