OC difference-makers honored at National Philanthropy Day event
Brothers Ed Lee, left, and Mingo Lee, center, Wing Lam, founders of Wahoos Family Foundation, show off their fashion as they accept the Founder Award during the 2023 National Philanthropy Day Awards luncheon in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, November 16, 2023. Among the many nonprofits they support are the Thomas House Shelter in Garden Grove, Doctors Without Borders, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Someone Cares Soup Kitchen, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, African Wildlife Foundation, Best Friends Animal Society, Newport Harbor Baseball, St. Jude’s Research Foundation, and the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Members of the Orange County philanthropic community gathered Thursday, Nov. 16, to honor those who have made a difference.
The capacity crowd at the National Philanthropy Day luncheon at the City National Grove in Anaheim heard from longtime philanthropists and newer ones alike.
Leona Aronoff-Sadacca accepts the Legacy Award from John Forsyte, President of Pacific Symphony, during the 2023 National Philanthropy Day Awards luncheon in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, November 16, 2023. Her philanthropy includes, among many organizations, Hebrew Union College, Think Together, American Heart Assoc., the Leona Aronoff Rabbinic Mentoring Program, Temple Bat Yahm, Pacific Symphony, South Coast Repertory, and the Jewish Federation of OC. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Brothers Ed Lee, left, and Mingo Lee, right, and Wing Lam, founders of Wahoos Family Foundation accept the Founder Award during the 2023 National Philanthropy Day Awards luncheon in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, November 16, 2023. Among the many nonprofits they support are the Thomas House Shelter in Garden Grove, Doctors Without Borders, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Someone Cares Soup Kitchen, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, African Wildlife Foundation, Best Friends Animal Society, Newport Harbor Baseball, St. Jude’s Research Foundation, and the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ed Lee, left, and Mingo Lee, right, Wing Lam, founders of Wahoos Family Foundation, accept the Founder Award during the 2023 National Philanthropy Day Awards luncheon in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, November 16, 2023. Among the many nonprofits they support are the Thomas House Shelter in Garden Grove, Doctors Without Borders, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Someone Cares Soup Kitchen, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, African Wildlife Foundation, Best Friends Animal Society, Newport Harbor Baseball, St. Jude’s Research Foundation, and the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Leona Aronoff-Sadacca accepts the Legacy Award from during the 2023 National Philanthropy Day Awards luncheon in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, November 16, 2023. Her philanthropy includes, among many organizations, Hebrew Union College, Think Together, American Heart Assoc., the Leona Aronoff Rabbinic Mentoring Program, Temple Bat Yahm, Pacific Symphony, South Coast Repertory, and the Jewish Federation of OC. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Maya Patel, left, her father, BU Patel and her niece, Shivani Tersadia, of the Tersadia Foundation, accept the Philanthropist Award during the 2023 National Philanthropy Day Awards luncheon in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, November 16, 2023. The Patels established the Tarsadia Foundation to give back to the communities they came from – from India to Southern California. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Brothers Ed Lee, left, and Mingo Lee, center, Wing Lam, founders of Wahoos Family Foundation, show off their fashion as they accept the Founder Award during the 2023 National Philanthropy Day Awards luncheon in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, November 16, 2023. Among the many nonprofits they support are the Thomas House Shelter in Garden Grove, Doctors Without Borders, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Someone Cares Soup Kitchen, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, African Wildlife Foundation, Best Friends Animal Society, Newport Harbor Baseball, St. Jude’s Research Foundation, and the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ethan Yochum accepts the Outstanding Youth Award during the 2023 National Philanthropy Day Awards luncheon in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, November 16, 2023. Yochum’s philanthropic work began in 2021 with his work with Boxes of Love and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ethan Yochum accepts the Outstanding Youth Award during the 2023 National Philanthropy Day Awards luncheon in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, November 16, 2023. Yochum’s philanthropic work began in 2021 with his work with Boxes of Love and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A sold-out crowd fills the CIty National Grove of Anaheim during the 2023 National Philanthropy Day Awards luncheon in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, November 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ingrid Smart, president and CEO of Cassanova//McCann, accepts the Mid-size Business Award during the 2023 National Philanthropy Day Awards luncheon in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, November 16, 2023. Her company does pro-bono work for nonprofit organizations such as Donate Life CA, OC LGBTQ Center, Brady Organization, Angel Flight West, and Oasis International. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Brothers Ed Lee, left, and Mingo Lee, center, Wing Lam, founders of Wahoos Family Foundation, show off their fashion as they accept the Founder Award during the 2023 National Philanthropy Day Awards luncheon in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, November 16, 2023. Among the many nonprofits they support are the Thomas House Shelter in Garden Grove, Doctors Without Borders, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Someone Cares Soup Kitchen, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, African Wildlife Foundation, Best Friends Animal Society, Newport Harbor Baseball, St. Jude’s Research Foundation, and the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Douglas Freeman, Executive Chair and CEO of Orange County Music and Dance, is acknowledged during the 2023 National Philanthropy Day Awards luncheon in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, November 16, 2023.
