92 Monterey County GIVES! 2024 mcgives.com DONate online mcgives.com Education & Youth cation, finalize adoptions when reunification is not an option, and provide ongoing support after placement to help foster youth and their families build meaningful, lifelong connections. Seneca Central Coast’s Big Idea is to continue working with more than 110 children each year. “Since 1984, Seneca has been a cornerstone in building and strengthening families for thousands of children through its comprehensive services, including foster care, adoption, mental health support and education. Their dedication to providing vital community services across Monterey County and the entire Central Coast ensures that every child and family has the support they need to thrive. I am continually inspired by Seneca’s unwavering commitment to fostering a brighter future for our children and our community.” -Nicki Pasculli, Central Coast leadership board member Stevenson School Year Founded: 1952 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 192 paid, 375 volunteers Budget: $7,600,000 625-8300 stevensonschool.org Big Idea: Stevenson School strives to provide unrestricted access to opportunities and resources for its students at its world-class and transformative educational institution. One vital aspect of the “unrestricted” part is providing financial aid to deserving students, with a special focus on those historically underrepresented in independent schools. Donations to this Big Idea will fund its scholarship program, which awarded $7.6 million in need-based financial aid during the current fiscal year. “Attending Stevenson has been an extraordinary experience, one that has profoundly shaped my academic and personal growth. The opportunities for learning and self-discovery have been abundant, thanks in large part to the financial assistance I was given. Whether in the classroom or through extracurricular activities, Stevenson provided me with a nurturing environment where I was able to thrive with a sense of belonging and community that is truly special. Before high school, I never seriously considered attending a four-year university; it seemed out of reach. However, because of the foundation given to me at Stevenson, I was able to gain admission to some of my top-choice schools, including Penn State, Cal State Long Beach and Drexel University. As I set off on the next chapter of my journey, I do so with immense gratitude for Stevenson’s donors’ generosity and their belief in the power of education to transform lives.” -Anonymous Student Leadership in Service Learning, CSUMB Service Learning Institute Year Founded: 1996 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 16 paid, 13 volunteers Budget: $142,433 582-3644 csumb.edu/service/student-leadership-service-learning-program Big Idea: Did you know every CSUMB student serves in the community while learning about social justice, diversity and civic responsibility? Each year this Big Idea results in more than 100,000 hours of service to local schools, government agencies and nonprofits like Everyone’s Harvest and the César Chávez Futból Academy. Students wrap up their service learning with a dynamic presentation for local elementary schools, serving again as role models as they inspire the next generation to engage in volunteering. “One of the things I have appreciated most about [service learner] Jissel is how confident, competent and well-rounded she is. From her communication skills to her initiative to her technical skills to her ability to relate well to others, she has been an amazing addition to the CPY family.” -Ben Bruce Tatum’s Garden Foundation Year Founded: 2013 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 0 paid, 150 volunteers Budget: $130,000 998-7113 tatumsgarden.org Big Idea: The enormous success of Tatum’s Garden, an all-ages, all-abilities playground in Salinas, means there is now an urgent need to fully replace the modern rubberized surface covering the play space’s footprint. Donations to this Big Idea will help fund the installment of this softer, safer playing surface so everyone can enjoy another decade-plus of nonstop, inclusive play. Now with updated equipment, made possible in part by Monterey County Gives! donors, Tatum’s Garden is still the only fully accessible public park in Monterey County. “My son Felix absolutely adores Tatum’s Garden. Here he is able to participate and play with his cousins. He is always asking me, ‘Mom, when can we go to Tatum’s?’ We are so blessed to have this park in our community.” -Bianca Reynoso United Way Monterey County Year Founded: 2000 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 18 paid, 650 volunteers Budget: $4,388,460 372-8026 unitedwaymcca.org Big Idea: Only 23 percent of Monterey County Salinas Area Reading is Fundamental Year Founded: 1975 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 0 paid, 40 volunteers Budget: $48,225 455-5425 Big Idea: This small-but-mighty, all-volunteer organization makes a huge impact with its Big Idea, providing three free books a year to 13,600 Title I preschool through sixth-grade students in Salinas. These books are chosen by each individual student and become a part of the child’s personal library, growing an essential love of reading at home. Donations help buy thousands of books that fuel this initiative every year. In the words of this nonprofit, “We just buy books!” “Each year my kindergarten students look forward to selecting three new books for their home collections. They get excited to choose from the varied selections of beautiful children’s books RIF offers three times a year.” -Beth Blasi spotlight
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