PIMCO employee-run charity to host fundraiser

Let’s Share Inc., a new Newport Beach-based nonprofit, aims to serve those often overlooked by larger charities, a board member said this week.

The charity, which formed a year ago, plans to host its inaugural private fundraiser July 21 with a silent auction and prizes donated by local vendors, said board member Sandy Benson.

Benson, her fellow employees at Newport Beach-based PIMCO and friends launched the fledgling charity last year after identifying an unfulfilled niche in local charities.

“The whole idea is that we want to help the person who may have fallen through cracks or the person who many not get the check from the big company or organization,” Benson said. “We’re helping out in small ways, but it creates a big impact.”

Let’s Share works with other local organizations and groups to identify those who need help, such as children with disabilities, at-risk youth, seniors and teachers, Benson said.

The first person to be helped by the nonprofit was an elderly participant of a “meals on wheels” program coordinated through the OASIS Senior Center. She needed a new compression hose for a breathing apparatus, but her insurance would not cover the equipment, Benson said.

“I felt like we had given someone a million dollars because that was what it had meant to her,” she said.

As the nonprofit grows, Benson expects that other niches, such as animals and pets, will be added to the group’s mission as well.

To attend future fundraisers or to volunteer, call Let’s Share at (800) 588-2650.