Contributed Photos
SMCF Founding Family members Mike and Mary Orradre (left) gather with others to hear about the impact of investing in South County. Below, the group gets together for a photo-op at the 2018 Southern Monterey County Foundation Reception.
SOUTH COUNTY — The future of philanthropy in South Monterey County was the topic of a recent event held at the Monterey Wine Company in King City.
Hosted by the Advisory Board of the Southern Monterey County Foundation (SMCF), close to 60 community members, many of them donors to the SMCF, came together to learn about the positive impact that has been made and hear about efforts to build for the future by investing in South County.
Founded in 2014, the SMCF provides grants to nonprofit projects and programs supporting communities and residents of King City and points south.
“Over $72,000 has been granted in the first four years,” Robert Cullen, current Advisory Board chairman of the SMCF, told the guests. “At the same time, an endowment of nearly $120,000 has been built. This will grow and benefit our region into the future.”
The SMCF is an affiliate fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County.
Dan Baldwin, president/CEO of the Community Foundation for Monterey County, said, “Supporting the Southern Monterey County Foundation is a way for people to leave a lasting legacy. A gift to the fund will benefit generations of local residents.”
Attendees also heard from representatives of King City in Bloom and San Antonio Elementary School in Lockwood, two SMCF grant recipients. San Antonio school mentioned it was able to use its SMCF grant to secure additional funding from other sources.
“Making grants, strengthening our communities and supporting our neighbors — that’s our goal,” Cullen said. “We thank our donors and invite others to join us in investing in our future.”
The mission of the Community Foundation for Monterey County is to inspire philanthropy and be a catalyst for strengthening communities throughout Monterey County. For more information, or to support the SMCF, visit www.cfmco.org/SMCF.
