Volunteer Center Of Orange County

It is not that nonprofit groups in Orange County do not have goals: it is the resources to achieve these goals that they are lacking. The Nonprofit Management Assistance Center and Resource Library, part of the Volunteer Center of Greater Orange County, provides services to help these groups implement their goals.

Businessmen Timothy Ashcroft, William Ellermeyer and Brian Schraff have been appointed to the Volunteer Center of Greater Orange County's board of directors. The members will serve two-year terms. The center, founded in 1958, serves more than 2,000 Orange County nonprofit agencies, schools, businesses, civic and community organizations. It coordinates more than 52,000 volunteers annually. Ashcroft is a human resource director for QLogic.

The Volunteer Center of Orange County has received an $8,000 grant to establish Family Helping Hands, a volunteer recruitment and placement program aimed at Orange County families. The program aims to recruit 400 families to take part in community service projects in Orange County. A pilot version of the program is planned for Irvine. The grant was donated by the Pacific Mutual Foundation, the community service arm of Pacific Mutual Cos. of Newport Beach.

The challenge for corporate America, says George Bush, is to "have a successful business and a big heart at the same time." Speaking at a benefit honoring Orange County and national businesses, the former president said corporate volunteerism provides a community with a "human dimension that government programs are seemingly incapable of providing--no matter how well-intentioned.

Businessmen Timothy Ashcroft, William Ellermeyer and Brian Schraff have been appointed to the Volunteer Center of Greater Orange County's board of directors. The members will serve two-year terms. The center, founded in 1958, serves more than 2,000 Orange County nonprofit agencies, schools, businesses, civic and community organizations. It coordinates more than 52,000 volunteers annually. Ashcroft is a human resource director for QLogic.

The Volunteer Center of Greater Orange County has received a $25,000 grant to encourage community organizations to offer volunteer service and employment opportunities for youths. The Los Angeles-based Weingart Foundation, a nonprofit group that supports community service, health, education and public policy organizations, provided the grant. The money will help fund a three-year Youth Connection Program, said Volunteer Center spokeswoman Debra Walters.

The challenge for corporate America, says George Bush, is to "have a successful business and a big heart at the same time." Speaking at a benefit honoring Orange County and national businesses, the former president said corporate volunteerism provides a community with a "human dimension that government programs are seemingly incapable of providing--no matter how well-intentioned.

The City Council has accepted a report indicating that the county's premier volunteer organization is facing financial difficulties and will allow the organization to break its lease at a city-owned building four years early. The council's 7-to-0 vote Monday, made without comment, also forgives four months' back rent owed by the Volunteer Center of Greater Orange County.

Neighbors who succeeded in getting the Volunteer Center of Greater Orange County evicted from its Chapman Avenue office couldn't believe that Caltrans employees and trucks helped it move to a new office down the street. "I'm sort of glad they're gone, but I'm mad because they used government trucks and workers to move," said Bruce Spielbuehler, an architect who works in an office in the building from which the Volunteer Center was evicted.

Orange County residents have a reputation for being miserly when asked to write checks for charity, but they seem to respond wholeheartedly when asked to give their time. Volunteerism, experts say, has become downright trendy in Orange County. "Tutoring, mentoring right now is very big," said Mary Perez, an administrator at Westminster's Volunteer Exchange. "I think people are realizing it's OK to use volunteers, to use the unpaid manpower."

Orange County residents have a reputation for being miserly when asked to write checks for charity, but they seem to respond wholeheartedly when asked to give their time. Volunteerism, experts say, has become downright trendy in Orange County. "Tutoring, mentoring right now is very big," said Mary Perez, an administrator at Westminster's Volunteer Exchange. "I think people are realizing it's OK to use volunteers, to use the unpaid manpower."

The City Council has accepted a report indicating that the county's premier volunteer organization is facing financial difficulties and will allow the organization to break its lease at a city-owned building four years early. The council's 7-to-0 vote Monday, made without comment, also forgives four months' back rent owed by the Volunteer Center of Greater Orange County.

Neighbors who succeeded in getting the Volunteer Center of Greater Orange County evicted from its Chapman Avenue office couldn't believe that Caltrans employees and trucks helped it move to a new office down the street. "I'm sort of glad they're gone, but I'm mad because they used government trucks and workers to move," said Bruce Spielbuehler, an architect who works in an office in the building from which the Volunteer Center was evicted.

The Volunteer Center of Greater Orange County has received a $25,000 grant to encourage community organizations to offer volunteer service and employment opportunities for youths. The Los Angeles-based Weingart Foundation, a nonprofit group that supports community service, health, education and public policy organizations, provided the grant. The money will help fund a three-year Youth Connection Program, said Volunteer Center spokeswoman Debra Walters.

When it comes to fostering volunteerism, Orange County has taken its lumps. Statistics compiled by the Volunteer Center of Greater Orange County show that 29% of adults in the county volunteer time to support a cause. The national average is 54%. On Saturday, thousands of volunteers hope to prove the numbers wrong. Volunteer Connection Day, a massive undertaking involving each of the county's 31 cities, will involve volunteer projects throughout the county.

While a volunteer force of mostly business leaders and elected officials worked around her, 7-year-old Azure'de Wilkins stared in amazement Saturday amid the commotion at the day-care center she attends. The dilapidated carpets and floor tiles in the Pride Center's classrooms were being replaced by new ones. The basketball court soon would have marked lines, two baskets and lawn free of bumps, dips and holes.

When it comes to fostering volunteerism, Orange County has taken its lumps. Statistics compiled by the Volunteer Center of Greater Orange County show that 29% of adults in the county volunteer time to support a cause. The national average is 54%. On Saturday, thousands of volunteers hope to prove the numbers wrong. Volunteer Connection Day, a massive undertaking involving each of the county's 31 cities, will involve volunteer projects throughout the county.

It is not that nonprofit groups in Orange County do not have goals: it is the resources to achieve these goals that they are lacking. The Nonprofit Management Assistance Center and Resource Library, part of the Volunteer Center of Greater Orange County, provides services to help these groups implement their goals.