80 Monterey County GIVES! 2023 mcgives.com Education & Youth DONate online mcgives.com have believed in him and supported him along his path. Thank you, Chartwell, for seeing his gifts. Thank you for believing in him until he believed in himself. Please know you made a difference.” -Belynda M. Cake4Kids Monterey County Year Founded: 2010 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 8 paid, 6,700 volunteers Budget: $8,500 (408) 752-2538 cake4kids.org Big Idea: Cake4Kids Monterey County recognizes that young people require their basic needs to be met. But this nonprofit’s Big Idea encourages donors to also consider the sweet surprises of life. Youth living in foster homes or other group environments often do not receive a special occasion cake of their own, in a flavor they like, with their name on top. Cake4Kids mobilizes volunteers to create custom birthday and graduation cakes, featuring ambitious themes from Mario to mermaids, so every child gets a moment to feel extra special. “Thank you so much for the graduation cake. She has come such a long way! She was formerly in the foster care system, and works hard to support her single mother and five siblings. She works in agriculture, and didn’t even make it to the graduation practices because she could not lose out on money for her family. This cake helped her to know that her community is proud of her and supporting her.” -Aidee Aldaco Esselen Tribe of Monterey County Year Founded: 2018 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 2 paid, 15 volunteers Budget: $236,834 402-6368 esselentribe.org Big Idea: The Esselen Tribe of Monterey County’s Big Idea encompasses efforts that celebrate and secure Indigenous nations and their communities, and the Earth itself. This nonprofit’s unique tribal teachings and other resources deliver its mission to build a better future for all. Through online Esselen language and history classes, community events, enhanced educational materials, and increased staffing support, this growing nonprofit invests its donations into an evolving suite of educational programs and resources. “The Esselen Tribe of Monterey County is one of the tribal organizations inviting us all to understand and celebrate how tribal communities have, and continue to, care for Monterey County. I see the land as so much more alive with history, both beautiful and devastating, and am able to be a better environmentalist and neighbor.” -Erin Myers Madeira First 5 Monterey County - Early Childhood Equity Fund Year Founded: 1998 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 15 paid, 0 volunteers Budget: $6,719,764 444-8549 first5monterey.org Big Idea: First 5 Monterey County (F5MC) has a Big Idea to focus on youth mental health. The F5MC mental health training series teaches how to identify and prevent mental health concerns in children. But this curriculum is not just about these serious issues. This series teaches families how to build nurturing relationships and shape a child’s overall development. Strong mental health reduces health care costs, lowers crime rates, and improves educational outcomes. “Participating in the mental health training series has increased my knowledge in early childhood Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Monterey County Year Founded: 1995 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 10 paid, 140 volunteers Budget: $1,389,546 455-6800 casaofmonterey.org Big Idea: CASA of Monterey County focuses on youth in foster care, providing a volunteer adult advocate (called a CASA) who helps secure and navigate the basics of daily life for one young person. CASAs helps youth ages 0 to 21 whose living situation is an unpredictable one, through no fault of their own. These volunteers offer a stable, guiding relationship in a rocky environment, helping young people navigate the foster care system, representing the child’s rights, and contributing to healing and growth. Kids with a CASA spend an average of 7.5 fewer months in foster care than the foster community at large, proving the strength of this nonprofit’s Big Idea. “CASA and the CASA volunteer is a special gift to the life of a child in foster care. A CASA volunteer provides his or her child with guidance, leadership qualities, and a sense of direction and normalcy, which every child so rightly deserves. CASA volunteers make true impacts on our communities and generations to come. CASA volunteers are angels in disguise.” -Judge Sam Lavorato, Jr. spotlight This cake helped her to know that her community is proud of her and supporting her.” –Aidee Aldaco, Cake4Kids Monterey County
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