94 Monterey County GIVES! 2023 mcgives.com Education & Youth DONate online mcgives.com experienced the Monterey Bay for the first time through O’Neill Sea Odyssey’s free marine education and field experience programs. Students also develop a community service project to become lifelong environmental stewards. “To say that this field trip is a wonderful opportunity for our kids would be a huge understatement. Some of the students had never seen the ocean, and only two had been on a boat before. The O’Neill Sea Odyssey docents, just like every year we have gone, were extremely complimentary of the Santa Lucia Elementary students and praised their enthusiasm and politeness repeatedly. It was overall an incredible day for the kids, parents and, of course, myself.” -Juan Menendez, Santa Lucia Elementary School teacher Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at CSUMB (OLLI) Year Founded: 2007 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 2 paid, 36 volunteers Budget: $253,000 582-3395 csumb.edu/olli Big Idea: Older adults in Monterey County are increasingly turning to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute during this post-pandemic time. Currently more than 800 students learn at OLLI, with topics ranging from politics to film history and contemporary philosophy. Part of the reason for this significant increase in attendance is OLLI’s dedication to providing content in three different styles: in-person, online and recorded classes. Donations help support increased staffing and technology to continue OLLI’s Big Idea to “celebrate the insatiable curiosity of older adults.” “My takeaway is that it’s not only about the delicious stew, but also the gathering. OLLI serves up a delightful intellectual feast, along with a healthy helping of family.” -Katherine Logan Partners for Peace (P4P) Year Founded: 1995 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 15 paid, 51 volunteers Budget: $845,075 754-3888 partners4peace.org Big Idea: Partners for Peace provides culturally relevant parent education to help real-world problems facing youth and families. Their series of classes cover everything from teaching healthy social media habits and basic nutrition to addressing chronic truancy or suspected gang activity. P4P reports it is in a “growth phase,” adding about 400 enrolled clients this year over last year to their seven- to 10-week classes, for a total of nearly 1,100. Donations through MCGives! will help the organization keep up with demand as it expands throughout Monterey County. “Strengthening Families has wonderful instructors who have helped my son and I further understand and practice rules and boundaries at home in a gentle, fun and effective way. We have been able to take all that we have learned in the program and utilize it in our daily routines. I feel that my son and I have an even closer bond just by attending the classes alone because, as we know, the more involved we are in our children’s lives, they notice. Thank you to the facilitators of the program; tools like the points/reward system and family meeting instructions have been utilized to successful completion in our home. Conversation starters with your child are great, too.” -Marissa Boykins Pebble Beach Junior Golf Association Year Founded: 1988 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 3 paid, 125 volunteers Budget: $237,500 625-1555 Valley Health Associates Year Founded: 1991 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 15 paid, 3 volunteers Budget: $1,759,500 424-6655 valleyhealthassociates.com Big Idea: Valley Health Associates’ Big Idea addresses one of today’s biggest challenges: the spike in drug overdose deaths, particularly among teenagers. This nonprofit combines individualized substance abuse treatment with various therapeutic tools like equine therapy, expressive art, music, and nature exploration to help patients embrace healthy and productive lifestyle changes. Last year, Valley Health Associates served 43 youth and 177 adults with daily and weekly sessions. This nonprofit also extends its services to an additional 30 incarcerated adults. “Robert was non-responsive after swallowing what he thought was a pain reliever. Saved by first responders, he is now recovering and attending counseling and therapeutic activities with us here at Valley Health Associates. Today, he is learning new ways to cope with his chronic pain that began with injuries due to a car accident and he is making plans to go to college. We are offering a truly unique opportunity for our youth to heal, practice new ways to cope, and experience new activities that ignite their passions. Our team is saving lives and helping our youth reach successful futures.” -La Tonya Glover spotlight [My son] feels like he’s a part of a group, a member of a team. He feels like he belongs.” Bertha Martinez, Special Kids Connect
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