The Pacific Life Foundation announced today that it will provide a total of $6.25 million in funding throughout 2016, an increase from the $6 million it provided in 2015. The 2016 grants will support the areas of arts and culture; civic, community, and environment; education; and health and human services. Grants will be directed primarily toward supporting the communities where Pacific Life employees live and work, including greater Orange County, California and Omaha, Nebraska.

The Pacific Life Foundation’s initial 2016 grants were presented to local Southern California organizations on the evening of January 21st at the annual Grants Reception, held at Pacific Life’s Newport Beach headquarters. The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Walter B. Gerken Community Service Award and a $50,000 unrestricted cash grant to Special Olympics Southern California, Orange County Region. Since 1985, the Pacific Life Foundation has provided nearly $200,000 in grants to support the Special Olympics in Orange County. In addition, Pacific Life employees volunteer annually at their Spring and Fall Regional Games.

Results of the Foundation’s 2015 giving, along with a listing of new 2016 grants, can be found at www.PacificLifeFoundation.com. Highlights of the 2016 giving program are listed below.

Local Grants:
During the Grants Reception, 168 Southern California nonprofit agencies were awarded more than $2.8 million in grants. In Omaha, Nebraska, $327,500 was granted to 29 local agencies. Grants will fund a wide range of programs including hunger relief, mental health, social support services for low-income families, environmental protection, and programs for individuals with special needs.

Capital Grants:
The Foundation provided a transformative capital campaign grant of $1,000,000 to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Huntington Valley to complete construction of a new Club to open in the spring on the campus of Golden West College in Huntington Beach. This Club will be the first California Boys & Girls Club to be on a college campus.

Capital grants were also provided to Children’s Hospital Orange County Foundation ($250,000 toward a $500,000 pledge) to support their new children’s mental health center and a $250,000 contribution to Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach for their new 30,000 square-foot Pacific Visions wing. In addition, a $50,000 grant toward a $100,000 pledge was given to KidWorks Community Development in Santa Ana for their Building Dreams capital campaign.

3T’s of Education:
Annually, the Pacific Life Foundation awards grants to K-12 schools where there are concentrations of children or grandchildren of Pacific Life employees. 3T’s of Education grants are provided in one of the following areas: Teacher Training, Textbooks, or Technology. In 2016, 146 K-12 schools nationwide will be granted $524,000. Since 1998, more than $6.6 million in 3T grants has been distributed to hundreds of K-12 schools nationwide.

Matching Gifts Program:
The Pacific Life Foundation supports a robust matching gift program for employees. In 2016, the Foundation will match employee donations of approximately $435,000 to United Way and an additional $260,000 to U.S. nonprofit agencies and colleges/universities supported by employees.

About Pacific Life and the Pacific Life Foundation
The Pacific Life Foundation was established in 1984. Together with Pacific Life, the Foundation has contributed more than $90 million to community and national nonprofit organizations. Grants are made to organizations that address a broad spectrum of social needs.

Offering insurance since 1868, Pacific Life provides a wide range of life insurance products, annuities, and mutual funds, and offers a variety of investment products and services to individuals, businesses, and pension plans. Pacific Life counts more than half of the 100 largest U.S. companies as its clients. For additional company information, including current financial strength ratings, visit www.PacificLife.com.

Pacific Life refers to Pacific Life Insurance Company and its affiliates, including Pacific Life & Annuity Company. Client count as of June 2015 is compiled by Pacific Life using the 2015 FORTUNE 500® list.