DONATE ONLINE MCGIVES.COM EDUCATION & YOUTH residents have access to licensed child care. This means informal caregivers, like neighbors, friends and elders, often step in to help. United Way Monterey County developed the Family, Friends and Neighbors (FFN) Big Idea to enhance these stopgap child care options with high-quality child development tools. Because early childhood education results in grade-level reading, higher graduation rates and better economic and health outcomes, these empowered FFN families can make a huge difference. “I’m so excited to have the opportunity to spend time with my granddaughter, my first-born grandchild. Being part of her learning and development means everything to me. I believe it’s so important for her to experience activities that will help her grow, so I always suggest to her mother how valuable it is to expose her to different things. One thing we’ve noticed is how much she loves the outdoors. We make sure to take her out for walks and to the park every day. It’s her favorite! I love watching her at the park, especially when she climbs the stairs by herself and slides down with confidence. It amazes me how independent she’s becoming. I would’ve loved to have a program like this when my own children were little; they help me understand my granddaughter’s needs better. It brings me so much joy to see how engaged she is.” -Basilia THE VILLAGE PROJECT, INC. Year Founded: 2008 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 21 paid, 40 volunteers Budget: $2,100,000 392-1500 villageprojectinc.org BIG IDEA: The Village Project is a leader in helping adults, children and families from historically underserved communities of Monterey County develop improved mental health resilience, regardless of their income. The Big Idea is to commit to an equine component: Weekly sessions with the gentle horses of the Freedom Reins program provide emotional healing, mentoring and leadership to local youth, many who have lost a parent or caregiver. Horse care, like feeding and cleaning, helps students build a joyful and comforting bond with the horse and their adult mentor, helping them rebuild trust and confidence. This Big Idea is a peaceful program helping youth gain resilience, empathy and responsibility, as participants 12 and up become mentors to younger riders. “I like the nice horses and I am not scared anymore. I learned how to say hi to them.” -Student, 6 THE WAHINE PROJECT Year Founded: 2010 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 35 paid, 40 volunteers Budget: $600,000 236-4642 thewahineproject.org BIG IDEA: While the ocean is big enough for all of us to enjoy, some youth are still prevented from reaching the therapeutic coast of the Monterey Bay, even if it means traveling only 15 miles. The Wahine Project eliminates barriers that prevent a diversity of young people from developing a relationship with the ocean. This Big Idea delivers year-round beach and ocean programs for youth with disabilities throughout Monterey County. Each year, more than 94 Monterey County GIVES! 2024 mcgives.com
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