City Council Member Katrina Foley Makes First Stop to Distribute Coats to Kids

    COSTA MESA, CA, December 26, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- This week the distribution of the warm coats collected during Katrina Foley's 9th Annual Charity Drive began at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast in Orange County, California, where she also participated in a Career Question & Answer panel. "Thanks to the generosity of so many caring and compassionate people in Costa Mesa, we were able to distribute warm new and like-new jackets to disadvantaged children. When temperatures drop, it is critical to good health for children to stay warm," said Foley.

As the mother of two boys, Katrina Foley knows all about the need to keep children protected from the elements during the winter. "It's a great feeling to see the smiles on the kid's faces when we let them select a sweater, sweatshirt or coat, something so small means so much to them," said Foley.

Foley believes every child deserves to be warm, but she also knows the reality many parents face as they struggle with tough choices and limited resources. Necessity often dictates that food and shelter take precedence over clothing.

Growing up in a home with limited resources herself, she has strong memories of her own mother's struggle to keep three children in warm clothing on cold days.

Each year Foley's annual charity drive has grown, sometimes just from the circumstances occurring in the community. For example, take this year, a local family suddenly had an unimaginable crisis. Nancy and Michael Casey's son was unexpectedly hospitalized with a brain tumor. Emergency surgery ensued as he was experiencing bleeding in the brain. Doctors removed the tumor and the boy was quickly on the road to recovery, but the lost work days of the parents to be at their son's bedside, the bills from the hospital stay and surgery quickly took a toll on the family. Since Foley's annual fundraising holiday party was just days away, Foley jumped into action.

She spoke with the head of the Costa Mesa Fire Fighters Association - IAFF Local 1465, and it was decided that funds could be raised and donated to the Casey family from her Annual Holiday Soiree's Silent Auction. She also announced to her attendees that a basket would be at the party to fill-up with gifts and gift cards for the family. Over $3,500 was raised for the family.

Foley is "...tireless and cares deeply for the well-being of the residents of Costa Mesa, its businesses and visitors...," wrote Geoff West, a local political observer and retired editor/publisher of an award-winning online political blog titled A Bubbling Cauldron. While himself a Republican, he has praised Foley, a Democrat, over the years for her public service and determination to do what is right for her community.

Foley, when asked about the distribution of coats this year, said, "we were thrilled to have an added a partner in our efforts to obtain warm clothing for the children that frequent the Boy & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast." This year Katrina Foley's team partnered with the Los Angeles Chargers and the Charger Girls who donated sweatshirts and participated in the Q&A panel discussion with the students. "It was all about arts, parks, Pom Poms and public safety," said Foley. The theme for the panel--Education Matters!

"It was so heartwarming and enjoyable to have our the NFL Charger Girls, public safety representatives, mechanical engineer and Arts Committee Chair Andrea Marr, Parks Commission Vice Chair Liz McNabb, and myself, as a lawyer, showing girls and boys the possibilities in the future if you study, make good choices and reach for your dreams," stated Foley.

ABOUT KATRINA FOLEY
A lawyer, former Mayor, Trustee on local School Board, wife, mother, and daughter, these just a few roles Katrina Foley manages. Over the years, Katrina Foley has been recipient of numerous Awards and Recognitions. In 2011, Katrina was recognized as a Woman that Matters for families for the Sage Women Awards, and, as a Community Leader Advocate for Youth Sports by Costa Mesa United. In 2010, she was awarded the Orange Coast College "2010 Outstanding Citizen of the Year" for her volunteer services and activities in the Costa Mesa and OCC community. In 2009, Katrina received recognition from the Sierra Club for her efforts to Go Green in Costa Mesa. In December 2007, she was awarded the Advocating Healthy Families Super Star Award from the Health Funders Partnership of Orange County, and in April 2007, she was awarded the Childs Pace John Upton Award for her work to enrich and lighten the load of families in Costa Mesa.

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