Fair Game
By TOM JOHNSON
Project Hope Alliance is one of two area nonprofits dealing with homelessness who have jointly received a $400,000 grant from BofA/OC
Project Hope Alliance, a Costa Mesa nonprofit with a mission to End the Cycle of Homelessness One Child at a Time, has been named one of two Bank of America Orange County recipients of their 2025 Neighborhood Builders® award. Project Hope will share a combined $400,000 in flexible grant funding and leadership development to expand services for youth and families experiencing homelessness in the OC with Families Forward.
“Nonprofits such as Families Forward and Project Hope Alliance deliver effective solutions to help people overcome obstacles to personal and financial stability,” said Allen Staff, president, Bank of America Orange County. “By providing flexible funding and leadership training, the Neighborhood Builders program can help these organizations scale their impact.”
It’s hard to imagine that more than 32,000 school-age children in OC experience homelessness or housing insecurity.
Project Hope Alliance embeds case managers on elementary, middle and high school campuses, and continues their support beyond graduation through their community-based case managers program.
The Neighborhood Builder grant will provide flexible resources for case managers to support students and strengthen Project Hope Alliance’s leadership team by investing in the development of their Chief Partnership Officer in her first C-suite role.
“Our mission is to ensure every child experiencing homelessness has the same opportunities to learn, grow and dream as their peers,” said Jennifer Friend, CEO of Project Hope Alliance. “The Neighborhood Builder grant helps us meet the needs of more youth and invest in the leadership that moves our mission forward every day.”
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The old 99 Cent Store on Harbor Boulevard has now morphed into a new Trader Joe’s…the second one in the city.
The 9,541-sq.-ft. store enjoyed a ribbon cutting last Thursday, Dec. 11.
First off, the 99 Cent Store was on one end of the spectrum as compared to Trader Joe’s. What you don’t do is go into Trader Joe’s looking for great, discounted food items; what you do is go into Trader Joe’s to find a wonderful selection of affordable private-label products offering a wide array of frozen meals, snacks and global options.
Their food selection offers gourmet, organic, vegan and international unique foods and snacks, with a drink selection including domestic and imported wines and beers. And you can’t forget the fresh produce and fresh flowers.
If you haven’t shopped Trader Joe’s, here’s the question: Why not?
Check it out at 2170 Harbor Blvd.
Click on photo for a larger image
Courtesy of city of Costa Mesa
(L-R) Trader Joe’s Captain Chris Kelly, Carl Marin a “mate,” Mayor John Stephens and Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce President and CEO David Haithcock at the new store on Harbor Boulevard
BTW, Trader Joe’s supports their own Neighborhood Shares Program, where they donate 100% of their products that go unsold, but remain fit to be enjoyed, to local non-profit organizations.
That translates to nourishment for their neighbors. So, while everyone might not be able to make Trader Joe’s as their mainstay shopping store, everyone can benefit.
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Last issue, while reporting on to the recent hirings of a new City Manager (Cecilia Gallardo-Daly) and a new Police Chief (Joyce LaPointe), I mistakenly asked, “Is that it for top city job changes?” And, then I alluded to the upcoming retirement of Fire Chief Dan Stefano.
What I didn’t take into account was the role, or maybe better said the vacant role, of assistant city manager. Last week, City Manager Gallardo-Daly announced the promotion of Alma Reyes to that vacant slot.
According to Gallardo-Daly, “Reyes will take on an expanded leadership role, providing oversight for specific areas, guiding long-term planning efforts, and supporting the City Manager’s Office in implementing the City Council’s priorities and vision.”
Reyes previously served in the role of deputy city manager since April 2023, managing Constituent Services, Community Outreach, Government Affairs, Costa Mesa TV, as well as key citywide projects and city special events.
Prior to that, she held the role of assistant to the city manager.
She began her career at city hall in 2011, serving first as a management analyst for the Public Services Department, before transferring to the Parks and Community Services Department, where she served as both the management analyst and recreation supervisor.
