More than 900 guests registered for the premier fundraising event with celebrity guest Erin Andrews.
Irvine, CA, March 31, 2019 – Orange County United Way hosted the 16th Annual Women’s Philanthropy Fund Breakfast on May 16 at Hotel Irvine, raising more than $500,000 to support initiatives targeting the education, health, housing and income challenges facing women and children in Orange County.
More than 900 community leaders registered for this year’s event, once again making it one of the most successful breakfast fundraisers in the county.
“The Women’s Philanthropy Fund has become one of the most powerful voices of Orange County philanthropy,” said Susan B. Parks, President and CEO of Orange County United Way, and co-founder of the Women’s Philanthropy Fund. “I’m thrilled that this year’s breakfast was able to raise not only critically needed funds, but also awareness about the gaps that exist in many of our neighborhoods and the families that need our support and resources more than ever.”
Celebrity guest, Erin Andrews, inspired the crowd during a special Q&A with Orange County United Way board member and incoming board chair Steve Churm. Andrews spoke about her being a role model for young children, especially young women, her personal journey to success, and what lies ahead. Andrews has become one of the most recognizable and respected female sports broadcasters, and currently reports for FOX Sports. She served as a sideline reporter for the National Football League and Major League Baseball and contributed to other major sporting events, such as the MLB All-Star Game, the World Series, the NFL Playoffs and the Daytona 500.
The veteran reporter currently co-hosts ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars,” and appeared on the 10th season of the hit program, partnering with Maksim Chmerkovskiy, where the pair made it to the finals and placed third in the competition.
Bank of America served as Champion Sponsor of this year’s breakfast. The company is a longtime supporter of the Women’s Philanthropy Fund and United Way’s local initiatives to create a brighter Orange County.
“Orange County United Way assesses the community’s needs and creates efficient programs that deliver immeasurable results,” said co-chair of the Breakfast, Shari Battle, Market Manager for Bank of America in Orange County. “It’s an honor to work alongside these passionate women and help create and fund long-term solutions.”
A special part of the program featured students from Paul Revere Elementary School in a fun newscaster-style video. The students interviewed their peers about how he or she has been personally impacted by the Women’s Philanthropy Fund’s investment in their school.
The Women’s Philanthropy Fund has strategically partnered with Paul Revere Elementary School for four years, investing in a place-based initiative that weaves together resources in a clearly defined “place” to collectively improve outcomes for children and families facing high poverty, unemployment and housing instability. The support from the Women’s Philanthropy Fund provides a financial empowerment center, classroom technology, reading materials, after-school programs, an on-campus food pantry, and more.
As the organization’s most important event of the year, the WPF Breakfast raises funds to allowed United Way to implement programs with demonstrable impact for underserved populations.
“With so many Orange County women and children facing poverty, unemployment and housing instability, it’s become all the more crucial to ensure that United Way’s essential services, like the Impact Hub at Paul Revere Elementary, are replicated across the county,” said Sandra Hutchens, former Sheriff-Coroner of Orange County and fellow co-chair of this year’s event. “Orange County United Way is shaping the future of the next generation, and it’s a privilege to help shape it with this committed group of women.”
Other sponsors of the 16th Annual Women’s Philanthropy Fund Breakfast include:
Visionary Sponsor
- Owl Foundation
Investor Sponsors
- Crowell & Morning
- Edison International
- Ernst & Young
- Nordstrom
- Pacific Life
- Masson-Shaffer Family Foundation
- Max & Artyn Gardner
- Sandra Hutchens, Retired Sheriff-Coroner of Orange County
- John
To learn more about the Women’s Philanthropy Fund and how you can get involved, visit UnitedWayOC.org or contact Jessica Vanderwell at JessicaV@UnitedWayOC.org
ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY UNITED WAY
Today’s Orange County United Way is doing more for the Education, Health, Housing and Financial Stability of every person in Orange County. More than a fundraiser, we’re hands-on, delivering more than 50 Community Impact programs countywide. We focus on long-term solutions to the most critical interconnected challenges facing local children and families. United Way is doing more to make long-term measurable difference in the lives of children and families right here in Orange County. To learn more or do more with us, visitwww.unitedwayoc.org.
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Media Contact: Nicole Morrison, nmorrison@cornerstonecomms.com, (949) 200-6110
