Laura’s House, Orange County Community Foundation Unite in Support of
Healthy Teen Relationships on “Love Is” Giving Day
24-hour fundraiser seeks to raise $100K for nonprofits committed
to supporting, educating, and empowering Orange County teens
Laura’s House, an Orange County-based nonprofit authority on breaking the cycle of violence, today announced its partnership with the Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF) and nine nonprofits for the annual Love Is Giving Day on February 10. The 24-hour online effort to support healthy teen relationships in Orange County aims to raise over $100,000 for local nonprofits who are committed to supporting, educating, and empowering local teens. For more information and to donate, visit: https://love-is-giving-day.ocnonprofitcentral.org/.
The past few years have seen a startling uptick in self-harm, suicide , domestic abuse and hate crime cases in Orange County. Those numbers have only increased since the pandemic began in March, as school closures and other social distancing requirements have cut off a primary source of psychological support for many teens, putting them at higher risk of anxiety or depression. Each year, Laura’s House serves over 15,000 youth through education and outreach workshops facilitated to middle and high school students on the topics of healthy relationships, recognizing red flags and self-esteem.
Held during Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month and with Valentine’s Day around the corner, the Giving Day challenges Laura’s House and its community partners to redefine what Love Is and inspires individuals to recognize their inherent value. It is an opportunity for donors to be part of a combined effort aimed at delivering life-changing support to those who need it. For Laura’s House, this means equipping Orange County residents with the tools and resources to achieve lives free of violence and providing prevention education to local adolescents and at-risk youth – helping them establish healthy relationships and boundaries and learn appropriate conflict resolution skills. For those served by Laura’s House teen H.E.A.R.T (Healthy Emotions and Attitudes in Relationships Today) program, Love Is self-love.
“Prevention Education is vital to ending the cycle of violence,” said Margaret Bayston, CEO/executive director at Laura’s House. “We are pleased to be a part of the Love Is campaign each year to raise vital funds to support Orange County youth and play an important role in equipping them to recognize unhealthy behaviors and how to engage in healthy ones.”
The 10 nonprofits participating in Love Is include: Casa de la Familia; Find Your Anchor; Initiative to End Family Violence, UC Irvine; Laura’s House; LGBTQ Center OC; OC Pride; Orange County Family Justice Center Foundation; Planned Parenthood-Orange & San Bernardino Counties, Inc.; The Priority Center; and Women’s Transitional Living Center, Inc.
“This Giving Day provides a vital opportunity to support the nonprofits working hard to provide a nurturing and empowering environment to teens in need,” said Tammy Tumbling, executive vice president and COO of OCCF. “We are proud to help facilitate this collaborative community effort which seeks to break cycles of self-harm, violence, and abuse – and together build a safer and more loving Orange County.”
The Love Is campaign is part of OCCF’s iheartOC Collaborative Giving Days, an annual initiative which designates 10 days out of the year as cause-specific giving days and challenges residents to engage in supporting ongoing community issues. The online giving model matches OC nonprofits with shared missions – from homelessness to preserving ecosystems to supporting local veterans – to gain momentum on one shared day and leverage a combined marketing effort for collective success. In 2020, the 10 days secured support from 6,476 donors and raised a record $3,227,500 for 98 nonprofits. Since its start in 2015, OCCF’s Collaborative Giving Days has raised more than $10 million for Orange County nonprofits.
To give online during the 24-hour Love Is Giving Day, please visit love-is-giving-day.ocnonprofitcentral.org. For more information about Orange County Community Foundation Collaborative Giving Days, please visit oc-cf.org/givingdays.
About Laura’s House
Laura’s House was established in 1994 to deliver domestic violence services throughout Orange County and the surrounding regions of Southern California. Our mission is: changing social beliefs, attitudes and the behaviors that perpetuate domestic violence while creating a safe space in which to empower individuals and families affected by abuse. Over the past 27 years, Laura’s House has provided shelter with support services to approximately 6,200 abused men, women, and children and non-residential direct services including 24-hour crisis intervention, counseling, life skills education, and legal assistance to nearly 68,000 persons. Our vision is to end the epidemic of domestic violence so that everyone can live free of abuse. Connect with Laura’s House on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
About Orange County Community Foundation
Founded in 1989, the Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF) works with donors, strengthens the local nonprofit sector and works to find solutions to community needs. Since its inception, OCCF has awarded more than $732 million in grants and scholarships, placing the organization in the top two percent in grantmaking among U.S. community foundations. For more information, visit oc-cf.org or call 949-553-4202. Be a part of our conversation on Facebook Twitter and Instagram. View OCCF’s 2020 annual report here.
