WATSONVILLE, CA - With face-to-face interactions entirely off the table this year, the unmatched generosity of our industry’s leaders has required a logistical pivot. When it comes to charitable giving, suppliers like California Giant Berry Farms often rely on fundraising events, which have all been canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Taking its philanthropy to the virtual universe, California Giant recently launched a new online platform to help financially support non-profit organizations in the greater Pajaro Valley area.

"Year after year, California Giant has shown its care for our community here at Digital NEST, and we are grateful for their ongoing support,” said Jacob Martinez, Executive Director of Digital NEST, a California Giant partner. “We're so glad that despite the current challenges we are all facing with the pandemic that their fundraising will go on. We hope that those who are moved by our mission will be inspired to give and rally around our community more than ever."

Each year, California Giant hosts various fundraising events within the company as well as with the community, including its annual Skirt Steak BBQ. Due to the coronavirus pandemic which has put restrictions on in-person events, California Giant has organized an online platform to overcome this year’s unprecedented challenges while continuing to give back to the community, according to a press release.

California Giant’s annual Skirt Steak BBQ fundraiser has proved to be an important event to help uplift local non-profits like Digital NEST, helping them make an even bigger impact on the youth and young people they serve in Watsonville and Salinas with tech-focused workforce development skills.

Promotion of this fundraising event will take place now through November 30, and donors are encouraged to contribute to the Spreading Smiles GoFundMe page. California Giant Berry Farms will generously match these donations up to $20,000. The total amount raised during the virtual fundraiser promotion will be distributed to each of the following organizations just in time for the holiday season: CASA of Santa Cruz, Chamberlain’s Youth Services, DigitalNEST, Jacob’s Heart, Kinship Center, Monarch Services, Partnership for Children & Youth, Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes, Pajaro Valley Shelter Services, The Salvation Army, California Giant Foundation’s Santa’s Workshop, Santa Cruz County Toys for Tots, and Teen Kitchen Project.

“Pajaro Valley Shelter Services (PVSS) thanks our long-term partner, California Giant, for bringing light in the face of the challenges that have stretched service providers in our community over the past months,” said Oana Alexan Katz, Director of Development at PVSS. “We urge you to donate in order to alleviate the needs of our community’s most vulnerable members, including families in PVSS' care, children, and their parents experiencing homelessness.”

Katz continued, “They bear the brunt of the pandemic’s health and economic consequences, so they need your support more than ever to weather this crisis and continue walking the path to self-sufficiency. Although circumstances did not allow for the Skirt Steak BBQ to take place, we applaud California Giant for launching this virtual fundraising effort that will channel the amazing energy and generous spirit of your staff and the community at past BBQs.”

No matter the challenges that are thrown at this industry, we will continue to lead with our hearts and fierce passion for supporting the health and wellbeing of our communities.

California Giant Berry Farms