Sunstone Community Fund Meets Fundraising Goal
More than 500 people swarmed Mike Ward Community Park last Saturday morning for the Irvine Dream Run – Irvine Tech Week 5K and FirstGen Color Run. The event was part of the second annual Irvine Tech Week.
“We more than doubled the number of events from the first year,” Melinda Pang, Irvine Tech Hub executive director, said. “There was great energy throughout, from the Kickoff Event to the Wrap Party. The information imparted during the many panels and workshops was amazing, and so many connections were made. I think I can speak for all the organizers when I say Irvine Tech Week was an unqualified success.”
Pang said there were 26 events last week, including the second annual TechStars Startup Weekend, where entrepreneurs spent 54 hours over three days developing new startup concepts and business plans. Sunstone Management, Inc., offered a panel about Public-Private Partnerships accelerating tech and economic development, while American Lending Center – a first-time participant – and Sunstone hosted panels on alternative financing for startups such as the State Small Business Credit Initiative and EB-5 projects.
“Irvine Tech Week has been nothing short of phenomenal,” said Mayor Farrah N. Khan. “The second annual event is a testament to our City’s innovation and collaborative spirit. I’m so pleased to have learned from and celebrated the brilliance that drives our tech community forward.”
Councilmember Tammy Kim, one of the Irvine Tech Week founders, agreed.
“The remarkable turnout and engagement throughout Irvine Tech Week underscores the vibrancy and potential of our city’s tech ecosystem,” said Councilmember Tammy Kim. “This year’s success reaffirms Irvine’s position as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship in Southern California. I’m excited to see next year’s Irvine Tech Week grow even more!”
Sunstone and American Lending Center were platinum sponsors for the Dream Run, with proceeds benefiting the Sunstone Community Fund – a charitable donor-directed fund supporting innovation and tech startups, with a particular emphasis of support for creation of the Irvine Tech Accelerator.
“We are immensely pleased with the turnout for our inaugural event, with nearly 400 runners,” said Jayro Sandoval, Sunstone Community Fund Administrator and Economic Development Associate at Sunstone. “The event not only provided an enjoyable experience but also fostered meaningful connections and supported a worthy cause. This successful launch sets a positive precedent for future events.”
Sandoval added the fundraising component was a success, securing more than $100,000 in sponsorships. That, he said, is a testament to strong community supportThey include:
Gold Sponsors: Wong & Associates, Beall Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, DayDream Cinema, and UpHonest Capital + Beta University.
Silver Sponsors: Commercial Bank of California, FYDI, Inc., Royal Business Bank, EB-5 Investors Magazine, ICBC (Industrial & Commercial Bank of China), and TransPecos Banks.
Bronze Sponsors: Balliet Wang International, Falcon Rappaport, Daftarian Group, Visatopia, and Auchel World/Grand Prospects Financial & Insurance Services.
Community Sponsors: Rutan & Tucker, LLP, UCI Antrepreneur Center, West America Lending, Fragomen, Lair East Labs, KCAL Insurance Agency, X-Caliber Rural Capital, Davco Realty, Chinese American Association of Orange County, Auto Body Center, ArroyoWest, North America Chinese University Alumni Alliance, Wukong Education, Hungry Panda, Fantuan, and Golden Rock Builders California Design Center.
“This was a great team effort by so many people,” said John Shen, founder of Sunstone Management and American Lending Center, and the person who came up with the Dream Run concept. “It was a real celebration of chasing the American Dream right here in Irvine.”
For more information about Irvine Tech Week, go to the website at irvinetechweek.com.
About Sunstone Community Fund
The Sunstone Community Fund is a key nonprofit component of the Sunstone Management vision to advance public benefit programs that support the development of inclusive and vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystems. A Donor Advised Fund managed by the National Philanthropic Trust, the SCF supports a network of universities, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies that develop and implement entrepreneurship programs, early-stage tech accelerators, and advance local economic development.
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Jennifer Huang
Sunstone Management
(562) 732-0617