For 85 years, United Way Santa Cruz County has stood at the heart of our community, connecting people, programs, and purpose. What began in 1940 as the Pajaro Valley Community Chest has evolved into a countywide movement rooted in care, collaboration, and action. Today, that same spirit drives our mission to ignite the community to give, advocate, and volunteer so that youth succeed in school and life, residents are healthy, and families are financially stable.
United4Youth: Empowering the Next Generation
In every corner of Santa Cruz County, from Watsonville to Scotts Valley, young people are stepping up to lead. United4Youth, United Way’s youth-centered initiative, unites programs that champion youth voice, leadership, and mental well-being. Through partnerships with schools, public agencies, and grassroots youth organizations, United4Youth creates spaces where young people can be seen, heard, and supported.
Santa Cruz County youth face unprecedented challenges, including increased mental health needs, rising living costs that impact family stability, and limited access to safe spaces for connection. Yet through United4Youth, students are engaging in civic action, learning to advocate for themselves and their peers, and creating solutions that shape a healthier and more inclusive future.
This initiative is more than programming. It is a promise to invest in our youth today so they can lead us tomorrow. From Youth Action Network workshops to countywide youth summits, United4Youth builds belonging, amplifies leadership, and fosters resilience in a generation ready to make a difference.
United4Community: Supporting Every Neighbor
United Way’s second major initiative, United4Community, strengthens the foundation that allows families and individuals to thrive. By mobilizing partnerships and resources, United4Community connects residents with essential supports like 211, the 24/7 helpline that links people to housing, food, mental health care, and emergency resources.
In the past year alone, thousands of calls were answered through 211, helping seniors find transportation, parents locate childcare, and families access food and rental assistance. Beyond immediate needs, United4Community also powers financial stability programs such as Free Tax Preparation Services, which returned hundreds of thousands of dollars to local households, and Closed Loop Referral systems, which ensure no resident falls through the cracks when seeking help.
These programs reflect a simple but powerful belief: no one should face hardship alone. Through collective action, we create pathways for stability and opportunity, one family at a time.
The Real Cost of Living and Giving
The Real Cost Measure report, a data-driven study of California’s true cost of living, reveals that nearly 40 percent of Santa Cruz County households struggle to meet basic needs even when employed. This means that tens of thousands of our neighbors, including teachers, service workers, and caregivers, are working hard but still cannot afford essentials like housing, food, and transportation.
United Way’s impact work directly addresses these realities. By aligning United4Youth and United4Community under a shared vision, we ensure resources are distributed equitably and that the systems supporting local families are both compassionate and effective.
85 Years of Collective Action
As United Way Santa Cruz County celebrates 85 years of community impact, we honor the generations who made this milestone possible, including volunteers, donors, partners, and residents who believed that we are strongest when united. From rebuilding after natural disasters to ensuring our youth have access to mental health support, every act of generosity fuels a ripple of change.
The next 85 years depend on us. Together, we can continue to build a county where everyone, every child, family, and senior, has the opportunity to thrive.
Join Us — Be United
Your gift today sustains the programs that lift our community every day.
Visit https://www.unitedwaysc.org/donate to give now.
Share your “why” using #United4SantaCruz.Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @UnitedWaySantaCruzCounty to see your impact in action.
Watch our work in action here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/10YSrGtjPXbGNNYyfgcvnXbQkw0rs3WIS/view?usp=sharing
When you give, advocate, and volunteer, you are not just helping one person. You are helping us all.
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