MONTEREYCOUNTYGIVES.COM NOVEMBER 13 DECEMBER 31, 2025 SEEDS OF CHANGE Learn about what 213 local nonprofits are doing to grow a thriving community, and join them in Monterey County Gives! PRINT | WEB | MOBILE
Your generosity helps CASA of Monterey County train and support community volunteers to advocate for Monterey County children and youth in foster care and juvenile justice. Advocating, supporting, and empowering Monterey County children and youth in foster care and juvenile justice. Leverage your gift by way of a partial match from Monterey County Gives! Please donate at montereycountygives.com/casa or scan our QR code through December 31st!
FROM NOVEMBER 13TH THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST MONTEREY COUNTY GIVES WILL MATCH A PORTION OF YOUR DONATIONS! SUPPORT ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE MOBILE SPAY/NEUTER SERVICES ACROSS THE MONTEREY CALIFORIA AREA 113,000K+ SNIPPED AN INSIDE LOOK AT #SNIPBUS VISIT SNIPBUS.ORG & FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA @SNIPBUS TO LEARN MORE! WILL MATCH A PORTION BUS TO LEARN MORE! VISIT SNIPBUS.ORG & FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA @SNIP
Every day, more women facing homelessness and housing insecurity are walking through our doors, a reflection of the growing need for safety, stability, and support in our community. gatheringforwomen.org ~ 831-241-6154 #gatheringforwomen Rising to the Occasion: Meeting the Increasing Needs Of Monterey County Since 2014 GFW has provided: 12,281 Showers 113,727 Meals 13,959 Clothing Ensembles 8,016 Visits with a Case Manager Our day center serves a vital role in providing a full continuum of care - from daily meals and showers to case management and housing navigation on the pathway out of homelessness. Your generosity strengthens the foundation that makes this work possible, sustaining essential programs today and ensuring lasting impact. montereycountygives.com/gathering Change a life with your gift - MC Gives! donations make a real difference.
Your gift will make a lasting difference for generations to come. Give today at MontereyCountyGives.com/SVH and your gift will receive a partial match through December 31 thanks to MC Gives! Scan the QR code to support MCGives! and learn more! Your support helps to ensure that we are ready when you need us. We know that our community urgently needs a larger, modern Emergency Department, built to meet today’s demands and tomorrow’s challenges. Help us build the next generation of local emergency care with a gift through MC Gives! today. Salinas Valley Health is building a new, state-of-the-art Emergency Department for our community. Elevating Local Emergency Care mcgives.com Monterey County GIVES! 2025 5
6 Monterey County GIVES! 2025 mcgives.com Each fall we scratch our heads at the improbable yet seemingly inexorable growth of Monterey County Gives!, which this year brings together 213 local nonprofits and their Big Ideas. It’s one thing to look back 15 years and know we couldn’t have conceived of this campaign becoming such a force for year-end philanthropy. It is quite another to look back just five years to when Covid was raging and see the campaign grow from $5.4 million to $7.8 million, and wonder how it then grew to $14.2 million in 2024. There is no master plan full of metrics and doodads that guides us along this path. We attribute it to the creation of a platform that not only promotes nonprofits, but makes giving easy; a large matching fund; the philanthropic spirit of Monterey County residents; and the ability of participating nonprofits to fully utilize the energy of MCGives! Since 2010, Monterey County Gives! has raised and granted more than $82 million. That number alone speaks to profound support for our nonprofit community and its ability to bring much-needed services to the people of Monterey County. These services range from mitigating food insecurity to caring for the elderly, environmental protection, health care, arts programming in its many forms, homeless services, education and more. There are a lot of reasons to support our nonprofit community, and reasons to utilize MCGives! as the way to provide that support. One additional benefit to the 213 participating nonprofits is that Monterey County Gives! absorbs the administrative burden and cost of a year-end campaign, and comes with multiple benefits for the nonprofits. MCGives! accepts gifts of stock, credit cards, IRA qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) and, if you are so inclined, real estate (yes, that could be you!). The MCGives! website receives thousands of credit card gifts each year and automatically sends acknowledgment letters that can be used for the donor’s tax deduction. These are letters that don’t have to be generated by the participating nonprofits, saving them countless hours in gift processing and acknowledgment, and the real cost of letterhead and postage. And each nonprofit will get the benefit of the pro rata match on the first $75,000 it raises. Last year, the match neared 20 percent; this year’s match pool has already surpassed 2024’s. Many of our nonprofits, from human services to food banks, arts organizations to environmental groups, are seeing drastic cuts in public funding. These cuts impact deliverables, meaning fewer goods and services delivered to folks who need it most. However you choose to give and at whatever level, we urge you to simply give. Supporting the nonprofits that serve the people of Monterey County is good for us all. Dan Baldwin is president/CEO of the Community Foundation for Monterey County; Steve John is CEO of the Monterey Peninsula Foundation. Important Dates Nov. 13 MCGives! kicks off and website goes live at mcgives.com. Dec. 2 #GivingTuesday is an international day of giving. You can participate through Monterey County Gives! Dec. 31 The Monterey County Gives! campaign ends at midnight. Special Awards $2,500 Ingenuity Award to the nonprofit that offers an exciting and innovative approach to their sector’s challenges. Three $1,000 awards: one for the organization with the most donors; one for the organization with the most donors ages 18-35; and one special award for women, families, education and/or the arts. Overall Match $1,600,000 + Challenge Gifts $2,800,230 = $4,400,230 as of November 6, 2025 The Big Give Monterey County Gives! keeps growing, thanks to the philanthropic spirit of our community. By Dan Baldwin and Steve John MCGives! GOALS $14 million 8,000 DONORS by midnight Dec. 31, 2025 18 Animals 26 Arts & Culture 50 Community & Social Services 80 Education & Youth 112 Environment & Sustainability 126 Health, Wellness & Food SEEDS OF MARINA YOUTH ARTS BRIGHTER BITES MONTEREY COUNTY THE DIVERSITY CENTER
