ORANGE COUNTY GIFTS AND GRANTS

Lincoln Seeks $1 Million for Schools

Irvine-based Lincoln Mercury launched its Tools for Achievement program, which hopes to raise $1 million for the state’s public and private elementary schools.

Through Dec. 31, when a parent or guardian of a student at a participating California K-6 school buys or leases a 1999 Lincoln or Mercury vehicle, Lincoln Mercury will send that student’s school a $250 check.

The program will also provide environmental education videotapes and print materials to more than 8,000 elementary schools. The 20-minute videotapes highlight the accomplishments and contributions of environmentalists and to salute independent thinkers. The goal is to reinforce in the students the importance of having confidence in themselves and their ideas.

For more information, contact a Lincoln Mercury dealer or call (949) 788-2335.

FINOVA Employees Raise Funds

Employees of FINOVA Realty Capital in Irvine competed in a 2-mile relay in Orange on Saturday to raise $40,000 for the Orangewood Children’s Foundation and Creating Pride art development program.

Orangewood was founded in Orange in 1980 to provide programs to prevent child abuse and to help foster children and those in protective custody ([714] 935-7584).

Creating Pride is a Chicago-based art program for children. Four Orange County schools participate in the program. [(949) 645-0988.)

Newport Center Receives Grants

The Assessment and Treatment Services Center of Newport Beach, a nonprofit organization that provides free counseling to at-risk children and their families, received $10,000 from the Weingart Foundation in Los Angeles to renovate its counseling office. The Charter Oak Foundation of Palo Alto also donated $3,000 to the project. ATSC can be reached at (949) 756-0993.

Soroptimists Assist YWCA Program

Soroptimist International of Orange has made a gift of $1,000 to the YWCA of Central Orange County’s First Steps program.

First Steps is a traditional housing and support program being developed by the YWCA to aid female youth emancipating from foster care and protective service institutions.

First Steps, which will open in Orange later this year, will house 14 young women who will receive housing, access to education, counseling, transportation and job training and placement. YMCA can be reached at (714) 633-4950.