It has been 15 years since Caroline’s Thrift opened, and since that time owner Christine Licker has donated tens of thousands of dollars to local nonprofits.
On Feb. 9, Licker held her annual gifting ceremony, during which she handed out checks to 37 organizations totaling $575,500.
That brings the total she has given out to more than $4.5 million.
She says her inspiration in opening the store was her daughter Caroline, who died at 16 after receiving support from four nonprofits.In her first year, she gave away $40,000, a number that grew to $120,000 the next year.
The gifts, she says, are both a way to say ‘thank you’ and to help the organizations with their mission.
“Caroline’s is first and foremost a fundraiser,” she told The Pajaronian last year. “That’s really what I do every day and what my crew does every day.”
Camp Okizu – $21,500, Total: $7,500
Boys and Girls Club of Santa Cruz, Total: $15,000, Total: $30,000
Building for Generations – $3,000, Total: $29,500
Camp Kesem – $15,000, Total: $86,500
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) $25,000 Total: $309,500
Community Bike Collective – $5,000 Total: $30,000
Salud y Cariño – $10,000 Total: $58,500
Monarch Services $25,000 Total: $160,000
Live Like Coco – $10,000 Total: $40,000
Food What – $20,000
Jacobs Heart – $30,000 Total: $397,500
Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes – $10,000
Community Bridges – $25,000 Total: $140,000
Mountains 2 Sea – $5,000 Total: $7500
For Kids Monterey Bay Foundation – $15,000 Total: $142,500
Hopes Closet – $15,000 Total: $90,000
Cece Pinheiro – $20,000 Total: $267,500
Teen Kitchen Project – $20,000 Total: $172,500
Survivors Healing Center – $7,500 Total: $101,500
Circle Family Center – $20,000 Total: $80,000
Hospice of Santa Cruz County – $30,000 Total: $402,500
Skills of Like Cafe – $10,000
Pajaro Valley Shelter Services – $25,000 Total: $95,000
Partnership for Children – $15,000 Total: $100,000
Walnut Avenue – $15,000 Total: $158,500
Center for Child & Adolescent Mental Health – $15,000
Nourishing Generations – $135,000
Growing Greatness – $2,500 Total: $5,000
Big Brothers/Big Sisters – $15,000 Total: $141,000
Pajaro Valley Suicide Prevention and Assistance – $5,000 Total: $15,000
Shared Adventures – $10,000 Total: $74,000
Second Harvest Food Bank – $25,000 Total: $182,000
The Diversity Center – $10,000 Total: $71,500
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – $20,000 Total: $100,000
Dientes – $20,000 Total: $65,000
Coastal Kids Home care – $30,000 Total: $345,000
