12th Annual Women’s Philanthropy Fund Breakfast Supports Early Grade Reading, Self-sufficiency and Rapid Re-housing
IRVINE, CA (May 14, 2015) – More than 650 business, community and non-profit leaders gathered at Hotel Irvine today for Orange County United Way’s 12th Annual Women’s Philanthropy Fund Breakfast.
The event raised more than $365,000 to support United Way programs and partnerships aimed at enhancing the self-sufficiency and educational outlook for at-risk women and children.
“The Women’s Philanthropy Fund Breakfast has become a signature event on the local philanthropic calendar,” said Max Gardner, President and CEO of Orange County United Way. “By attending, everyone has helped positively impact the lives of women and children throughout Orange County. They gave of their time to learn more about the critical work we are doing in the community and they made a financial investment to ensure more families and individuals will have more opportunities to enjoy greater success. ”
The Breakfast was headlined by keynote speaker Carla Harris, Vice Chairman of Wealth Management and a Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley. Harris, appointed by President Barack Obama as Chair of the National Women’s Business Council, inspired the audience with her personal insights on women’s power to make a difference.
“It is one thing to attain a measure of success, but it is quite simply something very different and much more powerful to transform one’s success into something that is meaningful for someone else, for other people,” Harris noted. “That is indeed what makes your success significant. Using your talent, your intellect, your dollars on behalf
of others creates a multiplier effect that is far more significant than you as one person, attaining an accolade or earning dollars.”
From 2004-2014, the Women’s Philanthropy Fund Breakfast has raised over $2 million to support women’s and children’s programs while showcasing the strength and power behind a dedicated group of philanthropic men and women. In 2014, the funds provided support for client assistance and facility improvements for a number of organizations in addition to the following strategic grants:
- Paul Revere Elementary School for Early Grade Reading program – ensuring students are prepared to read by third grade
- Willmore Elementary School and Boys & Girls Club of Westminster Early Grade Reading Collaborative Project – after school program ensuring that students have the foundational skills they need to stay on track
- Instituto Para la Mujer for Innovative Employment – working with women to carve out the jobs and careers that will support their families and themselves
- WISEPLACE – helping families find permanent homes
The breakfast was opened by award winning NBC Dateline correspondent and Orange County United Way Board Member Keith Morrison. The event was co-chaired by Rochelle Karr of O’Melveny & Myers and Monica Timpe-Godfrey of the Timpe Group – Morgan Stanley.
Event sponsors include Platinum Sponsor Morgan Stanley along with Emerald Sponsors:
- Laura Khouri and Michael K. Hayde
- Lugano Diamonds
- The Masson Family Foundation
- The Owl Group
- Wells Fargo
- Nordstrom
- Orange County Business Journal
For a full list of all sponsors, visit: wpfbreakfast.kintera.org/sponsors
NEWS CONTACTS:
Michael Suydam
21Strat 949.981.5008, mike@21strat.com
Katherine Ransom, Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Orange County United Way 949.263.6176, katheriner@unitedwayoc.org
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. To do this, we focus on the building blocks for a good quality of life: Education, Income, Health and Housing. By investing in Orange County’s children, families and individuals, we help them meet their most basic human needs, including food, shelter and medical care, while at the same time creating pathways to self-sufficient futures through education and training. In short, we help people help themselves. Through our new 10-year initiative “FACE 2024” (an acronym for Fund, Advocate, Collaborate, Educate), United Way is mobilizing local businesses, community organizations, governmental agencies and individuals to make a long-term measurable difference in the lives of Orange County youth and families. To learn more or to join our movement, visit www.unitedwayoc.org.
