During November and December 2023, staff at the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (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.
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 to learn more about their services.
About the California JPIA
Providing innovative risk management solutions for its public agency partners for more than 45 years, the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (California JPIA) is one of the largest municipal self-insurance pools in the state, with more than 125 member cities and other governmental agencies. Members actively participate in shaping the organization to provide important coverage for their operations. The California JPIA provides innovative risk management solutions through a comprehensive portfolio of programs and services, including liability, workers’ compensation, pollution, property and earthquake coverage, as well as extensive training and loss control services. For more information, please visit the California JPIA’s website at cjpia.org.