Mariners Church raises $965,000 for charity

Parishioners at Irvine-based Mariners Church raised almost $1 million during a 30-day drive for nonprofits in Orange County and around the world.

For the past two years, attendees at the church’s three campuses — in Irvine, Mission Viejo and Huntington Beach — have participated in a giving campaign called “Be Fearless.”

This year, the church surpassed its goal of $750,000 as 20,000 people donated $965,000 and 15,000 volunteer hours, according to a news release.

Fifty-six nonprofits that fight poverty and other social ills will get a share of what Mariners raised.

Recipients are as close as Lighthouse Church, which serves the homeless population in Costa Mesa, and as far away as Bombo Pentecostal Church in Uganda, which is building wells and a school.

During last year’s inaugural “Be Fearless” campaign, Mariners attendees raised $829,000.

The church said it intends to make the drive an annual tradition that encourages people to “fearlessly donate their time and money.”

A full list of nonprofits that Mariners is supporting with the drive can be found at howtobefearless.org/partners.

— Jeremiah Dobruck

Twitter: @jeremiahdobruck