Fund-raising group honors Share Our Selves founder

Lolita Harper

GARDEN GROVE -- More than 860 people gathered Wednesday to honor

Orange County’s most generous givers.

Jean Forbath, founder of Share Our Selves in Costa Mesa, and

philanthropists Elizabeth and Thomas Tierney were recognized by the Assn.

of Fund-raising Professionals during a luncheon at the Hyatt Regency of

Orange County.

The group gave Forbath the Outstanding Founder Award to recognize her

work establishing the largest nonprofit organization that serves the poor

in Orange County. Share Our Selves started as an informal church project

and has developed into an organization that operates with an annual

$2.8-million budget.

“When you start something, you never know what’s going to happen; it’s

like giving birth. It is wonderful to see your child make a real impact

on the community,” Forbath said.

She credited the center’s hard-working volunteers for its success and

said the award is reflective of the community’s support.

Accepting the Outstanding Philanthropist award were the Tierneys, who

are founding members of the Orange County Performing Arts Center and

major contributors to UC Irvine and Hoag Hospital.

The Tustin couple has given more than $42,000 in scholarships at UCI

and were instrumental in the creation of peace studies at the university.

“The caring and insight of these two people demonstrate the power of

philanthropy,” said Henry Segerstrom, who chaired the event and presented

the Tierneys’ award.

Elizabeth Tierney said the study of peace and conflict resolution is

even more important after the devastating East Coast attacks. The nation

must have relationships among people all around the world to work through

differences, she said.

Her husband agreed and added that never in recent history has the

country needed philanthropy more than now. Thomas Tierney challenged the

well-dressed, successful people in the room to not only open their hearts

but also their wallets.

“Philanthropy creates community, and community creates security, and

security creates peace, which allows us to live life to the fullest,”

Thomas Tierney said.