76 Monterey County GIVES! 2024 mcgives.com DONate online mcgives.com Education & Youth toward my private pilot’s license. I went on field trips that taught me about nature and my role as a caretaker of the environment. Bob Hoover Academy helped me transform myself into being the best possible person I can be, on the ground and in the air.” -Aiden Fuller Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County Year Founded: 1968 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 68 paid, 170 volunteers Budget: $6,549,643 394-5171 bgcmc.org Big Idea: High food prices, limited access to health care, obesity—the biggest issues facing communities today also affect our kids. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County helps stand in the gap to support local youth with daily fitness activities, year-round sports leagues, cooking classes and counseling services. Since opening decades ago, meals have been a foundational element. Today, 80,000 meals are served each year at the Salinas and Seaside clubs, feeding young people nutritious food and also creating an inviting place for them to get together to break bread together as a community. “Playing sports at the club is one of my favorite things to do. Our coaches teach us about good sportsmanship; we always shake hands with the other team after a game. Winning isn’t everything—it’s about learning and having fun together. We make sure to include everyone in activities. Plus, the food they serve us is delicious; I especially like the alfredo pasta and orange chicken. I appreciate that the Boys & Girls Clubs give us time to do our homework and also let us have fun. Balancing schoolwork and playtime is important.” -Colton S., 11 Brighter Bites, Monterey County Year Founded: 2021 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 5 paid, 60 volunteers Budget: $532,000 277-8020 brighterbites.org Big Idea: Even in the Salad Bowl of the World, access to nutritious food falls short. Brighter Bites, Monterey County partners with local elementary schools to provide 20 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables to families each week. This Big Idea currently serves 12 schools and five Head Start programs, reaching 5,200 children annually from Pajaro to Greenfield. Produce distribution continues in the summer with Brighter Bites deliveries to organizations like Central Coast YMCA, First Tee of Monterey County and summer schools. “Our students learn about healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle from kindergarten onward. Additionally, our community families benefit from the 20-pound weekly box of fresh fruit and vegetables that children have learned about at school. We are bridging the school-to-home connection, seeing more families cooking and eating together, and that is more meaningful for deeper learning.” -Veronica Hernandez Carmel Woman’s Club Year Founded: 1925 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 0 paid, 85 volunteers Budget: $176,000 624-2866 carmelwomansclubca.org Big Idea: After nearly 100 years, Carmel Woman’s Club continues to advance its mission of promoting charitable giving, mutual help, the welfare of the community and intellectual advancement. Since the scholarship program began 14 years ago, women seeking to return to college have found an enthusiastic cheering section with the Carmel Woman’s Club. Donations to this Big Idea will grow the Women to Bright Futures of Monterey County Year Founded: 2015 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 2 paid, 24 volunteers Budget: $678,649 755-6810 brightfuturesmc.org Big Idea: Bright Futures’ Big Idea is to help young people invest in the future. Specifically, the organization plans to raise awareness about and help secure free CalKIDS college savings accounts for 64,000 newborns and students in Monterey County. Each account provides up to $1,500 per child in Bright Futures’ efforts to ensure every child is prepared for school, completes a post-high school credential and enters a promising career. Since the statewide program launched in 2022, only 7 percent of eligible families had enrolled by early 2024; the Big Idea is to get out the word to increase that number. “We are so grateful to be collaborating with Bright Futures to promote the CalKIDS scholarship program to help students at an early age gain access to higher education. This program was created to help students dream of access to higher education, and for families to start a savings account with this free scholarship money. This seed money is a great starting point in preparation for college/university or a vocational training opportunity upon graduating from high school. Our goal is to reach out to all families in the Alisal Union School District in the 2024-25 school year, and encourage parents to register their child if they qualify for this free scholarship money.” -Irma Lopez, Hartnell College trustee spotlight “It brings me so much joy to see how engaged she is.” -Basilia, United Way Monterey County
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