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– 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. 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 2014, 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.

For more than 100 years combined, Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County and Grey Bears have delivered more than just food—we’ve delivered hope, dignity, and connection to tens of thousands of older adults in Santa Cruz County.Today, we’re facing one of our greatest challenges yet. As demand for meals among local seniors rises, critical federal programs like CalFresh (SNAP) and the National Senior Nutrition Program (NSIP) have been severely cut. These safety nets are lifelines for local older adults who are already forced to choose between groceries, rent, and medication.When food support disappears, the ripple effects hit our entire community—impacting health care, housing, and transportation systems—and make local programs like Meals on Wheels and Grey Bears all the more essential. 💛 You can make a difference.Your support helps bring food—and hope—straight to the doorstep of someone who truly needs it.📍 Donate today:Community Bridges ➡️ communitybridges.org/donateGrey Bears ➡️ greybears.org/ways-to-give📖 Learn how we’re banding together at the table for local seniors:🔗 bit.ly/4kJi3ag Together, we can ensure no senior is forgotten.Together, we can feed hope.#MealsOnWheels #GreyBears #CommunityBridges #FeedHope #TogetherAtTheTable #SantaCruzCares@ ... See MoreSee Less
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Ten Years Strong - Thanks to YOU!Because of your unwavering support, our 10th Annual Farm to Fork Gala was an unforgettable celebration of community, compassion, and impact.Together, you supported all ten Community Bridges programs, touching the lives of over 20,000 local children, families, and older adults. Your generosity fueled essential services, expanded equitable access to resources, and brought health and dignity across every stage of life on our Central Coast. This milestone is yours to celebrate. We’re endlessly grateful for your partnership.Enjoy these highlights from a night we’ll never forget — and mark your calendar for next year!If you weren’t able to attend, there’s still time to make an impact. Join us at communitybridges.org/donate 💚 ... See MoreSee Less
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🌿 Thank You to Our Incredible Sponsors! 🌿Our Farm to Fork Gala wouldn't be possible without the generous support of our amazing partners.Special thanks to:Bontadelli Farms, Driscoll's, Ginny Solari Mazry, Lookout Santa Cruz, Tere Carrubba & Cathe Race, West Coast Community Bank — your presence and support made this event truly special.And a heartfelt thank you to:Armitage Wines, Tilapia, Alfaro Family Vineyards, CamFlor Inc., Chic Event Rentals, Edward Newman Family, Falcon Trading Co., Karissa Paxton Events LLC, and Tilapia Film — your contributions helped bring our vision to life. ... See MoreSee Less
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Happy Fourth of July!🎆Wishing everyone a day filled with sunshine, laughter, and celebration. Whether you're enjoying a BBQ, watching fireworks, or just kicking back — we hope your holiday is safe and full of joy!Don't forget to wave when you see Lift Line and Meals on Wheels in the parade! 🎉🚐🍽️ ... See MoreSee Less
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