A grant announced May 25 by the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County will allow the nonprofit Salud y Cariño to continue its mission of bringing physical fitness and socio-emotional programs to Santa Cruz County girls.
The Santa Cruz-based organization was one of 77 nonprofits that received a portion of $1.58 million of the Foundation’s annual grant disbursement.
“We are extremely grateful to offer our meaningful programs to more than 125 youth from Live Oak families, at no cost,” said Salud y Cariño Founder and Executive Director Theresa Cariño. “This is really important in such a high-cost community, where parents often work two or more jobs just to make ends meet.”
The multi-year, unrestricted grant was a “huge win,” Cariño said.
“It allows more time and energy to focus our efforts on deepening our program impact and strengthening our connections with other youth-serving organizations in our community,” she said.
The grants come thanks to the donors who give to the foundation, including the organization’s Greatest Needs Fund.
This includes the Borina family, which has supported the Pajaro Valley for years, the foundation stated in a press release.
More than half of the grant funds are going to South County programs, and a majority support organizations directed by leaders from Black, Indigenous, Asian and Latino communities.
First-time awardees included Santa Cruz Black, Housing Santa Cruz County, and Santa Cruz Welcoming Network.
Using its $20,000 grant, the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History will work with the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band to launch the First People’s Educator Workshop series.
The Coastal Watershed Council will use its $20,000 allocation to expand their Watershed Rangers program.
Watsonville Wetlands Watch’s Climate Corps Leadership Institute will train 34 high school students to lead their community in climate action.
Santa Cruz County Black Health Matters Initiative, which received $15,000, will expand its Youth Ambassadors program, through weekly programs and events that center Black culture and mental wellness.
Communities Organized for Relational Power in Action (COPA) will help train and support new leaders.
“Our annual Community Grants fund community solutions that improve the quality of life in Santa Cruz County,” said Community Foundation Director of Engagement and Impact Kevin Heuer. “Each year we look to leverage these resources towards a future that is just, equitable, and inclusive of our diverse community. We see these grants and the work our nonprofit partners will be able to do, as building blocks towards a more resilient and equitable future.”
2023 Community Grant Awardees
Activities4All – $15,000
Agricultural History Project – $10,000
Asian American Pacific Islander Collective, SC – $1,615
Association of Faith Communities of SC County – $10,000
Aztecas Youth Soccer Academy – $20,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters – $20,000
Black Surf Santa Cruz – $10,000
Boys & Girls Club of Santa Cruz County – $20,000
Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music – $1,179
CASA of Santa Cruz County – $40,000
Catholic Charities of Monterey Diocese – $40,000
Central Coast YMCA – Watsonville Family YMCA – $30,000
Coastal Watershed Council – $20,000
Communities Organized for Relational Power in Action – $20,000
Community Action Board – $50,000 †
Community Bridges – $50,000 †
Cradle to Career – $30,000
Dientes Community Dental Care – $25,000
Digital NEST – $30,000
El Sistema – $30,000
Esperanza del Valle – $10,000
Families in Transition – $45,000
Food What?! – $20,000
Girls Inc. of the Central Coast – $25,000
Grey Bears – $45,000
Health Projects Center – $20,000
Housing Matters – $5,000
Housing Santa Cruz County – $5,000
Juneteenth Festival (Friends of Parks And Rec) – $2,500
Life Lab – $40,000
Monarch Services – $20,000
Mountains 2 Sea – $15,000
NAMI Santa Cruz County – $25,000
O’Neill Sea Odyssey – $10,000
Pajaro Valley Loaves & Fishes – $25,000
Pajaro Valley Shelter Services – $30,000
Positive Discipline Community Resources – $15,000
PVUSD (Raising A Reader) – $845
Raíces y Cariño – $5,000
Salud y Cariño – $25,000
San Lorenzo Valley Historical Society – $4,500
Santa Cruz Art League – $10,000
Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos – $5,000
Santa Cruz Black – $5,000
Santa Cruz Community Health – $15,000
Santa Cruz County Black Health Matters Initiative – $15,000
Santa Cruz Local – $20,000
Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History – $30,000
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History – $20,000
Santa Cruz Welcoming Network – $5,000
Save Our Shores – $10,000
Save the Music Foundation – $25,000
Second Harvest Food Bank – $45,000 †
Senderos – $25,000 †
Senior Legal Services – $25,000
Senior Network Services – $25,000
Tannery World Dance and Cultural Center – $25,000
Teen Kitchen Project – $30,000
The 418 Project – $5,000
Tobera Project – $2,500
United Way of Santa Cruz County – $10,000
Valley Churches United Missions – $10,000
Ventures – $25,000
Vets 4 Vets Santa Cruz – $20,000
Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center – $25,000
Watsonville Film Festival – $25,000 †
Watsonville Law Center – $40,000
Watsonville Wetlands Watch – $30,000
White Hawk Indian Council – $3,000
Compassionate Care 2023
Coastal Kids Home Care – $30,000†
Hospice of Santa Cruz County – $90,000†
Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Association – $30,000
Diversity Partnership LGBTQ+ Fund 2023
Birds of a Feather – $5,000
Diversity Center – $17,300
Queer Youth Task Force – $7,777
Santa Cruz Pride – $10,000
School GSA, Pride, Rainbow clubs (25) – $2,500
† Two-year commitment
