As fundraising continues to be a challenge for charities in Orange County due to the pandemic, inflation and other factors, the Newport Beach-based Decorative Arts Society (also known as DARTS) announced that it has given 13 Orange County nonprofits a total of $275,000 in grants for the 2022-2023 year.
An additional donation of $60,000 from an anonymous DARTS donor was given to two approved nonprofit organizations.
The organization has given $3.6 million to local nonprofits since its inception 26 years ago.
“The past two years have been challenging for charities not only to raise funds, but also to meet the needs of the growing number of women, children and families in Orange County who are at risk or in need. “said Madeline Hayward, President of DARTS. “This year we have tried to cover children from toddlers to young adulthood as well as providing family support to help them create a stable home with food, parenting skills and the skills of life necessary to provide a better future for the whole family. We are proud to continue our grant program to help these local nonprofits provide much-needed housing, counseling, education, and basic needs services here in Orange County.
Orange County charities that have received grants include:
- Breast Cancer Solutions in Irvine will provide direct financial assistance to up to 130 clients to remove financial barriers to breast cancer treatments. This includes transportation, food, and rental assistance.
- Build Futures in Huntington Beach will use their grant for its Steps to Success program. It provides homeless young adults aged 18-24 with immediate housing, basic needs, employment support and counseling so they can be self-sufficient.
- Casa Youth Shelter in Los Alamitos will fund its residential shelter care program for youth ages 12-17. Their 24-hour service provides emergency housing and counseling for young people suffering from abuse and/or mental health issues, or who are runaways. Family intervention is also offered if necessary.
- Caterina’s Club in Orange will use its grant for the Feeding Kids in America program, which feeds 12,000 children daily from hotels or cars at boys and girls clubs, schools and community centers in Orange County.
- Family Support Network in Orange will use its grant for its Bright Horizons and BLOOM programs, which identify developmental delays in young children and provide counseling and support services to families to address these issues.
- Friendly Center in Orange and Buena Park will use the funds for its new center in Buena Park. Using a community resource center model, the center will provide drop-in counseling, after-school tutoring, a library and 15 other services to low-income families in need.
- Fristers in Irvine will use their grant to fund its Life Coach and Kidster programs, which work in tandem to help very young teenage mothers and their children in Orange County.
- Placentia Homeless Advocacy Services will fund their Transitional Housing Program, which provides comprehensive services to homeless families who will be living together. The services help them make the transition to a stable life and a job with a living wage.
- Hope Builders in Anaheim and Santa Ana will support their outstanding health care training program, an autism medical or vocational course with counseling and life skills training that culminates in a certificate and placement.
- Laura’s House in Aliso Viejo will fund its educational program, HEART, on dating teens and teen self-esteem to bring it to more high schools and teen groups.
- Laurel House/Hope Harbor in Tustin will use its grant to fund its residential shelter care program, which provides long-term residential/mental counseling to at-risk adolescents in a home environment.
- South County Outreach in Irvine will support their hunger and homelessness prevention services, including The Market, their extensive food pantry. They also have subsidized housing and case management so Orange County residents, especially children, don’t go to bed hungry.
- The Women’s Transitional Living Center (WTLC) in Fullerton will use its grant to fund its shelter and support services for women and children who are survivors of domestic violence. The shelter offers safe housing, intensive counseling for children and adults, and is the only shelter in Orange County to allow pets.
The additional $60,000 donation from donors will help fund two special projects, including a new van for Caterina’s Kitchen, which will deliver meals to children in Orange County, and a new safe play area for children at Women’s Transitional Living Center.
The Society of Decorative Arts, established in 1995, is a membership organization that offers an annual lecture series by nationally and internationally recognized experts in the decorative arts, including interior design, architecture, landscape, fashion and other aspects of the arts. Through subscriptions, donations, and other fundraising, the Decorative Arts Society makes grants to charitable organizations in Orange County serving women, children, and families.
For more information on the Society of Decorative Arts and membership opportunities, please visit www.decorativeartssociety.net.
