Donor Stories
Inspiring Philanthropy; Strengthening Communities – 2022 Annual Report

If the Community Foundation for Monterey County is to be effective, if it is truly Inspiring Philanthopy; Strengthening Communities, it is because we’re a reflection of a powerful philanthropic landscape that stretches from Big Sur to Castroville, Salinas to San Ardo, and all points in between. It is truly an honor to be your community foundation. – Teri Belli,...
Read moreMaking the World Better: Daphne and Stuart Wells

“She’s Brooklyn, I’m Bronx,” says Stuart Wells of his wife Daphne. Meeting as youth, they were “both shot by cupid’s arrow” at the same time and married after their first year of graduate school. They both deeply value education, having received free college tuition in New York state schools, and later became teachers themselves, each with a 36-year career. Daphne...
Read moreMaking A Difference: Gordon Schacher

Inspired to give by his late wife, Elke, Gordon Schacher started The Elke Junger Making A Difference Fund on the concept of making a difference, one individual at a time. “One day, Elke came home and said, ‘I’ve just been at Target, and a man outside asked me for money. Instead, I asked him what he needed. He said a...
Read moreSharing Success – Steve and Marti Diamond

“Giving adds another dimension to our life. We want to give people hope and opportunity that they wouldn’t otherwise have.”– Steve and Marti Diamond Steve and Marti Diamond both started from humble beginnings. At age 15, Steve was awarded an academic scholarship to Tulane University in New Orleans. He earned a B.S. in theoretical mathematics and an M.D. followed by...
Read moreS.T.A.R. Foundation Grand Finale

S.T.A.R. Foundation Closes: Grants $500,000 to Sol Treasures, Creates Performing Arts Scholarship “The performing arts are the guiding star of who you are because if you don’t have the performing arts in your life, what’s the point of living?” – Reg Huston Reg Huston is so humble, he can’t remember the names of the awards he’s received in his 50+...
Read more