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Girl World
Girls Inc. of Orange County held its annual gala, Celebrating the Girls Inc. Experience, on April 26 at Fête the Venue in Costa Mesa. The celebration brought together community leaders, partners and supporters to raise more than $400,000 in support of Girls Inc.’s research-based programs in STEM, financial literacy, college and career readiness, healthy relationships, body image and advocacy.
Guests were invited to step into the world of a Girls Inc. participant through a series of interactive stations that brought the organization’s programming to life. Attendees explored each activation—from the Literacy Lab to the Girls Zone, which focused on social-emotional learning, to advocacy presentations led by Girls Inc. ambassadors. A highlight was the Workforce Readiness station, which offered a look at how Girls Inc. is preparing girls for future careers through hands-on experience, externships and mentorships.
Event sponsors included The Gena Reed Family Foundation, U.S. Bank Private Wealth Management, Ingram Micro, Disneyland Resort, Sabra Health Care REIT Inc., Razavi Law Group, PepsiCo, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, Fifth Third Bank, Workers United Local 50 and the Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation.
“The support we received fuels the programs that are transforming lives every day, and it sends a clear message: Orange County believes in the power of confident, resilient young women to lead us forward,” said Lucy Santana, CEO, Girls Inc. of Orange County. “Together, we’re building the next generation of changemakers.”
Wishes in Springtime
Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire (OCIE), in partnership with Women’s Circle of Wishes, hosted the 10th Annual It’s In The Bag Spring Fête on April 27, raising $300,000 to support transformative wishes for children with critical illnesses.
The event welcomed more than 240 guests to the Waterfront Beach Resort Huntington Beach. Guests enjoyed live music, champagne and appetizers while bidding on luxury handbags with items from Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs. Guests then congregated in the ballroom, where they were served a three-course lunch while experiencing a Saks Fifth Avenue runway show that featured Wish Kids and volunteers as models. Guests also bid on unique experiences including Disneyland tickets, a VIP South Coast Plaza package, a Justin Winery tasting and a Sabrina Carpenter concert suite donated by Viant Technology.
Wish alum Bob Shahmardi, director, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, shared how his 1992 wish to visit Disney World shaped his life.
“We are so grateful to the Women’s Circle of Wishes and every guest who joined us for this incredible day,” said Anne Grey, president and CEO, Make-A-Wish OCIE. “Every dollar raised helps create life-changing moments that inspire hope and give children the courage to keep fighting.”
Sponsors included Saks Fifth Avenue, Beauty With A Mission, TACORI, The Daftarian Group, Guerlain and The Lounge Booth along with individual sponsors Harriet Lehman, chair – secretary/governance, board of directors, Make-A-Wish; Laura Vanderhook, philanthropist; and Dolores Salman, global head, environmental, health & safety, Netflix Inc. and chair, gala committee, Make-A-Wish.
Driving Change for Children
The Childhelp Orange County Chapter netted more than $600,000 at the 43rd Annual Childhelp Rich Saul Memorial Golf Classic, held April 28 at Newport Beach Country Club. The tournament is now in its 13th year bearing the name of beloved NFL great Rich Saul, all-pro offensive lineman, 1970-1981, Los Angeles Rams.
Highlights were the presence of a former teammate of Rich Saul, Vince Ferragamo, formerly with the Los Angeles Rams, founder, Ferragamo Real Estate, and the Rams Cheerleaders, who were on hand in the morning for photo ops. The day of golf concluded with a cocktail reception, silent auction and dinner featuring a spirited live auction and paddle raise. A highlight of the evening program was the presentation of the Rich Saul Heart and Soul Award to Julie Thornton-Adams, president, Childhelp OC, and her husband Mark Adams, honoring their enduring commitment to the organization.
Event underwriters and sponsors included Jacquie and Michael Casey, philanthropists, The O’Connell Family Foundation, the Cleo A. Bluth Charitable Foundation, Karen Neale/Wilfred M. & Janet A. Roof Foundation, Tito’s, RGP and Bentson, Vuona & Westersten LLP.
Bits & Pieces
On May 14, WISEPlace and Jamboree Housing Corporation opened WISEPlace on Broadway, a new 48-unit, 43,000-square-foot permanent supportive housing community in Santa Ana for individuals experiencing homelessness, including survivors of domestic violence, seniors and those facing severe hardship, with HUD project-based vouchers and on-site wraparound services, community spaces and fully furnished apartments for residents earning no more than 30% of the area median income … Sherman Library & Gardens is launching its $17 million Grow The Gardens capital campaign—spearheaded by longtime supporters Janet and Jonathan Curci, founders, John Curci Family Foundation—to revitalize its aging facilities and expand its educational, artistic and community programming, with over $10 million already raised and groundbreaking planned for early 2026 … During National Volunteer Month in April, 649 Cox Communications employees across California donated 2,200 volunteer hours at 20 events, including 465 hours from the Orange Coast team (Orange County and Palos Verdes), where 58 volunteers at the Orange County Rescue Mission’s Double R Ranch assembled 55 pieces of furniture in just three hours, helping women with children move into transitional housing three weeks ahead of schedule.