By urging its members to “Get on Board with Giving,” the Orange County chapter of The Charitable Foundation raised close to $17,000 at an event to benefit the Lupus Foundation of America and The Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) Pet Therapy Program.

The annual fundraising event was held October 3 at Strawberry Farms Golf Club in Irvine. The big red barn was transformed into a beautiful space filled with twinkle lights, live music, and real estate agents from Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties who donate a portion of their commissions or salaries to the 501(c)3 Foundation.

“It was an amazing evening! We had over 150 agents and guests attend the ‘Get on Board with Giving’-themed event in support of The Lupus Foundation of America and the CHOC Pet Therapy Program,” chapter president Dee Shiohama said. “A big thank-you goes to our incredible board members who made it all possible. Their unwavering dedication to give back has truly made an impressive impact in our local Orange County communities.”

Highlights of the evening included live entertainment by Yachty by Nature, a silent auction, an array of raffle items, and “around the world” food stations. Representatives from the two beneficiaries presented information about how the funds raised will make an impact on their organizations. Matt Scelza, Southern California Regional Director, spoke on behalf of Lupus Foundation of America. Four-legged “guests of honor” Bodie and Lexie accompanied their handlers, along with Amber Chavez, Special Programs Coordinator in the Cherese Mari Laulhere Child Life Department at CHOC.

Sponsors of the festive evening included Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties and its partners HomeServices Lending, Pickford Escrow and The Escrow Firm, and First American Home Warranty. Additional sponsors included MyNHD, U.S. Home Lending, Central Escrow Group, U.S. Bank, Obrand Law Group, Caliber Home Loans, ALP Plumbing, 1st Stryke Pest & Termite Control, Loans Direct, and State Farm Insurance Agent Jason Starkman.

About the Charitable Foundation

The Charitable Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)3 foundation run by dedicated agents and employees of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties who wish to have a beneficial and constructive impact on our local communities. The Foundation has chapters in San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties.

Each chapter donates to its own community. The Charitable Foundation has provided hundreds of grants totaling approximately $5 million to local organizations that promote health, education, community, and the environment. For more information, please visit www.thecharitablefoundation.net.

About the Lupus Foundation of America

Throughout their 40-year history, the Lupus Foundation of America has made pioneering contributions toward ending the brutal impact of this misunderstood and unpredictable disease. Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can damage any party of the body. 5 million people around the world are affected by the disease with 16,000 new cases of lupus are reported each year. For more information, visit www.lupus.org.

About Children's Hospital Orange County (CHOC) Pet Therapy Program

CHOC Children’s Pet Therapy Program is a volunteer service consisting of dozens of dogs who visit the Tidwell Procedure Center, Clinics, Cancer Clinic, Outpatient Infusion Center, and the Emergency Department. The goals are to minimize the stress and anxiety of hospitalization and illness; provide warmth, comfort, and a sense of familiarity; offer play and “normal-life” experiences; provide a distraction from pain, medical treatments, and daily routines of the hospital; encourage patients to complete treatment goals like walking; encourage conversation, interaction, and communication; and to bring smiles. For more information, visit www.choc.org.