82 Monterey County GIVES! 2023 mcgives.com Education & Youth DONate online mcgives.com development, family mental health and infant mental health. Building on my knowledge and skills has enhanced my ability to support families and children in the community, boosting my confidence and cultural awareness. I am able to coach parents to examine how their own childhood and experiences affect their approach to parenting so they can both pass on positive traditions and break negative cycles. Slowing down, being present, and meeting children where they are promotes stronger connections and attachment. Parents become superior advocates, fostering deeper engagement, attachment and a profound sense of accomplishment, further strengthening the parent-child bond.” -L’Shanna Klein Friends of the Marina Library Year Founded: 1990 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 0 paid, 120 volunteers Budget: $86,750 682-8016 friendsofthemarinalibrary.org Big Idea: It’s not just about quiet rooms filled with books for the Friends of the Marina Library. The nonprofit’s Big Idea promotes nature as a healing force through its Improving Community Wellness Through Nature initiative. Natural science experts guide participants of all ages to explore and appreciate the world around them, while integrating art and other science disciplines. Donations help support a year-round schedule of events with the LockePaddon Park, serving as an outdoor classroom located just outside of the library. “The Marina Library hosts a variety of outdoor programs with the intention of reconnecting participants with nature. Exploring and growing outdoors sparks a child’s sense of wonder and fosters a healthy state of well-being. Sadly, as adults, we often lose this sense of wonder and our curiosity fades. I have experienced firsthand how our backyard transforms into an outdoor classroom during programs such as nature journaling, scavenger hunts, bug hunts, bird watching, nature painting and more. It is our Big Idea to increase the access and capacity of these programs so more community members can rediscover their appreciation for the natural world as part of the library experience.” -Melissa Mejia Friends of the Salinas Public Library Year Founded: 1975 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 0 paid, 27 volunteers Budget: $24,080 758-7182 friendsofthesalinaspubliclibrary.org Big Idea: Friends of the Salinas Public Library delivers several programs to promote reading across all ages and stages of life, starting with the youngest future readers. Friends gives six free BABY (Books at Birth Year) books to Salinas’ earliest literature fans and support the Kinder Mobile, which provides kindergarteners with their first library card of their very own. Families benefit from Families for Literacy and summer reading programs. Donations to this Big Idea help support general expenses including, of course, lots of books. “I think the library is heaven!” -Damian S., age 7 Future Citizens Foundation/First Tee Monterey County Year Founded: 2004 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 56 paid, 96 volunteers Budget: $3,943,976 800-3458 firstteemontereycounty.org Big Idea: For last year’s campaign, First Tee Monterey County raised funds for its Big Idea to expand and nurture its brand-new King City campus, bringing a unique blend of golf education and character-building to local youth. Contributions to First Tee this year will once again go to the new King City program, with a goal to expand services to reach even more than the 10,000 Monterey County youth currently receiving career development, Center for Community Advocacy Year Founded: 1988 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 11 paid, 20 volunteers Budget: $1,751,893 753-2324 cca-viva.org Big Idea: The Center for Community Advocacy (CCA) believes in the power of the next generation of leaders and community members. Programs like Youth4Change teach educational and professional skills that directly translate to higher education environments, the workplace, or even social situations. This nonprofit’s Big Idea focuses on making sure youth who come from farmworker or low-income backgrounds can rise to meet the challenges that accompany poor living conditions, unaffordable housing and lack of access to health services. “I came in prepared to describe the services and history of the Center for Community Advocacy but was surprised to find out that they wanted to learn more about me. My dreams for the Salinas community, my experience, and my feelings were all welcome to the table. The space was so inspiring. That feeling of being heard was something so special and rare that I wanted to pass it on to other youth.” -Stacey Palmerin, CCA youth leader spotlight I think the library is heaven!” Damian S., age 7, Friends of the Salinas Public Library
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