Decorative Arts Society awards $275,000 in grants to 13 OC non-profits

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 (DARTS) has announced that it has given 13 Orange County non-profit organizations a total of $275,000 in grants for the 2022-2023 year. An additional gift of $60,000 from an anonymous DARTS donor has been given to two vetted non-profits.

The organization has given $3.6 million to local non-profit organizations since its inception 26 years ago.

Click on photo for a larger image

Submitted photo

(L-R) DARTS members Marlene Hamontree and Sally Crockett with Bill Peters of Lugano Diamonds (a DARTS donor) at the grant check presentation

“The last two years have been difficult for charities not only to fundraise, but to meet the needs of the increased number of Orange County women, children and families who are at-risk or in need,” said Madeline Hayward, president of DARTS. “This year we have tried to cover children from toddlers through young adulthood as well as provide family support to help them achieve a stable household with food, parenting know how, and the life skills to provide a better future for the whole family. We’re proud to continue our grants program to help these local non-profits provide much needed shelter, counseling, educational, and basic needs services here in Orange County.”   

Click on photo for a larger image

Submitted photo

(L-R) Cathy Seelig of Friendly Center, Beth Brown of Build Futures, Madeline Hayward of DARTS, Maura Byron of Family Support Network and Katie Feige of Homeless Intervention Services at the grant presentation luncheon at the Pacific Club

The Orange County charities who received grants include:

–Breast Cancer Solutions provides direct financial assistance to up to 130 clients to eliminate financial barriers to breast cancer treatments. This includes transportation, food and rent assistance.

–Build Futures will use their grant for its Steps to Success program. It provides homeless young adults ages 18-24 with immediate housing, basic needs, job assistance and counseling so they can be self-sufficient.

–Casa Youth Shelter will fund theit Residential Shelter Care Program for youths ages 12-17. Their 24-hour service provides emergency housing and counseling for youth suffering from abuse and/or mental health issues, or who are runaways.

–Caterina’s Club will use their grant for the Feeding Kids in America program, which feeds 12,000 children each day from hotels or cars at Boys & Girls Clubs, schools and community centers in Orange County.

–Family Support Network will use the grant for their Bright Horizons and BLOOM programs, which identify developmental delays in young children and provides family counseling and support services to address these problems.

–Friendly Center will use the funds for its the new center to provide walk-in counseling, after-school tutoring, a library and 15 other services to low-income families in need.

–Fristers will use their grant to fund Life Coach and Kidster programs, which work in tandem to help very young teen mothers and their children in Orange County.

–Homeless Intervention Services will fund their Transitional Housing Program, which provides wrap-around services for homeless families who will live together.

–Hope Builders will support their outstanding Healthcare Training Program, a back-end medical or an occupational autism class with counseling and life skills training that ends with a certificate and job placement.

–Laura’s House will fund their educational program, HEART, on teen dating and teen self-esteem to bring it to more high schools and teen groups.

 –Laurel House/Hope Harbor will use their grant to fund the Residential Shelter Care Program, which provides residential/mental long-term counseling for at-risk teens in a home environment. 

 –South County Outreach will support their Hunger and Homeless Prevention services, including The Market, their extensive food pantry. 

 –Women’s Transitional Living Center will use their grant to fund its shelter and supportive services for women and children surviving violence in the family. 

 The additional $60,000 donor gift will help fund two special projects, including a new van for Caterina’s Kitchen, which will distribute meals to children around Orange County and a safe new play yard for children at the Women’s Transitional Living Center. 

For more information on the Decorative Arts Society, visit www.decorativeartssociety.net.