Ocean Ridge Charities Association Inc.
Serving the Brunswick County Community
WHAT'S HAPPENING...
Wednesday, February 11th
1:00-3:00 at the Ridge Center
Please join us for our next meeting, Wednesday, February 11th from 1:00-3:00 at the Ridge Center.
All are welcome to join the fun. All materials are provided.
We work together to cut fabric, sew and stuff these adorable dolls. Faces are drawn on, hair is added and each is dressed in a shirt and shorts.
These items are delivered to Lower Cape Fear LifeCare and other Brunswick County non-profits where they bring great comfort to clients and families.
Looking forward to seeing everyone this month!
Contact: Heidi Root
Cell: 910-880-5801 or email: heidimarie007@hotmail.com
2026
ORCA Raises Over $113,000 in 2025!
Ocean Ridge Charities Association (ORCA) is thankful for the support of so many throughout 2025.
Total cash income was $113,134, with over $30,000 donated during the Annual Fall Appeal.
ORCA fundraisers provided nearly $20,900 in cash and $4,185 in commodities (food/backpacks & other donations) to Brunswick county charities in 2025.
We appreciate your participation in our fundraising events, which included:
- Trivia Night
- Sale of Patriotic Bows & International Dining Club Cards
- Desserts during ‘Tunes at the Pool’
- Weekend Food Backpack collection for Matthew’s Ministry
(in collaboration with the Old Dominion Dames)
- Knife Sharpening Events
- Quilt Raffle
- Annual Arts & Crafts Fair
- Holiday Marketplace Raffle
- Holiday Open House Tours
- and three truckloads of donations to
Hope Harbor Home’s Thrift Store which were not able to be monetized.
Additionally, ORCA was pleased to join with the:
- Men’s Grilled Dinner Group in raising $18,000 for the
Veteran’s Welcome Home Tiny Home project and
- Ocean Ridge Men’s and Ladies’ Golf Leagues in raising ove
$5,700 for Brunswick County Habitat for Humanity and
Hope Harbor Home.
ORCA is also privileged to have the support of many small, local businesses who purchase a Corporate Sponsorship (levels range from $100-$500). This year they donated $7,200 to support our charities. We encourage you to support these businesses. A list is available on our website: www.orcharities.org.
And finally – a BIG shout out to our service club volunteers who help setup, run and breakdown many of these events. Kudos also to the numerous bakers who donated goods for sale during Tunes at the Pool. We couldn’t do it without all of you!
ORCA’s Annual Appeal Raises Over $30,000!
THANK YOU Ocean Ridge Residents!
Again you responded very generously to the annual appeal mailed this past fall.
This year end undertaking is historically our largest internal fundraiser – and it raised $30,450.
Under the banner of “Transforming Lives Through Giving”, Ocean Ridge Charities Association (ORCA) sought to support the following six local charities with pressing needs.
Brunswick County Homeless Coalition
Provide eviction prevention, rental assistance, emergency shelter and utility assistance to help avoid homelessness for families or individuals, including veterans.
Brunswick County Literacy Council
Technology evolves quickly and is being introduced at a pace that can feel overwhelming for seniors. Educate and empower older adults to confidently use their smart phones, computers and tablets.
Brunswick Senior Resources, Calabash
Provide meals for adults at the Senior Center, as well as ‘Meals on Wheels’ delivered to those who are home bound.
Communities in Schools of Brunswick County
Support the ‘Show Up Show Out’ school attendance initiative to provide intervention and incentives for elementary and middle school students struggling to attend school regularly.
Life Care Memory Partners
Provide safety and activity supplies for Brunswick County residents living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. This includes home cameras, door and chair alarms, activity monitors and non-slip mats and footwear.
Samara’s Village
Donations support pregnant and parenting youths through mentoring and evidence-based parenting education and career/educational counseling.
Together, we continue to have a large impact in Brunswick County.
Many of these organizations gratefully joined us at the January ORCA board meeting to receive their checks from their respective ORCA Board liaison and ORCA President Mary Perno. Photos included.
Thank you for your support!
ORCA Donated $13,100 to BEMC's Warm Homes, Warm Hearts Program!
Ocean Ridge Charities Association recently presented $13,100 to Brunswick Electric in support of their Warm Homes, Warm Hearts program which assists neighbors in need with their utility bill to avoid disconnection. BEMC will match this donation.
These monies were the result of our fundraisers held this fall which included the Annual Art & Crafts Show, the Holiday Marketplace Raffle and the Holiday Open House Tour.
The generosity of our neighbors made this possible!
Presenting the check to BEMC's Brookes Versaggi are Judy Cunningham and ORCA President Mary Perno.
Habitat for Humanity Dedication
2025
Representatives from the Ocean Ridge Ladies Golf Association and Ocean Ridge Charities Association attended a Habitat for Humanity Home Dedication ceremony for new homeowner Daniel Wright.
Daniel is an Ocean Ridge Golf maintenance worker. He has completed all of the steps necessary to purchase his new home - including meeting all financial requirements, attending homeowner education and by building sweat equity working on his home as well as others.
He was joined on this happy occasion by many local organizations who gifted him housewarming items such as a quilt, flag, bible, book case, cleaning supplies, tree sapling and a gift card to the Habitat ReStore. The Ocean Ridge team presented him with a gift basket of cookies and other goodies to enjoy in his new space. Local high school shop students even built him a picnic table and a mail box post.
Daniel thanked all those in attendance and was then joined by his extended family and his pastor as he cut the ribbon to his new home.
Guests were also treated to a tour of the house. Truly a special day for everyone.
Holiday Marketplace Raffle
Congratulations to Cheri Lavorgna!
She won the recent drawing for the beautiful holiday quilt made & donated by the Ocean Ridge Quilters.
Proceeds totaling over $1,150 will be doubled by BEMC and will benefit Warm Homes, Warm Hearts.
ORCA thanks everyone who purchased raffle tickets!
ORCA’s 2025 Annual
Arts & Crafts Fair
Drew a Large Crowd
On November 1, twenty-four of our very talented neighbors filled the Ridge Center with their beautiful creations.
Many of us went home with new art work, jewelry, resin work, stained glass, baked goods, soaps, pottery and so much more.
Sponsored by Ocean Ridge Charities Association (ORCA), the Annual Arts & Crafts Fair was held indoors for the first time, sheltered from any potential weather issues at its prior location, the Nature Pavilion.
Cards4aCause had beautiful, handmade gift tags available for a freewill donation. And the field studies group had a table highlighting their efforts to place bluebird nesting boxes around the neighborhood.
ORCA also sold raffle tickets for a beautiful holiday quilt which will be raffled off on December 6 at the Holiday Marketplace Raffle. Fair goers had the opportunity to pre-purchase their raffle tickets for the December event and International Dining Club memberships were also on sale.
For added convenience, the Sharper Edge Professional Sharpening Service was onsite to sharpen your knives, scissors and yard tools while you shopped. A portion of those proceeds also benefited ORCA.
Thank you to all who participated... crafters, lookers and buyers.
Special THANKS to the many ORCA Service Club volunteers who helped us in so many ways.. directing traffic, setup, ticket sales, clean up... We couldn’t do this without you!
Proceeds will be bundled with the monies from our other holiday events and will go to support Brunswick Electric's 'Warm Homes, Warm Hearts'.
Our Major Charities
Our Platinum Corporate Sponsors
Charitable Contributions
