NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Feb. 29, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Junior League of Orange County, Calif. (JLOCC) is sponsoring a Treasure Hunt as part of the Annual Blue Ribbon Family Festival to be held 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Saturday, March 31, at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine. Entrance to the Great Park is located off Sand Canyon Avenue east of the 5 and 133 Freeways.
The hunt will be held at noon in the area east of the Great Park's big orange balloon ride. Two "waves" of children are invited to participate in the search for brightly colored eggs. The first wave is for youngsters ranging from babies to three-year-olds. The second group of happy hunters will be children age three and older.
Arts and crafts activities, fire trucks and ambulances to explore, music and raffle giveaways, and community resource booths will add to the fun-filled activities. All-day free admission to the park's carousel rides and balloon are also part of this event. Food will be available for purchase from gourmet food trucks.
The Family Festival is an annual activity coordinated by the Raise Foundation, whose activities are being supported by the volunteers of the JLOCC. The Raise Foundation is dedicated to stopping the cycle of abuse through education, advocacy, community collaboration, and comprehensive services for families and children.
The goal of The Raise Foundation is to provide resources to strengthen families, making each family's home a safer place for children to grow up. With over 38,000 cases of reported child abuse and neglect in the county each year, it is clear that prevention programs and services are needed in every Orange County community. Since 1974 the Raise Foundation has grown into a dynamic, well-respected, non-profit organization serving all of Orange County. More information is available at www.theraisefoundation.org.
During its 57-year history, the JLOCC has played a key role in founding Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Child Abuse Services Team (CAST), Volunteer Center Orange County (now OneOC), and the Delhi Center, among other lasting programs. The JLOCC was a major contributor to the Orangewood Challenge Grant. Overall, the JLOCC has contributed nearly $7 million to the Orange County community. It currently has 700 members.
The funds that are raised annually by the JLOCC directly impact the community through collaborative projects with partner organizations and support the JLOCC's mission of promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community. This year's projects include the Second Harvest Food Bank Backpack Program, Crittenton Services Connect Program, Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) Reading Program, Olive Crest Kinship Support Services Program, The Raise Foundation Resources in Motion Program, and the JLOCC's Bear Hugs and Bear Necessities Program, which partners with the Orangewood Children's Foundation. The JLOCC members also conduct done-in-a-day volunteer projects through the JLOCC's Impact Orange County Committee.
About the Junior League of Orange County, California, Inc.
The Junior League of Orange County, California, Inc., is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. The JLOCC has helped found organizations such as Orangewood Children's Home and OneOC, formerly known as the Volunteer Center of Orange County. As a solely educational and charitable organization, the JLOCC's trained volunteers actively support the community through collaboration with organizations that promote and support the health, safety and education of all individuals in Orange County. A 501(c)(3) organization, the JLOCC reaches out to women of all races, religions, and national origins. Originally established in 1956 as the Newport Harbor Service League, the JLOCC is a member organization of the Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. To learn more about the JLOCC, call (949) 261-0823 or visit www.jlocc.org.