LEGO is bringing millions of its plastic bricks to the OC Fair & Event Center in January.
The OC Brick Convention takes place Jan. 27-28 with some of its proceeds supporting Creations for Charity, a nonprofit that buys new LEGO sets for underprivileged children around the world during the holidays.
Organizers say professional LEGO artists will journey to the fairgrounds from across the U.S. to display their creations and meet with fans. Visitors also will get a chance to meet the cast from the TV show “LEGO Masters.”
Tickets are $14.99 per person and are available for either day.
For more information, go to brickconvention.com/orangecounty.
AlzOC gets $2 million from philanthropists Argyros family
The Argyros family is giving $2 million to Alzheimer’s Orange County.
The gift, from Julia and George Argyros, Lisa Argyros and Stephanie Argyros, was unveiled Nov. 11 at the nonprofit’s annual gala.
The money will help the organization provide support and resources to people and families dealing with memory loss and dementia, AlzOC said.
“Until there’s a cure, we continue to provide hope through education, community-based support and resources, direct care, and hands-on assistance for every stage of the journey,” said Jim McAleer, president and CEO of AlzOC. “The Argyros family’s longstanding support is a testament to their dedication to our cause, and we are incredibly grateful and honored for their continued commitment.”
On the move
Dave Cummings is the new chief digital officer at Think Together in Santa Ana. His roles includes defining, socializing and implementing a technology vision to help drive the organization’s mission and goals toward education equity in California.
Glenn McCombs is the new chief development officer at IHI Power Services Corp. in Aliso Viejo. He will lead the company’s business development, marketing strategies and growth initiatives. He’s held executive-level positions at NAES Corp., ProEnergy Services and Hydratight.
Orange County Power Authority has hired four team members. They are Gabe Dima-Smith, external affairs manager; Michelle (Lam) Stuart, data analyst; Leyna Phan, financial tech; and Gabriele Friedman, senior human resources analyst.
Kathy Neil is joining Windes as a partner in its tax department in Irvine. She has 35 years of tax, financial, and accounting experience. Prior to joining Windes, Neil was a tax director for a national accounting firm. Neil’s practice focuses on high-net-worth individuals and their closely held businesses.
On board
The Santa Ana-based nonprofit Waymakers has appointed Laura Chavez, Daniel Garcia and Francisco Barajas. Chavez is the program success coordinator at Girls Inc. of Orange County, leading programs for high school and college-aged students. Garcia is the director of information technology services at A-Z Tech Support LLC. Barajas is a Research Fellow in the Ministerial Leadership Program at Harvard.
Santa Ana resident and county supervisor Vicente Sarmiento was appointed to the California Volunteers Commission by Gov. Gavin Newsom. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Appointments
Santa Ana resident and county supervisor Vicente Sarmiento was appointed to the California Volunteers Commission by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Sarmiento has been Second District supervisor on the county board he was elected in 2023. A principal attorney at the Vincent F. Sarmiento law firm, Sarmiento was Santa Ana’s mayor from 2020 to 2022.
Good works
The sixth annual ¾ Time Dueling Pianos fundraiser raised $18,000 for the nonprofit Radiant Futures, formerly Women’s Transitional Living Center. The fundraiser’s name is derived from the statistic that says one in three women and one in four men will experience domestic violence in their lifetimes. For more information about Radiant Futures, visit www.radiantfutures.org.
Harvesters, a women-only volunteer organization that raises money for Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, and City National Bank are giving $68,200 in financial awards to six local organizations that distribute food to the community. The recipients are Orangewood Foundation, Rose Drive Friends Church, Salvation Army, First Evangelical Free Church of Fullerton, Anaheim United Methodist Church and Community Outreach Alliance.
Orange County United Way’s Alexis de Tocqueville Society raised $250,000 at the “It’s Showtime” fundraiser held Nov. 4. The money will go toward the nonprofit’s services that help vulnerable students and local families.
Nominate a business
The district office for the Small Business Administration is looking to honor small businesses in Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.
To nominate yourself or a small business owner in your area download forms and guidelines at sba.gov/nsbw.
All nominations must be submitted electronically by 4 p.m. EST on Dec. 7. Contact Sylvia Gutierrez for local nomination forms at sylvia.gutierrez@sba.gov.
Grants
State Sen. Catherine Blakespear presented a check for $510,000 to the nonprofit Age Well Senior Services Inc. in Lake Forest. The money will be used to buy more hybrid, specialized transportation vehicles to provide non-emergency transportation services throughout South Orange County to seniors and individuals with mobility challenges.
Chapman University’s Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Ethics was recently selected as the Inclusive Innovation Hub for Orange County, made possible with a $1 million Accelerate California CalOSBA grant. The money will be distributed over four years and will help the center focus on helping underserved communities.
Irvine-based The Dragon Kim Foundation received a $140,000 grant from ChoiceCenter of Las Vegas. The foundation offers leadership training, a hands-on mentor, and funding for project in Arizona, California and Nevada.
Status Update is compiled from press releases by contributing writer Karen Levin and edited by Business Editor Samantha Gowen. Submit items and high-resolution photos to sgowen@scng.com. Allow at least one week for publication. Items are edited for length and clarity.
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