52 Monterey County GIVES! 2025 mcgives.com COMMUNITY & SOCIAL SERVICES DONATE ONLINE MCGIVES.COM BIG SUR FUND, IN MEMORY OF WESTON CALL Year Founded: 2018 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 27 paid, 65 volunteers Budget: $5,566,706 (831) 375-9712 cfmco.org BIG IDEA: Preserving the distinct spirit of Big Sur is the mission of the Big Sur Fund. This nonprofit helps raise funds for organizations in Big Sur, “from Mal Paso Creek to the county line.” A gift to this Big Idea helps support the community’s most effective local organizations, lifting up educational, cultural, safety, health and tourism efforts that work. The Big Sur Fund’s neighbors-helping-neighbors approach regularly supports initiatives like summer camps, emergency road access projects and arts programs. “I give because the fund is a unique and effective way to support both long-standing organizations serving the Big Sur community and its new and evolving needs.” -a Big Sur resident THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED CENTER OF MONTEREY COUNTY Year Founded: 1971 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 13 paid, 5 volunteers Budget: $722,000 (831) 649-3505 blindandlowvision.org BIG IDEA: The Blind and Visually Impaired Center of Monterey County launched its Big Idea earlier this year. The Marjorie R. McNeely Low Vision Clinic of the Salinas Valley opened in February 2025, bringing low vision care directly to communities in Salinas and South County with limited access to specialized support. In its first six months, this new clinic has performed professional eye evaluations and fit clients with assistive devices that restore independence and improve daily living. Donations help this new initiative grow. “Thank you so much for prescribing distance glasses for me that actually make a difference. I feel as if I can see! The sunglasses are especially helpful when I am driving. I can also see the grains of salt I’m sprinkling on my egg, and best of all, the stars!” -Pat Albano BREAKTHROUGH Year Founded: 1985 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 6 paid, 150 volunteers Budget: $369,879 (831) 375-5441 breakthroughformen.org BIG IDEA: Breakthrough’s immersive group workshops help men achieve emotional healing and build healthier relationships with others and themselves. Donations to this Big Idea support these weekslong workshops, including a robust scholarship program that helps reduce tuition cost. Last year, Breakthrough offered $128,775 in tuition assistance to keep the workshop accessible. Participants leave Breakthrough with tools to confront social isolation, intergenerational trauma and emotional suppression, causing a positive ripple effect that positively changes families and communities. “I do have a lot of peace now. There’s all the same stresses, if not more. There’s a lot more chaos in my life. But I can be my own calm in that storm, and give myself peace. And that’s been a cool skill set. I wish I had it 20, 40 years earlier, but it’s great to have it now.” -Marcus Mateus CARMEL VALLEY COMMUNITY YOUTH CENTER Year Founded: 1958 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 18 paid, 120 volunteers Budget: $150,000 (831) 659-3983 cvcyc.org BIG IDEA: Donations from previous years’ MCGives! campaigns helped the Carmel Valley Community Youth Center (CVCYC) construct and open Tatum’s Treehouse in December 2024. This inclusive playground provides a safe place to play for people of all abilities, with sensory play zones and wheelchair accessibility throughout. Only the second fully accessible playground in Monterey County, Tatum’s Treehouse now shifts to maintenance mode. Your donations help support the group’s Big Idea of repairing equipment, preserving features and ensuring this playground remains a safe place for everyone to play and belong. “I love Tatum’s Treehouse! It’s inclusive and all kids can play. I love that every time I walk by, I hear laughter and see people having fun. My favorite part is the swings.” -Baylee Rianda, 9 COALITION OF HOMELESS SERVICES PROVIDERS Year Founded: 1994 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 7 paid, 204 volunteers Budget: $10,301,556 (831) 883-3080 chsp.org BIG IDEA: While sweeps of homeless encampments have been capturing recent headlines, the Coalition of Homeless Services Providers has been hard at work. This Big Idea is called the Encampment Solution Set, a policy developed by service providers with a goal to avoid sweeps or offer services to help those displaced by them. In partnership with the Monterey County Homeless Services Division, this policy provides additional funding for needs such as motel vouchers and storage and essentials like blankets, meals and hygiene kits. “The CHSP Encampment Solution Set represents a compassionate, common-sense approach to addressing encampments in our community. Rather than defaulting to harmful and costly sweeps, this initiative invests in prevention and human-centered solutions. By funding community cleanups, we create healthier spaces for everyone and reduce the need for forced displacement. When a sweep is unavoidable, providing secure storage for personal belongings preserves dignity and stability for those affected.” -Tim Heavin, board member with lived experience SPOTLIGHT
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