Laurels for Champion Fund-Raiser

Banker Carole Bowman can’t make money grow on trees, but she’s adept at raising it for a good cause.

Bowman of Laguna Niguel received the StarLight award for extraordinary service from the StarFinders support group of the South Coast Medical Center Foundation in March.

“When I met her, she had been named Citizen of the Year for Laguna Niguel, and she was actively raising funds for just about every charity in town,” said Joe Orsak, foundation president.

“Knowing her talent, I kept pushing her to do more for the hospital,” he said.

The result was the foundation, which conducts major capital campaigns for hospital improvements, saw record fund-raising years even in the midst of a two-year merger, a time when donors are often hesitant.

“She kept everybody active, and people trusted her,” said Orsak, who also praised Bowman for bringing new blood to the foundation board.

The first female board member, Bowman served as chairwoman for four years. She was a founding director of the Women’s Advisory Council and has chaired the annual charity ball and auction.

Bowman, regional executive vice president for Sun Country Bank in Laguna Niguel and Mission Viejo, also has been honored by the Conservative Women’s Leadership Assn. and the Orange County YMCA.

Although she stepped down as chairwoman, she sits on the governing board of directors of the medical center and plans to focus on raising funds for a proposed $14-million cancer center.

Orsak says he knows she’ll be successful.

“She’s just really committed, and she has a great ability for getting people involved and allowing them to say yes. There aren’t too many people I know who can say no to her,” Orsak said.

*

To be considered for this column, please send information on the Orange County person being honored along with a photograph to Lynn O’Dell, The Times’ Orange County edition, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626. (714) 283-5685.