66 Monterey County GIVES! 2024 mcgives.com Community & Social Services DONate online mcgives.com Monterey College of Law Year Founded: 1972 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 150 paid, 52 volunteers Budget: $5,180,143 582-4000 montereylaw.edu Big Idea: If hiring a private attorney is unrealistic, where can you turn? Monterey College of Law offers free and low-fee legal assistance clinics for all residents of Monterey County as its Big Idea. This critical legal resource breaks transportation and language barriers, providing flexible appointment times for working adults. In 2023, more than 6,000 calls for assistance to community legal clinics were handled by the legal experts at Monterey College of Law. “The community legal clinic at the Monterey College of Law helped me understand the options that were available to me. They were very knowledgeable and professional. They answered all my questions regarding my case and also explained what legal court documents I could fill out on my behalf. The team going over my case worked together to provide me with the best assistance. I highly recommend contacting the clinic at the Monterey College of Law to anyone who needs guidance on how to navigate their case.” -Jessica Ortiz Monterey County Rape Crisis Center Year Founded: 1973 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 23 paid, 35 volunteers Budget: $3,327,240 373-3955 mtryrapecrisis.org Big Idea: Monterey County Rape Crisis Center recently invested in a cozy Craftsman-style bungalow close to downtown Monterey. The building features original hardwood floors, an established garden and abundance of natural light. This space will serve as a welcoming, therapeutic place for the more than 1,000 survivors who cross MCRCC’s threshold each year. A few more renovations are needed to complete MCRCC’s new forever home and get it ready to serve clients, the heart of the Big Idea. Donations will help complete these renovations and open this new location to welcome clients in need. “My therapist was very helpful and understanding. From the beginning, she was very kind and gentle and made me feel comforted. She gave me a lot of hope, which made me not want to miss any appointments. She made sure that there was still some sort of comfort while she guided me through very uncomfortable topics. Overall, I really loved and enjoyed every session.” -Anonymous Monterey Peninsula Pride Year Founded: 2017 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 0 paid, 125 volunteers Budget: $50,000 227-1184 peninsulapride.org Big Idea: Monterey Peninsula Pride is ready to get bigger for this year’s Big Idea. The nonprofit and annual community event’s goal is to attract tens of thousands of participants. This effort will help the Monterey Peninsula earn recognition as an inclusive city for LGBTQIA+ locals and a global queer destination. Donations will help raise awareness of the event, feature larger parades and more diverse entertainment, and expand activities that celebrate and uplift the LGBTQ+ community. “Pride is a way to give back to the community and make it safer for all of us.” -Fable “I was taught how to live a life beyond my dreams.” -Tamatha Harrison, Door to Hope Monterey Off Road Cycling Association (MORCA) Year Founded: 2006 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 0 paid, 99 volunteers Budget: $39,000 (321) 432-5322 morcamtb.org Big Idea: The Monterey Off Road Cycling Association continues its mission to install trail numbers and signs in the Happy Trails area of Fort Ord. This Big Idea, now in its sixth year, works together with Monterey County Parks Department to help equestrians, bikers and hikers navigate these popular trails. Doing so achieves MORCA’s broad mission: to enhance inclusive mountain biking opportunities by advocating for trail access and maintaining trails. With financial support, the nonprofit hopes to finish this project by late 2025. “MORCA has been a key partner of ours for trail planning, maintenance and development at Fort Ord National Monument for many years. The BLM is thrilled with their trail stewardship and leadership benefiting cyclists, hikers, joggers and equestrians, and we look forward to continued collaboration in nurturing a sustainable legacy.” -Eric Morgan, Fort Ord National Monument manager spotlight
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