Illumination Foundation’s 3rd Annual Women’s Philanthropy Luncheon to Recognize Women Experiencing Homelessness and Those Who are Making an Impact on Their Lives
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Event to Honor Illumination Foundation Supporters Dr. Jacqueline DuPont-Carlson and Sona Shah
SANTA ANA, Calif., September 19, 2023 – Illumination Foundation, a nonprofit organization with the mission to disrupt the cycle of homelessness, will host their 3rd Annual Women’s Philanthropy Luncheon on October 20 at the Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel, in Huntington Beach to shed light on the growing number of women experiencing homelessness in the community. The event will feature inspiring women, including Illumination Foundation CEO Dr. Pooja Bhalla; and 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.
“Over the past four years, we have seen an increase in vulnerable women referred to our programs, especially senior women and women fleeing domestic violence,” said Dr. Bhalla. “As a community, we need to invest in the health and safety of women experiencing homelessness who face unique challenges and barriers. We provide comprehensive services to meet their complex housing and healthcare needs.”
The most recent homeless count in Orange County found that there were 5,718 people experiencing homelessness, including 2,069 women, 389 families, and 718 seniors. It is widely believed that the actual number of persons experiencing homelessness in our community is much higher than this one-day snapshot indicated.
Lack of affordable housing and access to healthcare services are barriers for women and families. The high cost of living, including rent, transportation, and childcare in Orange County, means families are vulnerable to homelessness. In Illumination Foundation’s programs:
The number of females served in our programs has almost doubled in the last four years.
The number of senior women in our programs has tripled in the last four years.
The number of women fleeing domestic violence in our programs has more than doubled in the last four years.
These numbers and trends demonstrate just how much work still needs to be done. The impact on homelessness on women is distinct. In order to disrupt the cycle of homelessness we need to recognize and prioritize the specific housing and healthcare needs of women.
This year’s Community Honorees are Dr. Jacqueline DuPont-Carlson and Sona Shah.
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.
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.
The Women’s Philanthropy Luncheon is sponsored by West Coast University, Dr. Jacqueline Dupont-Carlson and Marc Carlson, Assured In Home Care, My Private Professor, Helpful Fish Foundation, The Duchess on Cambridge, The Bickerstaff Family Foundation, Villa Roma, Nancy Valeri and Magda Fichter, Laurie Allen, Patti Edwards, Rick and Adrienne Matros, and American Career College.
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, are co-chairing the Women’s Philanthropy Luncheon.
For more information on the event or to purchase sponsorships, please click here. For more information on sponsorships, please contact astamos@ifhomeless.org.
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
