Hosted by the Orange County Community Foundation, funds raised will build economic opportunity and a vibrant community
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (March 27, 2023) — On March 23, the Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF) hosted its The Future is Working Giving Day, a 24-hour collaborative giving day to support local nonprofits offering programs and services for the Orange County workforce. OCCF today announced that 766 donors contributed $479,791 to 17 nonprofits with a shared commitment to remove barriers to employment, create pathways to success for vulnerable communities and build a resilient workforce.
Although recent data show that Orange County saw employment return to 98.5% of pre-pandemic levels, jobs in June 2022 were still 25,800 below what they were in Feb. 2020, and the hiring pace in the County lagged as employment continues to rebound. In California, pandemic job losses fully recovered, but an unstable economy remains amid layoffs and inflation that continues to weigh heavily on residents. As economic uncertainty persists, nonprofits that invest time and resources in the workforce remain crucial to the health and well-being of the community.
The 17 Future is Working nonprofits – focused on vocational training, economic self-sufficiency, entrepreneurship, and mentorship – share the joint mission of helping make the Orange County workforce more adaptable and resilient. Participating nonprofits included Bracken’s Kitchen Inc.; Chrysalis; CIELO; Goodwill of Orange County; Hart Community Homes, Inc.; High School Inc. Academies Foundation; Hope Builders; Hub for Integration, Reentry & Employment (H.I.R.E.); i-5 Freedom Network; Kherut; Orange County Academy of Sciences and Arts; Oscar & Ma; PROJECT SELF-SUFFICIENCY; Step Forward Academy; Vital Link Education-Business Consortium; Working Wardrobes and Youth Employment Service of the Harbor Area, Inc. (YES).
“A workforce is not just a group of individuals working together; it’s a community of people striving toward a common goal of success,” said Shelley Hoss, president and CEO of the Orange County Community Foundation. “We thank the nonprofits on the frontlines working to make a positive impact in our workplaces and communities.”
The Future Is Working remains 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 local nonprofits with shared missions – from homelessness and workforce development to preserving local ecosystems and supporting youth – to create momentum on one shared day and leverage a combined outreach effort for collective success. Since its start in 2015, OCCF Giving Days have raised over $20 million for Orange County nonprofits.
OCCF is recognized as the center of gravity for Orange County philanthropy, acting as an unparalleled resource for local philanthropists and their families for over 30 years. In addition to the organization’s cause-specific giving days, it offers unique insights, deep knowledge, and a diverse array of tools to support both lifetime and legacy giving – making OCCF home to more than 600 charitable funds benefiting a wide range of causes.
For more information about Orange County Community Foundation Collaborative Giving Days, including key statistics and infographics, please visit https://www.oc-cf.org/giving-days/.
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 $900 million in grants and scholarships, ranking the organization as the 3rd most active grant maker 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, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. View OCCF’s 2022 annual report here.
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