mcgives.com Monterey County GIVES! 2025 7 DONATE ONLINE MCGIVES.COM Monterey County Weekly Monterey County Now montereycountynow.com Founder & CEO Bradley Zeve Publisher Erik Cushman Editor Sara Rubin Contributing Writer Caitlin Fillmore Copy Editor Laurie Gibson Features Editor Dave Faries Associate Editor Erik Chalhoub Editorial Sloan Campi, Celia Jiménez, Pam Marino, Agata Pope¸da, Katie Rodriguez Staff Photographer Daniel Dreifuss Art Director/Production Manager Karen Loutzenheiser Graphic Designers Annie Cobb, Lani Headley, Kevin Jewell Advertising Executives Keith Bruecker, Diane Glim, George Kassal Office Manager Linda Maceira Business Development Director Keely Richter Director of Digital Media Kevin Smith Distribution Coordinator AT Arts Co Community Foundation for Monterey County cfmco.org President/CEO Dan Baldwin VP of Philanthropic Services Cecilia Romero Director of Donor Services Brian Thayer Director of Gift Planning Anna Faith Senior Philanthropic Services Officer Alisa Smith Philanthropic Services Coordinator Jasmine Menor Philanthropic Services and Scholarship Assistant Jakie Marquez MC Gives! Assistant Vanessa Miranda Administrative Coordinator Aliah Ibarra Monterey Peninsula Foundation montereypeninsulafoundation.org CEO Steve John Vice President of Philanthropy Nancy Enterline Philanthropy Program Manager Ambry Capistrano Generation Web generation-web.com President Adam Eberling Innovative Solutions Director Nick Arnold Tech Lead Waqar Ahmed MCGIVES! STAFF Monterey County Gives! is published by Milestone Communications, Inc., a California corporation. The entire contents are copyright 2025. No portion may be reproduced. 831-394-5656, www.mcgives.com. Monterey County Gives! Overall Match Partners Monterey County Weekly and Monterey County Now Community Foundation for Monterey County Monterey Peninsula Foundation Taylor Farms Neumeier Poma Investment Counsel Colburn and Alana Jones Foundation of the CFMC Post Ranch Inn David and Lucile Packard Foundation Cannery Row Company Cort Companies Harden Foundation Montage Heath Foundation Anonymous (2) HOW TO GIVE Read about the missions, staffing levels, budgets and Big Ideas of 213 participating nonprofits in this guide. Choose which organization(s) you want to support, then donate at mcgives.com. It’s easy. You can also send a check to Community Foundation for Monterey County. Make checks out to CFMC, write MCGives! on the memo line, and attach a list of which nonprofits you wish to contribute to. 2354 Garden Road Monterey, CA 93940 If you wish to drop off cash, call 831-3759712 in advance to make an appointment. mcgives.com Monterey County Gives! is a special project of Monterey County Weekly in partnership with the Community Foundation for Monterey County and the Monterey Peninsula Foundation. COVER PHOTO: Two brothers show off their sunflower and marigold mini-gardens, planted while their parents learned vegetable gardening skills at a workshop at Cesar Chavez Library in Salinas. Soon, these seedlings will join the family’s portable garden—part of the Monterey Bay Master Gardeners’ Portable Edible Gardens project. PHOTO BY: Rita Bell CHANGE GATHERING FOR WOMEN HIJOS DEL SOL MEALS ON WHEELS OF THE MONTEREY PENINSULA YOUTH ORCHESTRA OF SALINAS
Think Big! Working together, we can all lift up our community through MCGives! By Bradley Zeve Every year, I’m reminded that Monterey County’s nonprofits aren’t just patching holes in the social fabric—they are testing and scaling big ideas. The kind of ideas that take root here ripple outward, reshaping lives and landscapes, sometimes producing an even bigger impact. Take Big Sur Land Trust’s work at Carr Lake in Salinas. For decades, residents imagined turning this seasonal lake bed into a park. Today that vision is real: Part of Ensen Community Park opened in August. It’s a big idea—transforming flood-prone farmland into a thriving community space. Or look at Rancho Cielo Youth Campus. Its idea is that young people who’ve stumbled shouldn’t get stuck in shame (or the system) but steered toward new opportunities. Culinary arts, ag tech, construction—students graduate with a clear path forward. For many, it’s the first time they’ve experienced real support in systems designed for their success. Policy work can be a big idea too, and let’s not fool ourselves—it’s dirty work, trench work. LandWatch Monterey County has spent 25 years pressing for smarter land use, housing, transportation and water policy. Even when you don’t see it, their watchdogging shifts the debate, forcing developers and public agencies to grapple with long-term sustainability rather than quick fixes. The Ventana Wildlife Society’s big idea began with a vision to restore balance in the wild, bringing species back from the brink. They do the painstaking work, egg by egg, of reintroducing California condors, contributing to a growing wild population. Their work is proof that a local idea can change the global course of species survival. The Arts Council for Monterey County reminds us that big ideas live in creativity and culture as much as in conservation. They have brought more than 22,000 hours of arts education into schools, touching the lives of more than 64,000 students. Those are not just numbers, they’re sparks of imagination, murals on our streets, performances on our stages. The idea here is simple but profound: When we invest in creativity, we invest in the soul of our community, and those ripples impact us all. What ties all of these pieces together is courage— the willingness to imagine something bigger than day-to-day survival, to act on it and to invite all of us in the community to invest. That’s where Monterey County Gives! comes in. Donors (that’s you and me) give, and matching funds amplify these donations, resulting in millions of dollars flowing into 213 nonprofits’ bold ideas. MCGives! is more than a fundraising drive. It’s an annual affirmation that our community is powerful and believes in big ideas. When you give, you’re not just filling a gap—you’re fueling the next big breakthrough in how Monterey County cares for its people and places. Please participate. Join us and let’s create uplift for all. Thank you. Bradley Zeve is the founder & CEO of Monterey County Weekly and Monterey County Now. SEEDS OF CHANGE 8 Monterey County GIVES! 2025 mcgives.com
