Project Youth OCBF’s Board of Directors is responsible for the overall governance and fiscal management of the Foundation. This impressive 44-member board is comprised of Orange County’s top legal professionals and business leaders. The success of Project Youth is due much in part to the strength and commitment of the Board.

News

Welcome to our new 2018 Board of Directors members!

Shane P. Criqui, Esq.
Todd G. Friedland, Esq.
Elizabeth L. McKeen, Esq.
The Honorable Jamoa A. Moberly (Ret.)
Miguel P. Prietto, Esq.
Sheniece J. Smith, Esq.

Member Spotlight

Board member Eric Traut of Traut Firm was featured in last year’s July/August publication of Consumer Attorneys of America. View Volunteer Spotlight – Eriv V. Traut to learn about Eric’s continued involvement with Project Youth fundraisers and programs such as the OC Marathon, Project SELF, and the Higher Education Mentoring Program.

A Message from Project Youth OCBF 2018 President
-Brian M. Daucher, Esq.

In the legal community, we have been known as the Orange County Bar Foundation.  Started by lawyers intent on active service, we serve youth in diverse areas including juvenile diversion (SHORTSTOP), summer employment at law firms (Project SELF), and mentoring (Higher Education Mentoring Program) to promote the pursuit of higher education.  Our board attracts people that want to make a difference.  In turn, our programs attract talented, dedicated, community-oriented staff.

Five years ago, we faced significant challenges, declining Federal grants, increasing for profit competition, and uncertainty about our name.

By the good word of a board member, we received a first significant gift from Jeffrey Carlton’s Trust.  This gift helped stabilize our balance sheet.

Two more key pieces fell into place this year.

With the help of a talented group of board members, we acquired and moved into our new building on 17th Street in Santa Ana.  The building provides us with safe and well located space, without materially increasing our current costs.  As we pay down our loan, the building will help us ensure that even more of our resources go directly to our programs.

We took a second important step with respect to our name.  While we will never deny our roots in the legal community, the future of this youth-oriented charity depends upon a broader appeal.  We need a name that helps us tell the world who we are, in 140 characters or less.

A spark of creativity leads us to a new name – Project Youth. These two words distill our mission to its essence.  You will see this name, along with our moniker OCBF, on our building, in our marketing materials, and on social media.

With these foundational pieces in place – the Carlton gift, our building, and our name -we can redouble efforts on our mission: Serving Youth in Orange County.

As officers and board members, we are blessed with a talented and committed staff.  To be honest, our staff doesn’t need 40 board members to tell them how to run their programs.  But 40 plus board members can help through generous personal support, and, as importantly, by spreading our service message to our peers, clients, and community.  Mark Minyard set the example high by passing a word to Jeff Carlton.  This is our true responsibility and privilege.

Our goal is to extend this sense of responsibility for youth beyond our board, beyond the legal community, to everyone within earshot or cell tower.

As citizens, parents, children, aunts and uncles, grandparents, brothers and sisters, we all have the responsibility to protect opportunity for our youth.  We help do that.

Join us.

Brian M. Daucher
2018 President

2018 Board Officers

• President – Brian M. Daucher, Esq.
• President Elect – Steven T. Card
• Secretary – Mark D. Erickson, Esq.
• Treasurer – Maria Z. Stearns, Esq.
• Immediate Past President – Daniel S. Robinson, Esq.