WATSONVILLE — It has been four years since Digital NEST opened its doors, a nonprofit organization created to prepare young people for a workforce increasingly reliant on technology.
On any day, as many as 45 young people visit the Watsonville nonprofit to learn such skills as digital film production, coding and graphic design.
The NEST (short for Nurturing Entrepreneurial Skills with Technology) has since expanded to a larger location next door to Cabrillo College’s Watsonville campus, and opened a branch in Salinas.
After establishing itself as a tech education juggernaut for the Central Coast, the nonprofit earned national attention this month when it was named the featured charity for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, one of golf’s most watched events.
This includes a 30-second commercial during the nationally televised event.
“This is an amazing opportunity,” founder Jacob Martinez said. “We’re excited to share the story of Digital NEST.”
Martinez said he launched the nonprofit to give young people in South County access to technology they weren’t finding at home or their schools. More importantly, he wanted to help local kids make themselves employable on a national level.
Now, he said he hopes the national recognition will help expand the services.
“We have a lot of youth we want to serve, and hopefully this will give us the opportunity,” he said.
The NEST earned the honor as one of about 250 charities that receive funding from the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, the charitable arm of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Director of Philanthropy Mary Gunn said the NEST rose to the top of the pack because of its focus on young people and on technology.
“They do both, and they do it well,” she said.
According to Gunn, the Monterey Peninsula Foundation gave out $13.2 million last year to organizations in Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties.
“It’s national recognition that might not be possible any other way,” she said.
Digital NEST Director of Development E Griffin-Ortiz called the upcoming television spot “huge,” and said it could bolster the organization’s essential fundraising efforts.
“It’s a chance for us to introduce what we do to a national audience,” he said. “This is something every nonprofit would love to have happen.”
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For information, visit digitalnest.org.
