Dear donors and supporters,
I hope you are having a great start to the Holiday Season. For me, this time of year presents an opportunity to reflect on all those who bring me joy and for whom I am grateful – which includes all of you! It also reminds me that another year is coming to a close and that, as we take this time to be thankful, we can also take an opportunity to give generously from our grateful hearts.
Last month, we celebrated National Philanthropy Day for the Central Coast, and three of our nominees were celebrated! Congratulations to Philanthropists of the Year David and Susan Gill; to the Tanimura Family Foundation for being awarded Foundation of the Year; and to our student trustee, Laura Rivera, who was recognized as the Philanthropic Young Adult of the Year. We at the Foundation are proud to know and partner with each of these deserving awardees.
In the story to follow, we’d like to introduce you to Laura Rivera. She is an extraordinary student leader and a wonderful person. It is young adults like her that will shape our communities for the better.
Thank you for partnering with us and making this season bright!
Jackie Cruz
Vice President, Advancement and Development
Executive Director, Hartnell College Foundation
(831) 444-2446
jcruz@hartnell.edu
PHILANTHROPIC YOUNG ADULT OF THE YEAR
Laura K. Rivera Morales
For Hartnell College Student Trustee, Laura K. Rivera Morales, the news that she was nominated for Philanthropic Young Adult of the Central Coast by the Hartnell College Foundation came as a big surprise.
“I am not used to that much attention,” said Laura. “When you do good things for others, you don’t expect to be recognized – you do it because you want people to have the support they need.”
It was her humble spirit and service to others that made her truly stand out.
Rivera, 20, is a Political Science and Spanish double major in her third year at Hartnell College. She came to the college at the start of the pandemic and it was being a part of the Salinas Valley Promise program that inspired her to place her focus on her new venture as a college student.
“I was ready to just stay home and help my mom,” she said. But helping others in her community seemed like the best thing she could do.
But helping others in her community seemed like the right thing to do. She got her start in philanthropy while still at Soledad High School. She co-founded a youth council that helped get a $7.6 Million grant to build a park in Soledad. That park is close to completion and it is adjacent to the Hartnell Soledad Education Center.
During the pandemic, Rivera also noticed another need: N95 masks for farm workers. She noticed that her mom and her coworkers came home dehydrated and coughing, especially during the California fires in 2020. They were not supplied with the right gear to protect themselves, so Laura gathered a few of her friends to ask the business community for donations – both money and masks.
“Being part of the youth council really gave me the wings to fly,” she said. “I knew that if I saw opportunities to serve, I could help those that need it most.”
Currently, Laura is Hartnell’s Student Trustee and Vice President of the Associated Students of Hartnell College (ASHC). These are elected positions that have propelled her to leadership roles.
“I have learned so much about local government and how it can be a bridge to connect students, faculty, and staff,” she said. “I like that – I take my role seriously and, in the classroom, I make sure my classmates know who I am so they know I am there as a resource to them.”
And a resource she is. With the support of ASHC, she created Project Pink Bag, which includes feminine hygiene products for menstruating people. These bags are distributed in bathrooms on all of the Hartnell College campuses.
On November 18, 2022, Laura received the Philanthropic Young Adult
Award in front of hundreds of members of the community. This was the first time that a student from Hartnell College received such recognition on the Central Coast.
“Being alongside other philanthropists gave me hope for Monterey County and they inspired me,” she said.
Next year, she will transfer to a university and aspires to one day become a lawyer. For her, service to others is one thing that everyone should practice.
“I never expect to be recognized for what I do, but if my story inspires philanthropy in others, then I will humbly accept!” she added.
At the Hartnell College Foundation, we are so proud of Laura Rivera. She exemplifies the true nature of a leader and we are certain she will continue to generate ideas and execute them successfully for the betterment of our community. Congratulations!
TIME FOR GIVING
Options for year-end giving
If you are like many of us, you are looking to save money on this year’s taxes. There are ways to make a year-end gift, other than a cash gift, and still enjoy valuable tax benefits. Here are just a few of the options you might want to consider for your end-of-year planning:
- GIFT OF YOUR PROPERTY
Do you have CDs, stocks or bonds that are producing little or no return? Why not make a gift of these low-performing assets to us, and receive a charitable deduction? You can also give your real estate, art or other property, and benefit from a deduction.
- GIFT OF YOUR PROPERTY FOR INCOME
If you are looking for income in the future, why not make a gift of property to fund a charitable gift annuity or charitable remainder trust? Your property can be sold tax-free, and you may receive income for the rest of your life. With a charitable gift annuity, this income is fixed so there is the possibility that some of your payment will be tax-free.
- FUTURE PROPERTY GIFT
Did you know there are gifts everyone can make to benefit from charitable giving? If you don’t want to give your stock or real estate today, you can still enjoy your property during your lifetime while making a gift to us through your will or trust. A bequest of your property will provide your estate with an estate tax charitable deduction, which means the money saved can go to your loved ones.
To learn more about these options for end-of-year gifts, or to view an illustration of the benefits of making a gift of your property, please call us. We look forward to helping you meet your year-end goals! There are many ways we can help you fulfill your philanthropic goals. Contact Vice President of Advancement and Development and Executive Director for the Foundation, Jackie Cruz at jcruz@hartnell.edu or call (831) 444-2446.
If you are like many of us, you are looking to save money on this year’s taxes. There are ways to make a year-end gift, other than a cash gift, and still enjoy valuable tax benefits. Here are just a few of the options you might want to consider for your end-of-year planning:
- GIFT OF YOUR PROPERTY
Do you have CDs, stocks or bonds that are producing little or no return? Why not make a gift of these low-performing assets to us, and receive a charitable deduction? You can also give your real estate, art or other property, and benefit from a deduction.
- GIFT OF YOUR PROPERTY FOR INCOME
If you are looking for income in the future, why not make a gift of property to fund a charitable gift annuity or charitable remainder trust? Your property can be sold tax-free, and you may receive income for the rest of your life. With a charitable gift annuity, this income is fixed so there is the possibility that some of your payment will be tax-free.
- FUTURE PROPERTY GIFT
Did you know there are gifts everyone can make to benefit from charitable giving? If you don’t want to give your stock or real estate today, you can still enjoy your property during your lifetime while making a gift to us through your will or trust. A bequest of your property will provide your estate with an estate tax charitable deduction, which means the money saved can go to your loved ones.
To learn more about these options for end-of-year gifts, or to view an illustration of the benefits of making a gift of your property, please call us. We look forward to helping you meet your year-end goals! There are many ways we can help you fulfill your philanthropic goals. Contact Vice President of Advancement and Development and Executive Director for the Foundation, Jackie Cruz at jcruz@hartnell.edu or call (831) 444-2446.
SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIPS FOR OUR STUDENTS
MC Gives is on through December 31st!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
MC Gives is on through December 31st!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE