“Two of the books included in the LitLibLook were some of my favorites.” -Adelaide H., 17 GIL BASKETBALL ACADEMY Year Founded: 2009 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 0 paid, 60 volunteers Budget: $225,000 (831) 710-1499 gilbasketballacademy.com BIG IDEA: Traveling is typically frowned upon in basketball, but at Gil Basketball Academy, visiting new places is integral to building confidence, cultivating leaders and exposing East Salinas youth to bigger possibilities for their future. Last year, 48 students traveled to Thailand with this organization and led workshops with local youth. Donations to this Big Idea will help fund increasingly costly transportation for college tours, tournaments and international trips for GBA’s more than 300 annual participants. “When people hear ‘GBA’ they think of Gil’s Basketball Academy, but what I think of is ganas and the fire the coaches and players have. GBA has impacted my life in multiple ways, from public speaking and making connections with people to improving my basketball skills. My ability to communicate has improved, because on or off the court you must speak confidently, clearly and loudly. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned through GBA is doing the little things—like making eye contact when coaches and players speak, picking up trash and helping those in need. These are things no one notices, but they add up. GBA has made me more confident, from speaking up when something’s wrong to speaking in public. I remember when I stuttered and couldn’t bring myself to speak, and with GBA I was able to articulate my thoughts more clearly.” -Diego Ramirez, 15 GIRLS INC. OF THE CENTRAL COAST Year Founded: 1999 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 57 paid, 46 volunteers Budget: $1,509,997 (831) 772-0882 girlsinccc.org BIG IDEA: Girls Inc. of the Central Coast empowers girls to succeed as leaders in college, careers and community. Through its Big Idea ECHO (Education, Careers, Health and Opportunities) program, high school sophomores and juniors are inspired to explore careers and pursue higher education. Girls Inc. uses a research-based curriculum to guide participants in financial literacy, health education and workplace readiness. ECHO also sponsors visits to colleges and the state Capitol to help girls envision their bright futures. “Girls Inc. wasn’t just about growing up—it was about preparing for life. In the leadership program I learned about healthy relationships, college, financial literacy, understanding my body and resources available to help me build my future. Every lesson gave me practical knowledge I can carry with me and helped me better understand my goals and the steps I can take now to achieve them. Girls Inc. gave me the confidence to believe in my potential and the tools to turn my dreams into achievable goals.” -Karina Solis, 16 GROWER-SHIPPER FOUNDATION Year Founded: 2003 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 1 paid, 70 volunteers Budget: $223,194 (831) 422-9007 growershipperfoundation.org BIG IDEA: Three core Big Ideas cultivate the mission of the Grower-Shipper Foundation. One is AgKnowledge, a nine-week fellowship for local community leaders, providing a deep dive into the issues facing local agriculture. Number two is Ag Jobs, a partnership with Hartnell College and CSU Monterey Bay, which presents an annual educational event where researchers, elected officials and other local ag experts address today’s pressing ag issues with students. And third, Ag Against Hunger gleans surplus fresh produce from local farms and donates it to food banks. “The AgKnowledge program has been an incredible experience and exceeded my expectations. I appreciated the wide variety of people we heard 94 Monterey County GIVES! 2026 mcgives.com EDUCATION & YOUTH DONATE ONLINE MCGIVES.COM “There are a lot of books and I get to pick the best one.” -First-grade student, Salinas Area Reading for Fun RANCHO CIELO Year Founded: 2000 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 58 paid, 550 volunteers Budget: $7,092,450 (831) 444-3533 ranchocieloyc.org BIG IDEA: Rancho Cielo’s innovative high school alternative, which integrates training for careers like culinary, agricultural technology and welding, already goes above and beyond to nurture the individual student. This year’s Big Idea reaches even further to support each learner. Your donation will help fund services like the student-led restaurant, equestrian facilities and other sources of holistic care across Rancho Cielo’s 100-acre campus, an average investment of $35,000 per student each year. “Your past does not define your future. Those choices led to trouble and probation. I thought my mistakes would define me forever. I then realized that sometimes the lowest moments in our lives become the turning point that changes everything. For me, that turning point was Rancho Cielo.” -Anabel Guzman, 2012 Rancho Cielo alum, Natividad Medical Center respiratory therapist SPOTLIGHT
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