Adina Abelas

The first organization I selected for my Life of Service gift, is the foundation that supports the work at Natividad Hospital in Salinas, CA. As part of the public healthcare system, they provide healthcare and services to all people, regardless of insurance or immigration status. This specific fund helps people who don’t have the resources once they leave the care of the hospital with basic necessities such as medications, transportation, shelter and other resources they need to transition back to independence.

The second organization I selected is I-HELP, which brings together the Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities in the Monterey Bay area to help homeless men and women by providing them evening lodging, food, support services and helps foster personal autonomy and growth in various ways. My family and I volunteer for this program and we are amazed at the help they are able to provide. They have a relatively small budget and we know this contribution is going to directly help people in our community that are most in need.

My own independent actions reflect my long-standing passion for the environment and my new understanding of the social systems in my community that need reform.

I’m lucky that my role at CZI allows me to learn about the work of each initiative as I conduct research to support progress toward their North Stars. Since I’ve come to CZI, I’ve learned about the criminal justice system, the housing crisis, the inequities in healthcare and education, and have been inspired by the work of my brilliant colleagues who work towards social justice in these systems. My own independent actions reflect my long-standing passion for the environment and my new understanding of the social systems in my community that need reform. In addition to my support of ocean and coastal health, I spend time volunteering in the classroom and with local organizations that work to help unhoused members of my community.