Due to a lack of funding, Melissa Tumblin in 2022 was considering closing her nonprofit Ear Community that she started after her daughter Ally was born with an illness in her right ear.

Jennifer Gross learned about the financial troubles at the group that helps children and adults with missing ears or ear canals and secured a $200,000 donation from the William, Jeff and Jennifer Gross Family Foundation. The foundation donated another $200,000 last December.

“As a small grassroots nonprofit, Ear Community wouldn’t exist without the generous support from the William, Jeff and Jennifer Gross Family Foundation,” Tumblin told the Business Journal.

“Not only does their funding allow our organization to have the necessary programs in place that help our community thrive, but it also helps us continue changing the lives of children and adults who have missing ears (microtia) and hearing loss (aural atresia) every day.”

The Gross foundation, which began in 2018 with $380 million, has since grown to $550 million. That means Bill Gross’ goal of giving away the minimum 5% annually has increased to $25 million, half of which he wants to donate to Orange County nonprofits.

“The emphasis of the Gross Family Foundation is family,” Bill Gross told the Business Journal. “The experience of working with Jeff and Jennifer (Gross) to support the foundation’s mission has been one of the highlights of my life.”