HUDSON MARTIN supports Est. 1908 26515 Carmel Rancho Blvd., Suite 200, Carmel (831) 375-3151 www.hudsonmartin.com Play Time! ESTATE PLANNING TRUST ADMINISTRATION WILLS AND TRUSTS PROBATE HEALTHCARE DIRECTIVES GENERATIONAL TRUSTS POWER OF ATTORNEY REAL ESTATE CONSERVATORSHIPS ADVERTISEMENT VOTED BEST ESTATE PLANNING ATTORNEY 2023 2021 GOLDEN PINE CONE AWARD THE BEST ATTORNEY ’12-’25 In Monterey County Jeannette K. Witten Monterey County Weekly 2022-2025 We understand Monterey County’s nonprofit businesses and we are proud to be a part of this community. Leavitt Central Coast Insurance is committed to giving back to our community, supporting initiatives that make a positive impact, and building connections that enrich the lives of those around us. Leavitt Central Coast Insurance Services As an experienced Benefits Br and Human Resource Leader, 950 East Blanco Road, Suite 103 Salinas | (831)424-6404 mcgives.com Monterey County GIVES! 2025 9
DONATE ONLINE MCGIVES.COM 10 Monterey County GIVES! 2025 mcgives.com CHALLENGE GIFTS $2,800,230 IN CHALLENGE GIFTS FROM 767 DONORS Al & Friends Sunday Breakfast Al & Friends Sunday Breakfast Executive Board members Janette Leonidou and Gregory Glasscock Laurie Eavey Alisal Center For Fine Arts Lori and Lou Flagg Memorial Youth Fund of the CFMC American Red Cross of the Central Coast David & Maryanne Spradling Animal Friends Rescue Project AFRP Board of Directors Bob Lanzone Dana Linkletter Douglas and Brenda Starr Grace, Kelly and Wes von Schack John and Seamus Machado John Wright and Catherine Sullivan Joni Dorey Karen Wright Ksenija Halamandaris Laurie Machado Mark and Jill Mancina Mary and Peter Klabunde Michelle Starr and Matt Wingrove Patrick and RoseAnn Skrovan Pattee and Carlin Jardine Patti Hughes Rosalind Davis The Joel and Dena Gambord Foundation The Larkins ARIEL Theatrical Anonymous ARIEL Theatrical Board of Trustees David and Heather Kirk Diane and Carrie Creaey In memory of Barney Hulse James Goulart and Carolanne Moreno Mike and Lisa McGirr Nicholas M. Pasculli Susan B. Morrow Legacy Foundation Tamara Harris Art Abilities Deanna Rossi and Dave Eikenberry Lori and Lou Flagg Memorial Youth Fund of the CFMC Arts Council for Monterey County Bill and Cheryl Kampe Christopher and Nicky Long Friends of Pacific Valley Bank Jacquie and Tom Atchison Janie B. Silveria Julie Vivolo Davis Kiran and Shyam Kamath Laurie Bend, Arts4MC immediate past board chair Mary U. Hill Mimi and George Niesen Mostly Arts and Youth Fund of the CFMC Nick Papadakis Patricia Skinner Peter Kasavan Sandie Borthwick and Gloria Souza TJ Plew-Hearne Bay View Academy Bay View Academy Board of Directors Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monterey Bay BBBSMB Board of Directors Evergreen Consulting, LLC Big Sur Fund, in memory of Weston Call Galen and Brian Call Big Sur Land Trust Adrienne Laurent and Mark Shilstone Big Sur Land Trust Board of Trustees D. and D. Lee Fred Hochstaedter and Catherine Webb Gavin and Kelli Ernstone James and Ginger Andrasick Kate McKenna Lori and Lou Flagg Memorial Youth Fund of the CFMC Lorraine Yglesias Rice Mark Boitano Marsha McMahan Zelus Fund of the CFMC Mike and Sarasina Tuchen Pinney Allen and Charles Miller Post Ranch Inn Richard Hamilton, trustee, and Debra Schadeck Shelby Wilson and Kenny Ho Sue Storm and Craig Varjian The Upjohn California Fund Vincent Huth Will and Michele Lewallen Yuri Anderson Big Sur Park School Daniel Zimmermann Jen Lape and Mark Readdie Kyle Blasman and Cayley Lambur TerraMar BirchBark Alyssa and Pat Plicka Hana Kong and Elizabeth VanCleave Pet Maintenance and Repair Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County Lori and Lou Flagg Memorial Youth Fund of the CFMC Breakthrough Al Holmstrom David Awerbuck and Astrid Holberg Dean Fahselt Dr. Erik Haag, D.C. DYAR Architecture Frank Troia and John Juster John Hain and Jennifer Allen Mike Clement Naomi and Seth Pollack Paul and Ellen Gaucher Paul M. Finnegan Richard Westing and Yolanda Perez Timothy Campbell Breast Cancer Assistance Group Susan Jordan, BCAG Board of Directors Susan Osorio, BCAG Board of Directors Bright Futures of Monterey County Bright Futures Steering Partners F.H. Woo Family Fund Camerata Singers Brenda Orr Brian and Ann Jacobson Carol Kimbrough Daniel and Charmaine Kaplan Edward and Judi Moncrief Judy Sequeira Julia Turner Laura and Harry Nagel Mary Forbord Mike Novo and Kellie D. Morgantini Richard Leslie Robert Stephenson Cancer Patients Alliance The Upjohn California Fund Carl Cherry Center for the Arts Brianna Kyler, Carl Cherry Center Board of Directors Camille d’Avenas Carl Cherry Board of Directors Don and Darcie Ellen Osborne and Jim Dultz, Carl Cherry Board of Directors Robert and Donna Feist, Carl Cherry Board of Directors Roberta Myers Ron Baxter and Robin Winfield, Carl Cherry Board of Directors Carmel Art Association Anonymous Carmel Bach Festival Richard and Barbara Warren Fund of the CFMC The Buffett Fund of the CFMC Carmel Dance Festival Dance Lovers Carmel Foundation Anonymous Carmel Guitar Society Avanti Eye Guitar Ensemble Monterey Hill Guitar Company Neil and Sandy Rudo Sheila Gibbons Hiebert Carmel Public Library Foundation Aaron and Michelle Flink Anonymous (2) Debbie and Duncan Lemmon Foxy Couture Carmel Lembo Laurel Marci Meaux Mary Smith Pamela Neiman, CPLF board member Steve and Cindy Dyer Three Sheep Wealth Management, LLC Carmel River Steelhead Association Anonymous (2) CRSA board member Thomas Pelikan Traffic and Civil Engineering Consulting Services, James C. Jeffery III Carmel Valley Community Youth Center Carmel Valley Community Youth Center Board of Directors Lori and Lou Flagg Memorial Youth Fund of the CFMC Carmel Youth Center Bill Kiernan and Robin Rakouska Cyndy Hodges, board member Carmel Youth Center Marci Meaux Pamela Neiman, board president Carmel Youth Center Zak and Amanda Freedman CASA of Monterey County Anonymous Ben and Laurie Trainer Danny and Amanda Little Dina Ruiz Eliza DeCiantis Hare Construction, Inc. Kirk Mulgrew, MD and Amy Mulgrew Lori and Lou Flagg Memorial Youth Fund of the CFMC Louie Linguini’s Restaurant Thomas Nasseta Catholic Charities Catholic Charities Diocese of Monterey Board of Directors Jordan Lewis Center for Community Advocacy CCA Board of Directors CCA staff Jo Ann Novoson and Carl Christensen VIVA Board of Directors Center for Photographic Art Allyson Ely Matt and Elneda Connors Debbie and Dennis Segers Frank Yamrus and Lucas Delabos Jacki Horton Noelle Hetz Stan and Lisa Dunlap Susan Hyde Greene The Joel and Dena Gambord Foundation Central Coast Veterans Cemetery