CdM resident donates $500K to Girls Inc.

Girls Inc. of Orange County announced this week that a Corona del Mar resident has donated $500,000 to the organization.

The Costa Mesa-based nonprofit’s gift from Gena Reed’s family trust was made in memory of her husband, Nick Reed, who died last year of cancer. The two have been longtime supporters of Girls Inc., whose motto is “inspiring all girls to be strong, smart and bold.”

Gena Reed is also a past president of Girls Inc.’s board of directors.

“I support Girls Inc. because I’ve seen the transformation of the young girls and women that complete their programs,” Gena Reed said in a prepared statement. “They are exposed to science, math, technology and other fields that are traditionally thought of as male-oriented. These young women ‘graduate’ from Girls Inc. knowing that they can choose their career and go to college.”

The $500,000 will specifically go toward scholarships. It was presented in April in Santa Ana during Girls Inc.’s annual Day of Gratitude donor recognition ceremony.

—Bradley Zint

Twitter: @bradleyzint