Southern Monterey County Foundation 2017 Grants
Don’t call the young members of the King City Boxing Club scrappy, call them hungry, says boxing club director and coach Rodolfo Tapia-Salazar. “They are hungry, with a lot of promise,” said Tapia- Salazar, the coach who turned pro at the age of 16 in Mexico. He provides a mix of toughness and compassion to impart life skills as well as discipline, commitment and respectful behavior. Currently 30-35 boys and girls come to the club four afternoons a week.
“Coming together to focus on something definitely gives them confidence in the ring and outside the ring. Through boxing, we are teaching new skills and opening new horizons for kids.” – Rodolfo Tapia-Salazar, King City Boxing Club coach
Tapia-Salazar added, “The grant from the SMCF is helping us encourage kids to be healthy, and they get a chance to travel as part of a team – so many kids have never been out of King City.”
2017 Grants Support 15 Nonprofits
The King City Boxing Club is one of 15 nonprofit organizations that serve Southern Monterey County that was selected to receive grants from the Southern Monterey County Foundation (SMCF), an affiliate fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County. The 15 grantees – the most groups yet since the SMCF’s founding in 2014 – address a range of needs, from food insecurity, science education, historic preservation and helping youth aspire for self-improvement.
Robert Cullen, chair of the SMCF Advisory Board says: “We’re able to provide these grants to strengthen Southern Monterey County communities thanks to our generous donors. This is a collective effort to make a positive impact in our region.”
The story of the SMCF is one of community building. The SMCF was established by area residents to support programs and services for the communities of Southern Monterey County. Founding families came together in 2014 to create an affiliate fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County.
Strengthening Communities
The SMCF’s purpose is to raise funds locally to strengthen communities from King City to points south. It is guided by an advisory board of local residents who have a deep understanding of regional community needs. Grantmaking is made possible by the support of local individuals, families and businesses. To date, $72,600 has been granted. For more information, to see a list of past grantees, or to support the fund, visit www.cfmco.org/SMCF or contact Brian Thayer, CFMC Senior Philanthropic Officer at briant@cfmco.org or 831-884-5744.
2017 Southern Monterey County Foundation Grantees:
- Campaign for the Preservation of Mission San Antonio de Padua – $2,000 for Phase IV of the retrofit, repair and preservation of the historic mission
- City of Greenfield: Greenfield Community Science Workshop – $500 to support Community Science Workshop, a mobile science workshop in Southern Monterey County
- City of King Recreation Department – $2,000 for the Open Gym Collaboration with Salinas Valley Fair, to provide athletic programs and recreational opportunities for students at Chalone Peaks Middle School, and residents of King City
- Community Food Pantry of King City – $2,000 to combat food insecurity in Southern Monterey County
- Foundation for Monterey County Free Libraries – $500 to provide online job training and tutoring software to patrons of South Monterey County
- Girls Inc. of the Central Coast – $1,800 for “Growing Together”, a program to increase positive communication between young girls and their parents or guardians at elementary and middle schools in King City
- GRID Alternatives Central Coast – $1,000 to support Solar Futures, a hands-on job training program
- King City Boxing Club – $2,000 to provide positive sporting activities for youth
- Legal Services for Seniors – $1,000 for no-cost legal services for Southern Monterey County seniors
- Monterey County Agricultural & Rural Life Museum – $1,500 to support the annual 4th Grade History Jamboree, a two-day program full of art, history and music
- Monterey County Dance Foundation – $1,700 for the purchase of lighting to enhance performances at the Stanton Theater
- Monterey County Pops! – $500 to support the free 2017 Veteran’s Day concert at the Stanton Theater
- Partnership for Children – $1,000 to increase access to medical care for children with life-threatening conditions
- Sol Treasures – $1,500 for the summer camps in art, performance and music serving youth ages 7-14
- YWCA Monterey County – $1,000 to support King City-based legal assistance and therapy
About the Community Foundation for Monterey County
The mission of the CFMC is to inspire philanthropy and be a catalyst for strengthening communities throughout Monterey County. Thanks to generous community members who have created charitable funds in their lifetimes or through their estates, the CFMC has granted more than $160 million to nonprofits working towards healthy, safe, vibrant communities. In 2017 the foundation awarded $16.7 million to more than 500 grantees. The CFMC’s Center for Nonprofit Excellence provides local nonprofit organizations with high-quality professional development, information and resources. For more information visit www.cfmco.org, call 831.375.9712 or stay connected at www.facebook.com/cfmco or www.twitter.com/cfmco.