- One of the top-rated community-impact breakfasts in Orange County aimed at transforming lives of local families and children in need
- Registration is now open
- Millions of dollars raised to support various initiatives over the last 20 years
Irvine, CA (March 15, 2023) – Orange County United Way will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the annual Women’s Philanthropy Fund Breakfast in person on May 18, 2023 from 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. at the Irvine Marriott featuring a special Q&A with Helen Hunt, the Academy Award-winning actor, and accomplished writer, director and producer.
The Women’s Philanthropy Fund was created to support the advancement of at-risk families and children in Orange County. Attendees will learn about the growing needs for the county’s most vulnerable families and children facing poverty and housing instability, and how Orange County United Way, alongside the Women’s Philanthropy Fund, is helping to ensure they can thrive.
“It’s an honor and privilege to be able to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Women’s Philanthropy Fund Breakfast this year with Orange County’s top philanthropists and community leaders, who have given their time, talents and treasures to make a significant impact in our community,” said Susan B. Parks, president and CEO of Orange County United Way and a founding member of the Women’s Philanthropy Fund. “Thanks to the tireless efforts of many over the past two decades, I can confidently say we have made a long and lasting difference for our beloved Orange County community.”
As the event’s celebrity guest, Helen Hunt will participate in an in-person Q&A during the program. She is perhaps best known for the role of Jamie Buchman in the hit ’90s sitcom Mad About You, for which she won four Emmy Awards. Hunt went on to win a Best Actress Academy Award for As Good as it Gets. She later earned another Oscar nomination for her performance in The Sessions and directed the feature films Then She Found Me and Ride.
Since the first Women’s Philanthropy Fund Breakfast hosted 20 years ago in 2003, millions of dollars have been raised to support various Orange County United Way program efforts, including its Impact Hubs, which are located at schools and other centers for community life, and a proven model for aiding and producing sustainable outcomes for children and families facing poverty, unemployment and housing stability. The Impact Hubs’ holistic programs and services take a “two-generation” approach, tackling intergenerational poverty by aligning and coordinating programs to serve the needs of families together.
For example, funds raised at the Women’s Philanthropy Fund Breakfast have provided an on-campus food pantry, housing and financial empowerment center, classroom technology, reading materials, after-school programs and more for students and families at Paul Revere Elementary School for the last eight years. At a school where 86% of the children are on reduced or free lunch and 9% are housing-insecure, support is crucial to enhancing and enriching lives.
Attendees have also celebrated with various influential celebrity guests over the years including Magic Johnson, Erin Andrews, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Misty Copeland to name a few.
Melinda Masson, CEO of BPM Enterprises, LLC, and Trina Norman, Southern California Operations Manager with UPS, will serve as this year’s Breakfast Co-Chairs.
“I have been a strong supporter of Orange County United Way for many years so when the opportunity arose to support women’s issues, I immediately became a founder. I have seen first-hand the many outstanding accomplishments the Women’s Philanthropy Fund has made over the years, and the annual Breakfast to me is a “reunion” of like-minded women and men looking to renew our passion and commitment to making a difference uniquely,” said Masson.
“I feel fortunate to be a Servant Leader to help advocate, educate and empower women, children, and families in the communities we serve. I have attended the Women’s Philanthropy Fund Breakfast for many years as a UPS partner and watched these ladies go beyond boundaries to service the communities in Orange County. I am a proud supporter of the 20th Anniversary celebration and enthusiastic about raising funds to make Orange County a better place to live through the Women’s Philanthropy Fund Breakfast. Join us!” said Norman.
Bank of America and UPS are the Champion Sponsors of this year’s Breakfast. These companies are longtime supporters of the Women’s Philanthropy Fund and Orange County United Way’s initiatives to create a brighter Orange County.
Interested parties can register for the breakfast and submit a question for Helen Hunt by visiting: WPFBreakfast.com. The in-person cost to attend is $300 per person.
To learn more about the Women’s Philanthropy Fund and Orange County United Way, visit UnitedWayOC.org or contact Jessica Garrity at JessicaG@UnitedWayOC.org.
ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY UNITED WAY
Orange County United Way is committed to breaking barriers and improving lives for everyone who lives here. Through our three key initiatives—United for Student Success℠, United for Financial Security℠, and United to End Homelessness℠—we are working to ensure local students succeed, struggling OC families gain financial security, and our homeless neighbors find a place to call home. We step up to actively address the critical issues facing our community and we go the extra mile to make sure our residents have the support they need. We are committed to caring for one another. That’s #TheOCWay.
To learn more or discover how you can help, visit UnitedWayOC.org.
Orange County United Way is a standalone, independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
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Media Contact: Annie Noebel, anoebel@cornerstonecomms.com or (949) 449-2527
