Supporting Mental Health in Our Community
For more than 70 years, Valle Monte League has raised funds to support organizations that improve mental health and emotional well-being throughout Santa Clara County. Through our signature fundraiser, Christmas Tree Elegance, and other community events, we partner with agencies that provide direct services, caregiver support, counseling, and programs that strengthen individuals and families.
Our 2026 beneficiaries represent three different but equally important aspects of mental health: dementia care and caregiver support, trauma recovery and healing, and family resilience for those raising children with disabilities.
Hearts & Minds Activity Center
Valle Monte League has supported Hearts & Minds Activity Center since 1986 — one of our most enduring and cherished partnerships. The Center provides therapeutic day programs and respite care for adults with Alzheimer’s and related conditions, while also offering childcare, family support, and intergenerational programming.
Serving approximately 75 individuals each day and reaches nearly 200 unique clients annually, while supporting more than 550 family members.
Operation Freedom Paws
Operation Freedom Paws (OFP) pairs rescued dogs with veterans, first responders, children, and others with disabilities through a 48-week service dog training program — provided entirely free of charge. Licensed therapists are embedded throughout the program, offering trauma-informed counseling, group therapy, and individual support alongside every step of training.
More than 75% of OFP’s active clients are veterans, and the organization has documented a 71% reduction in suicidal ideation among program participants.
Parents Helping Parents
Parents Helping Parents (PHP) provides free, professionally facilitated support groups for parents and caregivers of individuals with disabilities, developmental delays, or special health care needs. Groups are led by Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists and offered in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese pilot program — creating a trusted space for connection, resilience, and shared learning.
Approximately 150 individuals are served annually, with 62% of services reaching low-income communities.
Making a Difference Together
Every sponsorship, donation, event ticket, auction bid, and volunteer hour helps Valle Monte League support organizations that strengthen mental health across our community. Discover the difference your support makes through the work of our beneficiary partners.
Hearts & Minds Activity Center
Supporting Care
- Provides a full day of care for someone living with dementia, along with vital respite for their family caregiver
Caregiver Support
- Funds one support group session for up to 12 family caregivers supporting a loved one with dementia
Thriving Minds
- Provides a one-week session of the Thriving Minds program for 10 participants, helping those with early-stage dementia maximize cognitive abilities and emotional health
Intergenerational Joy
- Funds one week of intergenerational programming connecting participants with the children of the Hearts & Minds childcare center in enriching and joyful activities
Operation Freedom Paws
Group Therapy
- Helps provide a group therapy session for a client and their family members during weekly training classes.
Individual Support
- Supports an individual counseling session combined with therapeutic service dog training for a client experiencing PTSD, depression, or anxiety
Family Therapy
- Provides multiple therapy sessions for children and family members of clients, including emotional regulation, coping skills support, and crisis intervention resources
Full Team Support
- Funds ongoing mental health support for an entire client team, including licensed therapist participation, family counseling access, and individualized emotional wellness support throughout the program
Parents Helping Parents
Caregiver Access
- Helps a caregiver access a safe, professionally facilitated support group where they can share openly and feel less isolated
Therapist Support
- Covers the cost of a licensed therapist facilitating a caregiver support session
Bilingual Groups
- Provides bilingual caregiver support groups in English and Spanish for families raising loved ones with disabilities or special health care needs
Year-Round Care
- Helps sustain PHP’s year-round Support for Caregivers program, providing 80 free support sessions annually to caregivers experiencing chronic stress, anxiety, and isolation