Foundation celebrates $1.1 billion in granting and honors community leaders with Judith Swayne Leadership Awards
IRVINE, Calif. (Nov. 25, 2024) — The Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF) one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing community foundations, celebrated a milestone anniversary with an inspiring event highlighting 35 years of philanthropic impact in Orange County, across the country and around the world. With a theme of “35 Years of Growing the Good” and a rousing keynote by Ambassador Gaddi H. Vasquez, the celebration drew 750 philanthropists and community leaders at the Hyatt Regency Irvine on November 21.
OCCF’s cumulative granting has now exceeded $1.1 billion to support a wide range of causes from education, health and human services to the environment, arts and culture and more through more than 650 charitable funds. In FY 2024 alone, the Foundation awarded over $86 million, confirming its role as the 7th most active grantmaker among 800 community foundations nationwide.
“As we look beyond our 35th year, we are committed to building an even stronger foundation for the future” said OCCF CEO Shelley Hoss. “We are deeply grateful to our donors, nonprofit leaders, and the Orange County community for their generosity, vision and partnership. We can’t wait to see what the future holds as we continue our work to build an Orange County where all have the opportunity to thrive.”
The evening’s highlights included musical performances by the Panther Jazz Band from Chapman University and MenAlive: the OC Gay Men’s Chorus, surprise guest U.S. Army Master Sergeant Daniel Hadder, and a celebration of OCCF’s 35-year milestones by President Tammy Tumbling and CFO Tracy Branson. A rousing keynote by former U.N. Ambassador and OCCF Board Member Gaddi H. Vasquez capped the event with insightful and inspiring reflections on Orange County’s promise and potential as a model for communities across the nation.
A special presentation of the Judith Swayne Leadership Award brought OCCF founder Judy Swayne’s husband Keith and daughter Anne Swayne Keir to the stage to honor two outstanding nonprofit leaders with grants of $25,000: Miguel Hernandez, executive director of Orange County Congregation Community Organization (OCCCO) which empowers individuals and congregations to use their voice to make positive, lasting change within low-income communities of color and Iosefa Alofaituli, co-founder and executive director of CIELO, which connects minority-owned small businesses with the tools, resources and mentorship they need to turn side hustles into thriving enterprises.
A poignant moment launched the evening’s program when CEO Shelley Hoss introduced surprise guest Master Sergeant Daniel Hadder of the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division. A neighborhood project in 2012 to send care packages to troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan became a 12-year pen-pal relationship between the Hoss family and Daniel as he moved through deployments in the Middle East, Europe and the U.S. After closing last year’s Annual Meeting with this story in celebration of OCCF’s Veterans Initiative, Hoss was moved to meet the Hadders in person for the first time, which occurred just two days before the 35th anniversary event so that Hadder could join Hoss onstage to open the evening’s program, bringing their story full circle and demonstrating the lasting impact that a small act of kindness can have at home and abroad.
For 35 years, OCCF has been dedicated to transforming its community’s heartfelt intention into greater impact for good. The Foundation has accomplished this by working hand-in-hand with local donors, nonprofit partners, and community leaders as expert advisors and innovators. OCCF invites more allies to join in advancing its mission for Orange County’s future. To learn more about the Orange County Community Foundation and how you can make a difference, visit www.oc-cf.org.
OCCF appreciates all the generous sponsors of our 35th Anniversary Celebration:
35th Anniversary Partners
A Little Help Foundation
Dennis & Carol Berryman
Patrick and Paula Donahue Family Foundation
Draper Family Fund
The Heeschen Family
H&H Lee Charitable Foundation
Joe MacPherson Foundation
Palmer Family Foundation
Bill and Pat Podlich
Richard and Elizabeth Steele Endowment Fund
The Keith and Judy Swayne Family Foundation Fund
Peter and Ginny Ueberroth Family Foundation
Gold Partners
Schoellerman Foundation
Sun Family Foundation
Linda & Tod White
Silver Partners
Debbie & Dan Bolar
Cal State Fullerton
Edison International
Edwards Lifesciences Foundation
Gibson Dunn
Rimrock Capital Management
Samueli Foundation
UC Irvine Foundation
Ambassador Gaddi & Elaine Vasquez
Bronze Partners
Block Family Foundation
Crevier Family Foundation
Julie Hill Foundation
Parker Kennedy
Warren H. Lortie
Marisla Foundation
Pacific Symphony
RGP
Copper Partners
Adelante Partners
Deloitte
Holte Family Fund
Human Options
Kristen Monson & Brad Horner
Northern Trust
Think Together
Thompson Family Foundation
The Wooden Floor
About Orange County Community Foundation
The Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF) combines giving strategy, community intelligence, enduring relationships, and heartfelt intention to amplify the power of giving and its profound result: greater good in Orange County, and beyond. We serve as a resource for individual and family philanthropists, facilitate grant and scholarship programs, and lead community-based initiatives. We inspire giving and connect people and resources to create sustainable impact, granting more than $1.1 billion since 1989 in Orange County, across the country, and around the world. For more information, visit oc-cf.org or call (949) 553-4202. Be a part of our conversation on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. View OCCF’s 2024 annual report here.
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