only three shows due to his illness . He performed on stage even with a high fever , pneumonia and hooked up to IVs , wanting to show anyone in the crowd who might be struggling through a hard time that they could do anything . Donations go directly toward fulfilling the dream of a child or young adult with a life-threatening illness . ( ltdfoundation . org )
A Million Thanks What began in 2004 as a community service project by then-15-year-old Shauna Fleming , A Million Thanks quickly took on a life of its own . To date , the nonprofit has distributed more than 11.7 million letters of appreciation to U . S . troops stationed around the world . In honor of the organization ’ s 10th anniversary , it began to also fund merit- and need-based college scholarships for children of fallen military members and grant wishes of military members who had been injured ; the latter was put on hold during the pandemic . Just three weeks after A Million Thanks was launched , it turned into a national cause with tens of thousands of letters pouring in every week . After only six months , Fleming and her volunteer team reached the initial goal of sending 1 million letters , but they kept going . More than 50 drop-off locations are set up nationwide to collect the letters , which go to active and reserve military members as well as veterans . ( amillionthanks . org )
Cancer Kinship Yolanda Origel was just 7 years old when her mom died of breast cancer . Only 20 years later , Origel herself was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer , going through chemotherapy , a mastectomy and reconstructive surgeries and seven weeks of daily radiation . Seven years into her own cancer survival , her youngest sister was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer that had spread to her lungs , bones and brain . Due to her own experience with cancer , Origel was able to provide a level of support for her sister that allowed her to die with dignity . Now , as executive director of the Cancer Kinship organization — a nonprofit under fiscal sponsorship of OneOC — she empowers other cancer patients by guiding them through their treatments , helping them regain control of their lives afterward and reduce the risk of disease recurrence . Although many cancer-related funds are raised and spent on awareness , prevention and research , little is focused on addressing cancer ’ s physical , emotional and psychosocial effects . With a location in the Melinda Hoag Smith Center for Healthy Living , Cancer Kinship aims to bridge that gap by helping patients adjust to their “ new normal ” lives as survivors through peer mentorship , group and individual support and survivor education . ( cancerkinship . org )
Orange County Community Foundation Philanthropy is top of the list for this local organization , which helps individuals and families as well as foundations and businesses reach their goals . Orange County Community Foundation has been active for more than 30 years , having awarded almost $ 830 million in grants and scholarships in that time — not just in OC , but across the globe . Giving goals are achieved through roughly 600 different funds , which center around a multitude of causes . One special reserve that OCCF will route donations to this holiday season is the Powering Good Fund , which helps support the Orange County Veterans Initiative , OC ’ s Workforce and Community Resilience Funds . “ During this holiday season , there will be many incredible local organizations working tirelessly to bring the best of the head and the heart to meet our community ’ s greatest challenges ,” said Shelley Hoss , president and CEO of the organization . “ Support of OCCF ’ s Powering Good Fund fuels a stronger and healthier Orange County by supporting our veteran ’ s initiative , creating a more robust local workforce for young adults , and establishing a resilient nonprofit sector that can support all residents .” ( oc-cf . org )
Top : Orange County Community Foundation works with groups like the Boys & Girls Club ( pictured ); bottom : Newport Bay Conservancy ’ s Muth Interpretive Center
Newport Bay Conservancy Natural spaces are few and far between in OC ’ s concrete jungle , but Newport is home to one of the best . California ’ s coastal wetlands were discovered by Spanish explorers in the 18th century , but development over the years stripped away much of their reach ; then , in the 1970s , the Upper Newport Bay was deemed a protected ecological reserve after a successful fight against an effort to turn it into a marina . An additional 140 acres was acquired in the 1990s and turned into the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve and , paired with the reserve , include an array of natural habitats , including saltmarsh , freshwater marsh , mudflats and open water as well as riparian and upland habitats . Education and research are of utmost importance to this group , with kayak tours , nature walks and high school field activities available to the public ; behind the scenes , the nonprofit does everything from wildlife monitoring and restoration work to water quality testing . ( newportbay . org )
Literacy Leaders Learning to read is something that should be afforded to everyone , but often isn ’ t . The Literacy Project helps bridge that gap , teaching second graders special auditory , visual and tactile strategies that allow them to excel at school and beyond . The six-week programs are offered within school settings , at no cost to the student , and help increase self-confidence in addition to reading skills . This holiday season , donations will go toward expanding into new school districts to reach more children , which is important given the negative impact of distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic . And for adults that are learning to read , the Newport Beach Public Library offers Project Adult
TOP : COURTESY OF ORANGE COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ; BOTTOM : COURTESY OF NEWPORT BAY CONSERVANCY
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