On August 24, the Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF) will host Greatness Amplified – an online collaborative giving day to raise $200,000 for 12 Boys and Girls Clubs throughout Orange County.
According to the 27th Annual Report on the Conditions of Children in Orange County, nearly half of Orange County students, 222,111, were eligible for the National Free and Reduced Price Lunch Program – seen as an indicator of children living in poverty or working poor. families. These statistics are surprising when considering the impact of socio-economic barriers on students’ academic success. However, the impact on students living in poverty is not an issue unique to Orange County. According to a collective of researchers, high-poverty schools spent about 5.5 weeks more in distance education during the 2020-21 school year than low- and medium-poverty schools. They also missed the equivalent of 22 weeks of in-person math learning, more than half of a traditional school year.
With the academic progress of so many at-risk students, the efforts of experienced youth-serving organizations like Boys and Girls Clubs are more crucial than ever. Boys and Girls Clubs enable young people to excel in school and contribute positively to their communities through engaging programs focused on academics, health and leadership. Funds raised through OCCF’s Greatness Amplified Giving Day will support initiatives that help students improve their academic, career, and life skills, develop healthy relationships, and cultivate a commitment to lifelong learning and service. life long.
Nonprofit participants of Greatness Amplified include Boys and Girls Clubs of Brea – Placentia – Yorba Linda, Boys and Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley, Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast, Boys and Girls Clubs of Fullerton, Boys and Girls Clubs of Garden Grove, Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Anaheim-Cypress, Boys and Girls Clubs of Huntington Valley, Boys and Girls Clubs of La Habra, Boys and Girls Club of Laguna Beach, Boys and Girls Club of the Coast South, Boys and Girls Clubs of Stanton, and Boys and Girls Clubs of Tustin.
“Early and after-school education programs are critical to the success of students in Orange County, and Boys and Girls Clubs excel in providing these much-needed services,” said Shelley Hoss, president and CEO of Orange County. the Orange County Community Foundation. “OCCF is proud to host Greatness Amplified to ensure that every student is able to reach their full potential.”
Greatness Amplified is part of the OCCF’s iheartOC Collaborative Giving Days, an annual initiative that designates cause-specific giving days focused on critical community issues. The online giving model connects OC nonprofits with shared missions — from homelessness and workforce development to preserving ecosystems and supporting local veterans — to create momentum on a shared day and leveraging a combined outreach effort for collective success. In 2021, the 10 Days garnered support from 8,485 donors and raised a record $4.5 million for 112 local nonprofits. Since launching in 2015, OCCF’s Collaborative Giving Days have raised nearly $18 million for nonprofits in Orange County.
To donate online during the 24-Hour Giving Day, please visit https://greatness-amplified-giving-day.ocnonprofitcentral.org/. For more information about the Community Foundation of Orange County Collaborative Giving Days, please visit oc-cf.org/givingdays.
