FRIENDS OF THE MARINA LIBRARY Year Founded: 1990 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 0 paid, 125 volunteers Budget: $103,400 (831) 682-8016 friendsofthemarinalibrary.org BIG IDEA: Libraries have a reputation for cherishing quiet, but The Friends of the Marina Library love to hear from you. That community connection results in fresh programming that is a hit in Marina. From programs for young children (like Dads Read) to concerts, movies and art workshops for teens and adults, FoML continues to innovate. The newest success is the rise of the self-anointed Marina Chess Falcons, a thriving middle school chess club that meets weekly to hone their skills. Donations help keep the Big Ideas flowing. “My son, Charlie, decided he wanted to learn how to play chess a few years ago. My husband and I did not know how to play, so we resorted to YouTube. Charlie learned a few basics, but he didn’t have peers to play with. When I saw the announcement about the chess club that was forming at the Marina library, we jumped at the chance to join! This club quickly became Charlie’s favorite after-school activity. Our family is so grateful for Coach Joe and the library for giving this group of kids such an amazing opportunity. Club members have not only learned how to play chess, but they also practice life skills such as patience, concentration, sportsmanship and teamwork.” -Jaclyn Clement Kinney FRIENDS OF THE SALINAS PUBLIC LIBRARY Year Founded: 1978 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 0 paid, 25 volunteers Budget: $33,251 (831) 596-0209 friendsofthesalinaspubliclibrary.org BIG IDEA: Friends of the Salinas Public Library (FOSPL) is dedicating its Big Idea to the teens this year. FOSPL seeks donations to develop teen leaders through new library programs like hosting teen talks, maintaining Little Libraries in five city parks, plus other service projects. Next is launching literacy initiatives like free books for teens and organizing local cultural trips to expand perspectives of Salinas high schoolers. For FOSPL, active and engaged teens are crucial for a well-rounded and healthy community. “I volunteered at FOSPL’s Book Depot to earn service hours for high school. A few volunteers and I continued to volunteer after our required hours were done. The Book Depot was a fun place where we learned how to handle books and make friends.” -Gavin McGowan, 17 GIRLS INC. OF THE CENTRAL COAST Year Founded: 1999 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 27 paid, 48 volunteers Budget: $1,544,177 (831) 772-0882 girlsinccc.org BIG IDEA: Girls Inc. of the Central Coast’s mission is to “inspire all girls to be strong, smart and bold, and to respect themselves and the world around them.” This message already has momentum, with Girls Inc. reaching 1,200 girls across more than 40 school sites. But this nonprofit wants to boost its Big Idea. Donations will help train and hire up to 35 high school sophomores and juniors as youth leader interns trained in skills like curriculum facilitation, public speaking and conflict resolution. “Being part of the Girls Inc. youth leader internship 92 Monterey County GIVES! 2025 mcgives.com EDUCATION & YOUTH DONATE ONLINE MCGIVES.COM THE LYCEUM OF MONTEREY COUNTY Year Founded: 1960 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 7 paid, 350 volunteers Budget: $233,000 (831) 372-6098 lyceum.org BIG IDEA: The Lyceum of Monterey County takes hands-on learning to a new level. For 65 years, this nonprofit has organized complex, immersive educational opportunities like mock trial, model United Nations, History Day, spelling bee and the Expanding Your Horizons STEM conference and career fair. These nationally and internationally recognized programs challenge students beyond the classroom, and exposure to these Big Ideas often leads students to discover new passions or career paths they never imagined for themselves. “Monterey County mock trial is the most student-centered activity there is. During a trial, students are on their own. Coaches have no role. There are no time-outs, no huddles. The students must handle the unexpected. Put another way, what happens in mock trial can’t be done in a classroom. Over the past 20 years, many students have told me that mock trial was the most meaningful thing they did in high school.” -Bill Schrier, Carmel High School teacher SPOTLIGHT “Students have learned that science is everywhere and accessible to anyone.” -Edgar López, Greenfield Community Science Workshop
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