The Public Law Center’s annual Volunteers for Justice Dinner raised a record $660,000.
The Santa Ana-based pro bono law firm helps people in need get access to attorneys.
The event, held this year at the Hyatt Regency Irvine, is the Public Law Center’s main fundraiser.
About 800 attendees heard a keynote address by Goodwin Liu, associate justice of the California Supreme Court.
Julie McCoy, of the Law Office of Julie M. McCoy in Newport Beach, and attorney Mark Minyard of Newport Beach-based Minyard Morris LLC were co-chairs of the dinner committee.
Those honored at the event include Mayte Santacruz Benavidez of Latham & Watkins LLP, as attorney of the year; the Orange County Bar Association and its Charitable Fund, as community partner of the year; and Snell & Wilmer LLP, as law firm of the year.
Last year’s dinner raised $646,000.
Children in Need
The Irvine-based Roosters Foundation of Orange County awarded $135,000 in grants to 16 Orange County charities that provide hands-on services to Orange County children in need.
This year grants were awarded to Devil Pups Inc. of Camp Pendleton ($6,000); Costa Mesa-based Project Cuddle ($20,000); Boys & Girls Club of Buena Park ($5,000); Mission Viejo-based Laura’s House ($10,000); and several others.
Law’s Suits
Santa Ana-based Women Helping Women/Men2Work’s second annual Suits for a Cause clothing drive collected $56,000 worth of professional clothing for people in need.
About 30 law firms donated more than 2,000 pieces of clothing.
The drive was founded by Women Helping Women board member Laurie Rowen of Irvine-based Montage Legal Group, a group of freelance attorneys.
First-Time Gala
Family Promise of Orange County raised $18,000 at an inaugural dinner gala held at the historic Wilcox Manor in Tustin.
Orange-based Family Promise, founded in February this year, helps homeless families in various ways, including with counseling, shelter and meals.
More than 130 guests attended the event, which included dinner, entertainment and a silent auction.
Some of the event’s sponsors included The Legacy Agency in Newport Beach, Newport Beach-based Cummins & White LLP, local Wingstop restaurants, Santa Ana-based Innovative Construction Solutions, Newport Beach-based William Lyon Homes, and South Coast Symphony of Santa Ana.
Orange County School of the Arts provided the music.
Family Promise works with volunteers from local religious congregations.
Bits and Pieces
Newport Beach-based Just Food for Dogs is donating $9,000 this summer to pet charities selected by local veterinarians. Many of the charities are local. … The Greater Los Angeles/Orange County Chapter of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America received two donations: $10,000 from San Diego-based California Bank & Trust, presented by Betty Uribe, executive vice president of the bank; and $5,000 from the Commercial Division of Wells Fargo Bank. … Whittier-based Marinello Schools of Beauty awarded $5,000 to Cristina Caudillo from Lake Forest as part of its fourth annual Raw Talent Scholarship contest for high school seniors interested in a career in cosmetology. … Boeing Co. employees in Seal Beach participated in its annual Global Day of Service by picking up beach trash at the Naval Weapons Station, among other projects. … Costa Mesa-based Office Solutions expects to raise $25,000 for the Festival of Children Foundation in Costa Mesa. The company launched its “Do-Good” paper promotion in July. Office Solutions will donate 50 cents to the foundation for each carton of copy paper sold through the end of the year. … Irvine-based Wolfe & Wyman LLP’s Jeans Day for Charity program allows attorneys and staff at Wyman to wear jeans on summer Thursdays in exchange for a donation to benefit Colette’s Children’s Home in Huntington Beach, which helps homeless women and children. Wolfe & Wyman will match the total donated.
