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Legacy Award
Gena Reed

Gena Reed’s philanthropic journey began in high school, where she led a team supporting a young African girl, Emma, needing financial aid for school and food. Many car washes and brownie and cupcake sales were involved. Thus, Emma was the genesis of Gena supporting others less fortunate. After university, her career at a major pharmaceutical company was very successful, having been put on a “fast track.” However, in 1990, she and her husband launched a contract research company and grew the business into an international enterprise, having offices in the U.S., U.K., Poland, and India. She continued to support philanthropic groups, including the environment, women’s rights, and education of children. Working with Girls Inc. and Samueli Academy made her realize how uneven the playing field still was for girls and women. She became committed to supporting them offering scholarships for college. While attending a Spanish immersion program in Guatemala, she saw the same struggles for the girls there, which resulted in her building a training center in one of the poorest communities of Panajachel, Guatemala.

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“I have been very fortunate and am compelled to help others so they can have an opportunity to be successful. I believe women belong in all places where decisions are being made and therefore focus on the education of girls, women, political action, and civil rights.” – Gena Reed

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Nominated By: Girls Inc. of Orange County, Samueli Academy
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Outstanding Philanthropist
Jacqueline Dupont-Carlson, Msg, MPa, PhD, EdD

Jacqueline Dupont-Carlson is a Gerontologist, having multiple degrees from prestigious universities. As founder and CEO of many residential care facilities, she brings more than 30 years of professional experience working with older adults and the Alzheimer’s community. Awards abound from UCI MIND, Alzheimer’s Orange County, Senior Serv and the Aging community, Orange Catholic Foundation, and JSerra Catholic High School. She serves on many boards – Illumination Foundation (Board Chair), Wells of Life, St. Anne School, USC School of Gerontology, Notre Dame and University of San Diego, where she also lectures on aging issues. Jacqueline co-chairs JSerra’a Peru Club’s humanitarian-missionary trips, and having been named the International Sweetheart of Sigma Chi and having a scholarship named for her to provide exceptional college women an education, she also supports the Downey Kiwanis Foundation, founded by her father, to provide college scholarships for the disabled and for those without parents. Featured on CNN, Dateline, Fox News, CNBC, Wall Street Journal, and Orange Coast Magazine, she shows her passion to protect and care for older adults and is currently writing a fictional novel about grieving and memory loss titled “The Cottage.”

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“I am grateful that my parents instilled in our family the importance to serve the unwanted, vulnerable and often forgotten. It is my hope and prayer that my children will do the same for our community.” – Jacqueline Dupont-Carlson

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Nominated By: The Illumination Foundation, Alzheimer’s Orange County, UC Irvine Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders
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Outstanding Founder
Mary Selz (Thomas House Family Shelter)

Thomas House Family Shelter was founded in 1986 by Garden Grove residents Mary and Bernie Selz, who wanted to help the growing number of unhoused families with children in the community by providing them a safe place to live and build self-sufficiency. With initial support from friends at St. Barbaras Catholic Church, when needs increased, the City of Garden Grove and the County of Orange made it possible for Thomas Shelter to become the owner of two apartment buildings with16 units, along with a meeting/classroom area, career development center, food pantry, private counseling room and youth development center. The Selz’ engaged the Sisters of St. Joseph to develop case management services, after-school youth programming and employment services. An additional 8-unit apartment building, purchased in 2018, increased the number of unhoused families served to 35. Impact increased by working with more than 100 local government, community and nonprofit service partners. Mary, now widowed, is humbled that Thomas House has provided rent-free shelter, food and supportive services to empower more than 1,600 unhoused families with children to become independent and self-sufficient.

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“We have all had a time in our lives when we needed a helping hand, listening ear or encouraging word. Bernie and I were the seeds, that with the help of so many others, blossomed into Thomas House Family Center.” – Mary Selz

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Nominated By: Thomas House Family Shelter, Joel & Susan E. Mott, CFRE
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Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser
Rossina Gallegos

Rossina Gallegos joined Union Bank in 1981, and during her tenure, has served in various positions in small business lending, Special Assets management and Multicultural Markets. Prior to 2020, she managed charitable contributions and community outreach in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, and the Inland Empire, making her familiar with the issues affecting most markets in Southern California. Rossina facilitates and manages the charitable contributions and foundation grant making for Orange County. She also implements strategies, tactics and programs to maximize the talent and availability of Union Bank employees with the needs of low-and moderate-income communities. She is active with numerous civic and community organizations, including serving as Board President of Santa Ana College Foundation, the board of the Orange County Children Therapeutic Arts Center, and the Orange County Community Housing Corporation. She is also on the Advisory Board of the National Latina Business-Women Association-Inland Empire Chapter, the Affordable Housing Clearing House, the Hispanic Education Endowment Fund, and the Orange County Human Relations Council. Rossina has been the recipient of many awards throughout her professional career.

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“I consider giving an act of thanksgiving. We are called to give our time, talent and treasure, which means that we all have something of value to give. In the words of Winston S. Churchill,” ‘We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.’” – Rossina Gallegos

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Nominated By: Orange County Human Relations Council, Orange County Community Housing Corporation, Santa Ana College Foundation
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Outstanding Philanthropic Group
Orange County Association of Health Underwriters

The Orange County Association of Health Underwriters is the local Chapter of the National Association of Health Underwriters. It is comprised of agents, brokers, carrier reps and other health insurance professionals. Many individuals and employers have trusted the guidance of one of their members to help them with their health insurance needs. Their members can also be found volunteering at senior centers and community health centers to promote health care for all. Their vision statement is “Changing People’s Lives One Member at a Time.” For the past 10 years they have won the prestigious National Association’s William F. Flood Award for Public Service. Through golf tournaments and the popular Women in Business Luncheon, they have raised more than $800,000 for Cystic Fibrosis of OC and New Hope Grief Support Community. In addition, for many years OCAHU participated in the KFI pasta drive benefiting Caterina’s Club. During the holidays, members hold an annual gift drive for children hospitalized at Kaiser and CHOC and for youth at Orangewood Children’s Home.

