The Orange County Department of Education is joining the Orange County Community Foundation in an effort to raise money for 345 nonprofit organizations during the first-ever i♥OC Giving Day. 
Giving Day is an online campaign that will offer nonprofits the opportunity to connect with donors and increase awareness of the vital work that goes on in our community. This year’s goal is to raise $2 million in a 30-hour span, and OCDE has not one but two programs participating – the Orange County Academic Decathlon and Inside the Outdoors. More on those in a moment.
Fundraising for the i♥OC Giving Day will run from 6 a.m. on April 21 through noon on April 22. Meanwhile, participating Orange County nonprofits are also eligible to receive funding through bonus awards and prizes provided by OCCF and other partners, generating an extra $1.5 million in online donations.
Donations are tax-deductible and will be accepted via the website during the 30-hour period. The minimum donation is $25 and there is no maximum.
Without further ado, here’s a look at the programs taking part from OCDE.
Orange County Academic Decathlon
The mission of the Orange County Academic Decathlon is to inspire academic excellence and build 21st-century skills that prepare students for college and careers. Students of all achievement levels prepare as a team for competitions focused on language and literature, science, mathematics, social science, economics, art, music, essay, interview and speech. Your donation to OCAD will help provide student scholarships and travel stipends for winning teams to attend state-level competitions that can add up to more than $6,000 per team. In addition, funding will also help expand programs to targeted schools in the three lowest socioeconomic levels in Orange County by providing no-cost curriculum materials and study resources valued at $659 per school. You can donate to the Academic Decathlon here.
Inside the Outdoors
Inside the Outdoors is a recognized leader in science and environmental education. ITO offers award-winning programs that offer students, teachers, parents and the community hands-on educational experiences in the natural world to expand their knowledge, understanding and stewardship of the environment. More than 60 percent of the students who participate in Inside the Outdoors programs need a sponsorship to attend, and donations will provide financial help to sponsor these students. As little as $25 will send one student on a field trip and $100 can sponsor a traveling scientist for an after-school program. You can give to Inside the Outdoors here.