120 Monterey County GIVES! 2024 mcgives.com Health, Wellness & Food DONate online mcgives.com Natividad Medical Foundation Year Founded: 1988 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 10 paid, 40 volunteers Budget: $1,245,935 755-4187 natividadfoundation.org Big Idea: Natividad Medical Foundation funds innovative programs, training and equipment for the underinsured, vulnerable and others in need of health care. The foundation enhances existing care, like the hundreds of infants treated at Natividad’s Level III NICU or those who receive blessings from the spiritual care program. Donations to this Big Idea help support the area’s only Level II Trauma Center, which provides lifesaving services to 1,500 critically injured patients yearly. “I’ve had 13 surgeries because of my cleft palate and hearing loss. In middle school, I began to get bullied by a group of girls. They would laugh at me and say rude comments and make me feel like I was not worth anything. Eventually, the bullying escalated. I ended up in the Natividad emergency room twice. The hospital referred me to a program named CHOICE. In the following days I received a home visit from my case worker, Sorena. She explained what the program was about and its goal of helping me overcome such a challenging part of my life. From that day on, my life changed. Sorena made me feel safer at school. I joined a wrestling team. I made new friends. I got a 4.4 GPA in high school, an internship with Stanford hospital and a full ride to Berkeley!” -Yarely Alvarez Parenting Connection of Monterey County Year Founded: 2014 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 7 paid, 5 volunteers Budget: $685,000 647-3333 parentingconnectionmc.org Big Idea: Maternal mental health is the focus of Parenting Connection of Monterey County, explaining that the health of a community’s caregivers affects us all. Through this Big Idea, parents and children play together in Family Circles, building community with peers and learning skills to manage parenting stress. This nonprofit also hosts a postpartum warmline to help caregivers navigate parenthood and is developing a training and support hub for doulas who serve Medi-Cal recipients. “I am delighted to be a part of the group of specialists at Parenting Connection of Monterey County. It is an honor to connect with families and be able to create a great and positive experience.” -Norma Horton Partnership for Children Year Founded: 2011 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 3 paid, 40 volunteers Budget: $490,428 422-3002 partnerforkids.org Big Idea: Partnership for Children steps in to help more than 150 children and their families every year as they face the challenges of enduring a serious illness. This nonprofit’s Big Idea helps with basic and logistical needs, with donations funding diapers, car seats, transportation costs, grocery deliveries and rent. Partnership for Children provides case coordination to help families access additional community resources, with the goal of enhancing the family’s quality of life and reducing stress. “Gas assistance for our daughter’s medical visits has allowed us to focus on her well-being without worrying about travel costs. This has eased some of the burden during this difficult time. Rent payment assistance has allowed us to plan for the future, which has given us peace of mind and a sense of hope. Grocery deliveries have been especially beneficial during periods of our daughter’s poor health, when time and energy are limited. It has allowed us to access a variety of fresh and healthy foods without having to leave home. We’re very grateful for these services that have improved our quality of life and made it easier to manage our daily responsibilities. It’s meant a lot to us as parents to see the bright smiles on our daughter’s face and to feel the generosity and support of our community.” -Claudia, mother to Joanna Raya Jerry’s Place Year Founded: 2021 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 2 paid, 4 volunteers Budget: $350,000 642-4041 jerryrubinfoundationforcancercare.org Big Idea: Dr. Jerome Rubin established the first hospice house in Monterey County and advocated for hospice benefits to be covered by Medicare. His legacy lives on at Jerry’s Place, the only social model hospice in Monterey County. This Big Idea provides endof-life care and lodging at no cost, providing a restful and caring environment for loved ones to say goodbye. Donations help sustain this nonprofit, which is eyeing expansion to another facility in Salinas. “Thank you for helping my father-in-law in his final days. You helped so much during the whole process, which is hard and stressful. It brought peace of mind to know he was comfortable and well cared for. We are forever grateful to your team.” -Ali E. spotlight “The medical team has been great in helping me control my diabetes.” -Patient, RotaCare
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