BIG SUR HEALTH CENTER Year Founded: 1979 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 11 paid, 40 volunteers Budget: $1,100,000 (831) 667-2580 bigsurhealthcenter.org BIG IDEA: A Big Idea vast enough to cover a roughly 100-mile span, Big Sur Health Center serves as the only primary care provider for a huge area of the Central Coast. This organization’s mission is to provide high-quality healthcare close to home, from routine primary and preventative care to managing chronic conditions. Previous MCGives! donors have helped Big Sur Health Center boost its capacity considerably, including the ability to recruit its first full-time physician and upgrade technology and infrastructure. “This place is what healthcare can and should look like!” -Patient BREAST CANCER ASSISTANCE GROUP (BCAG) Year Founded: 1997 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 0 paid, 54 volunteers Budget: $521,163 (831) 649-6365 bcagmc.org BIG IDEA: If you are already living paycheck-to-paycheck, a breast cancer diagnosis could seem like an insurmountable hurdle. The Breast Cancer Assistance Group (BCAG) steps up to provide direct financial assistance to breast cancer patients in Monterey County, which is home to 270 new patients diagnosed each year. BCAG raises money to cover immediate expenses, including housing, utilities, food or gas. The goal of this Big Idea is to help patients focus on treatment without sacrificing basic needs. “BCAG has been such a blessing during my breast cancer treatment/journey. The application process was simple, the team was kind and understanding, and the financial support helped lift a huge weight off my shoulders. During a time filled with fear, doubt and stress, BCAG reminded me that I am not alone.” -Graciela Belmontes COASTAL KIDS HOME CARE Year Founded: 2005 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 210 paid, 20 volunteers Budget: $12,543,217 (800) 214-5439 coastalkidshomecare.org BIG IDEA: Patients with Coastal Kids Home Care are facing serious or life-limiting illnesses. The nonprofit’s Big Idea believes expert care should be provided where kids want to be: comfortably, at home. Donations to this campaign provide the funding flexibility needed to respond to and sustain these young patients’ unique and changing needs. Each year, more than 700 children and their families rely on the compassionate skilled nursing, rehabilitation therapies, social work and end-of-life care from Coastal Kids Home Care. “I’d rather be home because I get to be with my family and my pets instead of spending so much time in the hospital. Because of Coastal Kids Home Care, I can get the care I need at home, celebrate birthdays with my family, and spend more time with the people I love.” -Kelly Mata, 14 DOOR TO HOPE Year Founded: 1971 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 70 paid, 0 volunteers Budget: $7,813,262 (831) 758-0181 doortohope.org BIG IDEA: How do you help a child feel safe, loved and supported? Door to Hope seeks to grow generations of healthy families by investing in parents’ unique needs. Donations will help support Monterey County Screening Team for Assessment Referral and Treatment (MCSTART), a pipeline of individualized parenting help, whether it’s trauma-informed ther124 Monterey County GIVES! 2026 mcgives.com HEALTH, WELLNESS & FOOD DONATE ONLINE MCGIVES.COM “This place is what healthcare can and should look like!” -Patient, Big Sur Health Center ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION Year Founded: 1980 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 5 paid, 130 volunteers Budget: $620,000 (831) 647-9890 alz.org/norcal BIG IDEA: Our local Alzheimer’s Association walks alongside families facing the difficult diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. This Big Idea provides a wide range of dementia care resources in English and Spanish, from care consultations to caregiver support groups. Donations support this compassionate, no-cost support, including connection to a 24/7 helpline. As the disease progresses and family needs change, Alzheimer’s Association is committed to providing ongoing, dignified care and reducing isolation for those living with dementia, and their families. “As the adult child of an elderly parent who is living with Alzheimer’s disease, I have been honored over the past two years to attend a local monthly support group for family members and caregivers. The calm, compassionate guidance from the professional counselors combined with the confidential, unconditional solidarity from the other participants has made a world of positive difference throughout this otherwise heartbreaking journey. I have received medical, financial, legal and—most importantly— emotional support from my community of care in our group circle, and I would recommend this invaluable resource to everyone.” -Ken Leatham SPOTLIGHT
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