SALINAS VALLEY — Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Salinas) and Sen. Anna Caballero (D-Salinas) have honored Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas (CSVS) as the 2021 California Nonprofit of the Year for their districts.
“I am proud to honor Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas as Assembly District 30’s Nonprofit of the Year, for their indispensable efforts to educate and vaccinate farmworkers in our area during the pandemic,” Rivas said. “Last year, our farmworker community faced a public health crisis as it experienced disproportionate exposure to the coronavirus. However, with the efforts of dedicated health professionals like those at CSVS, we have turned a corner. Thank you to Dr. Max Cuevas, CSVS’s CEO, and his incredible team, for helping so many farmworkers stay safe and healthy during these extraordinary times.”
Since March 2021, Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas has vaccinated 48,872 people, including many of the region’s most vulnerable residents. Their work allowed the Salinas Valley to become a model for effective vaccination efforts in a rural, agricultural area.
“Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas was an invaluable partner throughout the Covid-19 pandemic,” Caballero said. “Dr. Cuevas participated in multiple town hall meetings held by my office in both English and Spanish to educate our vulnerable communities during a time when we knew very little about the virus. The organization was also diligent in collecting and distributing desperately needed PPE for farmworkers and other low-income essential workers. Working in strategic partnership with industry CSVS was able to ensure that thousands of our farmworkers were vaccinated quickly.”
She added, “It is no surprise to me that both Assemblymember Rivas and I selected the same nonprofit to bestow such an award. It simply speaks to their value during a time when our community needed them most, and I am honored to be able to recognize them for their tireless advocacy.”
As part of this year’s California Nonprofit Day, 109 California state legislators announced their selection of a “Nonprofit of the Year” in their district. Now in its sixth year, this annual effort creates a way for legislators to recognize outstanding, local nonprofits.
“Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas’ Board of Directors and staff thank you for recognizing our efforts to make sure that all families have access to Covid-19 testing and vaccines,” said CSVS CEO Max Cuevas. “The pandemic is not over yet, so we all must continue our effort to protect each other from this dangerous virus by making sure that at least 70% of families are vaccinated. Our organization stands ready and fully committed to reaching this goal.”
Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas operates 12 locations in Monterey County, including clinics in King City, Greenfield, Soledad, Gonzales and Salinas.
