NEWPORT BEACH, CA--(Marketwire -06/28/12)- Efforts to address the needs of our community's most vulnerable residents got a boost yesterday when the Orange County Community Foundation granted $525,000 to nonprofits that serve struggling families and veterans. The grants are a result of the Orange County Community Foundation's ReachOut OC 2012 effort which combined $345,000 in funds from the Community Foundation with $180,000 in donations from the public. Contributions from supporters ranged from $20 to $50,000.
Local research has shown that 1 in 5 Orange County residents face hunger, and up to 20 percent of local veterans are homeless.
"The numbers of those most vulnerable continue to be staggering, and the desire to help is heartfelt. With ReachOut OC, neighbors are helping neighbors through contributions small and large," said Shelley Hoss, president of the Orange County Community Foundation. "Thousands of Orange County residents continue to struggle to make ends meet with families and veterans experiencing the most critical need. ReachOut OC will make a difference."
The ReachOut OC 2012 grants will fund a variety of essential services, including meals, rent and utilities assistance, emergency and transitional shelter, a mobile clinic and health care services for children and families, and employment support for veterans.
This is the fourth consecutive year OCCF has organized a community fund drive to assist vulnerable neighbors. ReachOut OC 2012 funding brings the cumulative grants to more than $2.5 million over the past four years. Because OCCF has underwritten 100 percent of program expenses, every dollar contributed is delivered to nonprofits meeting critical community needs.
Among this year's grant recipients is the Second Harvest Food Bank, which estimates that 615,000 people or 21 percent of the population in Orange County are at risk of hunger. A $25,000 ReachOut OC grant will support food programs such as Child Hunger Strategy, Brown Bag for Seniors and Mobile Pantry.
"Demand for food has increased 45 percent since 2008 while donations of food staples have steadily declined. Our challenge is to successfully bridge the gap between demand and supply. This grant from the Orange County Community Foundation will allow us to provide critical food to thousands of vulnerable seniors, children and families," said Nicole Suydam, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Irvine.
According to Santa Ana-based Veterans First, there are nearly 3,500 homeless veterans in Orange County. A $15,000 ReachOut OC grant will support a healthcare professional to serve homeless and at-risk veterans.
"This infusion of support comes at a critical time because there are so many Orange County veterans and families who need our help -- whether it be a place to sleep, food to eat or job training. The generosity of local residents who care really makes a difference in the quality of life for these men and women who have served our country and are now returning home to real challenges," said Deanne Tate, President/CEO of Veterans First.
About the Orange County Community Foundation
Founded in 1989, the Orange County Community Foundation works with donors, strengthens the local nonprofit sector, and works to find solutions to community needs. The Foundation has granted more than $200 million since its inception. In 2011 OCCF ranked as the 10th most active grantmaker among more than 750 U.S. community foundations. For more information, visit www.oc-cf.org or call 949-553-4202.
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REACHOUT OC 2012 GRANTS
Photos Available Upon Request: cragland@oc-cf.org
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Food, Shelter City Website Amount and Safety ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- American Family Midway City http://www.shelterforthehomeless.org/ $15,000 Housing ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Anaheim Anaheim http://www.aishalcyon.org/ $10,000 Interfaith Shelter ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Colette's Huntington http://www.healinghomelessness.org/ $10,000 Children's Beach Home ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Families Irvine http://www.families-forward.org/ $20,000 Forward ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Family San Clemente http://www.family-assistance.org/ $25,000 Assistance Ministries ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Friendship Laguna Beach http://www.friendshipshelter.org/ $10,000 Shelter ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Human Options Irvine http://www.humanoptions.org/ $15,000 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Illumination Costa Mesa http://www.ifhomeless.org/ $20,000 Foundation ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interval House Seal Beach http://www.intervalhouse.org/ $10,000 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Laura's House San Clemente http://www.laurashouse.org/ $10,000 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mercy House Santa Ana http://www.mercyhouse.net/ $20,000 Living Centers ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Orange Coast Costa Mesa http://www.ocinterfaithshelter.org/ $10,000 Interfaith Shelter ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pathways of Fullerton http://www.fies.us/ $15,000 Hope ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Second Harvest Irvine http://www.feedoc.org/ $25,000 Food Bank of Orange County ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Serving People Costa Mesa http://www.spinoc.org/ $15,000 in Need (S.P.I.N.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Someone Cares Costa Mesa http://www.someonecareskitchen.org/ $10,000 Soup Kitchen ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- South County Lake Forest http://www.sco-oc.org/ $15,000 Outreach ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southwest Santa Ana http://www.swcommunitycenter.org/ $10,000 Minority Economic Development Association ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas House Garden Grove http://www.thomashouseshelter.org/ $10,000 Temporary Shelter ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- We Care of Los Los Alamitos http://www.wecarelosalamitos.org/ $10,000 Alamitos, Inc. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISEPlace Santa Ana http://www.wiseplace.org/ $10,000 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Women's Fullerton http://www.wtlc.org/ $10,000 Transitional Living Center, Inc. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Access to Health Care ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Access OC Santa Ana www.hfpoc.org/accessoc/ $15,000 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Healthy Smiles Garden Grove http://www.healthysmilesoc.org/ $15,000 for Kids of Orange County ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hurtt Family Tustin http://www.hurttclinic.org/ $10,000 Health Clinic ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Laguna Beach Laguna Beach http://www.lbclinic.org/ $15,000 Community Clinic ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Latino Health Santa Ana http://www.latinohealthaccess.net/ $20,000 Access ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lestonnac Free Orange http://www.lestonnacfreeclinic.org/ $25,000 Clinic ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Livingstone Stanton http://www.livingstonecdc.com/ $5,000 Community Development Corporation ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Serve the Santa Ana http://www.serve-the-people.com/ $10,000 People ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Share Our Costa Mesa http://www.shareourselves.org/ $25,000 Selves ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Gary Center La Habra http://www.garycenter.org/ $10,000 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Veterans Services ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Disabled Laguna http://www.dvafusa.org/ $10,000 Veterans Niguel Assistance Foundation ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- J.F. Shea San Juan http://www.sheacenter.org/ $25,000 Therapeutic Capistrano Riding Center ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Veterans First Santa Ana http://www.veteransfirstoc.org/ $15,000 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Women Helping Santa Ana http://www.whw.org/ $10,000 Women/Men2Work ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Working Costa Mesa http://www.workingwardrobes.org/ $10,000 Wardrobes ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL GRANTS $525,000 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cynthia Ragland, APR
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Orange County Community Foundation
949.553.4202 ext.22
cragland@oc-cf.org
Barbara Caruso, APR
Caruso Communications
714.841.6777
carusocom@aol.com
