Over the past few years our community has experienced a pandemic, wildfires, economic upheaval, numerous business closures, physical confinement and mental unease. While 2023 has been trending in the right direction, the “new normal” is difficult for many individuals, families and institutions throughout our region, particularly for those who entered this period with less means.
What may be most remembered and revered after all this passes, however, is how some folks shined in a time of crisis and, even more importantly, how our community—as a whole—came together for the good. Despite the world seemingly upside down, our community found ways (and continues) to make it right side up.
Nonprofits are vital to our community and a cornerstone to what defines us, what exemplifies our values and spirit. Perhaps you’ve utilized resources local nonprofits offer to care for your parents, or children, for legal advice, for critical health care services, for local educational, arts or music events, for pet care or adoption services, for recreation opportunities. Chances are high you’ve interfaced with a dozen or more local groups in recent weeks and months.
Without the more than 1,000 local nonprofits working tirelessly to fulfill their missions every day, our community would look and feel like a very different place. Their collective missions and programs have a huge impact on our lives. They work tirelessly to fulfill their organization missions. It’s not easy.
And each serves its own essential role and needs your support, however that looks.
More than a decade ago, the Weekly decided to leverage resources and create a new program for local philanthropy to support the nonprofit community and established the Monterey County Weekly Community Fund, a donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC). In 2009 the Weekly created an annual appeal to our readers—Monterey County Gives!
Monterey County Gives! is now a partnership of the Monterey County Weekly, CFMC, the Monterey Peninsula Foundation and our major sponsors, enabling you to donate in traditional ways, or through different types of gifts, such as via your IRA retirement fund.
In last year’s campaign, Monterey County Gives! raised over $11.2 million in six weeks, thanks to more than 7,500 donors. That’s impactful. Since its inception, the program has raised and donated over $56 million to approximately 500 local nonprofits.
Collaboration. Partnership. Synergy. These are the keys to MCGives!
The campaign is a partnership between Monterey County Weekly, the Community Foundation for Monterey County and the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, coupled with the generosity of our major sponsors—Gunde & Ernie Posey Family Foundation, Taylor Farms, the Neumeier Poma Investment Counsel, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Colburn and Alana Jones Foundation at CFMC, Nancy Eccles and Homer M. Hayward Family Foundation, Harden Foundation, an anonymous donor, and the Cannery Row Company. Thanks to our partners and sponsors, MCGives! campaign begins this year with an overall Matching Fund of $1,125,000.
Many participating nonprofits stepped up and raised Challenge Gifts from key supporters, to spur more giving and new donors from the community. Those gifts totaled $2,278,775 at the start of this year’s campaign.
The combined Matching Funds + Challenge Gifts means Monterey County Gives! kicks off this year’s program with over $3.4 million—a great beginning.
We invite you to participate and support MCGives!, become a donor, and help spread the word. If you would, pass along the special print edition of Monterey County Gives! to a friend or co-worker. Use the social media tools on this website to post your support of Monterey County Gives! Encourage your kids to become involved (some families have even given their kids a small amount of money to donate through MCGives! to groups of their choosing, teaching their children the power of philanthropy).
Every bit helps. Together, we cultivate community. Together, we collectively create positive change for all who make Monterey County home.
Bradley Zeve, Monterey County Weekly
Dan Baldwin, Community Foundation for Monterey County
Steve John, Monterey Peninsula Foundation
and our other generous major sponsors
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