Dragon Kim Foundation announces Irvine teens’ project as Dragon Challenge winner
Two Irvine teens won the 2024 Dragon Kim Challenge. Ashima Sharma and Vedant Dayal, both 16 and students at the Orange County School of the Arts, created an expressive arts project that included a two-week summer camp established in partnership with CHOC’s After Cancer Treatment Survivorship Program.
The Heart-to-Art project introduced ambulatory cancer patients and survivors to integrated art therapy in six art forms, with proceeds benefiting CHOC’s social workers. The teens were awarded $5,000 to continue their work.
The Dragon Challenge is the culminating event produced by the Dragon Kim Foundation, an Orange County-based nonprofit with a mission to inspire youth to impact their communities while discovering and pursuing their passions. The finalists were chosen from 56 Fellowship projects run by high school students in California, Arizona and Nevada.
Annually, the Fellowship program awards community service grants of up to $5,000 to the teams, which enables them to create and manage a service project that will impact their community. The winners of the Dragon Challenge receive another $5,000 to continue their project.
“This win allows us to continue filling our hearts — and those of others — by running more workshops for cancer patients, survivors and their families,” Ashima said.
“The day after the Dragon Challenge, Heart-to-Art hosted art workshops with Sunshine Kids at Universal Studios,” Vedant said. “This event broadened the project’s scope from a regional scale to a national level. The additional $5,000 will provide Heart-to-Art the means to directly address the health care disparity of art therapy on a national forefront.”
Ladera Ranch Boy Scout goes big on Eagle project
Andrew Froggatt knew he wanted to combine creativity and fun when considering ideas for his Eagle Scout service project.
Andrew was required to select a project incorporating his leadership and project management skills while fundraising and collaborating with the organization that would benefit from it.
He approached Ladera Ranch Maintenance Corp. (LARMAC) with his idea of installing a giant chess board and playing pieces at one of the parks in the community. Andrew proposed modifying a planter with decomposed granite, which would provide the base for the chessboard and provide residents with a level surface to walk on.
LARMAC identified Mission Hills Park in Covenant Hills as an ideal location. The park was scheduled to be renovated since its amenities, which included a putting green and play structure, had reached the end of their useful life and would need to be replaced. The large chess set would complement those amenities and be an excellent addition for residents.
The dimensions of the chessboard were 8-by-8 feet, made up of 12-by-12-inch tiles. The chess pieces ranged in size, with the tallest piece being the king, measuring 25 inches tall.
Andrew successfully raised funds to purchase supplies and chess pieces. He also enlisted the help of volunteers to install the board and presented the final project to the LARMAC board.
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Scouts BSA program by the Boy Scouts of America. Only about 4% of Scouts have earned this rank.
– Submitted by David Robertson, Ladera Ranch Community Services (LARCS)
Lake Forest students plant Moon Tree at elementary school
Santiago STEAM Magnet Elementary in Lake Forest has a new giant sequoia on campus, planted during a special Moon Tree ceremony.
In 2024, the school was selected to become NASA Moon Tree Stewards. NASA’s Artemis I Mission sent tree seeds around the moon twice and then splashed back onto Earth. The seeds were collected by NASA and sent to the U.S. Forest Service to be grown into saplings. Organizations were able to apply to be Moon Tree Stewards through a rigorous application process. Recipients include governors, major universities and a select number of K-12 schools.
NASA scientists, JPL engineers, U.S. Forest Service representatives and leaders in education were present as students planted the giant sequoia on campus.
“We’re so proud to be named NASA Moon Tree Stewards. This accomplishment shows that when parents, educators and communities align in goals, you can reach the moon and beyond,” said NASA Moon Tree Ceremony Chair Liz Gibson. “Like many parents, we just want our kids to love to learn. Introducing a living space traveler that will grow along with our kids is a pretty special thing to be a part of.”
– Submitted by Michelle Madigan Herman
Five generations come together for birthday
Arladene Donohew celebrated her 99th birthday recently, and the big occasion brought together five generations of her family.
Donohew, who is active, lives alone, drives, volunteers at the police department, bakes and more, celebrated her day with her loved ones who gathered in Garden Grove.
It’s the second time five generations of the family got together. The last time was in 1962, family members said.
Happy birthday!
Woman’s Club of Orange marks 100th anniversary of clubhouse
The Woman’s Club of Orange celebrated the 100th anniversary of its beautifully preserved clubhouse. More than 170 members and guests attended the celebration luncheon at the clubhouse.
The guests included Congressman Lou Correa; Hon. Gaddi Vasquez and his wife, Elaine, who had their wedding reception at the clubhouse 46 years ago; Orange Mayor Dan Slater; AJ Ricci of Ricci Realty, which provided the 100-year landmark sign; Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce Elizabeth Holloman; Chair of the Chamber of Commerce Rick Martinez; Colleen Janssen from California Federation of Women’s Clubs, Orange District; Aida Cuevas, Orange Public Library archivist; and Carl Peters, grandson of the original architect, M. Eugene Durfee.
The Woman’s Club of Orange was also named the nonprofit organization of the year for 2024.
The Woman’s Club of Orange clubhouse has been an active community meeting place since its opening in 1924. Today, the clubhouse and gardens make a popular event facility that has the charm and character of the early 20th century era.
– Submitted by the Woman’s Club of Orange
UC Irvine partners with Aramark to award scholarships
UC Irvine announced its partnership with Aramark to provide scholarships to students over the next 10 years.
UCI Dining, in collaboration with UCI Student Affairs, Barnes & Noble and Aramark Collegiate Hospitality (ACH), awarded 42 scholarships to deserving students, totaling more than $120,000 to be distributed annually.
The scholarships are intended to support students who meet a minimum GPA of 2.5 and demonstrate leadership. The scholarships cover the recipients’ education during their typical time at UCI (four years for first-year recipients and two years for transfer students), provided they maintain eligibility.
Caring for the caregivers
Caregivers for approximately 125 children served by Santa Ana-based nonprofit Olive Crest and Orange County Social Services enjoyed a much needed break, thanks to Caregivers’ Day Off. St. John’s Lutheran Church in Orange gathered about 150 volunteers from the community, who received training to care for the children at a fall festival-themed event.
From team sports like soccer to face painting and bracelet making, the kids enjoyed engaging activities and came together for lunch before the day was over.
This marked the 10th anniversary of the partnership and Caregivers’ Day Off, meaning approximately 5,000 children and their caregivers have enjoyed this important respite.
Olive Crest is an Orange County-based nonprofit serving more than 5,000 children and families in crisis daily across the Western U.S. It offers comprehensive care for approximately 130 Orange County-based kinship families caring for about 330 children through counseling, specialized classes and essentially providing anything they may need to carry out their role.
– Submitted by Olive Crest
The Bravo! section highlights achievements of our residents and groups. Send news of achievements for consideration to ocrbravo@gmail.com.