Foundation Cathy and Richard Garza M. Kunoa, CCVCF board member Central Coast VNA & Hospice D’Arrigo California Chamber Music Monterey Bay Anonymous CMMB Board of Directors CMMB Board of Directors, Peggy Field Janet Brennan The Upjohn California Fund Coastal Kids Home Care Anonymous Myra and Drew Goodman Nora Bianchi and Martin Hobbs West Coast Community Bank Cold Case Project of Monterey County Adrienne Laurent and Mark Shilstone Angelique Milhouse Ann Kern Bruno Dias California Homicide Investigators Association Dave and Anne Hober Dr. Darnell Whitt Jeannine M. Pacioni Mark Sliger Matthew L’Heureux United with Hope William and Cathy Hines William Clark Communities for Sustainable Monterey County CSMC Board of Directors Janette Leonidou and Gregory Glasscock Laurie Eavey, board member Thomas and Leslie Ward Community Human Services Alisa B. Boehme Annette Yee Steck and Loren Steck Anonymous (2) Carol Harney Carolyn and Tom McGurn Cathey L. Edwards Dr. Carlotta Mellon Jeannine M. Cole and Robert Bagby Cole Karen D. Kadushin Konny Murray and Dave Buckingham Mark and Adriana Shuman Peter Hiller and Celeste Williams Robin and Brian McCrae Shawn Stone Cooper-Molera Adobe Donald McEnry Davis Charitable Fund of the CFMC Donna and Eric Colson COPA Eugene Loh Jack and Kathy Herbig John and Nancy Ruiz Laura and Harry Nagel Mark Linder and Mary Dean Mary Litel Walsh Peter Kasavan RST Scott Taylor and Jennifer Lewis Del Monte Forest Conservancy Nancy Dwan, DMFC president Dentistry 4 Vets Board of Directors The Upjohn California Fund West Coast Community Bank as of November 6, 2025
• Delivering the highest quality health care to residents of the Central Coast by meeting their individual needs in a caring, e ective, honorable, and accessible manner….The VNA Way! • Serving 3,900+ patients through 73,000 home health and hospice visits annually. • Treating all patients without discrimination or ability to pay. • Providing dignified, compassionate clinical and volunteer support through all life stages. • Only provider on the Central Coast o ering the Continuum of Care to meet changing patient needs from Home Health to Palliative to Hospice. ACT TODAY. IMPACT TOMORROW. • VNA faces significant reductions in all payor reimbursements. • Medicare only covers 70% of the cost of delivering our services and continues to reduce funding while raising quality improvement expectations. • Much-needed VNA Community Services, Connections, Volunteers, and Bereavement Programs are solely funded by philanthropic support. • We’re partnering with Monterey County Gives! to help us bridge this gap to continue to provide our critical home health and hospice services to all patients who need them. CENTRAL COAST VNA & HOSPICE BRIDGES FOR COMPASSIONATE CARE: THE VNA WAY Central Coast VNA & Hospice Bridges for Compassionate Care: The VNA Way Thank you for your support in Choosing VNA! Donate today at monterecountygives.com/vna and make a meaningful dierence in the lives of those we serve across Monterey County. mcgives.com Monterey County GIVES! 2025 11
12 Monterey County GIVES! 2025 mcgives.com DONATE ONLINE MCGIVES.COM Digital NEST Lori and Lou Flagg Memorial Youth Fund of the CFMC Door to Hope Taylor Farms The Don Chapin Co., Inc. Elkhorn Slough Foundation Daughter of Maggie Downer Marsha McMahan Zelus Fund of the CFMC Sharon Osberg The Buffett Fund of the CFMC Ensemble Monterey Chamber Orchestra Anonymous Equine Healing Collaborative Bob and Angela Kent Fund of the CFMC Carmie and Michael Saldana Valerie Moule Everyone’s Harvest Anonymous Ben and Mary Ann Whitten Bill and Shirley Peake Carrie and Mark Fuentes David Takacs and Larry Carbone Ellen and Paul Gaucher Hester Parker and Dan Shapiro In Memory of GG Laura Lee Lienk Laurie Eavey Mary Poppins Terri J. Pyer First Tee - Monterey County Dan Lynch, Carmel Realty Foundation Food Bank for Monterey County Anonymous David and Maryanne Spradling Kathi and Bill Wojtkowski Reed Family Fund of the CFMC Foundation for Monterey County Free Libraries Justyna Lenowska Mike Novo and Kellie D. Morgantini Nancy Harray The Upjohn California Fund Friends of Seaside Parks Association (FOSPA) Amy Pofcher Friends of the Ausonio Castroville Library Aladin Properties, LP Anne and Bob Herendeen Ausonio Apartments, LP Bersotti Properties, LLC Diane Ausonio Essie Martin Friends of the Marina Library Dana Cleary Marina Falcons Youth Chess Club Monterey Peninsula Volunteer Services Benefit Shop Ray Santella and Grave SilvaSantella Fund for Homeless Women Kathi and Bill Wojtkowski Fund for Independent Journalism in Monterey County Donald McEnry Davis Charitable Fund of the CFMC Eugene Loh Nahas Family Fund The Kuhl Family Giving Fund Gateway Center of Monterey County Brad and Rosemarie Barbeau Dave Tanis Jennifer Zeidberg M’Liz and Rick Paradis Robbie and David Zeidberg Tom and Nancy Pesce Gathering for Women - Monterey Abdel Seck Anonymous (2) Carolyn and Tom McGurn Kathi and Bill Wojtkowski Lawrence and Carleton Mowell Fund Ray Santella and Grave SilvaSantella The Gathering for Women Board Girls Inc. of the Central Coast Anita and Edwin McKean Anne R. Fitzpatrick Laura Pruneda, CPA - Athena VII Consulting, LLC Laura Zehm and Paula Black Stephanie Hulsey Golden Oldies Cat Rescue Anonymous Barbara Santry Carl Povilaitis Clara Wang and Philip Lin Dina Ruiz Don and Jeannette Fowler Dr. Carlotta Mellon Golden Oldies Cat Rescue Board of Directors Jacqueline and John Spaulding Joan R. Condon Karen Wright Marcia and Andrew Rebmann Margaret Slaby, in memory of Kayden Marjorie Bullock and Nina Harrison Rosemarie Cala Shari Smith Grower-Shipper Foundation CarrieAnn Arias Habitat for Humanity - Monterey Bay Anonymous (2) Christine McLeavey Kendra B. Howell RE:VISION West, LLC Tim and Beth Sears Habitat Stewardship Project Chris Mack and Karen Gelff Hester Parker and Dan Shapiro Laura Lee Lienk Laurie Eavey Lynn Hamilton and Pat McNeill The Diehl Moltz Fund of the CFMC Harmony At Home Ignacio Escamilla Skyline Engineering, Inc. Hartnell College Foundation Don and Darcie Hartnell Arts Council Haynes Charitable Foundation Fund of the CFMC The Haynes Charitable Foundation Whitson Engineers Healing Partners of the Central Coast Alan Sparer and Charlotte Fishman Annelise Gerome, Board of Directors Healing Partners of the Central Coast - Volunteer Providers Healing Partners of the Central Coast Board of Directors Tyler and Margot Baker XO Sisters Henry Miller Library Anonymous Daughter of Maggie Downer Henry Miller Library Board of Directors John Handy Susan Zsigmond Heritage Society of Pacific Grove