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“I am so honored and blessed to be part of this great association. Giving back is a core philosophy, and our members give from their hearts.” – Pat Stiffler, President/Public Service Chair

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Nominated By: Options in Insurance Agency, New Hope Grief Support Community
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Outstanding Youth
Jasmine Chhabria

Eighteen-year-old Jasmine Chhabria, a first-year political science major at Occidental College, is committed to using knowledge and resources to help change the world. By researching the 1947 Mendez v. Westminster court case – which desegregated California schools and served as a precursor to Brown v. Board of Education, Chhabria teaches the current generation empathy, kindness and inclusion. She created a historical reenactment of the Mendez case and has made equity presentations at the OC Department of Education and the Association of California School Administrators’ Every Child Counts Symposium. Currently helping to plan the Mendez Monument Trail and Park in Westminster, a trip to Sacramento as an Irvine Unified School District delegate has inspired her next project to write a bill to update history curriculum with diverse perspectives. Chhabria was named one of OC Register’s 125 Most Influential People in 2021, and received the Greater Irvine Chamber’s 2022 Woman of Influence Award. She is grateful for her many community service projects through Girl Scouts of OC, along with her work with the Sunrise Group and Vanguard University.

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“It warms my heart that a little bit of my time and effort can touch someone’s life for the better. We can all make a difference if we try.” – Jasmine Chhabria

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Nominated By: Girl Scouts of Orange County, Sunrise Group, Inc., Vanguard University
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Outstanding Corporation or Business, Small (1-50 employees)
Talonvest Capital

Talonvest Capital has provided advisory/mortgage brokerage services to commercial and self-storage real estate owners across the country since 2010. With a vision statement that includes “positively influencing the communities where we work” and corporate values that include stewardship, expertise, collaboration, passion, and charity, upon its founding Talonvest committed a percentage of top-line revenue to philanthropic endeavors. The Orange County Ronald McDonald House, UCI Center for Real Estate and Success School for Girls are a few of the organizations where the company does work and provides ongoing financial support. The firm believes companies have a responsibility to support and engage in local philanthropic endeavors and that true success comes from supporting and elevating others in our surrounding communities. In gratitude for the trust given by clients and the hard work of teammates, Talonvest donates annually to the charities for which they have a passion. To date, the company has directly donated approximately $1.2 million to various organizations and dedicates significant efforts towards fundraising for the annual Walk for Kids to further support Ronald McDonald House Orange County.

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“We try to make a difference in the community and to lead by example. Ideally, we can inspire others and create an exponential philanthropic impact.” – Tom Sherlock, Principal/President, Talonvest Capital

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Nominated By: Ronald McDonald House Orange County
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Outstanding Corporation or Business, Mid-Size (51-499 employees)
Ware Malcomb

Established in 1972, Ware Malcomb is a contemporary and expanding full-service design firm providing professional architecture, planning, interior design, civil engineering, branding and building measurement services to corporate, commercial/residential developer and public/institutional clients throughout the world. With offices in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Brazil, Ware Malcomb is ranked among the top 30 architecture/engineering firms in Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 design firms and the top 30 interior design firms in Interior Design Magazines’s Top 100 Giants. To celebrate Ware Malcomb’s culture of giving, the company is involved with many charitable organizations. For the past 24 years, Ware Malcomb has supported United Way in an annual company-wide giving campaign. In addition, Ware Malcomb Chairman, Lawrence R. Armstrong, serves as Board Member and Chair of the Orange County United Way’s United To End Homelessness initiative. Other Orange County nonprofits the firm partners with include Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation’s annual fundraising event since 2012, more than a decade of support for Susan G. Komen Orange County, and the Orange County Community Foundation.

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“We believe in the importance of being engaged in our local communities and giving back to help others through our support and involvement in philanthropy.” – Ruth Brajevich, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, Ware Malcomb

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Nominated By: Orange County United Way, Pediatric Cancer Research Center, Susan G. Komen Orange County
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Outstanding Corporation or Business, Large (500+ employees)
Pacific Premier Bank

Founded in 1983, Pacific Premier Bank has grown to become one of the largest commercial banks headquartered in the western region of the U.S., with approximately $22 billion in total assets. Focused on serving small, middle-market and corporate businesses, the bank provides banking products and services and offers a wide array of loan products, as well as commercial escrow services and facilities through its Commercial Escrow division. Clients are also offered IRA custodial services through tis Pacific Premier Trust division. Additionally, Pacific Premier Bank provides nationwide banking solutions to Homeowners’ Associations and Property Management companies. Actively engaging in its communities, the bank posted 7,460 volunteer hours in 2021, with 2,263 hours performed in Orange County. The bank’s charitable giving strategy reflects its deep commitment to improving economic prosperity for under-resourced individuals, families and small businesses. During 2021, $3.9 million was provided in charitable support, with nearly $1.4 million benefiting Orange County. Among the 100+ OC organizations Pacific Premier Bank serves are Project Access, Women’s Transitional Living Center, Families Forward, Child Creativity Lab, and Templo Calvario CDC.

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“We have a long-standing record of investing our time and capital to help strengthen our communities and support organizations and initiatives that foster economic prosperity and inclusion.” – Eddie Wilcox, President/CEO, Pacific Premier Bank

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Nominated By: Project Access, Child Creativity Lab, Families Forward, Templo Calvario CDC, Women’s Transitional Living Center

Honorees