Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1482969
N ovember is nearly upon us and al- ready, we find ourselves enveloped in Holiday Season. The tinsel, glitter, and endless supply of holiday knick- knacks have arrived on store shelves and carols will soon begin playing over loud speakers all across America. For those seeking a deeper meaning this sea- son, it is also that won- derful time of year for spirit of generosity and giving to take center stage. "Our phone lines al- ways pick up this time of year with community members and business- es looking for new ways to connect and make their holiday celebra- tions more meaningful," states Christina Thurston Volunteer Engagement Director at the Volun- teer Center of Santa Cruz County. To meet this annual increased interest in vol- unteerism, each year the Volunteer Center of San- ta Cruz County posts an online Holiday Volunteer Guide. The 2019 Holiday Guide is now available on their website at www. scvolunteercenter.org. Individuals can register to volunteer directly on- line or they can down- load the guide. Listed in the guide, are a variety of holiday related op- portunities available throughout the County between now and New Year's. "We regularly update the guide throughout the holiday season as new projects become available, so we encour- age folks to check back regularly or give us a call if they can't find what they are looking for and we are happy to match them with an opportu- nity," states Thurston. Included in the guide is the Volunteer Center's own Adopt a Family Proj- ect. This project has been running for nearly 30 years and supports fami- lies struggling to make ends meet during the holidays. Each year the Volunteer Center part- ners with 25 fellow non- profits on this project to meet the needs of 450 families. Partner non-profits provide the project with a short bio about each family and a list of the items that each family member requests. Adopt a Family Project volun- teers then set to work connecting these families with willing donors. Re- quests include basic ne- cessities like sheets, tow- els, or shoes along with special gift requests for the children. "For many of us the holidays are such a joy- ous time with family and friends, but for local families that are strug- gling, this is instead a stressful time of year. It is truly heartbreaking to read through our binder of family stories and to know that without this project these children might not have warm jacket, let alone gifts or toys," states Thurston. "The project has successfully maintained with the support local businesses, munity members, willing volunteers so many years. Because we are confident this generosity will through again, chosen to increase number of families serve and are also porating isolated and independent into our list of adoptees this year," continues Thurston. Holiday Giving A SALuTE TO THE VITAL NoNprofit ORGANIzATIONS IN OuR COmmuNITY Santa Cruz Sentinel This holiday season, you can give the gi of changing lives. Nowhere else in Santa Cruz County will your donation have such a wide impact. 10 programs 20 sites across Santa Cruz County from Ben Lomond to Watsonville Feeding and mentoring 10,000 infants and youth 7,700 hours of crisis support for families Providing 62,000 free rides and 160,000 meals for seniors Ready to Give Back This Holiday Season continues A d e r t i s i n g S u p p l e m e n t b y V o l u n t e e r C e n t e r o f S a n t a C r u z C o u n t y IT'S GIVING SEASON! 01. CARE MANAGEMENT 03. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT 02. CAREGIVER SUPPORT We manage health care and supportive services for medically frail low-income elders so they can stay safely at home. We educate and support the health care workforce to effectively address geriatrics and community- based care. If you share our vision, please donate generously If you share our vision, please donate generously to Health Projects Center. With your assistance, to Health Projects Center. With your assistance, we will keep people safely at home. we will keep people safely at home. w w w . h p c n . o r g / s u p p o r t w w w . h p c n . o r g / s u p p o r t ( 8 0 0 ) 6 2 4 - 8 3 0 4 ( 8 0 0 ) 6 2 4 - 8 3 0 4 We support all family caregivers to provide and sustain quality care to their loved ones, and to take better care of their own physical and mental health. Health Projects Center supports people as they age to live safely at home by delivering high-quality services and programs in the Monterey Bay Region. 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men have been victims of severe physical violence (e.g. beating, burning, strangling) by an intimate partner in their lifetime. The mission of Walnut Avenue Family & Women's Center is to end cycles of trauma, support lifelong learning, and promote healthy relationships with oneself and others. A 5 0 1 ( c ) ( 3 ) p u b l i c b e n e fi t o rg a n i z a t i o n please donate AT WAFWC.org A ovember is nearly upon us and al- ready, we find ourselves enveloped in the Holiday Season. The tinsel, glitter, and endless supply of holiday knick- knacks have arrived on store shelves and carols will soon begin playing over loud speakers all across America. For those seeking a deeper meaning this sea- son, it is also that won- derful time of year for the spirit of generosity and giving to take center stage. "Our phone lines al- ways pick up this time of year with community members and business- es looking for new ways to connect and make their holiday celebra- tions more meaningful," states Christina Thurston Volunteer Engagement Director at the Volun- teer Center of Santa Cruz County. To meet this annual increased interest in