Anonymous Carol and Craig Rossi Debbie Reinstedt Heritage Society of Pacific Grove Board of Directors Margaret Jean Anton Noreen and Don Nance Hidden Valley Music Seminars Anonymous DV Charles Edie and Lamont Wiltsee George Somero and Amy Anderson The Hatch Family Trustee, Hidden Valley Music Seminars Hijos del Sol Mimi and George Niesen Mostly Arts and Youth Fund of the CFMC The Upjohn California Fund Holding on to Hope Adrienne Laurent and Mark Shilstone Ag Land Trust Anonymous Board of Directors, Holding on to Hope (Jeannine M. Pacioni, Lana Nassoura, Laura Zehm, Dennis Alexander, Marcia Atkinson, Roselyn Artellan, Violet Giovannini, Karen Grant, Adrienne Laurent, Alma Sanchez, Dr. Susan Swick) Jeannine M. Pacioni and Philip Penko Marcia V. Atkinson, CPA, board member Seed Dynamics, Inc. Hope Horses & Kids Pat Grant DVM The Upjohn California Fund Hospice Giving Foundation Anonymous Robert and Mar Seidel Housing For School Kids Anonymous (3) Charly Franklin Christine D. Johnson Dianne Driessen and Mark Stephenson Gabe Rosen Gloria Fund of the CFMC Marty Fleetwood and David Duveneck Myra Goodman Nahas Family Fund Richard Gerber and Laurie Kleinman Robin Venuti Rudolph Silverberg Tia Gindick Lewis and Ritch Lewis Housing Resource Center Marjorie Bullock and Nina Harrison Mike Novo and Kellie D. Morgantini I Cantori di Carmel Chris McCrum Cyril and Jeanne Yansouni Kathryn and Kendall Smith Lee and Shirley Rosen Lucy Moore Todd and Tracy Perkins I-HELP Carol and Craig Rossi First United Methodist Church of PG Ken and Marissa Kobylenski Outreach Unlimited Board of Directors Ray Santella and Grave SilvaSantella Interim, Inc. Jack and Katherine Herbig Ray Santella and Grave SilvaSantella Junior Achievement of Northern California Alayna and Tom Gray Nicholas M. Pasculli Tonya A. Antle Junior League of Monterey County Carleton Mowell Carolyn McGurn Chelsea Lenowska Jeannie and Terry Conner Junior League of Monterey County Executive Board Mopane Keep Big Sur Wild Anonymous (6) Board of Directors Donald McEnry Davis Charitable Fund of the CFMC Kate and Scott Winn Martha Diehl and Ken Ekelund Rancho Carmel, LLC Ripplewood Resort The McGrain‑Stern Family LandWatch Monterey County Amy Anderson and George Somero Ann Notthoff and Dwight Holing Anne R. Fitzpatrick Anonymous Chris Mack and Karen Gelff Don and Darcie Hetty and Jim Eddy Janet Brennan Janette Leonidou and Gregory Glasscock John Swendseid and Despina Hatton LandWatch board members David Prina, Tyler Sullivan and Elizabeth Winchester Laurie E. Eavey Mark Shelley Nancy Burnett Post Ranch Inn Stocker Allaire Inc. Thomas and Leslie Ward Legal Services for Seniors Central Coast Senior Services Inc. Integris Wealth Management Legal Services for Seniors Board of Directors Loaves, Fishes and Computers Kathi and Bill Wojtkowski LFC Board of Directors MAOS (Monterey Academy of Oceanographic Science) Lori and Lou Flagg Memorial Youth Fund of the CFMC The Upjohn California Fund Marina Youth Arts Marina Beach Real Estate Marine Life Studies Anonymous Huge fan of Marine Life Studies In honor of Captain Tif Thomas In honor of John and Johnny West In memory of Barbara Frank In memory of Doug Ross In memory of Joanne and Bob Adams In memory of Martha, Bob, and Don Guyse Marine Life Studies Board of Directors Pamela and Edward Taft Sea lion whisperer Stephasquid Suparna Vashisht and Manish Goel Whale Lovers www.innatmosslandingpoint.com Marine Mammal Center Andrea Noble Meals on Wheels of the Monterey Peninsula David and Maryanne Spradling HAGEN Janet and Paul Bruno John and Susan O’Brien Kathi and Bill Wojtkowski Kurt and Heidi Schake La Creme Hospitality, Inc. Laura Zehm and Paula Black Matt Hohman Praisner Family Foundation Robert Kramer, board of directors Stephanie Hulsey Steven Keller The Frisone Family Foundation The Liebling Family Meals on Wheels of the Salinas Valley Meals on Wheels of the Salinas Valley Board of Directors Santa Fe Foods CHALLENGE GIFTS
CELEBRATING COMMUNITY Proud to support Monterey County Gives! and provide grants to our local nonprofit clients in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. 831.457.5000 | wccb.com SALINAS VALLEY COMING SPRING 2026 A NEW FREE, DAILY, DIGITAL NEWS SOURCE. Donate today at montereycountygives.com/journalism Help us reach our MC Gives! goal of $150,000 to pay reporters, editors and digital producers in order to launch Salinas Valley Now. • Telling the stories of Salinas and Salinas Valley • Community news, professionally crafted, available in Spanish mcgives.com Monterey County GIVES! 2025 13
DONATE ONLINE MCGIVES.COM MEarth Andrea Lewis, MEarth board director Brett and Maggie Melone Cameron Leonard, MEarth board director Carol Olson, MEarth board director Emily Reistetter, MEarth Board Director Erin Fogg, MEarth Board Director Lauren and David Noel Laurie Eavey Lori and Lou Flagg Memorial Youth Fund of the CFMC Meghan Macaluso, MEarth board director Nahas Family Fund Susan Morrow Legacy Foundation The Upjohn California Fund Todd Holman, MEarth board director Mid Coast Fire Brigade Brett and Stephan Hedrick Melissa Barron and Terry Gross Studio Carver Architects, Inc. Monterey Audubon Society Amanda Preece, Monterey Audubon Society board member Bill Yeates Blake Matheson Board of Directors member Cheryl Jordan David Laws Davol Tedder Della and Roger Bossart Fred Hochstaedter, Monterey Audubon Society board member, and Catherine Webb Gail Griffin Jan Scott Kyan Russell Mara and Bob Perkins Marjorie Bullock and Nina Harrison Mary and Cath Monterey Audubon Society Board of Directors Pam and Eddie Cole Parker-Lusseau Pastries, Inc. Rob and Rita Colwell Robert Horn and Mary Corey Scott and Lisa Olle The Plowman Family Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP) Lori and Lou Flagg Memorial Youth Fund of the CFMC Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust Anonymous Brian and Linda Mahoney Laurie Eavey MBFT board member MBFT board member Gilbert Vendryes MBFT board member Monica Galligan Past board member Margaret Spring Monterey Bay Master Gardeners Monterey Bay Master Gardeners Board of Directors Monterey College of Law Karen D. Kadushin Monterey County Pops! Anonymous Carl Christensen and Jo Ann Novoson Chuck and Diane Elliott John and Mary Castagna Karen D. Kadushin Douglas C. Lee, vicepPresident, Monterey County Pops! Rob and Kathleen Lee Steve and Karen DeCarli Vincent Huth Monterey County Rape Crisis Center Elizabeth Ramirez (on behalf or MCRCC Board of Directors) Nathan and Janelle Nuñez Monterey History & Art Association Gary and Frances Spradlin Kathi