Orange County, CA, (May 18, 2020) ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Orange County residents who lost jobs because of the pandemic can apply for help and $800 as part of a workforce program funded with a state grant.
The Orange County Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act program is designed to help job seekers upgrade skills, obtain employment, improve job retention and increase earnings.
The county is using a $900,000 grant from the California Employment Development Department to support roughly 1,500 Orange County residents who have been financially impacted by COVID-19.
Participants can apply for the $800 reimbursement for essential items such as housing, utilities, childcare and transportation costs.
Those affected can apply using the OC One-Stop Centers in Irvine and Garden Grove. For more information, go to oconestop.com or call the Economic and Business Recovery Call Center at 714-480-6500.
Funds for students
The Coastline College Foundation has established the Student Emergency Relief Fund to help its students.
The Coastline Foundation Student Government released $20,000 to start the campaign and is matching support dollar-for-dollar for up to $100,000.
Students typically need financial help to help pay rent, utilities, medical expenses and buy food for their families.
Contributions are being accepted for the emergency fund at coastline.edu/foundation. For more information, call 714-241-6154.
OCC grant
Orange Coast College has received $9.2 million in emergency funding from the Cares Act passed by Congress in March. Some $4.5 million is going directly to helping students affected by the pandemic.
The college in a statement said it plans on distributing the money to students in the coming days, and amounts will be determined based on financial aid status and the number of units in which a student is enrolled.
Students who are enrolled in 12 or more units, and who have the highest financial need will receive $1,000 via direct deposit through the college’s digital banking service, Bank Mobile. Students enrolled in six to 12 units, with the highest financial need, will receive $750, also via Bank Mobile.
Other full-time students whose financial circumstances have changed due to the pandemic, will receive $500 either through Bank Mobile or via check, and those who have not already filled out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application will be provided with an opportunity to complete the application.
Students will be asked to complete a form explaining how COVID-19 has affected their financial or personal situation. Funding through the College’s Student Equity program is available to help students who do not qualify for aid under the Cares Act, including undocumented students attending OCC through the California Dream Act.
The remaining half of the money received by OCC will be used to help offset costs incurred due to the pandemic. OCC’s physical campus closed on March 16 but remains open to the public virtually.
PPE help
Mitsubishi Electric has made an international commitment of $2.24 million in COVID-19 relief to provide medical masks and other protective equipment to medical professionals.
The company’s U.S. headquarters in Cypress and the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation have earmarked $1.3 million to fund organizations that will create greater online learning programs and delivery methods specifically geared toward young people with disabilities. They include:
- Bridges from School to Work: Develop online career counseling programs for special-ed youth entering the workforce.
- Dreams for Schools: Develop an online coding curriculum for teachers and their students.
- Gigi’s Playhouse: Help provide technological support for 30,000 families with Down syndrome loved ones.
Nonprofit grants
Bank of America has directed more than $1 million in grants to 28 Orange County nonprofits primarily focused on hunger and homeless-related demands, in addition to family support services and job assistance, during the pandemic crisis.
The nonprofits include Second Harvest Food Bank; Community Action Partnership of Orange County/OC Food Bank; and homeless service providers United Way of Orange County; Mercy House, Friendship Shelter; OC Rescue Mission; and Families Forward.
Coming up
The Orange County Community Foundation will host the third annual Stand and Salute on May 20. The Giving Day honors local veterans and military families. The 24-hour online fundraiser wants to raise $90,000 in critical funds for seven local organizations. The seven nonprofits participating in the 2020 campaign include 211 Orange County; Bob Hope USO; Goodwill of Orange County; Strength in Support; Strong Families Strong Children; Support the Enlisted Project (STEP) and Working Wardrobes. To give online during the Stand and Salute Giving Day, go to stand-and-salute-giving-day.ocnonprofitcentral.org/.
Orange County United Way will host its annual Women’s Philanthropy Fund Breakfast virtually from 9- 9:45 a.m. on May 20 with a live Q&A with NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He currently serves as the chairman of his Skyhook Foundation and brings educational STEM opportunities to underserved communities. Registrants for the event can submit questions to Abdul-Jabbar in advance at UnitedWayOC.org. The virtual breakfast is free to attend.
On the move
Glenn Roquemore has been appointed university president at California Southern University. The 28-year veteran of higher education and Irvine resident served as president of Irvine Valley College from 2002 to 2019 and will now lead CalSouthern’s day-to-day operations.
David Lugo has been appointed CEO of MOMS Orange County. Lugo had been serving as the organization’s interim CEO since Pamela Pimentel retired in February. He joined MOMS Orange County in 2017 as chief operations officer. MOMS Orange County is dedicated solely to newborn and pregnancy health.
Taylor Arnett has been promoted to first vice president of acquisitions at CapRock Partners in Newport Beach. Arnett, who joined the firm in 2014, supervises CapRock’s acquisition efforts in Southern California and Southern Nevada. Arnett also sits on the corporate board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County & Inland Empire.
Dennis Phan has been promoted to controller in Ware Malcomb’s Irvine headquarters. He’ll manage the financial operations of the firm under the direction of CFO and Executive Vice President Tobin Sloane. Phan joined Ware Malcomb in 2015 as a senior staff accountant and was promoted to assistant controller in 2018.
BNBuilders in Newport Beach has hired Jeremy Moore as project executive, Jeremy Turner as senior project manager, and Paul Cohoat as its preconstruction manager. BNBuilders serves higher education, healthcare, tech, life science, and municipal clients throughout the region.
Michael DiPrima has joined CBRE Hotels in Newport Beach as executive vice president with a focus on investment sales in the Western U.S. as well as sourcing debt and equity placements.
New ventures
John Wayne Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit committed to fighting cancer, will partner with TropicSport, a reef-friendly sunscreen and skincare line, to provide co-branded mineral facesticks to youth across the U.S. through its skin cancer education program, Block the Blaze. Block the Blaze is the official partner of the California Surf Lifesaving Association to provide skin cancer education to CA junior lifeguards.
SOURCE: The Orange County Register