As the Santa Cruz Gives selection committee reviewed applications for the 2025 six-week holiday fundraiser, we talked about current events and trends in giving that might impact the campaign this year. Volunteer Center executive director Karen Delaney told us about a study that showed that younger donors have different priorities than older donors. SANTA CRUZ GIVES Older donors prioritize the...

The Lasting Impact of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County Since 1969, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County (BGCSCC) has been a cornerstone for local youth in the area. Over the years, the organization has grown to serve more than 40,000 young people across three Clubhouses in Santa Cruz, Live Oak, and Scotts Valley. Its mission is to inspire and empower all youth, especially...

Vanessa, a postpartum mom of two, came to me concerned about feeling heaviness, bulging, and leakage after having her children. A brief search on the internet revealed to her she may have pelvic organ prolapse. Worried how to fix this she asked if there was anything she could do at home while she waited for her doctor to see her Maybe you’re like Vanessa and are having symptoms of pelvic...

The holidays can bring moments of magic — sparkling lights, familiar songs, cozy family gatherings. But for many parents and caregivers, they also bring full schedules, high expectations, sensory overload, and an endless to-do list. The season that’s meant to bring connection can easily leave our nervous systems on overdrive. As parents and caregivers, we often focus on supporting our...

Colleges today are looking for curious students — those who dive deeply into subjects that truly fascinate them. Gone are the days when being a “Jack of all Trades” guaranteed admission. Juggling three sports, piano lessons, multiple clubs, and hundreds of volunteer hours no longer impresses top universities. Instead, admissions officers are drawn to students whose curiosity leads them...

You are not alone in wondering about what it means to hold the 4th Thursday of November as a day of gratitude, known to some as Thanksgiving, and to others as the Day of Mourning. In a country rooted in colonization (which still continues today), we have been conditioned to ignore the uglier parts of our country’s history and how the experiences we take for granted today came to be. At...

Some days, I get so caught up in work, chores, and the busyness of everyday life that I forget to slow down and really notice the little things. Watching my daughter play, hearing her laugh at something silly, or seeing sunlight spill across the living room—these small moments often pass by before I even register them. Lately, I’ve been making an effort to pause more often: to feel the...

Meet Rocco, the lovable “chocolate bear” with a powdered sugar coat! Though considered a senior, Rocco’s youthful spirit shines — he loves walks, hikes, and endless games of fetch. He rides beautifully in the car and has lived happily with children under 12. Rocco’s adoption fee is sponsored by the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter Foundation’s “Leave No One...

In planning for a pet’s health and wellness, many people have looked at and purchased pet insurance. If you are interested in learning more, here are a few general considerations and questions to think about: ROUTINE CARE Like for any family member, there will be routine medical costs. Yearly check-ups, vaccinations, and teeth cleaning are predictable. Ask your veterinarian for an estimate...

Every song begins with a single note. And for 125 Santa Cruz students this month, that note will ring out from the gift of a brand new guitar that they can call their own. On November 16, Free Guitars for Kids (FG4K), in partnership with Pajaro Valley Unified School District Expanded Learning, will host a Family Fun Day at the Grove located at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. More than 2,000...

I’ve been teaching writing to children for almost 20 years now, first in small homeschool groups, then online since 2013. My students have ranged from reluctant writers who can hardly put out a sentence to avid writers who forget to eat when their creative juices are flowing. In the time that I’ve been teaching, I’ve noticed public school curriculum doubling down on technical writing skills...

Parents often say it feels like the old rites of passage have faded or lost their spark. Thankfully, many remain. There’s still the first driver’s license, the cap tossed skyward at graduation, the first heartbreak, the first day of college when life is full of possibility. And this the growing-up milestones that hit every generation in the heart—the ones with rhythm, melody, and...

One of the first things we saw at Narita Airport outside of Tokyo, Japan, after our eleven-hour flight from San Francisco was a big wall-sized poster with two people surrounded by a big room full of swirling color. I was amazed! It was an ad for teamLab Planets, a unique kind of museum, where I knew my mom and dad and my sister Anaïs already had tickets to visit a day and a half later. TeamLab...

One of the worst things that happened when raising my son was that no one told us that breast feeding in the middle of the night and not brushing his teeth right then could cause cavities. I wished someone in obstetrics had mentioned that. Instead, we had to take him to a pediatric dentist, where he was put under anesthesia and a great dentist did the work. His mother and I were in tears of fear...