Insurance company donates millions

B.W. COOK

Newport Beach-based Pacific Life Insurance handed out more than $3

million in grants last week at a reception held at its Fashion Island

national headquarters.

Representatives from 190 nonprofit agencies in Orange County

converged upon the Pacific Life building, entering a white tent

erected for the cocktail reception and benefit. Gifts bestowed on

local charities ranged between $2,500 and $100,000, with $2.4 million

distributed to appreciative recipients at the party.

“The balance of $600,000 will be donated throughout 2004 to

additional recipients, including the United Way,” Pacific Life

representative John Soller said.

On hand for the occasion was Bob Haskell, president of the Pacific

Life Foundation. Addressing the crowd at sunset, Haskell said, “Now

more than ever, nonprofit agencies need sustained financial support

and we are pleased to be able to do our share.”

Founded in 1868, Pacific Life, California’s largest life insurance

company, has made an ongoing commitment to serving the community.

“Pacific Life has maintained our Foundation’s funding levels in

spite of tough economic times during the past few years,” Haskell

said.

Soller clarified the company position on community service.

“The grants awarded are designated in four major categories:

health and human services; arts and culture; education; community and

environment.”

The funding was divided as follows: $974,500 to health and human

services, $374,500 to environmental agencies, $682,000 to educational

services, $319,500 to artistic and cultural pursuits and $54,500 to

civic agencies. In addition to funding established and traditional

avenues of community assistance, the Pacific Life Foundation prides

itself on reaching out to the lesser-known, less popular agencies in

need.

This year, a major grant of $60,000 was given to the AIDS Services

Foundation of Orange County. Another major gift of $87,000 was given

to the Orange County Department of Education’s Advancement Via

Individual Determination Program.

“This unique program prepares underachieving middle and high

school students for four-year college eligibility,” Soller said.

The Ocean Alliance received $115,000, completing a $500,000 pledge

from Pacific Life to assist funding their Voyage of the Odyssey. The

money will be used to help finance a five-year global initiative

studying concentrations of synthetic contaminants in the world’s

oceans.

Others included in the granting process were the Newport Harbor

Nautical Museum, the Surfrider Foundation, Wetlands and Wildlife

Center, Newport-Mesa Schools Foundation, YMCA, Girls Incorporated,

Corona del Mar School Foundation, KOCE Public Television, Orange

County Performing Arts Center, Discovery Science Center and South

Coast Repertory.

Many others were given grants, making the Pacific Life gifts some

of the most significant in the Newport-Mesa community. For more

information, call Soller at (949) 219-3416.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.