HARTNELL COLLEGE FOUNDATION Year Founded: 1979 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 17 paid, 225 volunteers Budget: $6,700,000 (831) 755-6810 hartnellfoundation.org BIG IDEA: Concentrating on homework is infinitely harder when you’re consumed with worry about buying new tires or paying a day care provider. Hartnell College Foundation’s Big Idea is a safety-net fund for its students, 60 percent of whom are first-generation college students and 85 percent of whom come from low-income households. This fund helps Hartnell’s Panthers with emergency tuition scholarships and aid for basic needs like food, transportation, childcare or transitional housing. Donations help shift the mindset from surviving back to studying. “Before going to school, I didn’t think it would be possible because I have kids. Basic Needs helped me find child care for them and make sure they are in good hands while I am in school.” -Anonymous JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA Year Founded: 1950 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 18 paid, 1,000 volunteers Budget: $275,000 (465) 925-1070 norcal.ja.org BIG IDEA: Did you know high schools must provide a semester-long personal finance course starting in the 2026-2027 school year? This state policy is on the books, without dedicated funding to implement it. Junior Achievement of Northern California’s JA Finance Park lessons and simulations have already taught the basics of budgeting, credit cards and savings accounts to nearly 1,000 youth each year. Their Big Idea includes expansion in Monterey County, on JA’s way to becoming the California Department of Education’s financial literacy solution provider. “As a first-generation student, I know firsthand how challenging it is to navigate financial literacy without guidance. Many of us are learning essential money-management skills on our own, which can feel overwhelming. JA Finance Park provides students with real-world financial knowledge that can set them up for success—something I wish I had access to in high school. Programs like this empower students to make informed financial decisions early on, helping to break cycles of financial uncertainty in our communities. Spreading this knowledge is crucial.” -Angelica Roa, community schools coordinator, North Monterey County Unified School District MAOS (MONTEREY ACADEMY OF OCEANOGRAPHIC SCIENCE) Year Founded: 1994 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 2 paid, 95 volunteers Budget: $140,500 (831) 392-3801 maosmontereyhigh.org BIG IDEA: The Monterey Academy of Oceanographic Science is a tuition-free program on the campus of Monterey High School. This rigorous college prep curriculum is accessible to students across Monterey County—especially with the help of its Big Idea. Your donation supports MAOS’ collaborative approach, leveraging local experts and resources for immersive learning experiences like field trips, college visits, mentorships and the ROV summer science program. Over the last 30 years, approximately 95 percent of MAOS graduates pursued higher education. “MAOS has given me more than a strong academic foundation, it has given me a supportive and inspiring community. Surrounded by peers who genuinely love learning, I’ve grown in ways I didn’t expect. We challenge each other to do our best, support one another through setbacks, and celebrate our successes. We gain as much from each other as we do from our teachers, creating a space where everyone feels valued.” -Grace Gordo, 17 96 Monterey County GIVES! 2025 mcgives.com EDUCATION & YOUTH DONATE ONLINE MCGIVES.COM READ TO ME PROJECT Year Founded: 2011 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 8 paid, 25 volunteers Budget: $494,762 (831) 275-1300 readtomeproject.org BIG IDEA: Read to Me Project works with young readers, even-younger listeners and their parents to encourage a household that celebrates literacy. Their core program identifies fourth- through sixth-grade students who are reading below grade level and assigns them reading homework. The Big Idea goes a step further: These students are then instructed to read aloud to their younger siblings—benefiting both children. Parents are also educated about literacy, making this a multigenerational project empowering family members of all ages. “With Read to Me Project, you are never alone in the literacy journey. Especially in the wake of the pandemic, RtMP’s early literacy model understands that literacy is not just a skill, but a catalyst for hope, belonging and stronger communities. We are proud to partner with RtMP to ensure academic success for all students.” -Monterey County Superintendent Deneen Guss SPOTLIGHT “I feel lighter and wish school felt like this.” -Joey Soto, 17, MILPA
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