Learn how Orange County Music & Dance has served both children and veterans with the healing powers of music throughout the pandemic.  Doug Freeman has done a lot in his life that would classify him as a hero. The Corona del Mar resident served our country in the U.S. Air Force for 10 years and […]

Local juvenile correctional officer spends his free time bringing superheroes to life to put smiles on faces of all ages. Not all heroes wear capes. Some, like Yuri Williams, wear a Deadpool costume.  Williams is the founder of A Future Superhero And Friends, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that allows him to visit the elderly, veterans, the […]

Irvine mom battling cancer is on a mission to pay-it-forward while moving forward with her 10-year-old daughter by her side.  Irvine resident Eden Feeley has spent the last few years battling stage IV cancer with her 10-year-old daughter, London, at her side. However, hers is not a story of devastation, but rather one of optimism. […]

City of Hope’s Dr. Monty Pal shares his love of science with the community and passion for music with his kids.   According to Dr. Monty Pal, one of the greatest things about being a father is sharing your interests with your children.  “I really love that the passions I have are being handed down to […]

OC teens and founders of The Give Back Group find inspiration and community in donating face masks and food in a time of great need. Three hundred pounds of pasta may seem like a lot, even by COVID-hoarding standards. But for Sage Hill High School sophomores Ingrid Luo and Eleni Engelbrecht, it was just a […]

Chef John Park pays it forward with donations to charities and jobs to veterans, addicts and the homeless.  Toast Kitchen + Bakery is a new-age diner known for culinary creations like Orange Fried Chicken with Black Sesame Waffle and Taro Blueberry Pie. The Costa Mesa eatery opened in 2018 and while Toast’s Chef John Park […]

Local mom creates book systems teaching kids that success is built on character.  Being a mother doesn’t come with a handbook. So Danielle LaBriola, mother of two, decided to write her own book. A series of them, actually. Her book series, Crafting Character, is a five-trait system of books with accompanying interactive plushies that help […]

A 16-year-old Irvine resident endeavors to help save the planet through her video work at the Environmental Nature Center. Emma Zebrowski is passionate about two things: filmmaking and the environment. So when the 16-year-old Irvine resident heard about a video internship with the Environmental Nature Center in Newport Beach, she was delighted. “It was the […]

Local pastor, diagnosed with brain cancer, completes Ironman for his daughter, Hero. On a warm Friday morning in October, 39-year-old Jay Hewitt is at the starting line for the Ironman Triathlon.  Organized by the World Triathlon Competition, Ironman consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride and a 26.2-mile marathon run. Races are held […]

A 17-year-old Anaheim resident and crocheter balances her desire for change with her passion for entrepreneurship. Sometimes, when Graciela Grande is crocheting, her hands get tired and start to hurt.  She doesn’t mind.  “I like the results,” says Grande. “I like the fulfillment you feel when [you] can see the effort you put into the […]