getting ready to give away 42,000 books. This Big Idea pencils out to three free books a year for 14,000 preschool through sixth-grade readers; these are books students can choose from and keep forever. In Monterey County, 75 percent of fourth-graders do not meet or exceed grade-level reading scores. By putting books in kids’ hands and building their at-home libraries, reading becomes a natural, enriching hobby from a young age. “There are a lot of books and I get to pick the best one.” -First-grade student SANTA LUCIA CONSERVANCY Year Founded: 1995 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 15 paid, 1,132 volunteers Budget: $3,382,177 (831) 626-8595 slconservancy.org BIG IDEA: The Santa Lucia Conservancy will lead 125 field experiences in the Potrero Canyon for students across Monterey County this year—and MCGives! donors can help. Students will first benefit from an interpretive nature walk along the canyon’s creek, learning about the microclimate, Indigenous history and redwood adaptations. Next, hands-on projects help students build compassion for wildlife and find joy in helping others. This project consults with local Rumsen Ohlone and Esselen Tribes and meets Next Generation Science Standards. “The educational experience was nothing short of phenomenal. The naturalists’ expertise and passion brought the Santa Lucia Mountain Range in Carmel Valley to life. They masterfully connected complex ecological concepts to real-world applications. This opportunity far surpassed the capabilities of a traditional classroom setting, providing direct engagement with the biodiversity and conservation efforts happening right in our backyard. Since our school district is extremely limited on funding field trips, we would not have been able to go if it were not for this special funding opportunity.” -Jacqueline Lautzenhiser, teacher at La Mesa Elementary School STEVENSON SCHOOL Year Founded: 1952 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 227 paid, 121 volunteers Budget: $8,500,000 (831) 625-8300 stevensonschool.org BIG IDEA: Stevenson School maintains a robust scholarship program to ensure every qualified student can benefit from this elite private education, regardless of a family’s financial reality. Today, 36 percent of Stevenson students receive financial aid, with a total of nearly $9 million awarded for the current fiscal year. The budget for this Big Idea continues to grow each year with a goal of nearly $10 million to support scholarships for future Stevenson Pirates in grades TK-12. “Stevenson has shaped who I am today, and I am grateful for the person I have become. There is something special about living and learning here in the forest by the sea, and I feel lucky to call this place both my school and my home. This fall, I will attend UC Berkeley to study sociology. I am excited for this next chapter, and I know that the confidence, curiosity, and compassion Stevenson helped nurture in me will guide me there. I am proud to be a Stevenson Pirate, and I will always be grateful for the community that helped shape me.” -Anonymous UNITED WAY MONTEREY COUNTY Year Founded: 2000 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 19 paid, 816 volunteers Budget: $3,934,637 (831) 372-8026 unitedwaymcca.org BIG IDEA: School readiness is the focus for United Way Monterey County’s Big Idea this year, as more than 13,500 Monterey County students face housing insecurity. Its Family, Friends and Neighbors program extends support and resources to the caregivers who are preparing Monterey County kids for kindergarten. United Way also mobilizes the Preschool Spruce Up initiative, where volunteers create safe and fun outdoor spaces for kids to play 106 Monterey County GIVES! 2026 mcgives.com EDUCATION & YOUTH DONATE ONLINE MCGIVES.COM “Girls Inc. wasn’t just about growing up—it was about preparing for life.” -Karina Solis, 16, Girls Inc. YOUTH ORCHESTRA SALINAS (YOSAL) Year Founded: 2010 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 10 paid, 35 volunteers Budget: $920,000 (831) 756-5335 yosal.org BIG IDEA: Five days a week, every month of the year, students as young as first-grade are developing their musical skills through the work of Youth Orchestra Salinas (YOSAL). This Big Idea has gotten so big that YOSAL has recently added a new pre-preparatory orchestra for third-graders and up. Everything offered by YOSAL, including master classes, field trips, concerts and an instrument for every young musician, is provided free. Donations to this campaign help keep YOSAL accessible to all. “I like YOSAL because you get to learn about new instruments and new songs.” -Sophia R., 10 SPOTLIGHT
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==