Generous Year Worth Repeating

The generosity of Orange County residents who donated money to the new Performing Arts Center now under construction in Costa Mesa and to Orangewood, the new home for abused and abandoned children, was well publicized in 1985.

Less noticed, but equally indicative of the spirit of helpfulness in the community are the year-end reports on donations to organized charities. The Orange County United Way, which helps support 123 local nonprofit charities, has reported receiving $18.4 million in 1985. That’s $2 million more than was donated the previous year, and it represents the first time since 1981 that United Way has exceeded its annual goal.

The reports also demonstrate that charity may begin at home, but it doesn’t necessarily stay there. The Red Cross in Orange County, received $69,000 in donations last month ($14,000 more than in December of 1984). And Red Cross officials disclosed that county residents, in addition to contributions elsewhere, donated $250,389 in relief funds to Mexico City earthquake victims, $169,694 to fight famine in Africa and $41,000 to help those driven from their homes by the eruption of Colombia’s Nevado del Ruiz volcano.

The community can take pride in those numbers. It also can take out its checkbooks again. There is no shortage of charitable causes for the hungry, the homeless and the needy, here or elsewhere. That need is constant, as the response must be.