We’re well into the annual Santa Cruz Gives fundraising event, which runs until Dec. 31. Below, Good Times writer Kristen McLaughlin tells the story behind the nonprofit organization Live Like Coco, one of the 72 nonprofit organizations participating in Santa Cruz Gives. Following that, other nonprofits share their “elevator pitch,” explaining what they plan to do with the money they raise. To donate to any of these local groups, visit santacruzgives.org.
A rainbow-covered bookmobile is the latest addition to Live Like Coco, a local nonprofit helping kids in the Santa Cruz County area grow up happy, healthy and with opportunities to pursue their dreams.
Formed in 2016, Live Like Coco Foundation not only gets books into the hands of students who need them, it also strengthens the idea that a book is a gift. Focused entirely on literacy, the program connects with school librarians to provide every student at participating schools with a free book on their birthday. As the cornerstone of the Foundation, the books now reach approximately 6,000 K-6 students in 12 schools across the County.
The foundation is named in memory of Colette “Coco” Lazenby, a self-described “book lover, cat petter and environmentalist” who was killed in a car accident in August 2015 at age 12. Coco’s parents, Kate Pavao and Aaron Lazenby, started the foundation to honor her love of reading and community.
Coco was born in San Francisco, where she attended Maria Montessori of the Golden Gate and Adda Clevenger schools. After moving to Aptos in 2008, Coco attended Orchard School Santa Cruz Montessori and Pacific Coast Charter School.
Coco connected with many community activities during her short time here. She played the role of Dorothy in All About Theatre’s production of The Wizard of Oz. She sang with the Cabrillo Youth Chorus and performed with the Watsonville Taiko drumming group. She volunteered with Save Our Shores, the Homeless Garden Project and Team in Training. She loved nature and the outdoors, fostered cats and kittens through Animal Shelter Relief, and had her own pet-sitting business. She knew that whatever she did, she wanted to have lots of rescue animals in her life.
She was also a voracious reader, particularly fond of fantasy series, such as Harry Potter, Maximum Ride and The Hunger Games.
Birthday Books from Coco currently serves 12 area schools: Del Mar Elementary, Gault Elementary, Freedom Elementary, Green Acres Elementary, Hall District Elementary, Live Oak Elementary, Mar Vista Elementary, Ohlone, Radcliff, Soquel, Starlight and Valencia elementary schools.
“I look forward each month to share the excitement Coco brings to our students and school,” says Alma Rodriguez, librarian at Soquel Elementary School for 15 years. “When students returned to the library after Thanksgiving break, the first thing they were asking for was Coco books. ‘It’s my birthday month,’ they said. ‘Will I be getting a Coco book?’”
Launched in 2024, the bookmobile is building a culture of reading, one book at a time, especially in underserved communities. In 2026, Live Like Coco hopes to expand its reach and spark even more young imaginations by bringing bookmobile to even more events year-round. Studies show that putting books in the hands of marginalized populations can help shrink the achievement gap and create lifelong learners.
Santa Cruz Gives donations will pay for a driver, operating cost of the bookmobile for four hours per event, and new books—especially books kids love, such as Dog Man and The Baby-Sitters Club. The organization expects to attend one community event each month, so that all students are gifted with a book of their own choosing.
Volunteers also place Little Free Libraries around the county, including at the Homeless Garden Project, Seacliff Village County Park and Pinto Lake County Park. In addition, they participate in beach cleanups with Save Our Shores.
Nonprofit Organizations Benefiting Local Children
Activities 4 All—“This Watsonville-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2010, is dedicated to providing high-quality recreational, artistic and cultural programs at accessible prices. We serve low-income, migrant and Spanish-speaking families through affordable, culturally rooted programs such as soccer, Mexican folklórico dance, and the Ilusión Music Academy. Through these authentic arts and sports experiences, Activities4All fosters confidence, discipline and cultural pride in youth.” —Ose Camacho
Birds of a Feather Tutoring—“Run by an experienced queer teacher, Birds of a Feather offers individualized academic tutoring sessions designed to embrace the unique and precious experience of each LGBTQ+ student providing them the support they need to thrive academically and in their lives. No matter who is creating the national policies, we remain steadfast, present, and ready to support queer youth in Santa Cruz County with their academic needs.” —Kris Kifer
Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County—“For over 55 years, the Club has been a place where local kids find the things that help them thrive, regardless of what is happening at home. Caring mentors, warm free meals, daily homework help, arts, sports, and music. As Santa Cruz builds new housing to accommodate the influx of new families waiting for affordable places to live, the Club will be ready to serve and welcome the next generation of Santa Cruz youth and families, helping them to achieve their great futures as caring, productive and responsible citizens. Scholarships are key to this, and local donors help us meet the rising need!” —Andrew Cunningham, director of development
Camp Opportunity—“Eight-year-old John doesn’t know his next meal, whether he will go to school, or how to swim. For one summer week, he gets three meals a day, picks classes like archery or Legos, and is able to learn to swim at Camp Opportunity, all for free. Thirty-six years later, John is our camp director, giving at-risk youth the same healing, fun, free week of camp he loved as a young boy!” —Jasmine Glenn, Camp Opportunity
Coastal Kids Home Care—“California’s only nonprofit pediatric home health agency serving Northern California improves the lives of children facing illness, injury, developmental delays, and end-of-life care. … We help medically fragile children live their best lives at home, providing expert medical care and unwavering support to them and their families. Meet Christopher, a 12-year-old from Aptos with Morquio A Syndrome, one of many children we serve in our community facing medical challenges so complex that each day demands extraordinary strength—and every smile is a sign of resilience.” —Savanna Harris, development specialist
Free Books for Kids—“Want to see a kid’s face light up? Watch that child choose a free book that they can take home and keep forever. Free Books for Kids has done this thousands of times in the past 11 years, keeping quality used books out of the landfill and putting them in the hands of children, where they belong.” —Pamela Randall, director
Pajaro Valley Prevention & Student Assistance, Inc.—“Did you know PVPSA is the only nonprofit in Watsonville solely dedicated to serving the behavioral health needs of children, families and youth? … We created Juntos Sanando/Healing Together, a Mental Health Awareness Day that brings families together for mental health education, wellness activities, guided art activities, resources and linkages to care, and shared meals. Last year, over 300 community members joined us. With your support, we can expand these services and make an even bigger impact in 2026, helping Watsonville heal, together.” —Jasmine N. Nájera, LCSW, chief executive officer
Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery—“Families are drowning in Santa Cruz’s sky-high cost of living, and the switch to universal TK created an unexpected summer care gap for 4- to 5-year-olds with few county options. The Children’s Museum of Discovery scholarship fund through Santa Cruz Gives will ensure young children access to high-quality summer education and care, solving a critical childcare need while parents work to keep up with rising costs.”
Youth Resource Bank—“Too many children in Santa Cruz County face unmet needs that limit not only their potential but also our community’s shared future. We fill those gaps with whatever the youth need to be successful: This may include fees for camps, school fees, a class ring, sports equipment, specialized shoes, and gift cards for retail or grocery stores that will address specific needs. When you donate to Youth Resource Bank, you are not just giving. You are investing in the resilience of our youth, in the health of families. … Together, we can ensure that small acts of generosity become the spark that changes a child’s life forever.” —Jo Ann Allen, vice chair