and Bill Wojtkowski Michael Carbaugh Michael Mazgai Scott Gale / Nina Nygaard Steve and Mary Pendlay Susan and Dennis Mar Monterey Jazz Festival Barbara Paul and Tom LaFaille Fund Laura Zehm and Paula Black The Upjohn California Fund Monterey Museum of Art Alicia A. Swithenbank Caroline and Graham Low Chris and Craig Johnson Corey Madden Diane and Jim Coward Eric and Holly Smith Kathi and Bill Wojtkowski Kenley Butler and Wally Sayles Kevin Cartwright and Stephen Eimer Kevin Wasbauer and Erika Takada Lila and James Thorsen Lynn and Michael Hayford MMA Trustee Tiffany and Tom Donnelly Monterey Peninsula Ballet Theatre Anonymous (2) Camille Reith Charis and Jason Neves Kim and Alex Klikoff The Pfeiffer Family Watts Family www.david-carmona.com Monterey Peninsula Pride Beth Walker, board member, and Tina Rau Ignacio Escamilla Nick Zafiratos, Monterey Peninsula Pride board of directors Monterey Peninsula Voices Anonymous Dan Sakoda, MPV board member, and Naoko Matsuo Julie and Hank Armstrong Philip Price Monterey Public Library Friends & Foundation Carla Bitter O’Sullivan, MPLF&F board member, and John O’Sullivan David and Maryanne Spradling Diane de Lorimier, Board of Library Trustees Douglas Holtzman, MPLF&F board member, and Jennifer Smith Fred and Phyllis Meurer Harish Joshi, Board of Library Trustees Janie B. Silveria, Board of Library Trustees Jenny Savage, MPLF&F board member Jerry Giamona, MPLF&F board member Jim Thomson and Jan O’Halloran Karen Dunn-Haley and Stephen Haley Kathi and Bill Wojtkowski, MPLF&F board member Kathy Petty and Bob Petty, Board of Library Trustees Lee and Donna Marsha Moroh, Board of Library Trustees Stephen Millich Monterey State Historic Park Association Mimi Sheridan Monterey Symphony The Buffett Fund of the CFMC Monterey Waterkeeper Anonymous Chelsea Tu Hanson Family MPC Foundation Tom and Nancy Pesce Mujeres en Acción El Picacho Organic Farm Induchucuiti organic farms Jack and Kathy Herbig Judith Sulsona Katy Castagna and Gary Ray Mujeres en Accion Leadership Team RYS & Associates, LLC. Sarah and Harvey from CERV Scott Taylor and Jennifer Lewis Musikiwest Donald McEnry Davis Charitable Fund of the CFMC John and Jennifer Petrovich Mark and Jill Mancina NAMI Monterey County Alexandra Keller Anonymous Colleen and Travis Beye Cynthia and Edward Laurance Doug and Laurie Classen Joe Livernois Mary Gomez-Aarons Nina Woolfolk Nancy’s Project Betty and Jim Kasson Carol Stang and Rodger Langland Cheryl Sward Jim and Barb Gianelli John and Julie Tomlin Nancy’s Project Board of Directors Sheila Gibbons Hiebert Susan Pitts Natividad Medical Foundation Dan and Yadira Hobby Dr. Nicholas and Margret Chee Hillary and Mark Fish Jennifer Williams, MA, CFRE, President & CEO, Natividad Medical Foundation Libby Downey Lisa Rico Marcia V. Atkinson, C.P.A., Inc. Monterey Anesthesia Professionals: Dr. Nivedita Bhown, Dr. Ronald Braun, Dr. James Hlavacek, Dr. Hilario Medina, Dr. Alex Patel, Dr. Roger Proctor, Dr. Vijaya Reddy, Dr. Michael Scannell, Dr. Amish Shah, Dr. Lorraine Volkers Vituity: Dr. Christopher Burke, Dr. Jeffrey Bass, Dr. Steffani Campbell, Dr. Ted Doherty, Dr. Corey Dolan, Dr. Alex Guendel, Dr. Nicholas George, Dr. Cole Klick, Dr. Robert Lawson, Dr. Marie Lutz, Dr. Christopher Martin, Dr. Michael Moeller, Dr. Karen Olaes, Dr. Ruth Selvidge, Dr. Matthew Tripp, Dr. Valerie Vigil New Canon Theatre Co. Andrea Noble Anonymous NCTC Board of Directors Sandie Borthwick and Gloria Souza Smith Family Impact Fund O’Neill Sea Odyssey Jim Thoits West Coast Community Bank Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) Karen D. Kadushin Malcolm Weintraub Raimie Beauclair Kriste Susan Shillinglaw Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History Anonymous Dr Ken Wysocki and Gilda Gonzales Dr. Rachel M. Miller and Eric Freeman Geva Arcanin and Tom Greer Gloria and Michael Ipson Julie and Hank Armstrong Lila and James Thorsen Lucy Moore Olivia Duarte and William Chow Paul Meredith Richard and Megan Dole Sean Powell Sona and Steve Dennis Susan Wolfe Tama and Jack Olver The O’Sullivan Family Tom and Judy Wills Pacific Grove Public Library Friends and Foundation David & Maryanne Spradling Carol and Craig Rossi Noreen & Don Nance Susan Murphy Tom and Judy Wills Palenke Arts Alfred and Marizela Forest Manuel and Daisy Nunez Michelle Overmeyer The Whilden Family Partners For Peace (P4P) Lori and Lou Flagg Memorial Youth Fund of the CFMC Partnership for Children Angela M. Chesnut Cori and Matthew Gerlach Tim Louis Peace of Mind Dog Rescue Boand Family Foundation Joanne Wasbauer John Wright and Catherine Sullivan Marty and Francesca Wolf Sanctuary Vacation Rentals The Joel and Dena Gambord Foundation Planned Parenthood Mar Monte Anonymous (3) The Buffett Fund of the CFMC Point Lobos Foundation Ann Pendleton Carol and Craig Rossi Castel Ortiz Dan and Adeline Marchini Debbie and Dennis Segers Don Blohowiak, Point Lobos Foundation Board Helen E. Carlin Jim and Anne Rurka Kathleen and Rob Lee Loren Hughes and Jane Veneman Margaret and Glynn Echerd Marsha McMahan Zelus Fund of the CFMC Pat and Jay Sinclair Point Lobos Foundation Board of Directors, president Rand Sparling and Adrienne Meisel Sarah Hardgrave Sona and Steve Dennis Susan Wolfe, board member The Upjohn California Fund Virdette Brumm Power Over Parkinson’s Anonymous Don McDougall, POP board member Nettie Porter, board member The Upjohn California Fund Rancho Cielo Boand Family Foundation Monterey Bay Region - Porsche Club of America The Don Chapin Co., Inc. West Coast Community Bank Range of the Condor Don and Franci Gruber John Hain and Jennifer Allen Read to Me Project Anonymous Blake Doherty Lori and Lou Flagg Memorial Youth Fund of the CFMC The Upjohn California Fund Regeneración - Pajaro Valley Climate Action Anne Hayes Anonymous CHALLENGE GIFTS 14 Monterey County GIVES! 2025 mcgives.com
