Leave a Legacy

We all want to make a difference in the world and leave behind a lasting imprint on our 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.

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.”

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!

  • You can name Community Bridges in your will or living trust.
  • You can name Community Bridges as a beneficiary of your retirement plan or insurance policy.
  • 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

Stocks and 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 nonprofit – A nonprofit organization
  2. The account number for gifts is 51042048.
  3. The DTC number for LPL Financial is 0075.
  4. Please have your broker include your name and contact information when making the transfer.
  5. Community Bridges’ contact at LPL Financial is Cole J. Strickland, who may be reached at (831) 818-1917 or cole.strickland@lpl.com.

Upon completion of your stock transfer, please complete this Stock Transfer Form and return to:

Community Bridges
519 Main Street
Watsonville, CA 95076

Retirement Benefits

IRAs, 401(K), 403(B) and other retirement 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. Retirement accounts left to Community Bridges are removed from your estate for federal estate tax purposes. Plus, there is no income-tax assessed against your estate or your heirs when the funds are transferred to Community Bridges, allowing you to avoid multiple taxes.

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!

Join the Community Bridges Founding 100

Community Bridges is creating sustainable solutions to support our mission. Relying on government funding to support our programs simply isn’t enough. In 2018, we started an endowment to ensure that the safety net we have created will continue to grow for generations to come.

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.

100% of profit from our endowment will be used to support the operations of our programs, strengthening this vital 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

Questions? Contact Anna Vaage, Sr. Development Analyst, at 831-688-8840 x205 or annav@cbridges.org.

🎉 Congrats to Omar Sabbah, our Employee of the Month! 🌟 His unwavering dedication to meeting the needs of our Community Bridges WIC Program participants is nothing short of inspiring. Omar goes above and beyond to ensure every individual feels supported and valued. His compassionate approach and tireless work ethic make a profound impact on our community. Thank you, Omar, for being a shining example of excellence and commitment! 👏 ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
Whether you're attending the Mountain Affair or unable to join us, you can still make a significant impact on the San Lorenzo Valley and Scotts Valley by supporting Mountain Community Resources (MCR). Your generous donations will help us fund the growing needs of our community.Here’s how your contribution can make a difference:💵 $500 – Crisis Support and Disaster Recovery Services:Your donation will help fund 2,000 hours of personalized support for over 800 San Lorenzo Valley residents. This includes assistance with housing, employment, food benefits, healthcare enrollment, and disaster recovery. MCR connects individuals with essential resources to recover and thrive.🥫 $300 – Pack the Pantry:Sponsoring the pantry for a month ensures we can continue to "Feed the Valley." Last year, over 600 residents received 9,000 bags of food from our pantry. You can also contribute $25 per month for a year to help keep our pantry stocked and combat food insecurity.🚨 $200 – Emergency Preparedness:Founded in response to the 1982 mudslides, MCR prioritizes emergency preparedness. Your donation will help purchase essential supplies like sandbags, shovels, chainsaws, radios, and more—vital for keeping our community safe and ready for any emergencies.❄️ $100 – Winter Warming Program:Our Winter Warming Program provides crucial drop-in services, including showers, laundry, phone access, and food distribution. Over the past year, we distributed over 800 blankets and clothing items to more than 200 residents. Your contribution supports purchasing rain ponchos, coats, bedding, and other essentials to keep our community warm.🧠 $50 – Counseling and Legal Assistance:Through Community Bridges, we offer essential mental health counseling and legal aid to valley families. Your donation helps fund one-on-one sessions with licensed counselors and free legal assistance for employment issues and eviction prevention, supporting individuals in maintaining stability.🧼 $25 – Hygiene Kits:MCR provides over 5,000 showers and laundry services annually. During these visits, residents receive food, internet access, phone chargers, snacks, and water. Your $25 donation provides a hygiene kit, including soap, towels, and detergent, ensuring individuals maintain personal cleanliness and dignity.👉 Purchase your tickets for the Mountain Affair today or make a donation to support these vital services: communitybridges.org/events/ Thank you for your support in helping us strengthen our community! 💚 ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
La atención preventiva, como los chequeos anuales, las pruebas de detección del cáncer y los exámenes de bienestar infantil, están cubiertos en todos los planes de salud ofrecidos a través de Covered California, sin coste adicional. Inscríbase si recientemente experimentó un evento de vida de calificación.coveredca.com/special-enrollment/ ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
Preventative care, like annual checkups, cancer screenings and children's wellness exams, are covered in every health plan offered through Covered California, at no additional cost. Sign up if yourecently experienced a qualifying life event.coveredca.com/special-enrollment/ ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook