Clockwise from top : Laguna Playhouse ; Laguna Ocean Foundation ; Laguna Food Pantry
TOP : COURTESY OF LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE
Parks and the city of Laguna Beach to ensure these lands would remain public property . The foundation also offers naturalist-led hikes , guided bike rides , habitat restoration workshops and chances to aid in trail repairs as well as advocating for open space and educating students about the importance of these natural areas . ( lagunacanyon . org )
LAGUNA COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN This nonprofit art college , operating since the 1960s in Laguna Canyon , accepts tax-deductible donations to bolster its scholarship and financial aid programs , recruit and retain the best faculty members and students , provide leading-edge technology and more . Donations can be directed to the annual fund , scholarships or one of the campus ’ many departments , from graphic design to painting or illustration . ( lcad . edu )
LAGUNA FOOD PANTRY Since 1993 , the Laguna Food Pantry has been collecting and distributing free groceries to those in need , now providing about 100,000 pounds of provisions to over 1,000 families per week from its Laguna Canyon facility . The organization started as the Laguna Relief and Resource Center to aid those affected by the devastating 1993 fire and the subsequent flood and landslides , providing food , clothing and even furniture ; eventually , the nonprofit narrowed its focus to food only . ( lagunafoodpantry . org )
LAGUNA GREENBELT Grassroots group Laguna Greenbelt was started in 1968 by Jim Dilley to protect wildlife habitat in OC , including a “ greenbelt ” of open space around Laguna . The organization continues to defend
this landscape both for the people who enjoy it and the animals that call it home . The nonprofit has written educational brochures , provides mini grants for local teachers to lead field trips and awards scholarships for Laguna high school students involved in environmental activities . ( lagunagreenbelt . org )
LAGUNA OCEAN FOUNDATION Launched in 2003 , Laguna Ocean Foundation expanded a program where docents were placed at local tide pools to educate guests on the wildlife within the water . To this day , they continue to serve as stewards of our coastline , with volunteers spreading the word about local ecosystems to younger generations and the general public . In addition to education , the group is working to “ bring the lagoon back to Laguna ” with its Aliso Creek Estuary restoration project . ( lagunaoceanfoundation . org )
LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE The Playhouse , established as a community theater in 1920 , recently marked its centennial and is one of the West Coast ’ s oldest continuously operating nonprofit theaters ( except for a brief pause on in-person shows during the pandemic ). The Playhouse often presents premieres of new plays and has featured Hollywood stars like Rita Rudner , French Stewart , Ed Asner and even Harrison Ford . Laguna Playhouse also offers a youth theater program and educational outreach . ( lagunaplayhouse . com )
LAGUNA PLEIN AIR PAINTERS ASSOCIATION Landscape painting is alive and well in Orange County — not only because of how stunning the Laguna scenery is , but
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