“Laguna Beach is such a unique community, but a lot of people haven’t figured out what group they would like to support.”
The foundation’s mission is to encourage philanthropy in the greater Laguna Beach Area through serving its charitable organizations and residents.
In no way will the foundation compete with nonprofits. The idea is to help strengthen them by providing information, and assistance in areas of need, such as taxes, board development and fundraising support.
The donation announced at the meeting will be used to seed an endowment fund.
Assistance to the nonprofits will include encouragement of community philanthropy, the development of endowments and donor advised funds.
“This offers tremendous opportunities to raise new money and really focuses on Laguna Beach,” said former school board member and Planning Commissioner Robert Whalen, who represented the Boys & Girls Club at the meeting.
The foundation is fruition of a dream that came out of a casual conversation more than six years ago at a Laguna Canyon Foundation meeting — a long time coming
Former Mayor Wayne Peterson, Laguna Canyon Foundation President Michael Pinto, former LCF Executive Director Mary Fegraus and board member Peter Kote were chatting about their dreams one day in early 2003 and realized they all wanted to do something for Laguna Beach nonprofits and had similar notions how to do it.
“Laguna Beach Community Foundation has been a number of years in formation, but how fortuitous that it is coming to fruition in these difficult economic times,” Fegraus said. “We are on our way to bringing together the interests of Laguna Beach residents and our charities to help them now and in the future.
“Wayne was the driving force at that first meeting and subsequent meetings.”
