While the State of California supplies Regional Center of Orange County with the funding to provide many services and supports for people with developmental disabilities and their families, sometimes the people we serve have significant needs that cannot be paid for with regional center funds.
To help those with few financial or other resources, RCOC offers several ways for concerned community members, businesses and other organizations to lend their support:
Brian’s Fund
Supported entirely by private donors, Brian’s Fund pays for emergency and special needs for people in Orange County with developmental disabilities – needs that cannot be funded by the Regional Center or any other public source. As a result of contributions to Brian’s Fund, many individuals and families served by RCOC have been helped through a financial crisis or had other critical needs met when there was no one else to whom they could turn.
Brian’s Fund is named for Brian Flotho, a young man with a developmental disability who spent his 28-year life advocating for the service, civil and legal rights of his peers. The Fund continues Brian’s personal commitment to friends in need, paying for things such as emergency rent, food, clothing, special equipment or dental care.
Brian’s Fund is administered by RCOC, a nonprofit organization, so your contributions are tax deductible. You also are assured that every dollar of your donation goes directly to those needing help because RCOC covers all costs associated with administering the fund.
If you can help, please make your check payable to “Brian’s Fund” and mail it to:
Brian’s Fund, Regional Center of Orange County, P.O. Box 22010, Santa Ana, CA 92702-2010.
If you have questions, please email briansfund@nullrcocdd.com.
Wish Tree
Each year, Regional Center of Orange County’s Wish Tree program helps brighten the holiday season for hundreds of people with developmental disabilities. If you, your company, volunteer organization or church group are looking for a great way to help others in Orange County, please consider participating in Wish Tree!
The Wish Tree begins in early October, when low-income individuals and families served by RCOC fill out cards that bear their name and holiday gift request. Donors fulfill the wishes – ranging from children’s toys and clothes, to music CDs and store gift cards – by purchasing the requested items and delivering them to RCOC. Volunteers then wrap the gifts and deliver them to the families.
Donors who may not have the time to purchase gifts during the busy holiday season can still participate. Financial contributions are used by volunteer shoppers to fulfill specific wishes from the Tree.
Checks should be made out to Brian’s Fund and mailed to:
Brian’s Fund, Regional Center of Orange County, P.O. Box 22010, Santa Ana, CA 92702-2010.
For more information on participating in Wish Tree, please email wishtree2@nullrcocdd.com.