Over 600 Attend 13th Annual Women’s Philanthropy Fund Breakfast, headlined by Renowned Filmmaker and Advocate Ramaa Mosley
IRVINE, CA – More than 600 business, community and non-profit leaders gathered at Hotel Irvine April 27 for Orange County United Way’s 13th Annual Women’s Philanthropy Fund Breakfast.
Breakfast Co-Chairs Monica Timpe and Rochelle Karr kicked the event off which raised more than $275,000 to support United Way programs and partnerships aimed at enhancing the self-sufficiency and educational outlook for at-risk women and children.
“Over the past 15 years, the local Women’s Philanthropy Fund has raised more than $4.5 million collectively through their annual breakfasts and nearly $35 million in total to support women’s and children’s programs here in Orange County,” said Sue Parks, Board Chair of Orange County United Way and Founding Chair of the Women’s Philanthropy Fund.
Keynote Speaker Inspires Breakfast Attendees
Ramaa Mosley, filmmaker and vocal advocate for girls’ and women’s rights around the world, headlined the event. Mosley directed the Afghan segment of the award-winning documentary, Girl Rising, and helped launch #BringBackOurGirls, a social media campaign raising awareness of the 276 Nigerian schoolgirls who were kidnapped in 2014.
Mosley cited attending the Women’s Philanthropy Fund breakfast two years ago as motivation for her launching the social media campaign.
“It was at the Breakfast in 2014 that I decided something must be done to raise awareness for these kidnapped young women,” Mosley explained to breakfast attendees. “At that time, there had been no social media activity, no petitions, no action cry. I initially wanted to fly to Nigeria to help in the effort but my then 11 year-old daughter protested. But I knew I had to do something and could still make a difference from here.”
Within weeks, the #BringBackOurGirls Twitter hashtag Mosley posted in response to the kidnapping story was retweeted two million times. This included tweets by the Vatican, First Lady Michelle Obama and hundreds of other world leaders and celebrities.
Women’s Philanthropy Fund Making an Impact
In recent years, funds raised by the Breakfast have supported critical services, facilities improvements and grants for a number of organizations including:
- Early Grade Reading program – ensuring students are prepared to read by third grade at Paul Revere Elementary School
- Early Grade Reading Collaborative Project – after school program ensuring that students have the foundational skills they need to stay on track at Willmore Elementary School and Boys & Girls Club of Westminster
- Job and Career Advisement – working with women to carve out the jobs and careers that will support their families and themselves with Instituto Para La Mujer de Hoy
- Permanent Housing – helping families find permanent homes with WISEPLACE
At the breakfast, it was announced that the Women’s Philanthropy Fund will be “adopting” students at Paul Revere Elementary School in Anaheim.
Event Emerald Sponsors included:
Laura Khouri & Michael K. Hayde
Nordstrom
Opus Bank
Owl Foundation
Scripsense
Wells Fargo
For a full list of all sponsors, visit: https://www.unitedwayoc.org/womens-philanthropy-fund-breakfast
Mark your calendars for next year’s Women’s Philanthropy Fund Breakfast set for May 10, 2017.
NEWS CONTACTS:
Katherine Ransom, Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Orange County United Way 949.263.6176, katheriner@unitedwayoc.org
Michael Suydam
21Strat 949.981.5008, mike@21strat.com
ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY UNITED WAY:
Since 1924, Orange County United Way has been working to improve lives and strengthen our community by mobilizing the caring power of Orange County and focusing on the building blocks for a good quality of life: Education, Income, Health and Housing. By investing in Orange County children, families and individuals, we help them create pathways to self-sufficient lives. In short, we help people help themselves. Through our 10-year community-wide action plan, FACE 2024 (an acronym for Fund, Advocate, Collaborate, Educate), we collaborate with local businesses, community organizations, governmental agencies and individuals to make a long-term measurable difference in the lives of local individuals and families. To learn more or to join our movement, visit www.unitedwayoc.org.
