O.C. nonprofits receive funds from foundation

The Orange County Community Foundation handed out more than $525,000 in grants this week, with six Costa Mesa nonprofits receiving funds.

On Wednesday afternoon, Share Our Selves received $25,000, the Illumination Foundation $20,000, Serving People in Need (S.P.I.N.) $15,000, the Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter $10,000, Someone Cares Soup Kitchen $10,000 and Working Wardrobes $10,000.

The grants, awarded to nearly 40 Orange County-based organizations, are a result of the foundation’s ReachOut OC 2012, which combined $345,000 in funds from the foundation with $180,000 in donations from the public, according to a foundation news release. Supporters’ contributions ranged from $20 to $50,000.

“With ReachOut OC, neighbors are helping neighbors through contributions small and large,” foundation President Shelley Hoss said in a prepared statement. “Thousands of Orange County residents continue to struggle to make ends meet with families and veterans experiencing the most critical need.”

The grants will fund a variety of services, including meals; rent and utilities assistance; emergency and transitional shelter; a mobile clinic and health care services for children and families; and employment support for veterans.

This is the fourth consecutive year OCCF has organized a community fund drive to assist vulnerable neighbors. The foundation is based in Newport Beach.

Among this year’s grant recipients was Irvine’s Second Harvest Food Bank, which estimates that 615,000 people, or 21% of Orange County’s population, are at risk of hunger. Its $25,000 grant will support food programs such as Child Hunger Strategy, Brown Bag for Seniors and Mobile Pantry.

Two other Irvine-based nonprofits received grants: Families Forward got $20,000 and Human Options got $15,000.

Other area grant recipients included Collette’s Children’s Home of Huntington Beach, which received $10,000, the Friendship Shelter of Laguna Beach got $10,000, and Laguna Beach Community Clinic got $15,000.

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