MONTEREY COUNTY — United Way Monterey County, along with the Salinas Valley and Monterey Peninsula chambers of commerce, recently hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Community Impact Center.
Located in downtown Salinas, the Community Impact Center offers services for local nonprofits to collaborate, innovate and expand their impact.
The Center’s 31,000-square-foot design enables United Way Monterey County to serve a greater number of residents in need, houses offices of mission-aligned nonprofits, provides space for partners to host meetings and trainings and serves as an incubator for innovative solutions to the community’s greatest needs.
“This is a transformational moment for United Way Monterey County. With the Community Impact Center, we are positioned to expand our impact today and into the future,” said Katy Castagna, president and CEO of United Way Monterey County. “We are deeply grateful for the generosity and vision of the many donors, volunteers and businesses who believe in the collective power of collaboration to improve lives.”
United Way Monterey County received several bequests in recent years and designated $2.5 million to acquire the Salinas property at 232 Monterey St., Suite 200. Through its Building for the Future Capital Campaign, the organization was able to raise an additional $1.5 million to complete the acquisition and cover operating expenses.
Taylor Farms, a local producer of vegetables, helped United Way reach its goal by matching donations mid-way through the campaign. This represented a $471,675 gift from the company.
“UWMC extends deep gratitude to Taylor Farms and to all who contribute to the Building for the Future Capital Campaign,” Castagna said at the time. “Their impact will be seen for years to come.”
During the Oct. 13 ceremony, guests were invited to tour the building, connect with community partners and enjoy refreshments.
“It was an honor to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the United Way Monterey County Community Impact Center last week,” said Monterey County Supervisor Mary Adams on social media last Monday. “What an incredible event! The community now has a dedicated space to gather and receive support and services from United Way, where United Way will continue to make a positive impact in our county!”
In a UWMC newsletter prior to the Thursday celebration, Castagna said the organization’s family has started the process of “settling into the neighborhood, developing new relationships and strengthening old ones, and creating new opportunities for collaboration and mutual support.”
“The process seems a fitting parallel for what we aspire to for all families in Monterey County: a strong sense of identity and a safe place to call home,” she continued. “This ideal is worthy of continued investment of our time and resources on many levels. Your engagement as a volunteer, partner, donor, voter and friend makes you instrumental to our collective success.”
To learn more about United Way Monterey County and the Community Impact Center, visit unitedwaymcca.org.
