Orange Cares Q2 Spotlight: Supporting UCLA’s Esophageal Health Center
Orange Aluminum’s Orange Cares Q2 Spotlight: Supporting UCLA’s Esophageal Health Center
Orange Aluminum selected the UCLA Robert G. Kardashian Center for Esophageal Health for its Q2 2025 Orange Cares initiative, inspired by an employee’s personal connection to the cause.
The selection began with Vanessa Aguilar, our Purchasing Manager at the time, who nominated the Center in memory of her grandfather. Her story helped our team understand why supporting esophageal health care, research, and education mattered to her family—and could matter to many others.
Through Orange Cares, we connect our charitable giving with causes our employees care about. Explore the Orange Cares program and the organizations we support.
Why Vanessa Nominated the UCLA Kardashian Center
Vanessa’s grandfather passed away from esophageal cancer. When she nominated the Center, she shared how that experience shaped her family and her choice:
“This cause is deeply personal to me. I chose the UCLA Kardashian Center in honor of my grandfather, who passed away from esophageal cancer. Our family experienced firsthand how difficult and overwhelming this disease can be. Supporting this organization means helping other families get the care, information, and hope they need during an incredibly hard time.”
Her nomination gave our Q2 initiative a personal purpose. It was an opportunity to honor someone important to a colleague while supporting an organization focused on patients and families facing esophageal conditions.
Employee nominations bring that perspective to Orange Cares. They help us learn about needs and organizations through the experiences of the people we work alongside.
About the UCLA Robert G. Kardashian Center for Esophageal Health
The UCLA Robert G. Kardashian Center for Esophageal Health focuses on patient-centered treatment, research, and education related to disorders of the esophagus.
Its multidisciplinary team brings together expertise in gastroenterology, surgery, oncology, and other specialties. The Center cares for people with a range of conditions, including esophageal cancer, acid reflux, and swallowing disorders.
For our team, the connection was clear: Vanessa’s nomination introduced us to an organization whose work addresses the challenges her family had experienced.
Visit the Center’s official website to learn more about its approach to esophageal health and patient care.
How Our Q2 Support Took Shape
Our support extended beyond selecting the quarter’s organization. Orange Aluminum employees assembled and delivered patient activity kits containing creative activities, games, and notes of encouragement.
The kits offered a practical way for our team to participate and show patients that people in their community were thinking of them.
Read “Packing Comfort with Purpose” to see how our team supported UCLA patients.
Orange Aluminum also donated $4,037 to the UCLA Robert G. Kardashian Center for Esophageal Health through the Q2 initiative.
Explore our Q2 Orange Cares recap and the $4,037 donation.
How Orange Aluminum Gives Back Through Orange Cares
Orange Cares, also known as OrangeCares, is Orange Aluminum’s quarterly charitable giving program. Our team selects nonprofit organizations, and we donate a portion of our sales to support their work.
Our customers help make that giving possible through their continued business with Orange Aluminum. Employee nominations help guide it toward causes with personal meaning.
For Q2 2025, Vanessa’s story became a shared commitment: learning about the Center, preparing comfort kits, and contributing to its mission. Each part gave our team a way to put Care—one of Orange Aluminum’s core values—into practice.
Discover More Orange Cares Initiatives
The UCLA spotlight is one chapter in Orange Aluminum’s ongoing charitable giving story.
Visit Orange Cares to explore other organizations we have supported, learn how our quarterly program works, and find out how to suggest a nonprofit that matters to you.
