SUPPORT NEWPORT MESA is a donation platform that makes it easy to donate to our local schools, teams and other youth programs with 100% of donations going to the selected programs. As a 501c(3) nonprofit organization, donors may also take advantage of qualifying tax benefits.

Following a soft launch in 2020, Support Newport Mesa has quietly facilitated more than $215,000 in donations to our local Newport Mesa schools (as of June 2025).

Support Newport Mesa is operated by an all-volunteer team with no paid staff. All costs for providing this donation service, including bank fees, website hosting, management and administration are paid for by our local business community through their Shop Newport Mesa loyalty program membership dues and by optional add-on donations.

As long-time Newport Mesa residents, this site is one of the ways we give back to our community where we live, work, play and raise our families.

Fundraising is necessary to support our local youth program. Be it selling popcorn, chocolates, car washes, home tours, galas, raffles, program sponsorship ads, [fill-in-the-blank]-a-thons, special restaurant/store sales events, promotional banners and more are all important fundraising activities for the success of these programs. Support Newport Mesa complements these efforts, simplifies the donation process and enables program advocates to focus more time on enriching their programs and engaging their participants.

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District recognizes the important and vital roles our community members play in supporting both our athletic and non-athletic school programs. To learn more about how the district facilitates and encourages strong community relationships, partnerships and collaborations download NMUSD School Connected Organizations (SCO).

For more information on the importance of sports and other team activities to our community, please read The Case for High School Athletics and other co-curricular or education-based activities and the embedded link to the full text.

Mission:
– To strengthen the economic and social bonds of our Newport Mesa community with a common donation platform seamlessly connecting businesses, residents and our area youth programs

Benefits to Donors:
– 100% of funds donated go to donors’ selected programs
– Convenience of giving to one or multiple programs on a common platform
– Real-time donor donation email receipts
– Real-time notice of your donation to your program
– 501(c)(3) nonprofit status for tax reporting purposes
– Learn more at FAQs for Donors

Benefits to Program Advocates (the fundraisers for a school, team, etc):
– 100% of funds donated go to donors’ selected programs
– Convenience of an alternative or primary donation platform
– Dedicated/custom donation page (see example)
– Real-time donor donation email receipts
– Real-time donation notifications emails and summary reports (see example)
– 501(c)(3) nonprofit status for tax reporting purposes
– Learn more at FAQs for Program Advocates

Features:
– 100% of funds donated go to donors’ selected programs
– Optional add-on donations help other Support Newport Mesa programs
– Operated by an all-volunteer team with no paid staff
– Support Newport Mesa is operated by an all-volunteer team with no paid staff.
– All costs for providing this donation service, including bank fees, website hosting, management and administration are paid for by optional add-on donations and our local business community through their Shop Newport Mesa loyalty program membership dues.
– Learn more at FAQs more about Support Newport Mesa

Our Team:
– We live here. We shop here. We work here. We send our kids to school here.

Volunteer Board of Directors
President: Jim Palmer, Owner/Founder Community Commerce Group
JIM PALMER attended Newport Heights, Ensign and graduated from NHHS (’76) along with his eight siblings (1969, ’70, ’71, ’73, ’78, ’80, ’83 and ’88 – for real, he is #5 of 9). For the nearly 20 years following high school and graduating from UC Santa Barbara, Jim traveled extensively pursuing a successful international corporate career only to return to the Newport Mesa area in 1995. Jim and his wife Eva settled in Costa Mesa and their two children attended Mariners, Ensign and graduated from NHHS (2014, 2017). Several nieces and nephews also graduated from Estancia, Costa Mesa and NHHS. Prior to founding a management and marketing agency in 2010, Jim’s career progressed through senior executive positions in the hospitality, retail, technology and event/media/publishing industries. Over the years Jim has been a consistent volunteer and took on leadership roles as President of NH Boys Soccer and an Executive Board member of Mariners Elementary School Foundation, NH Field Hockey, NH Lacrosse and NB Boy Scout Troop 37. Regardless of the cause, Jim found success leaving situations in better shape than when he arrived. It is in that spirit – leaving things better than how they were found – that formed the ideas behind finding a better way to integrate our generous giveback culture with everyday community activities. Support Newport Mesa was decades in the making and in 2020 opportunities aligned to make the nonprofit a reality by working in tandem with residents, businesses and schools to help strengthen the social and economic bonds of our community.
Vice President/Secretary: Marie Case, Owner/Founder Case Communications
MARIE CASE has developed strategic solutions and marketing plans for consumer goods, travel products and publishers for over three decades. In addition to running her public relations business Case Communications, Marie is an active board member and past Chairwoman of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber promotes business in Newport Beach and also stages the Annual Christmas Boat Parade, Police Appreciation Breakfast, Fire and Lifeguard Appreciation Dinner, Citizen of the Year Award, Business Person of the Year Award and much more. Marie was also the first female Skipper of the Commodores, the Chamber’s leadership subgroup as well as a past board member for Leadership Tomorrow and former President of the American Advertising Federation Orange County. Marie works and lives in Newport Beach. Case Communications
Treasurer: Eva Palmer, Cargo Logistics & Transportation, Airline Flight Crew
​​EVA PALMER was born in Venezuela and split her childhood between the big city of Caracas and her family’s native idyllic Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Boulder, Eva excelled in her chosen career of aviation cargo transportation and logistics. In 1995 Eva along with her husband Jim, settled in Costa Mesa and their two children attended Mariners, Ensign and graduated Newport Harbor (2014, 2017). Following a period as a full-time mom and prolific volunteer, Eva began her second career in aviation industry as a flight crew and continues as an active community volunteer. Eva Palmer Artist
Advisors

Advisors are friends of Support Newport Mesa. While they do not have the voting rights of current board members, they are key influencers that provide advice and guidance.

A.G. Kawamura. Founding Member at Orange County Produce. NHHS Class of 1974.

Advocates

Advocates take the leadership role for the fundraising activities to support their schools, teams, clubs and other youth development programs and may include teachers, coaches, school officials, parents, volunteers and others. They are also the point person for Support Newport Mesa donation.

Newport Harbor
– Jamie Tanzer, NHHS Dance Program Director
– Jeanine Bashore, NHHS Dance Program Treasurer

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