Best Charitable Organization

1. Trellis International

711 W. 17th St., Suite E5, Costa Mesa; 949-873-5805; wearetrellis.com

In June, Newport Beach City Manager Grace Leung announced the creation of the city’s homeless data dashboard. The online resource is updated monthly with information on individuals served, which includes workforce reentry projects organized through a partnership with Trellis International.

Trellis is a faith-based nonprofit located in Costa Mesa. It was initially founded in 2011 and became a nonprofit in 2013. It’s centered on “neighboring, education, homelessness and prayer.”

“Trellis is all about facilitating city-centric collaboration around practical, relational and spiritual challenges,” says Ian Stevenson, executive director of Trellis International. Stevenson joined Trellis in the fall of 2015. “We mobilize people from numerous churches, businesses, nonprofits and neighborhoods to work with the city, school district and residents throughout the year. Having birthed ‘Love Costa Mesa’ and impacted every school in Costa Mesa as well as hundreds of people experiencing homelessness and neighbors in need, Trellis is now striving to help several surrounding cities establish similar city-centric collaborative movements.”

In 2021, Trellis International began looking beyond Costa Mesa. The partnership with Newport Beach’s civic leaders is one recent example. The organization has also sought out leaders in cities such as Anaheim, Fullerton, Huntington Beach, Irvine and Orange.

Trellis International’s programs include a homeless check-in center, community impact team, street team, intentional neighboring network, and community/ family engagement events.

MARK RIGHTMIRE, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Trellis International is a faith-based Costa Mesa nonprofit partnering with local cities to create change and solve problems at a local level.

– Jenn Tanaka

2. Goodwill of Orange County

Multiple locations; 714-795-3130 ocgoodwill.org

Most people know Goodwill through its donation centers and retail stores. Nicole Sudyam, Goodwill of Orange County’s president and CEO, wants the community to know that Goodwill does so much more.

“We are most proud of how we change lives through the power of work,” says Nicole Sudyam. “We take a person-centered approach to our mission by matching every individual who comes through our doors with a job, an internship or an opportunity that will help them be successful. We meet every individual where they are and help them connect the dots on their pathway to further independence and ultimately, sustainable employment.”

The nonprofit celebrates its centennial in 2024. Sudyam has big plans.

“We will be expanding our retail stores, donation centers and online shopping through ShopGoodwill. com with an emphasis on providing enhanced job training and career growth for our team members either inside or outside of Goodwill.”

Since 1990, Working Wardrobes has provided individuals seeking employment with the resources to obtain a job.

“Working Wardrobes was founded on the principle that one person can make a difference, and that power rests in each of us today,” says Bonni Pomush, CEO of Working Wardrobes. “That is, every individual has unique gifts and strengths to contribute to the world, and Working Wardrobes invites all of us to help create sustainable changes in the lives of people in our community. When we own our power to contribute to the world, the transformations that result in clients of Working Wardrobes reverberate throughout our community — lifting each of us as well as the collective.”

The organization’s Power UP class is designed to assist veterans during transition. The soft skills training sessions provide another avenue to self empowerment for veterans. In 2022, Working Wardrobes earned The Vetty award for its work with veteran employment.

3. Working Wardrobes

2000 E. McFadden Ave., Santa Ana (Donation Center: 17392 Daimler St., Irvine); 714-210-2460; workingwardrobes.org