Then, in late 2015, Reyes moved into the Fire Department to serve as a management analyst there.
“I am honored to step into the role of assistant city manager and remain deeply committed to fostering collaboration, strengthening community partnerships and advancing initiatives that enhance the quality of life for all our residents,” said Reyes.
Mayor John Stephens added, “I really applaud this move to make Alma the assistant city manager. She has cemented her reputation as a problem solver, and we look to her for guidance on some of the more complicated issues we face.”
She begins her role effective immediately.
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While we’re at it, congrats to City Finance Department Buyer Mike Fuentes who was presented the City Manager Leadership Award for December.
Click on photo for a larger image
Courtesy of city of Costa Mesa
City Manager Cecilia Gallardo-Daly presenting the leadership award to Mike Fuentes
“Mike is a dedicated and valued team member in the Finance Department,” Gallardo-Daly said. “He is one of those rare employees whose blend of dedication, skill, humor and humility makes a genuine difference across the organization. I’m proud to present him with this award.”
Way to go, Mike!
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The Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce has their December Sundown Social planned for Thursday, Dec. 18 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Playa Mesa.
And, as the Chamber touts, you’ll enjoy “small bites, big connections!”
Register to attend. It is free for chamber members and $20 for non-chamber members.
• • •
Speaking of the Chamber, they are offering an AI Masterclass for Entrepreneurs: Start Smarter, Grow Faster online on Wednesday, Jan. 7 at 4 p.m.
The two-hour presentation by Boaz Ashkenazy will draw on his experience co-founding four companies focused on the emerging AI technologies.
Boza is the president of the Applied AI Association Seattle Chapter and board member of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, where he’s dedicated to ensuring every small business owner has access to the tools that allow them to punch above their weight.
He’ll be joined by David Nui, successful in his own right founding three venture-backed startups that were all acquired by publicly traded companies.
• • •
And God bless to so many in our community that go above and beyond – especially during the holidays.
Here are some examples:
–Deli Nerds is doing a Food Drive through December seeking non-perishable foods. They’re also accepting cash donations and gift cards, with their own “match donation” to a local food bank added in.
Find them at 1525 Mesa Verde Drive East, #117 or for more info, go to www.instagram.com/delinerds/.
–There’s also former Costa Mesa Mayor and now Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley who annually organizes a New Coats for Kids Drive that runs through this Friday, Dec. 19.
What she and her staff have set up are 29 collection sites in 12 of the cities she serves in her Fifth District.
Her goal this year is to collect more than the 1,000 coats they collected last year.
In Costa Mesa you can drop coats off at the Costa Mesa Senior Center (695 W. 19th St.), the Donald Dungan Library (1855 Park Ave.), Mesa Verde Library (2969 Mesa Verde Drive East) and the Costa Mesa Police Department (99 Fair Drive).
–Even Mercado González Northgate Market, who will offer a Community Toy Giveaway (while supplies last) on Thursday, Dec. 18 from 2-5 p.m. Mercado González is located at 2300 Harbor Blvd.
BTW, my sources tell me that there will also be a somewhat rotund man in a red suit showing up.
Thanks to all of you and the many more we didn’t mention!
• • •
The Costa Mesa Police Department intel has just received word that Santa has committed to visiting Costa Mesa.
On Thursday, Dec. 18 and Friday, Dec. 19, Santa Claus will pass by Costa Mesa to visit several locations and meet our residents.
Kids are invited to come out, get a photo with Santa and tell him what’s on the list.
He knows whether they’ve been naughty or nice.
Here are a list of locations and times:
Thursday, Dec. 18
Kaiser School 4:30-5:15 p.m.
Wilson School 5:30-6:15 p.m.
Rea School 6:30-7:15 p.m.
Shalimar Park 7:20-8 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 19
College Park School 4:30-5:10 p.m.
Sonora School 5:30-6:15 p.m.
Paularino School 6:30-7:15 p.m.
Killybrooke School 7:30-8 p.m.
California School 8:15-9 p.m.
