Hosted by the Orange County Community Foundation, virtual fundraiser seeks to raise $200K in 24 Hours to help close the learning gap
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (August 10, 2022) — On August 24, the Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF) will host Greatness Amplified – a collaborative online Giving Day aiming to raise $200,000 for 12 Boys & Girls Clubs throughout Orange County.
According to the 27th Annual Report on the Conditions of Children in Orange County, nearly half of Orange County students, 222,111, were eligible for the National Free and Reduced Price Lunch program – considered to be an indicator of children living in poverty or of working poor families. These are startling statistics when considering the impact of socioeconomic barriers on students’ academic success. However, the impact on students living in poverty is not a problem unique to Orange County. According to a collaborative of researchers, high-poverty schools spent about 5.5 more weeks in remote instruction during the 2020-21 school year than low- and mid-poverty schools. They also missed the equivalent of 22 weeks of in-person math learning – more than half of a traditional school year.
With the academic progress of so many students at risk, the efforts of experienced youth-serving organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs are more crucial than ever. Boys & Girls Clubs empower youth to excel in school and positively contribute to their communities through engaging programs focused on academics, health, and leadership. Funds raised through OCCF’s Greatness Amplified Giving Day will support initiatives helping students improve academic, vocational and life skills, develop healthy relationships, and cultivate a commitment to lifelong learning and service.
Greatness Amplified nonprofit participants include the Boys & Girls Clubs of Brea – Placentia – Yorba Linda, Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast, Boys & Girls Clubs of Fullerton, Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Anaheim-Cypress, Boys & Girls Clubs of Huntington Valley, Boys & Girls Clubs of La Habra, Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach, Boys & Girls Club of the South Coast, Boys & Girls Clubs of Stanton, and Boys & Girls Clubs of Tustin.
“Early education and after-school programs are crucial for the success of Orange County students, and the Boys & Girls Clubs excel in delivering these much-needed services,” said Shelley Hoss, president and CEO of the Orange County Community Foundation. “OCCF is proud to host Greatness Amplified to ensure that every student is able to achieve their full potential.”
Greatness Amplified is part of OCCF’s iheartOC Collaborative Giving Days, an annual initiative that designates cause-specific giving days focused on critical community issues. The online giving model matches OC nonprofits with shared missions – from homelessness and workforce development to preserving ecosystems and supporting local veterans – to create momentum on one shared day and leverage a combined outreach effort for collective success. In 2021, the 10 days secured support from 8,485 donors and raised a record $4.5 million for 112 local nonprofits. Since its start in 2015, OCCF’s Collaborative Giving Days have raised nearly $18 million for Orange County nonprofits.
To give online during the 24-hour Giving Day, please visit https://greatness-amplified-giving-day.ocnonprofitcentral.org/. For more information about Orange County Community Foundation Collaborative Giving Days, please visit oc-cf.org/givingdays.
About Orange County Community Foundation
Founded in 1989, the Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF) works with donors, strengthens the local nonprofit sector and works to find solutions to community needs. Since its inception, OCCF has awarded more than $870 million in grants and scholarships, ranking the organization as the 3rd most active grantmaker among all U.S. community foundations. For more information, visit oc-cf.org or call 949-553-4202. Be a part of our conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. View OCCF’s 2021 annual report here.
# # #
Media Contact
Alex Torres
Rocket Launch
(714) 340-7842
atorres@rocketlaunchagency.com
