us to stay curious, connected and engaged. It enriches our lives, broadens our perspectives and creates new families. Being a lifelong learner supports brain health and overall well-being. What I learn at OLLI is shared with my children and grandchildren, helping make the world a better place.” -Dallas Harrison PARTNERS FOR PEACE (P4P) Year Founded: 1995 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 14 paid, 101 volunteers Budget: $1,087,905 (831) 754-3888 partners4peace.org BIG IDEA: Partners For Peace understands the various pressures facing today’s kids and families. Its Big Idea supports a range of free family and youth programs that help build trusting relationships, like Rainbow Connections and Familia Adelante. Strengthening Families is a 10-week bilingual course where families build communication and problem-solving skills to improve parenting and boost student success. This nonprofit believes strong, caring families make safer communities. Participants in this free, county-wide program even share meals together each week. “This program changed how I connect with my children. I finally feel seen, heard, and supported in my own language and culture.” -Parent participant in Strengthening Families Program SALINAS COMMUNITY SCIENCE WORKSHOP Year Founded: 2019 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 4 paid, 12 volunteers Budget: $225,000 (831) 809-6364 cswsalinas.org BIG IDEA: Wonders and curiosities appear everywhere the Salinas Community Science Workshop goes. That’s because this Big Idea brings hands-on science exploration to public spaces across Salinas with a goal to make free STEM enrichment a permanent part of community life. Today the Workshop is mobile, but it has dreams to establish a permanent home. In the meantime, donations support existing mobile programming and its expansion into more parks, libraries and community centers in the city. “The Salinas Community Science Workshop has had a lasting impact on my life. Having access to the tools and materials to build the things I imagined sparked my creativity and helped me discover what I wanted to pursue in the future. I learned practical skills that I still use today, including electronics, woodworking and basic metalworking. Just as importantly, it gave me the confidence and independence to build and repair things on my own. Since then, I began preparing for a future in mechanical engineering. The experience also inspired me to learn more about computer-aided design (CAD), 3D printing, automotive repair and metalworking.” -Anthony Cruz, 16 SALINAS AREA READING FOR FUN (SARFF) Year Founded: 1975 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 0 paid, 45 volunteers Budget: $93,050 (831) 455-0885 BIG IDEA: Salinas Area Reading For Fun (formerly called Salinas Area Reading Is Fundamental) is 104 Monterey County GIVES! 2026 mcgives.com EDUCATION & YOUTH DONATE ONLINE MCGIVES.COM “My ability to communicate has improved, because on or off the court you must speak confidently, clearly and loudly.” -Diego Ramirez, 15, Gil Basketball Academy YOUTH ARTS COLLECTIVE (YAC) Year Founded: 2000 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 13 paid, 30 volunteers Budget: $434,540 (831) 375-9922 yacstudios.org BIG IDEA: For more than a quarter century, kids have gathered at Youth Arts Collective after school to create and connect in an inclusive environment. More than 1,500 emerging photographers, glass artists, digital creators and more have benefited from YAC’s studio space and creative community. This Big Idea nurtures an LGBTQ+ affirming and equity-centered environment, which many participants call their second home. Your gift will support seasonal art exhibits as well as investments in technology and professional art instruction. “YAC means a lot to me as it has given me a place to explore mediums and meet other like-minded artists. It let me branch out and talk to some of the most creative people I’ve ever met. The mentors are wonderful human beings who, along with other YACsters, make it such a comfortable place to be.” -Ryan Villaseñor, 19 SPOTLIGHT
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