Newsletter

California JPIA Team Continues Its Tradition of Community Service

During November and December 2023, staff at the California JPIA took part in a donation drive for the Orangewood Foundation, an organization providing support to current and former foster youth in Orange County. This effort aimed to offer hope to local youth facing challenges while providing a way for staff to contribute time and resources during the holiday season.

Management Analyst Courtney Morrison, Senior Risk Manager Alex Mellor, and Administrative Assistant Jennifer Torres spearheaded the donation drive. “Embracing community service is ingrained in our culture at the Authority. Our commitment to supporting local organizations, like the Orangewood Foundation, is a longstanding tradition that both serves the community and brings our staff closer together,” said Morrison.

Read More

The Orangewood Foundation is one of the leading service providers to current and former foster youth in Orange County, annually helping almost 2,000 young people prepare for independent adulthood.

The Authority typically organizes a food drive for Orangewood around the holiday season, but this year, to address more pressing needs, Morrison, Mellor, and Torres coordinated a donation drive for personal hygiene kits. To rally staff and provide some holiday cheer, the donation organizers arranged for a friendly team competition, challenging each other to assemble the most kits.

The donated hygiene kits, non-perishable food, and items from Orangewood’s wish list were delivered to the foundation’s Santa Ana location in December.

“Authority staff are deeply committed and proud to partner with Orangewood Foundation, a local beacon of support for youth, offering essential services such as health and wellness, housing, life skills, education, and employment assistance. The success of these young individuals is a triumph for the entire community. It showcases the powerful impact of a dedicated support system,” said California JPIA Chief Executive Officer Alex Smith.

Visit the Orangewood Foundation website for volunteer opportunities and learn more about their services.

< Back to Full Issue Print Article