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A parent-driven project, Big Wave is a non-profit organization founded in 2000 to help adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities to maximize their full potential. Big Wave will provide housing, a place to belong, enrichment activities, and an environment where they can thrive.
Founders Steve and Jamie Barber and Jeff and Valerie Peck each have a family member with special needs. Their goal is to provide a safe and nurturing place for adults with special needs to reach their full potential, while being integrated members of the community.
Our comprehensive project includes a community center designed to support and enrich adults with special needs, including many nature-based activities and venues that our larger community can enjoy.
Big Wave is a 501(c)(3) organization. We are parent- and family-driven, and funded through families, private donations and grants from foundations, corporations, and public agencies.*
Big Wave Board Member & Chair of Finance Committee Dayton Nordin is a senior partner for Ernst & Young, one of the largest professional consulting organizations
Big Wave Board Member Kim Gainza has been involved in the Special Olympics since 2007 as a team parent and fundraiser for the Coastside Special Olympics
Big Wave Board Member Steve St. Marie, on our Board of Directors, is an Economist, Regulatory Analyst, and Policy Advisor at the California Public Utilities Commission.
Big Wave Board Member & Leadership Team Member Jeanne Carlson is a Biotechnology professional with over 30 years of experience in Diagnostics, who brings deep expertise
Big Wave Board Member Scott M. Holmes has consulted as a Civil and Environmental Engineer all around the world, and we are lucky to have him
Big Wave Board Member Mary Ellen Berzin is a Doctor of Optometry and the chairperson of the Big Wave Annual Harvest Festival auction. As an executive
Big Wave Board Member Terry McKinney is on the Big Wave Board of Directors. He is a Superintendent of Water Treatment and Production for the City
*All donations are tax-deductible, as Big Wave Group is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, number 20-5666260.
Big Wave is home to a farm with precious wildlife and the land in mind. For that reason, we never use pesticides or herbicides. Using the highest possible environmental standards, we are working to keep our community clean.
Working on the land will provide special insight into our community’s natural wonders.
We believe that adults with special needs thrive in the outdoors. Big Wave is committed to teaching them how to preserve and protect our land. Our parents and volunteers collaborate with experts, while our pesticide-free farm and gardens incorporate an appreciation for nature and the study of sustainable practices.
We invite you to get to know the Big Wave Farm and our partner, One Step Beyond, Inc., who will provide culinary programs for adults with special needs.
Follow us on Facebook for news and upcoming events. We hope to see you at an event soon!