vol- unteerism, each year the Volunteer Center of San- ta Cruz County posts an online Holiday Volunteer Guide. The 2019 Holiday Guide is now available on their website at www. scvolunteercenter.org. Individuals can register to volunteer directly on- line or they can down- load the guide. Listed in the guide, are a variety of holiday related op- portunities available throughout the County between now and New Year's. "We regularly update the guide throughout the holiday season as new projects become available, so we encour- age folks to check back regularly or give us a call if they can't find what they are looking for and we are happy to match them with an opportu- nity," states Thurston. Included in the guide is the Volunteer Center's own Adopt a Family Proj- ect. This project has been running for nearly 30 years and supports fami- lies struggling to make ends meet during the holidays. Each year the Volunteer Center part- ners with 25 fellow non- profits on this project to meet the needs of 450 families. Partner non-profits provide the project with a short bio about each family and a list of the items that each family member requests. Adopt a Family Project volun- teers then set to work connecting these families with willing donors. Re- quests include basic ne- cessities like sheets, tow- els, or shoes along with special gift requests for the children. "For many of us the holidays are such a joy- ous time with family and friends, but for local families that are strug- gling, this is instead a stressful time of year. It is truly heartbreaking to read through our binder of family stories and to know that without this project these children might not have warm jacket, let alone gifts or toys," states Thurston. "The project has been successfully maintained with the support of our local businesses, com- munity members, and willing volunteers for so many years. Because we are confident that this generosity will shine through again, we've chosen to increase the number of families we serve and are also incor- porating isolated seniors and independent teens into our list of adoptees this year," continues Thurston. This holiday season, you can give the gi of changing lives. Nowhere else in Santa Cruz County will your donation have such a wide impact. CommunityBridges.org/Donate 10 programs 20 sites across Santa Cruz County from Ben Lomond to Watsonville Feeding and mentoring 10,000 infants and youth 7,700 hours of crisis support for families Providing 62,000 free rides and 160,000 meals for seniors Putting the Ease in the Season of Giving continues on C 3 B y S u s a n T r u e , H i l a r y B r y a n t , a n d S a m L e a s k Our community has been through a lot these past few years. Our neighbors are rebuilding after the CZU fires, families are re- covering from the health and economic challenges of the pandemic, local scientists are working on responses to climate change, seniors are re- connecting after isolation, and youth are working to regain learning and restore friendships after too much time on screen. You may feel like we do, grateful to be a part of this community and wanting to give back. Here at Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, we can help make your year-end giving meaningful and easy. A trusted center for giv- ing for 40 years, we're proud to be a place where charitable giving becomes local, personal, and mean- ingful. Local Solutions Our team works closely with effective nonprofits and leaders to build an in-depth understanding of the issues and resources that shape our communi- ty. We can connect you to opportunities to make a difference in the areas you care most about. Gifts to our Greatest Needs Fund and the Rise Together Fund for Racial Equity help nonprofits solving critical chal- lenges. Recent grants have backed housing for veterans and critical mental health services. When many donors come together to join forces, they can make a bigger impact than they could on their own. Giving that Works for You and the Community For many, giving to a favorite nonprofit is as easy as writing a check or making an online donation. A popular option is starting a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)—a flexible way to make your giving simple and efficient. You can make a tax-deduct- ible donation and support nonprofits you love now, or over time. We take care of the paperwork so you can focus on the joy of giving. We can also help you turn complex assets into tax- smart gifts. You can give cash, stocks, property, retirement funds, insur- ance–or we can advise on other assets you may be able to give. As you plan your giving, and are age 70 ½ or older and have an IRA, con- sider using your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) for charitable giv- ing. These charitable IRA "rollovers" are tax-free and can benefit eligible charities. You can use your RMD to contribute to any of our community funds or we can help you set up a new fund that benefits a cause you care about. Turning Generosity Into Community Wins Our hands-on, personal approach to philanthro- py empowers you to show your generosity in ways meaningful to you. Regardless of the size of a gift, we're able to rec- ommend a giving strategy and with our deep knowl- edge and love of Santa Cruz County, help you give this holiday season with confidence–making a difference today and for many years to come. Susan True is the CEO of Community Founda- tion Santa Cruz County, Hilary Bryant is Director of Donor Services, and Sam Leask is Director of Philanthropic Services. Community Foundation CEO Susan True with State Parks volunteer Rita Bryant, who has worked with the Foundation to help preserve her beloved Schwan Lake. Credit: Jeremy Lezin