Luncheon – 2015 Honorees

Dedicated to making a difference in children’s lives, Daniels’ passion and vision led her to create in 2002 the month-long Festival of Children, which showcases more than 70 youth-serving, nonprofit organizations and focuses on community, creative, educational, and personal enrichment for both children and families.

In 2003, with the launch of the Festival of Children Foundation, Daniels, working with local, state and federal authorities, was instrumental in having September designated as National Child Awareness Month (NCAM) to heighten child awareness issues throughout the nation. Daniels has also devoted her time in leadership positions with Segerstrom Center for the Arts, as the board’s vice-chair of support groups from 1999 to 2012; Children’s Hospital of Orange County, as CHOC Follies co-chair since 2001, and co-chair of CHOC’s $125 million capital campaign to support construction of its Tower, plus a recent $5 million gift to establish the Children’s Mental Health Center; Orange County School of the Arts, as co-chair and $2 million donor to the $16 million Masterpiece in the Making Campaign; and Pacific Symphony, with support of its Classics Series and Principal Pops Chair, plus funding for community concerts at affordable prices.

Awards for her contributions include those from Girl Scouts of Orange County, OneOC, Childhelp, Child Guidance Center, Child Abuse Prevention Center, Raise Foundation, Maternal Management System, MOMS Orange County, among others.

“Don’t give ‘til it hurts. Give ‘til it helps.” Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, Managing Partner, C. J. Segerstrom & Sons, owner of South Coast Plaza

Crevier’s 20-year support of the Boys and Girls Club of Laguna Beach has included co-chairing the club’s capital campaign for the development and construction of a new facility. He also founded, and is actively involved in, the Earning for Learning Program at the Santa Ana-based Pio Pico Elementary School.

Crevier participates on the community boards for Boys and Girls Club of Laguna Beach and Kids On Track and is a member of the Orange County Human Relations Council and O.C. Probation Community Action Association. He currently supports Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, O.C. Youth Foundation, Career Beginnings Mentoring Program, J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center, Hoag Hospital Foundation, and Human Options and is President of the High School, Inc. Foundation. Time Magazine presented Crevier its Quality Dealer Award in 2002 for exceptional performance and distinguished community service.

“I was a handful as a kid, and I’m not sure how things would have worked out for me without the Boys & Girls Club in my life. As to my giving philosophy, if you’ve had a little luck along the way, I think it’s nice to try and help others, as you may have been helped.” Donnie Crevier

Amato joined North County SERTOMA (acronym for Service to Mankind) in 1980 and is currently a member of the Brea club, where he serves as its secretary/treasurer. He is also a member of the National Development Committee for Sertoma Headquarters and was just elected treasurer of the Hearing Charities of America (part of the Sertoma family).

Amato has been named Sertoman of the Year nationally and been awarded the President’s Outstanding Achievement Award. In 1996, he became a member of the Speech and Language Development Center’s board, where he has served as treasurer and president and, again, currently as president. He has also served on its finance, development and governance committees. In 2007, Amato joined the board of the Center for Children Who Stutter, and has served as its treasurer for the past few years.

“As a nonprofit volunteer and fundraiser, I believe it is our duty to help keep our nonprofits financially sound. That requires fundraising. It can be uncomfortable for some people to ask others for money, but, as a member of a nonprofit, it is our duty. If you truly believe in what your organization does in your community, how can you not make ‘the ask’? This is the truest sense of giving back to the community.” James F. Amato

Kennedy’s gathering of a diverse board of directors filled with devoted business, community and education leaders made it the cutting-edge organization it is today. He leads this dynamic partnership, which includes the nationally recognized BRIDGES: School Inter-Group Relations, Violence Prevention, Restorative Justice Program, a Mediation Program, and a Community Building Program that includes Diverse Leadership Development, Police/Community Relations Training, Collaborative Community Planning, Living Room Dialogues, Interfaith Dialogues, and Crisis Community Conflict Resolution. OC Human Relations reaches more than 40,000 middle and high school students annually, building their capacity to create safe, inclusive schools where bullying, put-downs and disrespect are discouraged.

Through BRIDGES’ anti-bullying, violence prevention and restorative justice programs, the nonprofit has reached more than 500,000 students over the last decade. Kennedy’s vision, frugal financial management and consistent strategic planning have enabled the steady growth of OC Human Relations in effective nonprofit programming.

“My parents taught me that we were given much, so we had an obligation to give back, so I devoted my life to creating a better world for all people, and this work gives me a great sense of fulfillment. I feel like I did what I could to make a difference for my children and for all children.” Rusty Kennedy

Of course, it’s the “much more” that truly sets HKA apart, as philanthropy is an authentic part of the agency’s DNA. Over the years, the award-winning agency has supported worthy causes ranging from health to the environment to human services. HKA provides pro bono support to select nonprofit clients, while other nonprofits receive a steeply discounted rate and significantly more time than budgets dictate.

HKA team members routinely go beyond the call of duty to ensure success. In the nonprofit realm, this means staffing evening and weekend events, connecting clients with causes, serving on boards, creating strategic marketing plans, and brainstorming ways to generate more funds and new supporters. At HKA, team members feel a sense of pride for the extra time they devote and its impact on others.

“Since our earliest years, HKA has been community-minded and philanthropic, and it’s personally rewarding for me to have led this business philosophy over three decades. I’m extremely proud of our HKA team and how our employees go the extra mile to give back. It is so meaningful to me and to all of us at HKA that our nonprofit friends recognize and appreciate our efforts and have made this award happen.” Hilary Kaye, founder and president of HKA, Inc. Marketing Communications.

Headquartered in Orange, the business is an expert in all aspects of individual and group benefits distribution and administration. With the success of the business, both owners are firmly committed to giving back and support nonprofits in the community that help the less fortunate. Since 1985, when Word & Brown was founded, the company’s owners and employees have supported a wide range of nonprofits and events serving those in need.

Most specifically, their support has helped Providence Speech & Hearing Center, Mission Hospital, United Way of Orange County, among others, who are doing vital work in the region. Both men feel proud to have increased their support significantly over the years, in particular, for both Providence Speech & Hearing and Mission Hospital.

“We’ve enjoyed tremendous success since we opened our doors more than 30 years ago. We and all of our employees recognize one of our roles as business leaders is to support nonprofits in our community that are helping those who are less fortunate.” John Word, co-founder, The Word & Brown Companies

“Mission Hospital has always been dear to my heart. My son Eddie was hit by a car when he was six, and we almost lost him. The Mission Hospital Trauma Center staff saved his life.” Rusty Brown, co-founder, The Word & Brown Companies

The pop-up fashion boutique came about because Anika’s sister was the victim of domestic violence and was murdered by her estranged husband in 2011, and Anika wanted to honor her memory and spread the word about domestic violence.

Ortiz, a fashionista at heart, is a seventh grader at El Sol Academy in Santa Ana, and is in charge of every detail for the boutique sale each month, from collecting the items, both used and new, to marketing and managing the funds raised from each pop-up event. The sale items are clothing, accessories, toys and other goods – all for girls.

The boutique attracts upwards of 100 people the last Saturday of each month, and the proceeds are donated to Mariposa for its domestic violence program. Ortiz also presides over classes the second Saturday of each month, where she teaches girls, ages 6-14, about friendship, bullying and building self-esteem

“I think it’s important for girls to learn what I’m teaching at a young age because girls of my generation need to learn the importance of self-worth.”
Anika Ortiz