Orange County Community Foundation supports healthy teen relationships with Love Is Giving Day
As Valentine’s Day nears, love is in the air. The Orange County Community Foundation is celebrating by connecting local nonprofits to help define what healthy romantic relationships look like for Orange County teens, with the group’s fourth annual Love Is Giving Day on Feb. 9.
“It is a 24-hour online giving campaign,” said Carol Ferguson, director of donor relations and programs at Orange County Community Foundation. “We have eight organizations that are participating this year, and they are provided tools and services to teens in Orange County to help them have healthy relationships.”
Participating nonprofits include Crittenton Services, Laura’s House, LGBTQ Center Orange County, OC Pride, Planned Parenthood – Orange & San Bernardino Counties, Inc., the Priority Center, UCI Law, and Women’s Transitional Living Center, Inc. The event aims to raise $100,000 to be shared among the nonprofits.
Founded in 1989, OCCF partners with individuals and foundations to fulfill their philanthropic objectives and support causes they care about. Love Is ... is one of several collaborative giving days under OCCF’s iheartOC initiative, which designates cause-specific giving days focused on critical community issues.
“Last year we hosted 10 collaborative giving days focused around different causes,” said Ferguson.
The online giving model matches local nonprofits with shared missions and helps them create momentum on one day to use their combined reach to support a specific cause.
“These organizations come together and OCCF supports them by providing the resources, including the fundraising platform, a digital marketing tool kit and we train them on how to put together their campaign,” said Ferguson. “Then they work together to get the brand out there and to outreach to their communities and beyond to identify new donors who might be interested in supporting them.”
Love is ... is held each year during Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month and near Valentine’s Day, with the intention of shedding light on prevalent issues facing Orange County teens and raising awareness of available resources.
The number of teens experiencing issues when it comes to healthy romantic relationships has been exacerbated by the pandemic, which is evident in increased reports of self-harm, suicide and domestic abuse in Orange County. For almost two years, school closures or social distancing requirements have cut off many teens from their primary sources of psychological support and social connection.
Participating nonprofit and Orange County domestic violence shelter Laura’s House reported 435 calls in May 2021, compared to 229 calls a year prior.
“We are committed to supporting, educating and empowering teens. Over the last couple years they have dealt with a lot,” said Ferguson. “The ongoing pandemic has really heightened the need and the resources that support teen mental health and well-being.”
To donate during Love Is Giving Day, visit: https://love-is-giving-day.ocnonprofitcentral.org/. For more information about OCCF other collaborative giving days, visit oc-cf.org/givingdays.
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