Lake Forest Community Foundation

For more than a decade cities all over Orange County have been using non-profit foundations to further the well-being of their citizens in cases where the traditional City government can’t help. Millions of dollars have been raised to support such diverse activities as

·  Scholarships for teens

·  Food for people in need

·  Home repairs for seniors

·  Support for military groups

·  Support for Boys and Girls Clubs

·  Building a clock tower

·  Buying equipment for a marching band

·  Supporting teacher assistance programs

This money has been raised by a variety of methods, including obtaining grants as well as fund raising. Fund raising activities have included

·  Charity Poker Tournament

·  Fitness 5K run

·  Pageant

·  Classic Car and Truck Show

·  Campout

·  E-waste recycling event

·  Golf tournament

·  Garage sales

Some cities raise as much as $200,000 or more on an annual basis.

The good news is that the City of Lake Forest set up a Lake Forest Community Foundation in 2007. As far as I have been able to tell...

After 5 years, how much has it raised?

Nothing

After 5 years, how many people has it helped?

1 person.

(The guy who received thousands of dollars for setting it up. Ironically, he didn’t live in Lake Forest, another sad example of Lake Forest money being spent outside the city).

So while dozens of cities have programs raising millions of dollars to support their citizens, the Lake Forest Community Foundation sits on someone’s shelf collecting dust.

“Why doesn’t Lake Forest have a community foundation when nearly every other City has one?”  Who knows? Why do we have so few Commissions/Committees when other cities have far more? Why don’t we have a senior center or a civic center or a dog park or a local animal shelter, etc. when nearly every other city has one?

Rather than ask “why don’t we”,  let’s instead ask – “How can we get this started?” The City Council needs to put this item on the agenda, re-examine the bylaws and articles of incorporation, and then appoint the Board of Directors. There is much good work that a Community Foundation can do, and the time to start is long past.