Project Youth OCBF’s Board of Directors is responsible for the overall governance and fiscal management of the Foundation. This impressive 44-member board is comprised of Orange County’s top legal professionals and business leaders. The success of Project Youth is due much in part to the strength and commitment of the Board.

Spotlight

Board member Eric Traut of Traut Firm was featured in last year’s July/August publication of Consumer Attorneys of America. View Volunteer Spotlight – Eriv V. Traut to learn about Eric’s continued involvement with Project Youth fundraisers and programs such as the OC Marathon, Project SELF, and the Higher Education Mentoring Program.

A Message from
2020 Project Youth OCBF President Mark D. Erickson, Esq.

It is an exciting time to be a part of Project Youth/Orange County Bar Foundation as the organization celebrates 50 years of service to the community in 2020.  That includes the 40^th anniversary of the juvenile crime diversion program SHORTSTOP and nearly 25 years of the Project SELF student internship program.  In the last decade alone, Project Youth OCBF has raised over $1 million in college scholarship money for low income minority students in the Higher Education Mentoring Program.

Nonprofits do not last this long unless their goals and purpose resonate with the community and their supporters. Everyone can get behind mentoring programs for disadvantaged youth—programs that will support change, growth, and diversity in our community; programs that create office jobs for high school kids who have never been in an office setting let alone worked in one; educational and counseling programs for families; and alternatives to incarceration for youthful offenders.

2020 will kick off the public phase of our Elevate Educate Empower Comprehensive Campaign designed to retire the debt on our building in Santa Ana, raise funds for an endowed scholarship fund for low income students; and provide much needed money to expand our counseling and outreach programs.  When we reach our goal of paying off our building this will mean an extra $96,000 every year that can be directed straight into Project Youth OCBF programs.

Over $1 million has been raised for the campaign so far, primarily from board members and members of our Society of Fellows.  Thank you for your generosity and commitment to this process and our shared cause.  As we step forward into the community with our philanthropic appeal, let us do so with the conviction that our purpose is noble, our services are needed, and that people will see meaning and value in both as they join the team by contributing to the campaign.

Of course, the success of the programs of Project Youth OCBF is measured by more than their longevity and financial performance—it’s the changed lives of those impacted by our programs.  The participants and beneficiaries of our programs are living testimony to the value delivered to the community.  When they come back and speak at our events, it really is an emotional and pride-inspiring experience.

As our board of directors continues to grow and evolve, we look forward to building our Emeritus Board as a place for long-time board members and supporters to continue their service with Project Youth OCBF as an adjunct board in liaison with our board of directors.  We are very lucky to have staff that is as dedicated as they are talented, working tirelessly to deliver daily on our programs.

It is an honor to serve Project Youth OCBF as its president and with your continued support we will not only celebrate 50 years of success, but also the start of a bigger and bolder future.

Mark D. Erickson
2020 Project Youth OCBF President

2020 Board Officers

• President – Mark D. Erickson, Esq.
• President Elect – Todd G. Friedland, Esq.
• Secretary – Jonathan M. Skorheim, Esq.
• Treasurer – Jaritt A. Ruff
• Immediate Past President – Steven T. Card