Earned Income Tax Credit’s Surpassed

Orange County United Way and its community partners have surpassed this year’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) projections using the I-CAN! EFile module in Orange County! 

A total of 4,716 low-income taxpayers accessed the free service at our Free Community Tax Days returning  $6,631,155 in federal refunds of which $2,394,346 is EITC.

Why Sherri LIVES UNITED

Sherri, 4th from left, joins other WPF members at a wine-around

Being a native of Southern California, I have always had a strong identity and commitment to this area.  I started out many years ago, in my twenties, as a Loaned Executive to United Way.  After I married, moved away and started a family, there were some years where I was focused on my own family’s needs and financial independence, and was not active in philanthropy other than some miscellaneous donations.  When I experienced divorce and moved back to Orange County, I learned how difficult it is to be a single mom with two daughters and make it in this area.  I was fortunate to have mentors and opportunities to achieve my own dreams and own my own business.  It was then that I felt a strong desire to give back by helping empower other women and girls.  A business associate of mine introduced me to the Women’s Philanthropy Fund.   I was so excited about the mission and moved by my first breakfast event, I knew this was the group for me.  Since then, my goals and those of the WPF have become the same, to be part of the MOST POWERFUL VOICE FOR WOMEN IN PHILANTHROPY in Orange County.

One of the important factors in my decision to become a member of the Women’s Philanthropy Fund, was the association with United Way.  I wanted an infrastructure that would ensure there was accountability and results that could be measured for my contributions.  There are many good causes and good intentions out there, but having the amazing infrastructure of United Way behind us, with very low administrative costs, makes the WPF the best way to make my gift count.  I know that my contributions and volunteer time have had and impact and created change.   

As a member of the WPF, I was visiting agencies under the United Way umbrella that our contributions were helping

Sherri and fellow WPF member Artyn Gardner traveled to Washington DC with United Way

 with financial literacy education, or other special programs for their recipients, to help them achieve self-sufficiency.  One of the agencies was WisePlace.  It was here that I realized again that those in need spanned all socio-economic levels and could just as easily be me or others close to me.  I learned of a woman who had been in a long term marriage, had a secure life and nice home.  At an older age, she was widowed and had few skills to be independent.  She lost her home and was living in the back of her car, a Mercedes Benz with her clothes and few belongings.  She had come to WisePlace for help as she was too proud to tell her children of her plight.  It confirmed for me the importance of supporting your community when you are financially able.

In 2009, I co-chaired the Women’s Philanthropy Fund breakfast fundraising event.  This was a rewarding and life changing event.  My co-chair and I agreed to lead this effort just as the economy was crashing.  The thought of asking others to give when they had just lost much of their financial security was daunting.  Our team had to figure out how to bring excitement and relevance to our cause.  We wanted to be sure that we could make their precious gifts really count.  We took the message that although our personal struggles and losses were significant, we were still surviving and the women and girls in Orange County needed us more than ever because they were not surviving.  The community responded and we raised more money than any previous event.  This was one of the most rewarding experiences to see everyone pull together and realize the power of the numbers.  Our theme was MAKE YOUR GIFT COUNT and we did!

This year, I am co-chairing the Women’s Philanthropy Fund with Artyn Gardner.  Our passion is to grow this elite donor circle to empower more women and girls in Orange County to achieve self-sufficiency.  Through this hand-up, we can change a legacy of dependency.  My daughters will attend the breakfast so I can model for them the responsibility we all have to provide for our community through volunteer time and contributions.  The unique opportunity to be part of an organization like United Way who brings all the experience and power of a national movement behind the efforts to help empower the women and girls in our own community is truly amazing.  What a great way to Make Your Gift Count, be a Powerful Voice and join a team that can mobilize for impact not only in your local community but also in a national and global way!!!

Three Families Recognized for Volunteer Efforts

On Thursday, April 15, 2010 three volunteer families were recognized by Orange County United Way at the Spirit of Volunteerism Awards Ceremony at the Disneyland Resort and Hotel.

Team Cohen, Cristine, Rob, Sam and Jack, were recognized for their support of United Way as the youngest Leaders’ Society donors! After Sam collected donations for his eight-birthday instead of gifts, his family recognized the impact their gifts could make and quickly thought, “How can we do more.” The Cohen family had a garage sale that brought in more than $1,000 dollars for our Community Impact Fund and have a car was scheduled for June 5, 2010. Thank you Team Cohen for your creative, family engagement volunteer and donation efforts!  

