Donnie Crevier’s Story

Donnie Crevier is on a mission to help kids who need, and want, a hand up. Crevier reveals that this impetus is rooted in his own childhood. Despite growing up in the affluent community of Laguna Beach, Crevier remembers the many challenges his single mother faced. As they moved from apartment to apartment, Donnie found stability at the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach – which he remains deeply connected to as a member of its board of directors.

He, of course, had a long successful career in the automobile industry, and believed his involvement with local nonprofits during those years helped make his business more successful as his employees were more fulfilled with their own participation as well.

Ultimately, he sold the family auto dealership bearing his name, and was able to give more time to help others, particularly kids, get started on the right path. “I’m especially focused on getting kids to think more about their education, and getting them excited about learning and completing school,” Crevier said, which he helps accomplish by providing scholarships to kids who come from disadvantaged homes.

Donnie has a long history of involvement and support for Orange County’s nonprofit community. He has served on the Orange County Human Relations Council, the Boys and Girls Club of Laguna Beach Board, the Laguna Beach Community Foundation Board, the Laguna Playhouse Board, and the Western Medical Center Board.

One of his most innovative philanthropic endeavors combines two of his greatest passions: youth education and the automotive industry. A partnership of the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce and Santa Ana Unified School District, High School Inc. Academies (HSI) helps students develop the specific skills needed to work in high-growth, high-tech industries.

Crevier provided resources to kick-start HSI a decade ago, lending his support to train automotive technicians who would be “ready to hire” upon graduation from high school. Since then, Crevier, along with other HSI leaders, has realized they’re doing more than simply preparing students for sustainable employment, and points to students’ 97 percent high school graduation rate. “These kids develop a passion for learning,” Crevier said, who also serves as HSI board chair this year. “They see the benefits of education in the long term.”

Donnie is a great example of finding and pursuing a greater purpose from his success, and our community is much stronger because of his efforts in so many ways for some number of years.