Final Big Sur Relief Fund Grants Awarded as Hospitality Business Rebounds

Monterey County, California — One week after the reopening of Highway 1 at Mud Creek Slide, the final grants from the Big Sur Relief Fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County were awarded at Nepenthe in Big Sur, California. Disaster followed disaster as winter rain, flooding and landslides following the Soberanes Fire in 2016 led to the closure and demolition of Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge in March, 2017. Big Sur’s connection to points North was severed, followed by the massive Mud Creek slide May 20, 2017, which added 13 acres to the California coastline and cut off traffic to the South.

The damage and road closures caused much hardship for Big Sur residents, employees and their families. The Big Sur Relief Fund was created at the urging of David Fink, Founder/CEO of Mirabel Hotel & Restaurant Group, together with owners of Nepenthe, Ventana, Post Ranch and other businesses in the hospitality industry.

The outpouring of support from individuals and businesses in Monterey County and beyond was swift and strong. A total of $412,199 was raised and granted. Support was directed to qualified individuals through an extensive vetting process by the Coast Property Owners Association (CPOA).

At a presentation on Tuesday, July 24, 2018, a total of $60,000 was awarded to the final grantees; Big Sur Fire, Big Sur Health Center and Mid-Coast Fire Brigade.

The money granted from the Big Sur Relief Fund, combined with grants from the Soberanes Fire Fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC), topped $1.3 million in aid to Big Sur. For more information visit www.cfmco.org/BigSurReliefFund, call 831.375.9712 or stay connected at www.facebook.com/cfmco or www.twitter.com/cfmco.

Photo caption: (left to right) Shane Forster, Resort Manager, Post Ranch Inn; Christine Dawson, CFMC VP Philanthropic Services; Kendra Morgenrath, board member, Big Sur Health Center; Cheryl Goetz, Mid-Coast Fire Chief; David Fink, Founder, CEO Mirabel Group; Kirk Gafill, Owner, Nepenthe/Phoenix Corporation; Jake Goetz, Assistant Chief Mid-Coast Fire; Martha Karstens, Big Sur Fire Chief; Marcus Foster, Lieutenant Big Sur Fire; Brian Thayer, CFMC Senior Philanthropic Services Officer Photo: Michael Troutman, DMT Imaging

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