Inaugural Duffy boat cruise bestowed on Project Independence Costa Mesa, California, June 21, 2019 – Thanks to the generous donation of the use of their Duffy boat by the Basil Witt Family and the Louis and Gladyce Foster Family Foundation of Little Balboa Island, cruises through Newport Harbor this summer have been added to Costa Mesa-based nonprofit Project Independence’s Access2Adventure program that provides important confidence-building experiences for people with developmental ...

MEKA GREEN NAMED DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES AT PROJECT INDEPENDENCE Costa Mesa, California, October 15, 2018 – Meka Green of Paramount has been named director of Human Resources for nonprofit Project Independence of Costa Mesa. She has been at Project Independence since 2007 and has many years of experience providing support to staff, clients and their families.  The mother of eight-year-old daughter, Green is a member of PTA (Parent Teacher ...

NINTH ANNUAL PROJECT INDEPENDENCE WALK TOPS $60,000 IN DONATIONS Funds raised enables organization to build a community one step at a time Costa Mesa, California, September 25, 2018 – By the time the last of the walkers left TeWinkle Park in Costa Mesa at the conclusion of the ninth edition of Project Independence’s Walk for Independence, September 8, more than $60,000 from 99 donors was raised to promote independent living ...

The inability of many Orange County nonprofit organizations to pay living wages to their staffs is taking its toll. It’s a major hurdle for Costa Mesa-based Project Independence, which serves Orange County residents with developmental disabilities. I recently spoke with a parent of a young man with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) after yet another beloved long-term staff member of Project Independence resigned. Her son exhibits challenging and sometimes aggressive behaviors. He ...

Volunteers begin to gather at Project Independence Water Station Mile #23 For the ninth consecutive year Project Independence stepped up with a team of 35 volunteers to man their award-winning Water Station Mile #23 at the OC Marathon. Union Bank was their title sponsor donating $5,000 in support of people living with developmental disabilities. In all, Project Independence raised over $9,000 in support of their mission. Multiple teams ran in ...

On March 18, 2018 the Paul Mitchell School of Costa Mesa opened its doors for a day of hairstyling and laughter. Over 40 clients and friends of Project Independence were treated like the royalty they are by the compassionate students at Paul Mitchell. The Access 2 Adventure Program of Project Independence partners with community organizations to create fun, inclusive events that bolster pride and a sense of independence. All visitors ...