Viking Charities was founded over fifty-five years ago in Los Angeles when a group of men came together in good fellowship and decided to create a charity to help underprivileged children and their families. They rallied once a month at the Scandia Restaurant with Meister Ken Hanson, building traditions that still carry on today.
In 1984, Viking Hans Prager opened the The Ritz Restaurant in Newport Beach, which provided a meeting place for Vikings based in Orange County to start their own charity. A group of spirited men have come together ever since for monthly luncheons filled with friendly harassment, good food, drink, outstanding guest speakers, and serious discussion as to the best ways to help Orange County’s needy children and families. Noble Viking Charities, a California non-profit charitable corporation, became an IRC 501(c)(3) charity organization in 1999.
The Viking Charities of Los Angeles was founded by a group of men who enjoyed good fellowship. They soon decided to create a charity to help underprivileged children and their families. Some of the noteworthy early members of the Vikings included General Jimmy Doolittle, Nipsey Russell, Tom Harmon, Broderick Crawford, Barry Goldwater, Walter Cronkite and Elizabeth Taylor.
In 1984, the Noble Viking Charities of Orange County was founded to expand on the good work established by the Los Angeles charity. This group comes together at monthly luncheons to listen to outstanding guest speakers, while raising money for the charity. Every meeting includes discussions of more ways to help Orange County’s needy children and the families of our active duty military.
The Vikings’ traditions are based on two principles: the desire to have fun, and the decision that funds raised would go directly to disabled children and families in need. The traditions that are still carried on include packing Christmas food baskets for the needy, and fund raisers such as a formal Christmas ball, the Christmas lunch, a Summer party, a Charity Golf Tournament and, of course, the camaraderie and fellowship of the monthly lunches.
The demand for food boxes has grown over the years. We continue to solicit donors from corporations, charitable foundations and individuals to meet this ever increasing demand.
The Noble Viking Charities of Orange County is tax-exempt under IRC 501(c)(3) as a public benefit California charitable corporation. EIN #: 33-0849356
The Noble Viking Charities organization is based on two principles – the desire to have fun and the decision that funds we raise should go directly to children and families in need. The only requirement for membership is a donation of $275 or more to the Christmas Food Box Stuffing event. (Each year the Vikings pack over 1,600 baskets with holiday dinner food and other necessities for needy families throughout Orange County.) In addition to this project, we also support a variety of local charities throughout the year by hosting events and meetings to raise money for disadvantaged families and children.
The Vikings meet monthly for a variety of events and lunches. On the second Thursday of the month, the Vikings enjoy an evening dinner of camaraderie while supporting local community charities. Each dinner has a guest speaker who is a key player in his field, from local community leaders to renowned sports legends. For more information, please call Heidi at 949-742-1073