Freeman worked to establish a day to honor and recognize people for their generosity. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed the creation of National Philanthropy Day. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Douglas Freeman, Executive Chair and CEO of Orange County Music and Dance, is acknowledged during the 2023 National Philanthropy Day Awards luncheon in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, November 16, 2023.
Freeman worked to establish a day to honor and recognize people for their generosity. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed the creation of National Philanthropy Day. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ethan Yochum accepts the Outstanding Youth Award during the 2023 National Philanthropy Day Awards luncheon in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, November 16, 2023. Yochum’s philanthropic work began in 2021 with his work with Boxes of Love and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sona Shah, CEO/founder of My Private Professor, accepts the Small Business Award during the 2023 National Philanthropy Day Awards luncheon in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, November 16, 2023. Shah partnered with Illumination Foundation, SAHARA and the Boys and Girls Clubs to provide free weekly tutoring to students in underserved communities,. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Douglas Freeman, Executive Chair and CEO of Orange County Music and Dance, is acknowledged during the 2023 National Philanthropy Day Awards luncheon in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, November 16, 2023.
Freeman worked to establish a day to honor and recognize people for their generosity. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed the creation of National Philanthropy Day. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Brothers Ed Lee, left, and Mingo Lee, right, and Wing Lam, founders of Wahoos Family Foundation accept the Founder Award during the 2023 National Philanthropy Day Awards luncheon in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, November 16, 2023. Among the many nonprofits they support are the Thomas House Shelter in Garden Grove, Doctors Without Borders, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Someone Cares Soup Kitchen, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, African Wildlife Foundation, Best Friends Animal Society, Newport Harbor Baseball, St. Jude’s Research Foundation, and the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Taryn Palumbo, of Orange County Grantmakers, accepts the Philanthropic Group Awards during the 2023 National Philanthropy Day Awards luncheon in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, November 16, 2023. Orange County Grantmakers is the regional philanthropic serving organizations for Orange County. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Taryn Palumbo, of Orange County Grantmakers, accepts the Philanthropic Group Awards during the 2023 National Philanthropy Day Awards luncheon in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, November 16, 2023. Orange County Grantmakers is the regional philanthropic serving organizations for Orange County. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Taryn Palumbo, of Orange County Grantmakers, accepts the Philanthropic Group Awards during the 2023 National Philanthropy Day Awards luncheon in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, November 16, 2023. Orange County Grantmakers is the regional philanthropic serving organizations for Orange County. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Leona Aronoff-Sadacca accepts the Legacy Award from during the 2023 National Philanthropy Day Awards luncheon in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, November 16, 2023. Her philanthropy includes, among many organizations, Hebrew Union College, Think Together, American Heart Assoc., the Leona Aronoff Rabbinic Mentoring Program, Temple Bat Yahm, Pacific Symphony, South Coast Repertory, and the Jewish Federation of OC. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
“My award shows the power of a community lifting all of us,” said Ethan Yochum, the Outstanding Youth honoree who brought the Make-A-Wish program to El Dorado High. He now is a freshman at UCLA.
The crowd also was treated to the stylish appearances of Ed and Mingo Lee and Wing Lam of the Wahoos Family Foundation, honorees as the Outstanding Founder. They sported matching burgundy sports coats with custom linings, and Lam added shorts and frog-green Crocs to complete the look.
The 2023 National Philanthropy Day honorees are:
Legacy Award – Leona Aronoff-Sadacca
Outstanding Philanthropist – Tarsadia Foundation
Outstanding Founder – Ed and Mingo Lee and Wing Lam/Wahoos Family Foundation
Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser – Ryan and Paige Getzlaf
Outstanding Philanthropic Group – Orange County Grantmakers
Outstanding Youth – Ethan Yochum
Outstanding Corporation or Business, Small – My Private Professor
Outstanding Corporation or Business, Mid-Size – Casanova/McCann
