HOSPICE GIVING FOUNDATION Year Founded: 1997 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 6 paid, 22 volunteers Budget: $1,456,300 (831) 333-9023 hospicegiving.org BIG IDEA: Hospice Giving Foundation serves as a fundraiser and advocate for local hospice services, distributing $33 million in funding over nearly 30 years. This funding, provided in grants to local hospice and palliative care providers, funds the entire spectrum of hospice needs. Donations support caregiver support groups, bilingual education and a dignified place to die for those who have nowhere else to go. In 2025, this Big Idea granted $1.1 million to 12 nonprofits providing compassionate end-of-life care. “The Castro Ramirez family was dealt a difficult hand. Their daughter, Samara, was diagnosed with terminal cancer—news that shattered their world and left them feeling lost and alone. Last December, Samara experienced rapid tumor growth and her family transitioned her to hospice care. We are standing by, ready to assist with funeral planning and expenses, and to support the entire family through support groups and individual and family counseling, among many other services. We are so grateful for the partnership and support from the Hospice Giving Foundation, which allows us to bring hope, healing and community to these brave children and their families.” -Mary Smith, director of programs at Jacob’s Heart (a partner organization) MEALS ON WHEELS OF THE MONTEREY PENINSULA Year Founded: 1972 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 35 paid, 542 volunteers Budget: $5,790,968 (831) 375-4454 mowmp.org BIG IDEA: Meals on Wheels of the Monterey Peninsula delivers 726,000 meals each year, and counting. As food insecurity rises, this Big Idea continues to expand and serve anyone in need, without a waiting list. This nonprofit continues to integrate organic produce and Monterey Bay seafood into its nutritious meals, even as several sources of its federal funding face uncertainty. Donations will help provide general operating support to keep getting these hundreds of thousands of meals into people’s hands, one-by-one and with a smile. “I am ever so grateful every day to receive three nutritious meals delivered to my door by smiling volunteers. This program keeps me going.” -Judy Moody NANCY’S PROJECT Year Founded: 1971 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 3 paid, 59 volunteers Budget: $347,481 (831) 920-7737 nancysproject.org BIG IDEA: Nancy’s Project’s Big Idea is simple: show up for the people who need help and give it to them. For decades, Nancy’s Project has provided household necessities for Monterey County farmworker families, as rising costs keep basic needs out of reach. So far this year, this organization provided nearly $50,000 in rice, beans and supplemental protein, bought 720 backpacks of school supplies and 1,300 pairs of shoes, and plans to spend more than $30,000 in gift cards to supply Christmas groceries. “Nancy’s Project has been a tremendous blessing to the community of Greenfield. We give to 40-75 families without question. It brings people joy and comfort; a tremendous blessing with the downfall of this economy. Everyone is treated with respect and dignity. Our volunteers make this project possible. I grew up here in Greenfield, and in 1992 Nancy personally would come in her small truck giving out bread, clothes and toys. I was one of those children she helped. Now to be a part of her project it is a complete blessing. God bless all who continue the Nancy’s Project legacy.” -Liliana Gonzalez, volunteer based in Greenfield 128 Monterey County GIVES! 2026 mcgives.com HEALTH, WELLNESS & FOOD DONATE ONLINE MCGIVES.COM “This program keeps me going.” -Judy Moody, Meals on Wheels of the Monterey Peninsula DENTISTRY 4 VETS Year Founded: 2018 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 7 paid, 19 volunteers Budget: $1,281,228 (831) 883-9371 dentistry4vets.org BIG IDEA: Dentistry 4 Vets is the only program in the nation dedicated to providing the full spectrum of dental care services to veterans and their spouses—services most do not qualify for through VA benefits. This Big Idea has only continued to grow, with the grand opening of a new dental center at Ryan Ranch. This new center houses all of the organization’s dental specialties, from general dentistry to specialty care and oral surgery, reducing anxiety-ridden, lengthy referrals. This expansion will support care for 750 veterans and spouses and nearly 3,000 appointments each year. “I’ve watched veterans walk through our doors feeling ashamed, isolated and hopeless because of the condition of their teeth. Dental pain and missing teeth affect nutrition, health, confidence, and the willingness to be around other people. Dentistry 4 Vets is the only nonprofit dental clinic in the nation dedicated exclusively to veterans and their spouses, and I’ve seen what that focus makes possible: veterans who arrived unable to chew or smile leave reconnecting with their families, regaining confidence they thought was gone for good. It’s become a source of real pride within our local veteran community.” -Kirk “Cheef” Johnson, Dentistry 4 Vets board president and retired U.S. Army veteran SPOTLIGHT
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==