Hosted by the Orange County Community Foundation, funds raised will foster inclusion for Orange County residents with disabilities
IRVINE, Calif. (June 2, 2023) — On June 1, the Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF) hosted Empowering Possibilities – a 24-hour collaborative online giving day for 10 OC nonprofits working to provide support and services to Orange County neighbors with disabilities. OCCF today announced that 276 donors contributed $150,496 to nonprofits with a shared commitment to an often-overlooked population.
A study released last fall highlighted a marked disparity in access to services for adults with developmental disabilities along racial and geographic lines. As the demographics in Orange County continue to evolve, it is crucial that experienced and capable organizations are empowered to ensure that the needs of our most vulnerable residents are met.
Each of the 10 nonprofit organizations involved in Empowering Possibilities offers a range of education and supportive services, including skills training, counseling, and community outreach programs to help residents with disabilities achieve success and independence within their communities. The participating organizations included Beyond Blindness, Dayle McIntosh Center for the Disabled, Down Syndrome Association of Orange County, GiGi’s Playhouse Orange County, Hope Center for the Arts, Project Independence, Reimagine, Tomorrow’s Leadership Collaborative Charter School (TLC), Unlimited Possibilities and Vocational Visions.
“We thank our tremendous nonprofit partners for the effort they put behind the Empowering Possibilities Giving Day,” said Carol Ferguson, director of donor and community engagement at the Orange County Community Foundation. “Our neighbors with disabilities are often overlooked, so we’re thrilled that the Orange County community rallied to support this group so that everyone feels included and achieves success.”
Empowering Possibilities is 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 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
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 $975 million 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, Twitter and Instagram. View OCCF’s 2022 annual report here.
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