IheartOC raises nearly $2 million for nonprofits

After opening a 30-hour fundraising marathon, Orange County Community Foundation’s first “iheartoc Giving Day” raised more than $1.8 million for 347 local nonprofits.

The foundation began planning the iheartoc Giving Day about a year ago with the goal of creating a day that all members of the community could easily participate in giving.

“We always want to put together fun and innovative ways to encourage philanthropy,” Foundation President Shelley Hoss said. “It’s also important for people to know they don’t have to write a large gift in order to make a difference.”

Donations from all over the county were processed through iheartoc.org from 6 a.m. April 21 through noon April 22. Donors could give amounts of $25 or more from their credit cards.

Before officially opening the Giving Day website to the public, the foundation set a goal to receive 5,000 donations. By the end of the event, 6,138 came through.

To be included in the event, groups had to have or create a profile on the foundation’s online database, OC Nonprofit Central. Those who want to participate were required to attend a Giving Day orientation through a webinar or in-person session in Tustin, Santa Ana or Newport Beach. The final step was to sign a commitment form to take part in Giving Day.

The orientation included information on social media techniques to help organizations promote their involvement in Giving Day.

Many nonprofits posted the foundation’s “Give Where Your Heart Lives” promotional video on their social media pages. The video, which featured children of local Boys & Girls Clubs and other nonprofits, narrated the purpose of Giving Day.

With the collaboration of Anaheim’s Angels Stadium, the foundation was able to air the video on the jumbotron during the Angels’ home game at 7 p.m. on April 21.

Nonprofits were able to gather donations averaging around several thousand dollars. These included organizations of various causes including Girls Incorporated of Orange County, which raised $2,425; Down Syndrome Assn. of Orange County, which raised $5,025; and the Environmental Nature Center, which raised $12,825.

The most money of the event was raised by HomeAid Orange County, an Irvine-based nonprofit focused on ending homelessness. It ended the event with more than $54,000.

According to HomeAid Director of Development Anita Rodriguez, these funds will aid the construction of six Orange County shelters over the next three years. These facilities will be dedicated to housing homeless families.

The money raised will also go toward the group’s upcoming diaper drive on May 1 in Costa Mesa. During that event, HomeAid hopes to collect 1.2 million diapers for the county’s homeless mothers to clothe their babies.

By the end of Giving Day, the foundation almost reached their goal to raise $2 million dollars for participating nonprofits.

Hoss and the foundation plan to continue Giving Day as an annual event.