Full Pg / no bleed 9.38 x 10.06 Full Pg. w/ bleed 10.375” x 11.25” (+.25” bleed) When placing Full Page file, in Import Options make sure to CROP TO BLEEDS monterey county Your gift helps 13,000+ Monterey County youth build confi dence, character, perseverance, and leadership through First Tee. Build brighter futures. Give now at www.montereycountygives.com/tee Scan to donate instantly! Scan to give! First Tee – Monterey County Twin Creeks Golf Course 1551 Beacon Hill Drive, Salinas (831) 444-7200 King City Golf Course 613 S Vanderhurst Ave, King City (831) 305-3831 You Can Change a Child’s Future in Monterey County. Give Through MC Gives! (831) 800-3458 /tee Scan to give! First Tee – Monterey County Twin Creeks Golf Course 1551 Beacon Hill Drive, Salinas (831) 444-7200 King City Golf Course 613 S Vanderhurst Ave, King City (831) 305-3831 Full Pg / no bleed 9.38 x 10.06 Full Pg. w/ bleed 10.375” x 11.25” (+.25” bleed) When placing Full Page file, in Import Options make sure to CROP TO BLEEDS monterey county Your gift helps 13,000+ Monterey County youth build confi dence, character, perseverance, and leadership through First Tee. Build brighter futures. Give now at www.montereycountygives.com/tee Scan to donate instantly! Scan to give! First Tee – Monterey County Twin Creeks Golf Course 1551 Beacon Hill Drive, Salinas (831) 444-7200 King City Golf Course 613 S Vanderhurst Ave, King City (831) 305-3831 You Can Change a Child’s Future in Monterey County. Give Through MC Gives! (831) 800-3458 /tee Scan to give! First Tee – Monterey County Twin Creeks Golf Course 1551 Beacon Hill Drive, Salinas (831) 444-7200 King City Golf Course 613 S Vanderhurst Ave, King City (831) 305-3831 Full Pg / no bleed 9.38 x 10.06 Full Pg. w/ bleed 10.375” x 11.25” (+.25” bleed) When placing Full Page file, in Import Options make sure to CROP TO BLEEDS monterey county Your gift helps 13,000+ Monterey County youth build confi dence, character, perseverance, and leadership through First Tee. Build brighter futures. Give now at www.montereycountygives.com/tee Scan to donate instantly! Scan to give! First Tee – Monterey County Twin Creeks Golf Course 1551 Beacon Hill Drive, Salinas (831) 444-7200 King City Golf Course 613 S Vanderhurst Ave, King City (831) 305-3831 You Can Change a Child’s Future in Monterey County. Give Through MC Gives! (831) 800-3458 /tee Scan to give! First Tee – Monterey County Twin Creeks Golf Course 1551 Beacon Hill Drive, Salinas (831) 444-7200 King City Golf Course 613 S Vanderhurst Ave, King City (831) 305-3831 Full Pg / no bleed 9.38 x 10.06 Full Pg. w/ bleed 10.375” x 11.25” (+.25” bleed) When placing Full Page file, in Import Options make sure to CROP TO BLEEDS monterey county Your gift helps 13,000+ Monterey County youth build confi dence, character, perseverance, and leadership through First Tee. Build brighter futures. Give now at www.montereycountygives.com/tee Scan to donate instantly! Scan to give! First Tee – Monterey County Twin Creeks Golf Course 1551 Beacon Hill Drive, Salinas (831) 444-7200 King City Golf Course 613 S Vanderhurst Ave, King City (831) 305-3831 You Can Change a Child’s Future in Monterey County. Give Through MC Gives! (831) 800-3458 /tee Scan to give! First Tee – Monterey County Twin Creeks Golf Course 1551 Beacon Hill Drive, Salinas (831) 444-7200 King City Golf Course 613 S Vanderhurst Ave, King City (831) 305-3831 mcgives.com Monterey County GIVES! 2025 15
DONATE ONLINE MCGIVES.COM Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation Regenerative California Nancy Eccles and Homer M. Hayward Family Foundation Post Ranch Inn William and Adriana Hayward RotaCare Monterey Clinic Mendivil Family Salinas Area Reading For Fun Anonymous Denise and Ken Pollak Diane Rosenthal The Upjohn California Fund Salinas Valley Health Foundation Artie and Melissa Gross Bay Federal Credit Union/Carrie Birkhofer Dawn Mudge and Allen Radner Geisler Family Richard Rees Salinas Valley Health Foundation Board of Governors Salvation Army, Monterey Peninsula Corps David and Maryanne Spradling Save Our Shores Alejandro Garcia Joyce Shimizu and Michael Jones Taylor Williams Set Free Monterey Bay Carmel Stone Imports Set Free Montertey Bay Board of Directors Siembra Latinos Fund Patricia Gomez SNIP Bus Dave Durbano Family Foundation Soledad Community Health Care District Foundation Anonymous Mike and Jo Ann Moline South County Animal Rescue Big D’s Appliance Installations Larry Flause SCAR Board of Directors Sean and Laurel Gast Tyson and Tiffany Caulk SPCA Monterey County Karen Wright Laura Zehm & Paula Black The Joel and Dena Gambord Foundation SpectorDance Anonymous Arts Council for Monterey County Dr. Roger D. Stewart Stevenson School Tim and Lynn Allen Sun Street Centers Anonymous David B. Warner Ray Santella and Grave SilvaSantella Tor House The Varady Family Trust Trustees, Tor House United Way Monterey County Ann Kern Anonymous Brad and Rosemarie Barbeau Charitable Fund California Resources Corporation Gary Ray and Katy Castagna Jordan Pratt-Thatcher, board member William and Monica Tovar Ventana Wilderness Alliance Anonymous Ventana Wildlife Society Fred Hochstaedter and Catherine Webb Pat and Jay Sinclair Robert Burton and Kristy Uschyk The Upjohn California Fund Vladimir Drozdoff and Donna Buehler VWS Board Veterans Transition Center of California Allison Ryan, board member Bard and Suzzane Mansager Carol and Don Hilburn David and Maryanne Spradling Dr. Stephen Palumbi and Dr. Mary Roberts Evan and Jessica Heath Fred and Phyllis Meurer Regina Mason Tom and Carrie Griffin Tony Tollner VTC Board of Directors Village Project, Inc. Jeanette Walton Regina and Mel Mason Rev. Eugene and Mary Grace Jones Shira Diallo Watsonville Wetlands Watch Donna Bradford Lynne Karst Western Flyer Foundation Don and Darcie Linda Powell-McMillan Sherry Flumerfelt Susan Shillinglaw Western Flyer Foundation Board Wonder Wood Ranch Alex and Carol Schalesky Lori and Lou Flagg Memorial Youth Fund of the CFMC Michele O’Brien and Marlo Shalesky Skyline Engineering, Inc. The Schalesky Family World Affairs Council Monterey Bay Luke and Linda Dilger Maria and Philip Morgan WACMB Board of Directors York School Anonymous, Class of ’27 Mark Kerman ’78 Richard Hamilton, trustee, and Debra Schadeck Young Adults With Epilepsy Central Coast Young Adults with Epilepsy Board of Directors Youth Arts Collective (YAC) Chelsea and Justyna Lenowska Elizabeth Harbaugh Jack and Kathy Herbig Lori and Lou Flagg Memorial Youth Fund of the CFMC Todd Hironaka and Laurie Iwami YAC Board of Directors Youth Music Monterey County Amelia and Patrick Maaske Anonymous Edward and Jeanne Gavrin Hester Parker and Dan Shapiro Lori and Lou Flagg Memorial Youth Fund of the CFMC Terry and Mary O’Connell The Upjohn California Fund CHALLENGE GIFTS HOW TO DONATE 48 days 213 nonprofits Goals for 2025 8,000 donors $14,000,000 in donations 1. Visit www.mcgives.com 2. Choose your favorites 3. Click on DONATE button 16 Monterey County GIVES! 2025 mcgives.com
Their home is waiting. Let’s help them get there! The Housing Resource Center has been a beacon of hope for unhoused families in Monterey County for over 40 years. With your support, we’ll continue advocating for affordable housing and helping families find stability, dignity, and a place to call home. Give through MC Gives to help HRC connect landlords with future tenants in Monterey County! MontereyCountyGives.com/HRC mcgives.com Monterey County GIVES! 2025 17
