Leave a Legacy

We all want to make a difference in the world and leave a lasting imprint on society. When it comes to investing in the long-term success of local people, no organization is more committed to meeting the community’s diverse needs as Community Bridges. Together, we can make our community a better place for generations after us.

Legacy Giving – Common Options

You can decide to leave your gift for general purposes, or for a specific program. You can direct your planned gift to the general fund, or to our endowment.

It is Easy!

  • Donate appreciated assets such as stock shares and offset a tax burden quickly, easily and flexibly. 
  • Name Community Bridges as a beneficiary of your retirement plan or insurance policy to offset penalties.
  • Contribute to our endowment and help build a reserve fund that earns income for our programs for years to come.
  • Name Community Bridges in your will or living trust, leaving a meaningful legacy that demonstrates a lifetime of your values.
  • More complex options, like charitable remainder trusts and charitable gift annuities, can be set up easily with the help of a financial advisor.

Legacy Gifts are Caring Gifts for the Future

Our largest gifts have come from bequest donors. These thoughtful and caring gifts support important services over many years. Your legacy can truly live into the future with a little planning today.

Appreciated Assets

Gifts of appreciated assets, including appreciated shares of stocks and mutual funds, may be some of the most tax-efficient ways to give. If you have securities that have increased in value, you may receive a deduction based on the full appreciated value, and you might also avoid the capital gains tax that would have been due had you sold the shares.

Community Bridges uses the firm LPL Financial to handle all electronic transfers of stock. Your broker can transfer directly your gift to our account using this information:

  1. Receiving Account Registration: Community Bridges– A nonprofit organization
  2. Receiving Account Number: 51042048
  3. DTC number for LPL Financial: 0075

Please have your broker include your name and contact information when making the transfer. Upon completion of your stock transfer, please complete this Stock Transfer Form and return to:

Community Bridges
519 Main Street
Watsonville, CA 95076

Retirement Accounts

IRAs, 401(K), 403(B) and other accounts grow tax-deferred, often becoming quite large over the years. Unlike many other types of investments, funds withdrawn from retirement accounts can be taxable to you and, eventually, to your heirs.

If you are over 70 ½, you are required to take distributions from an IRA. Instead of creating a taxable event for yourself, make the distribution a charitable gift. As long as the distribution is paid directly to Community Bridges from your IRA administrator, the amount will not be counted in your taxable income for the year, which may result in tax savings for you! 

Make your withdrawal payable to Community Bridges, 519 Main St, Watsonville CA 95076. Our Tax ID Number is 94-2460211. You can donate to our general fund, or make a notation designating your gift to one of our ten programs.

Endowment Giving 

Community Bridges is creating sustainable solutions to support our mission. Relying on government funding to support our programs simply isn’t enough. In 2014, we started an endowment to ensure that the safety net we have created will continue to grow for generations to come.

Contributions to our endowment earn interest, creating an investment in our community for years to come. 100% of profit from our endowment will be used to support the operations of our programs, strengthening this vital community.

Founding 100 Giving Circle

We invite you to join the “Community Bridges Founding 100.” This group will consist of 100 members that donate $1,000 or more to the Community Bridges endowment, helping us create lasting solutions to issues of poverty, health, and education in our community.

Thank you to our first Founding 100 members:

Raymon & Trisha Cancino
Paul & Teresa Carrubba
Leland & Susan Faust
Barbara and Allen Frank
Ralph and Julie Kimball
Jerry Lopez & Ana Espinosa
The Solari Mazry Family Fund at Community Foundation Santa Cruz County
Susan Marinshaw
O’Connell Family
The Rinker-Kan Family
Paul & Baylee Whitted

Bequests

Leaving a gift in your will or trust is a powerful way to express your values now – and strengthen our community’s future. The right planned gift can provide you and your loved ones with tax and income benefits, while leaving a lasting impact on the people and programs that mean the most to you. To leave a gift in your will or trust, just discuss this language with a qualified
professional:

“I bequeath $_____ or _____% of my estate to Community Bridges, Tax ID# 94-2460211, located at 519 Main Street, Watsonville, CA 95076.”

Contact Us

To learn more about how you can leave a lasting legacy in our community, contact Anna Vaage, Annual Giving Coordinator, at 831-688-8840 x205 or annav@cbridges.org.

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This Volunteer Month, we’re celebrating the compassion, dedication, and heart our Meals on Wheels volunteers bring to neighbors across Santa Cruz County. 💚Every delivery is more than just a meal—it’s a moment of connection, a friendly face, and a reminder that someone cares.Our volunteers show up day after day to support older adults and individuals who rely on these visits not only for nourishment, but for community. Whether it’s a quick check-in at the door or a warm conversation, these small acts create lasting impact.It’s through their kindness and commitment that Meals on Wheels continues to strengthen connections and reduce isolation throughout our community.Every volunteer story is different, but they all share the same purpose: showing up, caring deeply, and making a difference—one delivery at a time.Follow along this month as we celebrate volunteers across our programs. Learn more about Meals on Wheels at communitybridges.org/mow or sign up to volunteer at communitybridges.org/volunteer.#VolunteerMonth #MealsOnWheels #CommunityBridges #SantaCruzCounty #StartSmallBigImpact #Volunteer ... See MoreSee Less
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💬 Is your teen struggling with anxiety?Join us for a FREE parenting workshop to learn how to support your teen’s emotional well-being. We’ll cover common signs of anxiety, what you can do to help, and practical coping strategies for teens.📅 Wednesday, April 22, 2026🕓 4:30 – 6:00 PM📍 Watsonville Prep School✅ Free child care & light snacks provided✅ Presented in English with Spanish interpretationSpots are limited—register today: bit.ly/Anxiety-Apr22#ParentingSupport #TeenMentalHealth #Watsonville #TripleP #CommunityResources ... See MoreSee Less
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50th Anniversary Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County - Community Bridges / Puentes de la Communidad logo

Celebrating 50 Years of Support

Join us at Food From the Heart to honor this legacy and support the future of senior care.

50th Anniversary Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County - Community Bridges / Puentes de la Communidad logo

Celebrating 50 Years of Support

Join us at Food From the Heart to honor this legacy and support the future of senior care.

Every Family Needs a Plan

Urge the Attorney General to adopt California’s Childcare Safety Plan.

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giving tuesday

Strengthen
Our Roots

Since 1977, your generosity has helped our community grow stronger.