By: Vivian Kennaday

One in Three Orange County Residents Struggle to Make Ends Meet

We often think of Orange County as being an affluent place to live, but 1 in 3 residents struggle to make ends meet – in neighborhoods just miles from where you live. These vulnerable individuals and families are our neighbors, and they need our help.

When our community is hurting, it affects us all. When our students don’t graduate, our future workforce is diminished. When our families are struggling, the economy suffers. And when we have unhoused neighbors, even more, tax dollars get allocated to that issue.

And that’s where Orange County United Way comes in. As a results-driven nonprofit whose impact is 100% local, it is our mission to recognize our community’s most critical issues and address them in a collaborative, effective way.

When we work together to empower our residents to thrive, we invest in our community. And that makes Orange County stronger and safer for everyone who lives and works here.

At Orange County United Way, we are working to ensure everyone in our community has the tools and resources they need to be the best versions of themselves. By providing local programs and services, we are helping underserved students succeed, empowering struggling OC families to gain financial security, and ensuring our homeless neighbors find a place to call home.

And we don’t spot-treat problems—we take a holistic approach because we know these issues are interconnected.

When you support our work, you are helping to give local people who are stuck with limited choices the chance to build a better life for themselves and their families.

We know that, individually, we can only do so much, right? That is why United Way unifies our community’s energies and resources to magnify our impact.

When you partner with Orange County United Way, you choose to join a vibrant community of like-minded individuals, businesses, and organizations, all united in their commitment to make a difference. You become part of a movement dedicated to creating lasting change for ourselves, our families, and future generations.

And there are lots of ways you can choose to get involved with our work: You can donate, volunteer, advocate, or join one of our affinity groups like the Alexis de Tocqueville Society, which provides access to special events and networking opportunities.

Last year, we served over 1 million Orange County residents through our community-based programs and services. And we’ve been serving the people of Orange County for nearly 100 years. In fact, we’re celebrating our centennial in November of 2024.

As we embark on our Journey to 100—set on improving lives for our neighbors in need for another 100 years—we invite you to join us.

Together, we can help our struggling neighbors and choose to make our community the best it can be. That’s The OC Way.

Donate: unitedwayoc.org/donate

Learn More: UnitedWayOC.org.

Join us as we roll out the red carpet and honor the visionaries and game-changers who help us improve lives in Orange County. The star-studded evening features live music, a special honoree presentation, plated dinner, and show-stopping libations. Let's raise a glass to caring for our community The OC Way.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2023 | 5:30 P.M. TO 9 P.M.

The New Port Theater
2905 East Coast Hwy
Corona Del Mar, CA 92625

Cocktail Attire

Event proceeds will support Orange County United Way's mission to ensure local students succeed, struggling OC families gain financial security, and our homeless neighbors find a place to call home. Don’t miss this special celebration of OC's philanthropic spirit.

Visit ocuw.to/showtime to RSVP today.