communityimpact Orange County United Way Commits More Than $4.5 Million to Local Agencies
the need in orange county
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provides
fter a highly competitive, six-month grant application and review process overseen by our Community Investment Cabinet, Impact Councils, Board of Directors and Community Impact staff, 92 agencies were selected to receive a total of more than $4.5 million to continue building self-sufficient lives in Orange County. The Community Impact funds will be allocated to partners that will provide a range of services to residents in need, including Basic Needs services (food, shelter, and medical care) to support those in crisis, Financial Stability programs to assist the working poor, and Education programs to ensure the future of our children. On Friday, January 28, 2011, we officially welcomed our newly selected agencies into the Orange County United Way (OCUW) family at a reception generously hosted by our corporate partner, Allergan. A crowd comprised of funded agency leaders, OCUW Board, staff and donor circles members gathered to enjoy
$50 two months of career coaching for an out of work individual
$20 provides (L to R) Allergan: Tom Knox, Vice President, US Managed Markets and Government Affairs, Lynn Salo, Vice President, Medical US Breast Aesthetics, Connie Jones, Executive Director, SMEDA (OCUW Funded Agency), Max Gardner, Interim President and CEO, Orange County United Way, Al De Grassi, OCUW Chairman of the Board, Steve Allison, OCUW Board Member and Community Investment Cabinet Chairman
music, mingle, and celebrate our new partnerships to bring positive change to our community. For a complete list of our funded agencies and programs, visit www.bit.ly/ocuwpartners.
membership for one child to an after-school program for one year
$10 provides
breakfast for 20 hungry Orange County individuals
2011 Women’s Leadership Summit Comes to Orange County: Strengthen Locally, Unite Nationally, Launch Globally
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he United Way Women’s Leadership Summit is fast approaching! Mark your calendars and join our local Councils Donor Circles, Women’s Philanthropy Fund and Women Looking Forward, March 2-4 at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach. This year’s Summit holds particular significance, as hundreds of community and business leaders will gather to celebrate a decade of United Way Women’s Leadership Councils. Hosted for the first time in Orange County, this informative biannual event will feature dynamic women dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls in Orange County and around the world. Keynote speakers include: Dr. Johnnetta Cole, Director, Smithsonian Museum of African Art, Lesley Chilcott, producer “Waiting for Superman,” and co-founder of nonprofit, Unscrew America, Sondra Shaw Hardy, co-founder of the Women’s Philanthropy Institute, Nell Newman, President and Co-
Issue No.1, Volume No. 1 Winter 2011
Founder, Newman’s Own Organics, founder, and CEO of Impacto Group LLC, former Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Education Excellence for Hispanic Americans, Leslie Sanchez, Susan Taylor, Editor-In-Chief Emeritus of Essence Magazine and founder, National Cares Mentoring Movement, and the Honorable Linda Tarr-Whelan, Demos Distinguished Senior Fellow and Former Ambassador to the UN Commission on the Status of Women. United Way Worldwide President and CEO, Brian Gallagher will address this group of women philanthropists on March 3rd. For more information, contact Sarah Haney at 949.263.6158 or SarahH@unitedwayoc.org.
949.660.7600 | www.unitedwayoc.org
message from max & al
Happy New Year! It has been our honor and privilege to support Orange County United Way during its leadership transition. The search process has been a true community effort, with the Board, senior staff and community experts working together to find a leader with a fresh perspective and solid commitment to bring sustainable change to Orange County. As the process moves forward, we will keep you updated. With the economy still on the mend, the need in our community remains great. With your support, we will continue to meet those needs by maximizing opportunities, building strong partnerships and establishing initiatives to provide hope and help to our neighbors in 2011 and beyond. We hope you enjoy our quarterly newsletter, designed to bring you information about the impact Orange County United Way is having in our community as we work together to build self-sufficient lives.
corporate corner
A spotlight on Workplace Campaigns that shine. Orange County United Way would like to recognize our Golden Key partners. The Golden Key distinction is awarded to companies and firms that demonstrate their commitment to impacting people’s lives in our community by raising the most dollars during their annual workplace campaigns for United Way’s Community Impact work.
Max Gardner Interim President and CEO
Al De Grassi Chairman of the Board
savethedate
Here’s to another year of LIVING and GIVING UNITED! Sincerely,
03.02.11 – 03.04.11 2011 United Way Women’s Leadership Summit Island Hotel, 690 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, http://wl.unitedway.org
Max Gardner Interim President and CEO Orange County United Way
Al De Grassi Chairman of the Board
05.05.11 Real Estate & Building Industry Mixer
Balboa Bay Club, 1221 West Coast Highway, Newport Beach, http://realestate2011.kintera.org
05.10.11 Women’s Philanthropy Fund Breakfast
Costa Mesa Hilton, 3050 Bristol Street, http://wpfbreakfast.kintera.org
06.25.11 WALK UNITED
Angel Stadium, 2200 Gene Autry Way, Anaheim, http://walkunited.com
2 | Winter 2011
949.660.7600 | www.unitedwayoc.org
agency success story Meet The Lopez Family
Finding Hope and Dreaming Big “When we found out about the program, we found we had a new opportunity for our lives, we got a new start.” A lot of families don’t know there is help out there. There are people who help.”
