Illumination Foundation’s 3rd Annual Women’s Philanthropy Luncheon Raised $335,000 to Support Women Who are Unhoused
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Event Featured Inspirational Client Story and Honored Illumination Foundation Supporters Dr. Jacqueline DuPont-Carlson and Sona Shah
SANTA ANA, Calif., October 26, 2023 – Illumination Foundation, a nonprofit organization with the mission to disrupt the cycle of homelessness, raised $335,000 at their 3rd Annual Women’s Philanthropy Luncheon on October 20 at the Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel, in Huntington Beach to support women experiencing homelessness. The funds will provide integrated housing and healthcare services for women in Illumination Foundation’s programs.
The Women’s Philanthropy Luncheon featured inspiring women, including Illumination Foundation CEO Dr. Pooja Bhalla; Community Honorees Dr. Jacqueline DuPont-Carlson, Owner and CEO of Assured In Home Care and Illumination Foundation Board Member; and Sona Shah, Founder and CEO, My Private Professor; and an Illumination Foundation client who was recently housed.
“We see time and time again how a single circumstance can lead to homelessness: a health condition, domestic violence, or loss of a job. Some people can’t afford rent after working two jobs,” said Dr. Bhalla. “At Illumination Foundation, we strive to provide women and families with supportive services that allow them to heal from traumatic experiences. We aim to be their community, stability, and support at a time when they need it most. Our goal is to equip them with the resources they need and empower them on their journey to self-sufficiency.”
Illumination Foundation served 6,400 clients last year and almost half of them were women. In Illumination Foundation’s programs, the number of females served has almost doubled in the last four years; the number of senior women has tripled in the last four years; and the number of women fleeing domestic violence in our programs has more than doubled in the last four years.
Korina, an Illumination Foundation client, shared her inspirational story during the event. Korina and her three daughters were experiencing homelessness and were connected with Illumination Foundation’s family emergency shelter. While residing at the Plumeria House, Illumination Foundation staff helped her acquire medical insurance, transportation to medical appointments, as well as child care. Korina’s family was able to utilize services provided including in-home counseling, case management, and housing navigation. They were amazed by the array of programs offered including tutoring services like My Private Professor, literacy groups, Mini Med School, and more.
“I felt truly supported by the network that Illumination Foundation provided. Illumination Foundation hosted events that made me feel like I was a part of a community and it was helpful, during our journey, to see other families on the road to self-sufficiency,” said Korina. “After spending five months at the Plumeria House working to stabilize my family and working with my Housing Navigator to find housing, we were able to secure an apartment for my family. When we’re out and about we can finally say let's go home, and we are extremely grateful. Illumination Foundation is different from any other homeless organization because they said they would help me and they did! Now that we’re in a place of our own we can continue to heal in a home that’s safe and full of love.”
Dr. Jacqueline DuPont-Carlson and Sona Shah were this year’s Community Honorees.
Dr. Jacqueline DuPont-Carlson, Msg, MPa, PhD, EDD, is a gerontologist having multiple degrees from prestigious universities. As founder and CEO of many senior care facilities and a company that provides in-home care services, she brings more than 30 years of professional experience working with older adults and the Alzheimer's community. Dr. DuPont-Carlson has won numerous awards and serves on several boards and committees, including Illumination Foundation. She is a longtime supporter of Illumination Foundation. Last year, she and her husband Marc donated $1 million to support Illumination Foundation’s Richard Lehn Intergenerational Campus in honor of her father.
“This luncheon is not just an opportunity to celebrate individual achievements, but it's also a powerful testament to women's collective strength and resilience. Women like our CEO, Dr. Pooja Bhalla, who continuously amazes me with her determination and “female grit” to not stop until every family and person is safe, sheltered, and given dignified, equitable healthcare,” said Dr. DuPont-Carlson. “Illumination Foundation holds a special place in my heart, as I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of their work. It's not just about providing shelter; it's about restoring hope, dignity, and amazing healthcare to those who have faced unimaginable hardships. The foundation's staff, volunteers, and supporters exemplify compassion, dedication, expertise, and strength in their everyday actions. I've had the privilege of working alongside many of you, and I can confidently say that this organization is changing lives and making our world a better place.”
Sona Shah is the Founder & CEO of My Private Professor, an impact-driven, educational services company that collaborates with organizations to provide personalized, online tutoring services for their clients, teams, and their families. After graduating from UC Berkeley School of Law and practicing business litigation for many years, Sona shifted gears to create a company aligned with her dual passions of teaching and giving back. MPP’s bottom line is impact, a core value reflected in their sliding scale tutoring rates and “giveback” business model through which they earmark a portion of the proceeds from every tutoring hour to support students in underserved communities. MPP is delighted to serve as a community partner with Illumination Foundation and provide free weekly tutoring to students residing in Illumination Foundation’s shelters. Through this partnership, MPP offers Illumination Foundation’s youth a critical educational resource that can positively impact their future.
"By ensuring that all students get access to high-quality tutoring, we can positively impact the trajectories of countless students across the country. This is why My Private Professor was created,” said Shah. “By paying our tutors the same rate regardless of whether we offer tutoring for free, we ensure that students experiencing homelessness receive the best tutoring possible - at the same caliber that the children of CEOs and other clients receive.”
The Women’s Philanthropy Luncheon was sponsored by West Coast University, American Career College, Dr. Jacqueline Dupont-Carlson and Marc Carlson, Bickerstaff Family Foundation, My Private Professor, Helpful Fish Foundation, The Duchess on Cambridge, Assured In Home Care, Cambalache, Nancy Valeri and Magda Fichter, Laurie Allen, Patti Edwards, and Rick and Adrienne Matros.
Illumination Foundation Board members Teresa Razo, CEO and Founder, Cambalache and Villa Roma Restaurants, and Margaret Pfeiffer, Vice President Clinical Operations, West Coast University and American Care College, co-chaired the Women’s Philanthropy Luncheon.
About Illumination Foundation
Illumination Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides targeted, interdisciplinary services for the most vulnerable homeless adults and children in order to disrupt the cycle of homelessness. The organization provides a full continuum of care from street to home, including case management, medical coordination, behavioral health and substance use counseling, and housing navigation to our vulnerable clients in shelters/navigation centers, family emergency shelters, recuperative care/medical respite facilities, and permanent supportive housing. https://www.ifhomeless.org