ANIMAL FRIENDS RESCUE PROJECT Year Founded: 1998 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 16 paid, 168 volunteers Budget: $1,465,000 (831) 333-0722 animalfriendsrescue.org BIG IDEA: Donors to Animal Friends Rescue Project will support a Where It’s Needed Most fund. As the name implies, this Big Idea makes critical aid available for severely injured dogs, an unexpected litter of kittens or a pet needing relief from behavioral stress. After nearly 30 years in operation, AFRP has carved a niche by taking in dogs and cats in need of additional medical care. This fund helps support the critical core mission of this rescue. “I’ve had dogs my whole life and they’ve seen me through good times and bad. Their unconditional love has always been reciprocated and I couldn’t imagine my life without them. But sadly, there are many dogs and cats who, for one reason or another, have been abused, not received proper medical care or nutrition, or been abandoned. AFRP has been an advocate and a pillar in our community for those such animals. The staff, fosters and volunteers work tirelessly to diagnose, treat, rehabilitate and find loving homes for these deserving dogs and cats. I am very appreciative of the work they do and proud to be a longtime donor.” -Patti Hughes GOLDEN OLDIES CAT RESCUE Year Founded: 2016 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 3 paid, 90 volunteers Budget: $228,600 (831) 200-9232 gocatrescue.org BIG IDEA: Cats age 6 years and older have a lifelong friend in Golden Oldies Cat Rescue. This organization uses foster volunteers to take in senior cats, often felines who have suddenly lost longtime homes and caregivers. Through its Big Idea programs like Matchmaker and Seniors Saving Seniors, Golden Oldies covers costs for these senior cats for life— from asthma medication to extensive dental work and even daily food. In less than 10 years, this nonprofit has rescued nearly 220 cats. “When people ask why I adopted a blind black cat, my answer is easy: ‘Why not?’ The companionship, responsibility and joy of having a new member in the family makes me smile. I have a new friend to talk with, adore, pet, groom, feed and discuss life’s most important challenges with. He listens, purrs, stretches. Who could ask for more? Golden Oldies has been so very helpful in this new adventure and made the journey smooth and enjoyable.” -Arlene Motz HOPE, HORSES & KIDS Year Founded: 2010 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 7 paid, 20 volunteers Budget: $330,100 (831) 596-6693 hopehorseskids.org BIG IDEA: Hope, Horses & Kids has a growing barnyard herd at its new centralized location at Rancho Cielo. The donkey, sheep, rabbits and even a turtle serve a special role in promoting healing and teaching youth valuable skills. These new farm friends build on the nonprofit’s Equine Assisted Learning programs. Hope, Horses & Kids’ Big Idea is to create opportunities for individuals of all ages who live with physical, cognitive and emotional challenges. New programs include work readiness via barn chores and a student-led vocational program in blacksmithing and metalworking. 18 Monterey County GIVES! 2025 mcgives.com ANIMALS DONATE ONLINE MCGIVES.COM “When people ask why I adopted a blind black cat, my answer is easy: ‘Why not?’” -Arlene Motz, Golden Oldies Cat Rescue BIRCHBARK Year Founded: 2013 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 3 paid, 40 volunteers Budget: $866,172 (831) 471-7255 birchbarkfoundation.org BIG IDEA: Beloved pets are family members, but veterinary expenses can strain those loving bonds. BirchBark steps in to relieve families facing the decision of saving their pet’s life or paying for basic needs. This nonprofit’s emergency veterinary funding works with veterinarians and provides grants to help low-income pet owners afford their pet’s lifesaving health care. Over the last 12 years, BirchBark has helped save more than 1,300 local pets. Donors can support their Big Idea of raising $50,000 to fund 60 emergency cases. “Thank you so much for helping with the cost for Apollo. I appreciate this from the bottom of my heart. Apollo has been family to us for the short amount of time that we have had him. He has helped my family become closer and helped us heal through the loss of my sister, who was battling kidney cancer. He also has bonded very strongly with my autistic son. They take naps together and Apollo sits and watches my son play with his toys. I am forever thankful for the help that was given by this organization and I pray one day I am able to pay this forward.” -Felicia T. SPOTLIGHT
www.SPCAmc.org • 831-373-2631 Your support makes everything possible. Support SPCA Monterey County’s FREE PET FOOD BANK to keep pets in loving homes with Monterey County Gives! Over 800 pets helped every single week Your donations truly change lives KEEP ThEiR BElliES Full AND ThEiR hEARTS wARM MontereyCountyGives.com/SPCA Golden! Won’t you give the Golden Gift of a bright future for an older cat who has lost everything? Golden Oldies, the only older-catexclusive rescue in Monterey County, rehomes cats 6 and older from our county whose guardians can no longer care for them or who are at risk in shelters. These poor cats are scared, confused, and grieving. With your help, we can place them in loving foster care while we search for their forever homes. Maybe saving the life of one older cat won’t change the world, but it will change the world for that one cat and soothe the soul of the heartbroken guardian who had to give her up. Without you, we cannot accomplish this. Please donate. Every little life you help save will thank you from the bottom of their hearts! Won’t you visit our MCGives! page at montereycountygives.com/cats and donate today. Monterey County GIVES! is live, now through midnight December 31st. Pico www.gocatrescue.org • 831.200.9232 info@gocatrescue.org Mabel 1-4s 4.6” x 4.94” The birds need us NOW MORE THAN EVER Upcoming public presentation on seabirds and free fall field trips are posted on our website www.montereyaudubon.org Since 1940, the Monterey Audubon Society has been celebrating and conserving the birds and wildlife on California’s central coast Please support us during the 2025 MC Gives! campaign Townsend’s Warbler credit: Blake Matheson mcgives.com Monterey County GIVES! 2025 19
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