Orange County Bars Turn Cocktails Into Charity Donations

Your next margarita could help feed a hungry family or provide a wheelchair to someone in need, thanks to three Orange County establishments turning cocktails into charitable donations.

The Park Club California at Segerstrom Center for the Arts launched its Cocktails for a Cause series in April after raising $54,000 for local youth programs. The business and social club now hosts monthly events where half of ticket sales plus additional donations support different nonprofits. Guests sip curated cocktails and small bites while learning about organizations like Free Wheelchair Mission, which helps people with disabilities regain mobility.

"Philanthropy is a defining pillar of The Park Club experience," said club manager Tim Vels. The series continues through August with events supporting The Wilshire Foundation, Veterans Legal Institute, and Autism Health.

Just down the road, Farmhouse at Roger's Gardens has been mixing generosity into its drinks since 2019. The restaurant's Swig for Selflessness program features a rotating weekly cocktail created with farmers market ingredients. Half the proceeds from every drink sold goes to a featured charity.

Over seven years, the program has supported Samueli Academy, Bracken's Kitchen food rescue nonprofit, Orangewood Foundation, and Make-A-Wish Orange County. The cocktails change with the seasons, but the commitment to giving back stays constant.

Mission Craft Cocktails takes the giving-back model straight to store shelves. Co-founders Marcin Malyszko and Amit Singh met at a food drive and bonded over their love of cocktails and desire to fight hunger. They launched their bottled cocktail brand three years ago during the pandemic, donating 5% of every sale to hunger relief.

The Mission Viejo company now sells pre-made cocktails like margaritas, old-fashioneds, and espresso martinis in more than 600 stores. Their contributions have exceeded $250,000 to Feeding America and Second Harvest Food Bank, funding over 1.2 million meals for families facing food insecurity.

The Ripple Effect

These three programs show how small business innovation can create massive community impact. When restaurants and entrepreneurs bake charitable giving into their business models, customers become partners in change without extra effort. The success of these programs proves that Orange County residents are eager to support businesses that prioritize purpose alongside profit.

As more venues embrace charitable cocktails, drinking with intention becomes easier and the collective impact grows stronger.