On Sept. 12, more than 450 real estate industry professionals joined Buchanan Street Partners at the Newport Dunes in Newport Beach, Calif., to raise money for local children's charities. A total of $200,000 was donated at this year's multi-sport competition, "Challenge for Children," which raised money for causes supported by Buchanan Children’s Charities: Talk About Curing Autism (TACA), Miocean Foundation, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and Providence Speech and Hearing Center.
The all-day event hosted 46 teams competing in volleyball, basketball, a kayak-run relay and an obstacle course. For the first time in the event's history, one of Buchanan's teams took home the first-place trophy. The grand prize, a day with the USC football team and Coach Pete Carroll, was auctioned by the winning team and quickly sold for $2,500. The money was given back to Buchanan Children's Charities and will be donated. The Newport Beach Fire Department (reigning champs from 2007) took second place, and The Irvine Co. came in third.
According to Buchanan Children's Charities, a 501(c)(3), the organizations chosen to receive donations are aligned with its values. The groups are entrepreneurial, make a measurable difference in the lives of many children, and have exhibited tangible results over time. Each was given a donation of $50,000:
- This year, TACA will support 333 families affected by Autism. Donations help the charity educate and empower families to seek appropriate interventions that lead to significant progress and an improved quality of life for afflicted kids.
- Miocean Foundation will direct its funds to the Ocean Institute at Dana Point Harbor, which will provide state-certified curricula of watershed science to 5th graders from all 37 cities in Orange County. Approximately 2,500 students participate in a hands-on laboratory and shoreline experience to investigate urban pollution and run-off.
- CASA will provide crucial training to enable 50 volunteers to make a tangible impact on 50 of the 170 foster children on its waiting list. The charity is 96 percent privately funded, so it relies heavily on investments from the community to serve foster youth.
- Providence Speech and Hearing Center will provide speech-therapy sessions, audiology evaluations and newborn hearing screenings for more than 450 children. In addition, the donation will help fund the Jumpstart Early Intervention Preschool for specialized toddlers with developmental delays.
For more information about Buchanan charitable events, visit www.buchananchildrenscharities.org.
