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In Santa Clarita, you don't have to look far to find an SCV-based nonprofit organization that has made its mission to improve the lives of the people and creatures who live nearby.
Animal rescues and sliding-scale community theater classes. Financial support for folks fighting cancer and free summer camp for medically-complex kids. Organizations that are preserving our local history and others that are protecting our environment.
There are nearly 100 nonprofit organizations listed on santaclaritanonprofits.com's directory (Log on to find a perfect volunteer match!) and more are added all the time - because the only thing more consistent than complaints about SCV traffic is SCV's collective heart for others.
We're a do-good town filled with doing-good people who've invested their time and energy in the service of others.
But who serves them?
Sure, some of these orgs are founded by people with deep pockets. Others are at least partially funded by grants and state and national coffers.
But most of them? They're heavily reliant on donations, fundraiser ticket sales and sponsorships.
And that's where Santa Clarita's local businesses continue to step up - and why it's so important that we, in turn, show up for them.
Take Carousel Ranch, for example. This month, you'll find our story on the organization's annual fundraiser, Heart of the West, on page 12. Carousel Ranch serves SCV kids, adults - and animals. It's a place of healing and hope that supports over 100 special-needs families a week. No child is ever turned away because of their family's inability to pay for life-changing equestrian therapy at the Ranch - and that is, in great part, due to the local businesses that deserve our support.
"As the Executive Director of a nonprofit that serves Santa Clarita families, I see the impact that 'shopping local' has on our organization every day," says Taylor Adachi, executive director of Carousel Ranch. "Over the years, literally hundreds of local businesses have donated generously to our auctions; sponsored our events; written big checks to pay for feed and vet costs; and so much more."
And the kindness local businesses share with the Ranch and other SCV nonprofits doesn't end there. Continues Adachi: "That doesn't account for the tens of thousands of volunteer hours so many local businesses and entrepreneurs have committed to Carousel Ranch, from legal and marketing services to event production, rentals... even cleaning out horse stalls and building new facilities."
"We simply could not make the positive impact we want to make on the families we serve if it wasn't for SCV business owners stepping up and saying, 'We're invested in this community and we want to help,'" explains the executive director.
This month, as you consider how you want to spend your hard-earned dollars, remember that shopping local isn't just convenient - it makes a meaningful difference to the organizations you care about; the people and animals they serve; and the community we all call home.