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fter years in an abusive marriage, Yanira Lopez* found the courage to embark on a new life. With her four daughters in tow, she sought refuge at an emergency shelter. When her stay ended, Yanira found herself with no money, no car, no food, and nowhere to turn. Just when she was losing hope, Yanira was referred to an Orange County United Way funded partner agency that provides temporary shelter and support services to families. When she arrived, Yanira was fearful, unemployed and unsure of what the future held. As weeks passed, she began to trust the agency staff. She took parenting and budgeting classes; her girls received homework help from volunteers. Eventually, she found a full-time job. After living at the shelter for 6 months, the Lopez family was able to move off-site. Today, Yanira is on the road to self-sufficiency, and her daughters are striving to realize their dreams. Big dreams. They all want to attend Ivy League colleges. Rosibel, a senior, recently applied to Harvard. And sophomore, Jessica, is eyeing Princeton. She plans to become a lawyer or doctor and help others like the agency helped her family. The future looks promising for the Lopez’s. “They assisted me with what I needed to get back on track,” said Yanira. As for her goals for the future, she said, “To continue to be a mother, work and be there for my family.” *Due to the sensitive nature of the Lopez family story, they asked not to be photographed
TAKE A WALK … TO OVERCOME POVERTY IN ORANGE COUNTY
Ways to LIVE and GIVE UNITED in 2011 participate
in your company’s existing workplace campaign
organize
a food or clothing drive and donate items to a local organization
make
a personal gift online unitedwayoc.org
donate
your professional skills or services to a local organization
have
a garage sale and donate the proceeds to Orange County United Way
become
an Orange County United Way volunteer receptionist visit
your local senior center or deliver meals to a senior’s home
volunteer
at an earned income tax day
join
Orange County United Way on Saturday, June 25th and Walk United!
949.660.7600 | www.unitedwayoc.org
To learn more about volunteer opportunities, visit volunteersolutions.org Winter 2011 | 3
communityimpact recent events 1. A PERFECT FIT: WOMEN LOOKING FORWARD HOSTS FALL FESTIVAL TO SUPPORT HANDS TOGETHER – A CENTER FOR CHILDREN On October 23, 2010, Women Looking Forward hosted an event to support children and families of Orange County Way funded agency partner, Hands Together – A Center for Children. During the chilly Southern California day, dozens of children played games, enjoyed lunch with their families, and were fitted with new shoes, courtesy of Orange County United Way’s Women Looking Forward members and contributors. Based in Santa Ana, Hands Together provides quality early education and care to families of the working poor who are striving to gain stability, improve their lives, and emerge from poverty.
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2. Lights and Community-ACTION: Tocqueville Society Hosts Holiday Boat Parade Reception On Thursday, December 16, 2010, Tocqueville Society members Janet Davidson and Richard Plat opened their home to celebrate the holidays and give back to the community. TS members joined the couple to watch the 102nd Annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade and brought winter clothing and essentials to support OCUW funded agency partner, Mercy House, a homeless prevention, emergency services and transitional housing agency for women, men and children. Photo: Reception hosts Janet Davidson and Richard Plat.
3. A “Sneak Peek” at South Coast Plaza On December 9, 2010, members of the Women’s Leadership Council convened at Nordstrom, our #1 retail supporter, to spread holiday cheer, do a little shopping and get a “sneak peek” into the exciting plans for the Women’s Philanthropy Fund Breakfast on May 10. The evening was filled with delicious hors d’oeuvres, the opportunity to buy a table for the breakfast, and excitement about changing the lives of women and girls in Orange County. Angie Quigley, a junior at Orange County High School of the Arts and participant in Girls Inc., an OCUW funded agency, serenaded attendees with a beautiful rendition of the classic holiday song, “Oh Holy Night.” Photo: Angie Quigley, Girl’s Inc. recipient.
4. Pig Balloons, Tax Preparation and Plenty of Financial Stability Information: Super Saturday 2011 On Saturday, January 29, 2011, dozens of hard-working families and individuals, 20 of our funded agency partners and a host of volunteers joined us at the Santa Ana Public Library for Super Saturday, the kick
off to our annual Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Campaign, a collaboration with Legal Aid Society of Orange County. The EITC Campaign is part of “Banking on The Future,” (BOTF) our Financial Stability Initiative linking low-income families to eligible tax credits, free tax preparation services, financial literacy education, and access to low-cost mainstream banking services. During the event, “Banking on the Future” lead corporate supporter, The Boeing Company presented OCUW with a financial pledge of support for $247,000. Thanks to Boeing, more residents will gain access to better financial futures! Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, State Senator Lou Correa, Assemblyman Jose Solorio, a representative from County Supervisor Janet Nguyen’s office, and additional BOTF corporate sponsors, Bank of America, Citibank, Union Bank and Wells Fargo were all in attendance to support the free tax preparation event. The day’s Financial Fitness Fair offered attendees information about budgeting, asset-building and debt-reducing products and services available in their community. Photo: (L to R) State Senator Lou Correa (Orange County), US Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), Gregg Martin, Network & Systems Vice President and Chief Engineer, Boeing, Max Gardner, Interim President and CEO, Orange County United Way.
18012 Mitchell Ave. So., Irvine, CA 92614 www.unitedwayoc.org
live united