Giving Back
VOLUNTEERS AND DONATIONS HELP LOCAL NONPROFITS CONTINUE THEIR IMPORTANT WORK IN THE COMMUNITY .
By LAGUNA BEACH MAGAZINE STAFF
F
rom helping the homeless to assisting animals , preserving our open spaces and advocating for the arts , a wide range of nonprofits are diligently working to benefit the community . And as the year comes to an end , many residents look to make a difference for those in need or support a cause that ’ s close to their hearts . To encourage this giving spirit , we ’ ve compiled a roundup of organizations in the Laguna Beach area that could use your help , either through volunteer hours or through a financial donation . Read on to find a charity that would be grateful for your support this season .
Crystal Cove Conservancy is restoring cottages in the historic district of Crystal Cove State Park .
CRYSTAL COVE CONSERVANCY Established in 1999 by Laura Davick to preserve Crystal Cove State Park ’ s historic district when developers wanted to turn it into a luxury resort , Crystal Cove Conservancy has worked tirelessly since then to protect this natural space , restore the century-old cottages and bring schoolchildren to the park for sciencebased field trips . Davick , a third-generation Crystal Cove resident , spearheaded this effort because she understood the importance of preserving this beautiful place for all to enjoy — now and in the future . The Conservancy is one of the state park system ’ s biggest public benefit organizations , even serving as a model for public-private partnerships across the country . Money from food concessions and overnight cottage rentals helps to pay for maintenance of the historic structures and also fund the park ’ s science , technology , engineering and math education programs for K-12 students ; many are from low-income areas and have never been to the beach . The students learn while taking part in habitat restoration projects and conservation research in the backcountry as well as on the water and beaches . Notably , rare birds , threatened animals and endangered plants all call the park home . Data gathered by the students becomes part of university research projects and is used to help guide conservation management decisions . When it comes to the historic district , where people once lived in the cottages and several movies were filmed , 28 of those cottages and one Japanese language schoolhouse have been restored , with 17 cottages remaining to be fixed up . ( crystalcove . org )
J . CHRISTOPHER LAUNI / COURTESY OF CRYSTAL COVE CONSERVANCY
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