Save the Date!   Join us Saturday, April 28, 2012 for our 2012 Gala!   

 Run for the Roses!

Dinner, Dancing, Casino Games

Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum •  Las Cruces  •  6:00 p.m.

Derby attire welcomed!

Gala benefits the operations of the
Community Foundation of SNM

Thursday, June 2, 2011 -- Our Annual Meeting is held at Hotel Encanto to recoginize programs and achievements.

At left, Donna Tate is recognized as the Foundation's "Volunteer of the Year".  From left to right:  Karen Bailey, Board Member, Luan Wagner Burn, Exeuctive Director, Donna Tate and CaraLyn Banks, President.

The Spay and Neuter Program (SNAP) of Las Cruces receives the Rio Grande Award for Excellence in Sustainability.  To the right, Ann McCullough, Fundraising Committee Director left, and Janice English, SNAP Co-Director on the right, accept the award.

 Another award, the Mountains Fund, for outstanding volunteer
is given to Diana Seward, center, Past President of the
Healthcare Foundation of Southern New Mexico below.

At right, The Rio Grande Award for Excellence in Human Services is given to the Good Samaritan -- Las Cruces Village.  Cherry Jamison, Resource Development Director, accepts the award.     Below, grant recipients of the Childhood Obesity Prevention Program are recognized.  From left to right are Cristina Dominguez, Youth & Family Programs Director of La Semilla Food Center, Mesilla;  Karina Johnson, Youth Leadership and Garden Coordinator  of Colonias Development Council, Anthony; and Tammy Hopkins, Coordinator, Hidalgo County Health Consortium in Lordsburg.
	Below, Recipient of the Rio Grande Award for Excellence in Youth Advocacy is Mesilla Valley Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) in Las Cruces. Accepting the award is Mary Hampton, Volunteer Coordinator.
Above, the 2010-2011 Steering Committee Members of the Young Philanthropists are recognized for their recruiting and fundraising.  From left to right are Patrick Grooms, Ken Binkley, Samantha Roberts, Stephanie Armitage, Gabriel Vasquez and Ernie Sichler.

Thursday, May 12, 2011 --  Two of our nonprofit partners from "Gen M" (a program at the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico to promote educational after-school activites for middle school children, made possible by a grant from the Walmart foundation) hosted the Amazing Anthropod night.  Asombro Institute for Science Education provided the program while Big Brothers Big Sisters provided the venue.

Kids learned about Arthropods, became little biologists and studied different species and completed an identification sheet about various arthropods, created their own popsicle stick puzzle and left with their own reptile Dichotomous key!

Thursday, March 3, 2011 -- The Border Region Coaltion and the Las Cruces Youth Soccer Club "Jersey Swap"
    

Following outreach from the Border Region Coalition for a Drug Free Community, a program of CFSNM, Las Cruces Youth Soccer (formerly High Noon Soccer) incorporated a new policy banning any tobacco or alcohol brands or references on players' soccer jerseys. This new policy was made during mid-year of league play, and some teams with replica jerseys of professional, Mexican soccer teams containing a specific beer brand are in need of new jerseys.  

As an incentive to the league for incorporating the new policy, the Border Region Coalition for a Drug Free Community provided 37 new jerseys to replace those in violation. These were distributed in a ceremony held at the Provencio/Van Dam soccer fields. In addition, the Border Region Coalition awarded a jersey sponsorship to an under-14 years of age team, Santos Laguna, as an introduction to an annual Drug Free Jersey Sponsorship Program, which has been developed.  Sponsorship will be available late summer of 2011.

"This was an exciting event because it is a solid example of the changes we, as a coalition, can bring to the community," said Jaylene Watkins McIntosh, coalition coordinator for the Border Region Coalition. "This jersey swap is what we are all about. Focusing on positive messages through a partnership that only makes the impact stronger." 

This event also included a brief presentation and autograph signing with the New Mexico State University Women's Soccer Team and members of the coalition encouraging parents and coaches to sign the Responsible Host Pledge! 

above:  coach Jose Quintela with the Americas soccer team above right:  participants listening to Youth Soccer League President Frank Moreno  right:  Border Region Coalition coordinator Jaylene McIntosh with NMSU Women's Soccer Team members

December 31, 2010 -- Childhood Obesity Prevention grants were awarded from our healthcare funds to three nonprofit organizations, enabling them to conduct programs that will strive to decrease the prevalence of obesity and improve dietary behavior among our youth. 

Recipients are:
•  La Semilla Food Center, Mesilla. 
•  Colonias Development Council, Las Cruces.
•  Hidalgo County Health Consortium, Lordsburg.

(Photo at left courtesy of La Semilla Food Center:  Cristina and a Las Cruces Public School teacher are participating in La Semilla's January 22, 2011 session of "Using School Gardens For Education"

November 15, 2010, Albuquerque -- Ammu Devasthali, CFSNM board member, is named "Outstanding Leader in Philanthropy for Southern New Mexico" by the Assocation of Fundraising Professionals New Mexico Chapter at the 2010 National Philanthropy Day Awards Banquet.

 from left to right:  Tom Tate, Ammu Devasthali, Keith Burn, and Luan Wagner Burn

 The Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico celebrates its 10th Anniversary at our October 2, 2010 GALA

To view more photos of our Gala, see the side bar on the left or this page or return to our homepage and
click on the "October 2 Gala" in the upper left.

 June 16, 2010 -- CFSNM celebrates it's 10th Anniversay at our CFSNM/HFSNM Annual Meeting, Hotel Encanto.

This is our second year of presenting  Rio Grande Awards honoring nonprofits that are making a difference in our community.

Right:  Receiving the Rio Grande Award for Excellence in Education is the Mesilla Valley Youth Foundation (which comprises the Court Center for Youth and Alma d'Arte).  From left to right, representing the Mesilla Valley Youth Foundation are Pistol Mangino, Board of Directors; Irene Oliver-Lewis, Executive Director; and Armena Taylor, Board of Directors.

  Left:  Recipient of the Rio Grande Award for Philanthropist of the Year is Ammu Devasthali, center, flanked by her husband, Dr. Rama Devasthali, right, and Bill Mattiace, left.

The philanthropist award recognizes outstanding achievement by an individual or business in recognition of life-time achievements that have made a significant impact on the Community Foundation.

Right:  "Salud" (to your health) is the name of the award selected for the Healthcare Foundation's individual who has demonstrated significant and outstanding concern for healthcare in our community.

Recipient of this year's Salud Award is Terianne Everhard, left, being congratulated by CFSNM Executive Director, Luan Wagner Burn.








Left:  Recipients of CFSNM and HFSNM scholarships are invited to be recognized at our Annual Meeting.  From left to right are Malynda Chizek and Andrew Wong, recipients of the Kevin T. Riedel Memorial Scholarship  for the 2010-2011 academic year, joined by Nigel Holman, NMSU.

May 5, 2010 -- The Young Philanthropists hold their first Networking Social
at Guacamole's Restaurant and Bar 

Above:  Young Philanthropists Steering Committee members Gabe Vasquez and Jennifer Beckley 

Below:  Steering Committe member Charlotte Tallman with
guest Virginia Martinez