OUR CHARITIES

Our Charities

Ocean Ridge Supports the

Carousel Child Advocacy Center

In October 2024, Ocean Ridge Charities Association (ORCA) invited the Ocean Ridge community to attend the Carousel Child Advocacy Center’s “Inaugural Everyday Hero Award and Luncheon”. This was an opportunity to learn what the Carousel Center does and to see how they assist those in Brunswick County affected by childhood sexual abuse.

ORCA would like to thank the community for their generous donations to the Carousel Child Advocacy Center. Many Ocean Ridge residents attended the luncheon while others made a donation in support of the cause.

Ocean Ridge’s participation definitely helped in their efforts, as we raised $2,030. Together… guests, hosts, sponsors and donors contributed almost $20,000 in much-needed funding to provide services and programs for Brunswick county children.

The Brunswick County Sheriff's Office was honored for its exceptional commitment to child sexual abuse prevention and its achievement of the International honor of Partner in Prevention designation, which recognizes organizations that ensure over 90% of their staff is trained in this critical area.

The Sheriff's Office exceeded this benchmark, with 323 officers completing a rigorous three-hour workshop. This makes them the first law enforcement agency in our region— and the largest in North Carolina — to invest significantly in preventing abuse and protecting children. This achievement underscores their dedication to creating a safer community. By earning the Partner in Prevention designation, the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office has demonstrated leadership that transcends traditional policing.

Many other Brunswick County organizations are also involved in training their staffs.

The Carousel Center provides professional training and other educational opportunities for groups interested in learning about child sexual abuse recognition and prevention. If your group is interested, contact Rebecca Martin at 910-254-9898. Or visit their website at www.carouselcenter.org.

MGDG Represented at Carousel Child Advocacy Center Luncheon

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Brunswick Community College

Odell Williamson Auditorium

Men’s Grilled Dinner Group (MGDG) Planning Team members, John Santini and Edson Munekata, joined the Ocean Ridge Charities Association (ORCA) today at the Carousel Child Advocacy Center’s (CCAC) inaugural “Everyday Heroes Award Luncheon”.

The CCAC is one of the two ORCA-vetted charities that the MGDG is donating to this year with funds raised during our dinners and at other events such as grilling at the Social Activities Committee’s “Tunes at the Pool” throughout the summer.

So far this year the MGDG has donated more than $2,200 to CCAC through ORCA and hopes to see that amount increase with funds raised during the October 10 “Tunes at the Pool” and donations made at the November and December MGDG dinners.

CCAC’s mission is to support healing, promote justice, and foster resilience in children victimized by physical and sexual abuse, and improve our community through education, prevention, and advocacy.

CCAC awarded their 2024 “Everyday Heroes Award” to the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office for their exceptional commitment to child sexual abuse prevention and their achievement of the International Honor or Partner in Prevention designation recognizing organizations that ensure over 90% of their staff is trained in this critical area.

The luncheon included brief speeches by sexual abuse survivors whose stories made clear that the MGDG membership chose wisely in voting to support this great organization that is the only accredited child advocacy center serving Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender Counties.

CCAC hosted approximately 200 people during the luncheon. ORCA ensured Ocean Ridge Plantation had a fantastic representation, by inviting a total of 16 people from various ORP organizations to attend the luncheon.

Written by John Santini

Brunswick County Non-Profits Benefit from Recent

ORCA Fund Raisers

Ocean Ridge Charities Association (ORCA) extends a huge thank you to our neighbors for their tremendous support of our most recent fund raisers.

Your generosity has allowed us to raise over $12,000 in cash and commodities to help so many county residents in need.

Special thanks to the Men’s Grilled Dinner Group and the Old Dominion Dames – your partnerships have been awesome!

We appreciate your support!

More fun events and annual favorites coming this fall & winter!

ORCA’s Workshop to Assist Non-profits

A workshop took place on November 2nd for many of the Nonprofits here in Brunswick County. The topic was Recent Growth in the County and its Impact – and proved to be the basis for much dialogue and interaction among the charities.

The meeting also set the stage for future discourse, and conceivably an active association including many County charities. This would give them a stronger local voice and influence in the future. This is believed to be the first time a large group of such Nonprofits has gathered together to discuss their common goals and issues.

In addition, Kirstie Dixon, Brunswick County’s Director of Planning, attended and provided significant information about the County’s growth – past, present, and projected.

Twenty-five people from the Nonprofits attended, and they represented 19 different charities, many of them the largest in Brunswick County.

In addition to Kirstie, other key presenters leading the discussions were:

Josh Torbich, CEO of Christian Recovery Centers Inc.,
Jim Fish, President/CEO of Brunswick Senior Resources Inc. (BSRI),
Yvette Gosline, COO of BSRI, and
Jennifer Sherman, BSRI’s VP of Human Services, who also represented Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster.

The meeting was organized by Ocean Ridge Charities Association (ORCA), which has provided financial support to local charities for over ten years. ORCA‘s President Maggy Schlink opened the session by encouraging everyone’s active participation, and thanking the charity reps for the wonderful work they do, day in and day out, to help Brunswick County residents in need.

ORCA Board members who organized the event are Glenn Hess, Amy Kelly, Mike Lynch, Kathy Sanchez and Ron Sorice. The location was a spacious meeting room generously provided by Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation at its main building in Supply.