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The guy who created Philanthropy Day has another idea: COVID-19 heroes

Douglas Freeman likes to call himself a “gratitude freak.” As in, thanking those who deserve to be thanked.

Freeman’s the Orange County tax attorney whose perseverance over several years ended with President Ronald Reagan putting his signature on the creation of National Philanthropy Day. Freeman’s invention is now celebrated annually around the United States and in a few other countries to honor charitable giving.

Now, Freeman wants to turn the gratitude spotlight on key scientists from around the world who were involved in the development of the COVID-19 vaccines and, closer to home, everyday folks in Orange County who, as essential workers or supportive family members and friends, have provided  “extraordinary” service during the pandemic.

The “Celebration of Heroes” planned for April 29 and 30 in Orange County is something Freeman and his friend and fellow philanthropist, Pick Up Stix restaurant chain founder Charlie Zhang, brainstormed earlier this year. They got to talking over lunch about how grateful they and their spouses were to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and soon realized the idea was potentially big.

“He said, ‘You know, we ought to be celebrating these doctors,’” Freeman recalled.

Both men are old enough (Freeman is 76 and Zhang is 66) to be in the age cohort that’s suffered the most of the 778,000-plus COVID-19 deaths in the United States. To them, vaccination is an unqualified lifesaver.

Pick Up Stix founder and philanthropist Charlie Zhang, pictured here in 2016, is one of the catalysts behind a planned April 2022 gathering in Orange County that will honor distinguished scientists and everyday local folks for their work during the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

That initial discussion took place in late February. Later, just as vaccines were becoming available to the general public and the pandemic’s grip on society was letting up, they revisited their idea.

“We were feeling so grateful to the scientists and the science. I said to Charlie, ‘That idea is maybe not so crazy. You still want to do it?’”

Zhang didn’t hesitate: “Yeah!”

They kicked in $250,000 toward costs that they estimate will be at least $500,000. The money will cover airfare and hotel accommodations for the scientists and the venue for a gala dinner and concert. Donations are being solicited to help cover expenses and to build a fund that will go toward mental health support for healthcare workers who have been stretched emotionally and physically by the pandemic.

A website unveiled Tuesday, Nov. 30, at celebrationofheroes.com includes the names and contributions of the 11 scientists whose groundbreaking work will be acknowledged. It also details the nominating process for everyday heroes — healthcare workers, grocery store clerks, teachers, those who assisted senior citizens or distributed food, or anyone who affected lives for the greater good.

“We want to give them the kind of recognition we would hope to receive if we had done some of the spectacular things they have done for all of us,” Freeman said.

The scientists are a prestigious group that includes Dr. Katalin Karikó, the Hungarian-born biochemist at the University of Pennsylvania who toiled in obscurity since the 1980s to prove the effectiveness of messenger RNA (mRNA), and her colleague Dr. Drew Weissman, whose mRNA work also paved the way for the COVID-19 vaccines.

All of the scientists — hailing from Germany, France, Canada and the United States — will be flown to Orange County for a gathering on the last Friday in April at UC Irvine. Freeman said he has already secured their commitment to participate.

Other honorees include UCI’s own Philip Felgner, director of the university’s Vaccine Research and Development Center and the Protein Microarray Laboratory and Training Facility. They will take part in a news conference and panel session April 29 that will include a Q&A with the public.

The next night, April 30, the scientists will join about 200 people to be culled from nominations submitted by the public for a dinner and concert. Twelve from among the group of everyday heroes will join the scientists on stage for an awards presentation.

Freeman believes Orange County will embrace the idea, even though there is a strong contingent of people here who believe the pandemic is a hoax or are against being vaccinated, wearing masks and other public health measures. Many have held protests, threatened public officials — including death threats that led to the resignation of Orange County’s then-chief health officer, Dr. Nichole Quick, in June 2020 — and continue to show up at every county Board of Supervisors meeting to express their views.

“There will be people who will think this whole thing is a waste of time and money, but the reality is most people in Orange County don’t think that way,” Freeman said. “The bulk of people in Orange County are thrilled they got their vaccine and their kids are back in school. They are thrilled about the care they got.”

Freeman figures the Celebration of Heroes will give them a chance to show their gratitude.

“If they’re afraid to say anything, I’ll take the heat. If somebody else thinks it’s a bad idea to thank the people who saved lives, then that’s their thing.”


Source: Orange County Register

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