Coastal Roots Hospitality’s “Pick It Up — Pay It Forward” Program Names Monterey County Youth Museum (MY Museum) as September/October Nonprofit Partner

Coastal Roots Hospitality has announced the Monterey County Youth Museum (MY Museum) as its September/October nonprofit partner in the company’s ongoing “Pick It Up — Pay It Forward” initiative, a program that transforms everyday takeout orders into meaningful community support.

Through the initiative, 10 percent of every to-go order from Montrio, Tarpy’s and Rio Grill is donated to a designated local nonprofit. During September and October, proceeds will directly benefit the Monterey County Youth Museum (MY Museum), a hands-on children’s museum that has inspired curiosity, creativity and a love of learning in young children and their families for nearly 30 years.

MY Museum has called its current home at 425 Washington Street in downtown Monterey home for 20 years, after moving from its former location on Cannery Row. The museum offers interactive, play-based exhibits and educational programs designed to spark discovery and hands-on learning for children and the families who love them.

As it celebrates two decades on Washington Street and nearly three decades of serving the community, MY Museum is busy developing exciting new exhibits and programs for later this year and early next year — fresh additions to the popular little museum that families across the county continue to rely on. MY Museum has also seen steady growth in its educational outreach program and increased demand for The Wheelie Mobilee, its mobile outreach vehicle, which brings hands-on, interactive learning directly into the community.

“Everything is great at the museum,” said Lauren Cohen, Executive Director of the Monterey County Youth Museum. “We are busy developing exciting new exhibits and programs for later this year and early next year. After being open on Washington Street for 20 years, it is time for some new, fresh additions to our popular little museum. Families continue to see a need, and we are here for it.”

By simply ordering takeout, guests help sustain MY Museum’s exhibits, educational programming and community outreach — supporting the growth of its educational outreach program and the popular Wheelie Mobilee, and helping bring the museum’s new exhibits and programs to life for local children and families.

The Pick It Up — Pay It Forward program continues throughout 2026 with a rotating lineup of nonprofit partners:

January/February: The Bridge Restoration Ministry
March/April: CASA of Monterey County
May/June: Monterey County Film Commission
July/August: Community Partnership for Youth
September/October: Monterey County Youth Museum (MY Museum)
November/December: Seneca Kinship Center
Since its launch in 2020, the initiative has generated more than $400,000 in donations, supporting a wide range of local organizations including Community Partnership for Youth, Monterey County Youth Museum, Monterey County Food Bank, Kinship Center, CASA of Monterey County, Monterey Rape Crisis Center, Loaves, Fishes & Computers and others.

“We wanted to do more than just serve meals — we wanted to serve our community,” said Ken Donkersloot, CEO of Coastal Roots Hospitality. “These partnerships reflect our commitment to supporting organizations that are doing meaningful, lasting work for the people who live here.”

Coastal Roots Hospitality continues to set the standard for community-centered dining, combining high-quality cuisine with a mission-driven approach to philanthropy across the Monterey Peninsula.

To learn more about the Monterey County Youth Museum, view its programs or support its mission, visit www.mymuseum.org.

For more information about Coastal Roots Hospitality and its commitment to community engagement and philanthropy, visit www.coastalrootshospitality.com or contact (831) 647-1085.

Contact: Coastal Roots Hospitality

Phone: (831) 647-1085
Website: www.coastalrootshospitality.com
Address: 2999 Monterey-Salinas Highway, Monterey, CA 93940

Individual Restaurants:

Montrio: (831) 648-8880 | montrio.com
Tarpy’s: (831) 647-1444 | tarpys.com
Rio Grill: (831) 625-5436 | riogrill.com
Coastal Roots Events & Catering: (831) 655-2999 | coastalrootshospitality.com/events-and-catering