Hosted by the Orange County Community Foundation, funds raised will help provide lasting housing stability for Orange County’s most vulnerable residents
IRVINE, Calif. (April 28, 2023) — On April 26, the Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF) hosted Help Them Home – a 24-hour collaborative online giving day that aimed to raise $1.75 million for 25 OC nonprofits working to combat homelessness and its devastating impact on the Orange County community. OCCF today announced that 2,848 donors contributed $2,243,947 to nonprofits with a shared commitment to ending homelessness in Orange County.
Although the County of Orange 2022 Point In Time Count noted a decline in the number of homeless residents since its 2019 report, much of Orange County’s homeless population lives under the radar and many are families with children. The 2022-23 Orange County Indicators Report revealed that nearly 2,700 Orange County residents were housed in shelter programs, a nine percent increase from 2021, and nearly 950 were adults with children. Homelessness creates significant health and safety risks for those affected, as evidenced in the 2021 Orange County Homeless Deaths Report, which showed a spike in deaths of homeless individuals over the past decade, with accidental deaths overcoming natural ones.
Each of the 25 nonprofit organizations involved in the Help Them Home Giving Day works directly with Orange County’s most vulnerable residents, providing access to housing and resources to create lasting stability for individuals and families. Participating nonprofits included American Family Housing, Casa Teresa, Inc., Charity On Wheels, City Net, Colette’s Children’s Home, Inc., Families Forward, Family Assistance Ministries, Family Promise of Orange County, Friendship Shelter, Inc., Grandma’s House of Hope, HomeAid Orange County, Homeless Intervention Services of OC, Illumination Foundation, Mercy House Living Centers, Orange County Rescue Mission, Inc., Our Father’s Table, Pathways of Hope, Robyne’s Nest, Serving People in Need, Inc., South County Outreach, StandUp for Kids, Orange County, The Eli Home, Inc., The Salvation Army Orange County, Thomas House Family Shelter and WISEPlace.
“We send a heartfelt thank you to the organizers and donors who supported our Help Them Home Giving Day,” said Shelley Hoss, president and CEO of the Orange County Community Foundation. “The generosity of our community continues to give hope to those who need it most and fuels our nonprofit sector’s valiant efforts to end homelessness in Orange County.”
Help Them Home remains 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
Founded in 1989, the Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF) works with donors, strengthens the local nonprofit sector and works to find solutions to community needs. Since its inception, OCCF has awarded more than $900 million in grants and scholarships, ranking the organization as the 3rd most active grant maker among all U.S. community foundations. 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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