On December 31st, 2002, KidWorks lost a dear friend who continues to leave a lasting impression on all of our lives. From the day Dan first came to visit our learning centers, he made it his personal goal to support the work we were doing to help inner-city youth dream bigger dreams than the “barrio.” He always worked tirelessly raising funds to support our learning centers, computer labs, preschool program, and other community development efforts. Dan’s heart would always resonate with what we were doing because he had a vision, and he was determined to see it become a reality.

Almost a year later, on Saturday evening, September 13th, 2003, a tribute to Dan Donahue was hosted by Dan’s close friends: Tom Schriber, Ranney Draper, Brian Lawrence, and Jim Watson at the Balboa Bay Club. A capacity crowd of 475 friends, family members, and colleagues attended the luau, which raised about $1 million for KidWorks. In July of the following year, KidWorks was able to purchase a 10,000 sq. ft. building that was later renovated in the summer of 2005 to become the Donahue Center. Located in the midst of the Santa Ana community we have been serving for the last ten years, the new center houses a licensed preschool, an expanded tutoring center, a library and resource center, two computer labs, a recreation room, an arts and media center, health care rooms, and the KidWorks administrative offices.

Dan Donahue’s life exemplified exuberance and zeal. He lived by the basic principle that you could not simply stand on the sidelines; you had to be at the center of the things that mattered most to you. Dan’s love for children and his desire to see people succeed fueled his fervent desire to better the lives of those in at-risk communities.

Thanks to Dan’s family and friends for their continued commitment and dedication to KidWorks. Dan’s legacy will live on as lives and neighborhoods are transformed.



Pictures of the Donahue Center