Our Vision
“By our family sharing a bit of our story we hope that others will be motivated to share theirs and be inspired to give to others. As a community we are stronger together. The information and video below highlight the fields of interest in philanthropy the Lucido/Young Families are supporting. We hope you as ‘our community’ will consider contributing to these three endowments.” – Sal and Ada Lucido
Sal Lucido’s great Uncle Angelo Lucido (a Monterey Cannery Row pioneer) was one of the visionary community leaders who established the Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC) in 1945. He helped spark a family tradition of philanthropy that continues today. Sal and Ada Lucido, through their many charitable initiatives, embody this mission. They came to the CFMC to establish three funds, each with a very special purpose: the Rancho Dos Arroyos Endowment, the Carl Young Memorial Earth Science Scholarship Endowment, and the E. Young Family Cyber Security Endowment. They plan to donate 160 Acres of Rancho Dos Arroyos to the CFMC with the proceeds to benefit their three funds. We are honored to be their partner in giving.Â
View the origin story of this generous gift and their vision to restore the California Condor in the video below.
" The Back Story behind the Big Sur California Condors and Bald Eagles "
“If the condors survive, we survive.” – Sal and Ada Lucido
This video is a Lucido Family Production.
Rancho Dos Arroyos Facilities and Maintenance endowment fund
In 1977, Dr. Jerry Petkus, D.V.M. his brother Donald and Sal Lucido acquired a 240-acre private inholding within the Ventana Wilderness. To preserve and protect this important place, they created a nonprofit and The Ventana Wildlife Society (VWS) was established in 1982. Jerry and Sal volunteered between 1977 and 1985 to manage and establish this wilderness outpost and the first four California Condors arrived in 1996.
In 2005, Sal and Ada donated 20% ownership share of their 80-acre parcel to VWS. The remaining ownership shares were sold to VWS at a bargain price in 2011. The remaining 160 Acres of Rancho Dos Arroyos will be donated to the CFMC to benefit other charitable purposes including the Rancho Dos Arroyos Facilities and Maintenance Endowment Fund. This fund supports improvement and infrastructure such as facilities, roads, water systems, fire abatement measures and programs.Â
“We wouldn’t have this here if it wasn’t for Ada,” says Sal. “I’m glad we’re able to do this for our community and for the wildlife. There’s just something very powerful, very spiritual about this place.
Thanks to efforts like these, the condors have been making a comeback. “It is quite a thrill and an inspiration. To go from 22 birds in the world to over 500, is quite a feat. We have a long ways to go, but it’s in the right direction. This gift in perpetuity is our way of saying thanks for a remarkable community of believers and supporters.”
The Carl Young Memorial Earth Science Scholarship Endowment Fund
This fund was established by the Lucidos in 2015 in memory of their late son, Carl Young. It provides vital support for students pursuing Earth Sciences at Lake Tahoe Community College, where Carl was instructor. In its first twelve years, more than 50 scholarships have been awarded, uplifting many first-generation college students, all while addressing the urgent need for Earth Science expertise in tackling today’s environmental challenges.
The scholarship initially benefits students attending Lake Tahoe Community College and may continue with up to 3 years of support at the Post-secondary College(s) of their choice. In addition to the scholarship, each recipient receives a copy of On the Wings of the Condor by Bill Toone.
E. young family cybersecurity endowment fund
The Lucidos established this fund to provide need-based scholarships to students at Lake Tahoe Community College majoring in computer science and information systems-related fields. The scholarship may follow the recipients up to three years through the Post Secondary College(s) of their choice.
The first scholarship was awarded in 2024 to Damien Silver (2nd from left).
We can't overstate what a comforting and rewarding feeling of having our long-term plans and goals reaching fulfilment through the professional support and advice provided by CFMC.
DONATE
The Lucido family invites you to partner with them to support their charitable vision. Click on the fund name you would like to support to make an online gift.Â
More Ways to Give
The CFMC can accept donor advised fund grants, gifts of stock and IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions. Please contact us or call (831) 375-9712 to learn more.
