National Philanthropy Day is celebrated every year in all 50 states and three countries – Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom – but, did you know that the charity and recognition event was founded by an Orange County man – philanthropist and attorney Doug Freeman. It took Freeman five years to ultimately have then-President Ronald Reagan sign a proclamation on Nov. 15, 1986 declaring National Philanthropy Day be officially recognized. NPD has been celebrated on a day during the last two weeks of November from that year forward. “I’m really thrilled that the intention to say ‘thank you’ is still being honored,” Freeman said at the celebration held at the Hyatt Regency Irvine last November.