110 Monterey County GIVES! 2024 mcgives.com Environment & Sustainability DONate online mcgives.com Wilderness, establishing a growing wildlife corridor across public lands. “Over the last five years, I have observed with continued interest the great success of the efforts of this small land trust. The volunteer staff and board care deeply about the wild lands of Monterey County, and they expend a great deal of time and effort for the betterment of the animals and plants that occupy their lands. This effort also helps the people of our region, in that when the natural world thrives, the developed world also benefits. It is my hope that their efforts can expand beyond Monterey County to include the entire condor range.” -Jerome Burstein Ventana Wilderness Alliance Year Founded: 2000 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 10 paid, 150 volunteers Budget: $470,000 423-3191 ventanawild.org Big Idea: Keeping the vast Big Sur backcountry nice and tidy is a pretty Big Idea. The Ventana Wilderness Alliance takes on this challenge, keeping this unbeatable wilderness area accessible to people with climate-resilient landscapes, pristine watersheds and healthy wildlife. Hardworking stewardship program volunteers keep acres of rugged trails clear for recreational enjoyment, while also educating visitors about wildfire prevention and leave-notrace principles. This nonprofit also works to inspire the next generation of environmental advocates through youth programs. “I support Ventana Wilderness Alliance because I believe so strongly about the work they do. They work tirelessly to protect the Big Sur backcountry I love. They do an amazing job with a small staff and a legion of enthusiastic volunteers: trails are maintained, visitors are educated and camps are cared for. But, my favorite thing: They take students from all over Monterey County on multi-day, life-changing backpacking trips into the Big Sur and Arroyo Seco areas—for free! As a new dad, I feel more obligated than ever to protect special places like Big Sur and the Ventana Wilderness, and I know that my support of VWA is helping make that happen.” -Ben Bruce Watsonville Wetlands Watch Year Founded: 1991 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 13 paid, 800 volunteers Budget: $2,397,362 728-1156 watsonvillewetlandswatch.org Big Idea: Watsonville Wetlands Watch worked with Pajaro Middle School to develop a climate-resilient campus design to welcome PMS students after the school reopened post-flooding. This design included tree plantings and tree canopy expansion, rain gardens, a school orchard and food gardens. This Big Idea helps PMS reach the benchmark of 30-percent tree canopy cover for a healthy school campus, increasing from the school’s current tree cover of only 5.5 percent. Installation of this project begins in fall 2024, with completion planned for early 2025. “Engaging in community restoration work, with a specific focus on restoring native species and growing Watsonville’s tree shade canopy, has allowed me to directly impact my community and contributed to my sense of belonging. This handson experience in community restoration and sustainability initiatives has given me a special insight into the power of local actions in fostering broader environmental equity.” -Ruby Romero-Maya “They work tirelessly to protect the Big Sur backcountry I love.” -Ben Bruce, Ventana Wilderness Alliance Regeneración - Pajaro Valley Climate Action Year Founded: 2016 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 4.33 paid, 20 volunteers Budget: $600,000 288-7755 regenerationpajarovalley.org Big Idea: Regeneración - Pajaro Valley Climate Action promotes the Big Idea that climate change is a social, economic and environmental justice issue. As the region continues to recover from flooding, this organization advocates for community-driven solutions to build climate-resilient communities. Regeneración shares stories from the agricultural community about the impact of climate change, helping to inform local strategies and policies. This nonprofit empowers local youth leaders around climate change and helps educate about reducing greenhouse gas emissions. “Working with Regeneración has taught me about the power behind community building by putting me in positions that allow me to learn from the lived experiences of community members. I’ve gained a deeper understanding of my personal capacity to contribute to fighting for climate justice and empowering others to do the same.” -Sofia Amores spotlight
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