Newport Beach, Calif. (October 26, 2026) – More than 200 Orange County business leaders and community visionaries gathered at Newport Beach Country Club on October 15 for The Good Lunch 2026, Goodwill of Orange County’s annual fundraising event celebrating the power of work and the importance of creating career pathways to sustainable jobs. The event raised $170,000 to support workforce development programs that help young adults build skills, gain work experience, and pursue meaningful careers.
The Good Lunch brought together supporters, major local employers, community partners, and philanthropic leaders for an inspiring afternoon focused on opportunity, personal growth, and the impact of workforce development. This year’s event highlighted Goodwill OC’s commitment to helping young adults overcome challenges such as limited work experience, involvement with the justice system, foster care transitions, disabilities, and other barriers to employment.
Funds raised through The Good Lunch will help expand career navigation, paid work experience, job readiness training, skills development, supportive services, and connections to employment opportunities for young people throughout Orange County. These programs provide critical support at a time when many young adults are struggling to establish stable career pathways and achieve long-term economic self-sufficiency.
“Every young person deserves the opportunity to discover their potential and build a meaningful career,” said Nicole Suydam, President and CEO of Goodwill of Orange County. “The generosity displayed at The Good Lunch will help us provide the encouragement, training, and individualized support that empower young adults to overcome barriers and create brighter futures for themselves and their families.”
During the event, guests heard firsthand stories of transformation and learned how Goodwill OC helps individuals move from uncertainty to confidence through a journey of personal support, work experience, and career development. The program also highlighted the organization’s vision for continued growth, including expanding access to high-demand career pathways and innovative workforce development initiatives that prepare individuals for the future of work.
The event was made possible through the support of sponsors, donors, volunteers, and community partners who share Goodwill OC’s belief that employment is one of the most powerful tools for changing lives. Event sponsors included POMS & Associates, Disneyland Resort, Baker Tilly, Ferruzzo & Ferruzzo, Frome Family Foundation, REDA LLC, Bill & Ronna Shipman, Wells Fargo and many other community organizations committed to strengthening Orange County’s workforce.
For more than 100 years, Goodwill of Orange County has helped people achieve their goals through personal support, work experience, and career development. Through its workforce development programs, retail operations, and community partnerships, Goodwill OC continues to create pathways to opportunity while strengthening the local economy and helping individuals reach their full potential.
About Goodwill of Orange County
Goodwill of Orange County helps people achieve their goals through a journey of personal support, work experience and career development. Celebrating its centennial anniversary in 2024, Goodwill has connected hundreds of thousands of individuals to opportunity through quality training and education programs, supportive employment services for people with developmental and physical disabilities, on-site job coaching, community integration programs, veteran employment services, and more. As a nonprofit employment social enterprise, Goodwill operates a collection of 23 retail venues throughout Orange County, including five OC Goodwill Boutiques and its e-commerce platform ShopGoodwill.com, to support these transformative programs and services. To learn more about Goodwill of Orange County, visit ocgoodwill.org.
