Ivey Ranch Park Association, an Oceanside-based nonprofit organization that works to enhance the lives of people with and without disabilities through care, education and Equine-Assisted Services, has been selected as a 2025 California Nonprofit of the Year by Assemblymember Laurie Davies (D-Orange County).
The organization was recognized during an event in Sacramento on May 21. Each year, more than 100 nonprofits are named by their state senators and Assembly members for their service and positive impact across California.
“Being named Nonprofit of the Year by Laurie Davies is an honor,” Ivey Ranch Park Association Tonya Danielly Executive Director said. “Our team works tirelessly every day to serve hundreds of individuals, from toddlers to seniors, to provide the vital support they need. It’s deeply rewarding to have our work acknowledged. It means so much to us and the community we serve in San Diego County.”
The organization’s signature equine-assisted program includes therapeutic riding and vaulting, and the Horses for Heroes initiative, delivering meaningful physical, emotional and mental health benefits. Beyond its Equine-Assisted Services, the association offers inclusive before and after-school care, an adult day program focused on functional skills, vocational training, and in-home respite care to provide relief for family caregivers.
“We are grateful for the work of Ivey Ranch Park Association and want to extend our congratulations for this well deserved recognition,” said Geoff Green, CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits, the sponsor for the initiative. “Nonprofits provide critical services, advocate for our most vulnerable neighbors, and enrich the lives of all Californians. From the childcare program to the soccer team, from the art class to the health clinic, and from the community organizer to the animal shelter, nonprofits make our communities stronger.”
The California Nonprofit of the Year initiative provides the opportunity for each California state legislator to recognize a nonprofit organization doing outstanding work in their district. The program culminates with a celebratory luncheon at the Capitol on California Nonprofits Day, which this year was May 21.
“Nonprofits are not just innovators and problem-solvers, but also a major economic force within the state,” Green said.
According to Causes Count, a 2019 report commissioned by CalNonprofits, the nonprofit sector is the 4th largest industry in the state, employing more than 1.2 million people. Each year, California nonprofits generate more than $273 billion in revenue and bring in $40 billion in revenue from outside of California. The unpaid labor contributed by volunteers at nonprofits is equivalent to 330,000 full-time jobs every year.
The program is sponsored by CalNonprofits in partnership with the state Senate and Assembly Select Committees on the Nonprofit Sector. CalNonprofits, an advocacy group for California’s nonprofit sector, focuses on advocacy, education and research to build a more effective and politically engaged nonprofit network across the state.
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