Years active: 42

Leadership: Dori Rose Inda, CEO

Their story: In 1978, Salud Para La Gente began as a single free clinic that offered healthcare primarily to farmworkers in the region. Now, Salud has become a federally qualified health center with six clinics and six school-based health centers throughout Watsonville and Freedom. The organization provides affordable and high-quality healthcare to nearly 27,000 patients in Santa Cruz County and north Monterey County. That includes family and pediatric care as well as dental and vision care.

Fundraising focus: What started more than four decades ago as a place for farm workers to get healthcare has grown into a network of a dozen clinics and school-based health centers in and around Watsonville. Donations have allowed Salud Para La Gente’s team of nearly 100 doctors, nurses, midwives, dentists, counselors and other experts to expand essential health services to more than 27,000 patients — 75% of whom don’t speak English. Salud serves anyone in the Pajaro Valley community, regardless of their ability to pay. Salud also helps patients apply for insurance and other types of assistance.