Team Willis is composed of George, Dewane, Geordan and Geornay who are some of United Way’s biggest advocates! In addition to George serving in various leadership roles, he also believes in sharing his legacy of giving and volunteerism with his children.  Most notably, this past Thanksgiving, George, his wife Dewane, his son Geordan and his daughter Geornay, with a friend, joined United Way at a local food bank to assist in creating food baskets for needy families (pictures attached).  After the event, George shared how much he enjoyed the volunteer event.  “Not only was it special for us to be together and do something we enjoyed as a family. The memory of my son taking the baskets to the cars of those who needed it most is a memory for all times.  There was also a new mile stone with my daughter bringing her best friend to assist on her friend’s Birthday. 

 Team Quackenbush was also recognized for their family volunteer efforts and for the volunteer commitment of Steve and Shirley who are the 2010 Tocqueville Society Co-Chairs. Shirley and Steve have continued to promote the importance of giving back to those in need to their children Reed and Marshall. As Tocqueville Society members, the Quackenbush family spends time participating in volunteer activities – like packing food boxes for the hungry and making holiday care packages. Thank you team Quackenbush team for your outstanding committment to Orange County United Way, and our community!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the words of Walt Disney, “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” Thank you to our fabulous volunteers!

Le Carnival 2010

On April 2nd, 2010, almost 2,000 UC Irvine undergraduate students came together to hold a community-wide philanthropy event that would benefit two of Orange County United Way’s very own funded programs: Illumination Foundation and Human Options.

Le Carnival, benefitting Illumination Foundation and Human Options

The 2nd annual Le Carnival, coordinated by UC Irvine’s Alpha Chi Omega sorority and Kappa Sigma fraternity, transformed the campus’s Ring Road into a real life carnival, reaching out to not just the student body of UC Irvine, but also to faculty members, administration, and the entire Irvine community. It featured over 17 booths with unique carnival-style games, cotton candy sales, and even a dunk tank – all of which required purchased tickets for participation and play – as well as live music. In addition, Le Carnival sold delicious food, and raffled off a large spectrum of prizes, all of which were donated by local Orange County businesses,. Five vendors also generously provided an initial donation, as well as a significant portion of their sales, to the cause.

The Dunk Tank at Le Carnival!

Above the fun attractions, a clothing drive was also held in the form of a competition between the organizations involved to see who could gather the most donated items. At the end of a mere five-hour event, UC Irvine’s Alpha Chi Omega and Kappa Sigma, with the support of their peers and community members, had raised over $3,000 in monetary donations, as well as countless bags of clothing that would all go towards those at Illumination Foundation and Human Options. Visit our YouTube channel to see a short clip on Le Carnival!

UC Irvine's Alpha Chi Omega and Kappa Sigma

Orange County United Way is always excited and appreciative to see such creative volunteer efforts by our community members. If you are interested in volunteer opportunities to benefit one of our many funded partners, visit Volunteer Solutions now!

Why Cindi Bruner LIVES & GIVES UNITED

My involvement with United Way began in 1988 when I served as a campaign coordinator for Orange County United Way and Riverside United Way. Though I was involved, I wasn’t entirely committed until a United Way supported program helped me through a devastating period of time.

In 1995, my husband was diagnosed with cancer and after one year of treatment, he was diagnosed as terminal. My sons, aged three, and I were devastated. Within hours of the terminal diagnosis, a hospice program funded by United Way was at our side; counseling and comforting our family. After my husband’s death, my boys and I still received counseling and support from the hospice program which provided encouragement and a sense of stability. My husband and I were fortunate enough to have fantastic employers who helped me emerge financially healthy, as well as a strong family support system.

From this experience, I learned that many of us are one single line between surviving and devastation. I often wonder where I would be if my employer or my family could not support me and, if I had not had such a fantastic hospice organization to help my family.

Cindi (second from left) and other WLF model in their Michael Kors outfits at recruitment event

Now, I’m re-married and my sons are healthy and happy – and I’m committed to giving back. I’ve continued to support United Way as a campaign coordinator, now for all Nordstrom’s in Orange County and Los Angeles. I also spent time as a campaign cabinet member. Most importantly, I’m a member of Orange County United Way’s Women Looking Forward donor circle, a group of women donors committed to improving the lives of women and children in Orange County.

I love what Women Looking Forward does for our community. We give, we share and we have created a strong, healthy environment for women to give back. I’m extremely grateful for the services United Way provides and for the philanthropic opportunities I’ve been involved with.