Con Alma’s 2021 Grant Recipients

In celebration of Con Alma Health Foundation’s 20 years of investing in the health of New Mexico’s communities, we are honored to announce 33 grants totaling $507,500.

“We welcome the opportunity to invest in nonprofits that share our goal of making health equity a reality in New Mexico, so everyone has equal opportunities to live a full, healthy life,” Denise Herrera, Con Alma’s executive director.

Con Alma’s annual grants support policies, education and care, and promote such causes as environmental health, healthy food access, supportive housing, prevention programs, health-care workforce, and racial and health equity. Grants target populations across New Mexico that are underserved, including Native and rural communities, uninsured patients, minorities, at-risk youth, LGBTQ+ individuals and people who have disabilities.

Nonprofits receiving grants serve people statewide and specifically in Bernalillo, Catron, Cibola, Colfax, Curry, De Baca, Doña Ana, Eddy, Grant, Guadalupe, Hidalgo, Lea, Los Alamos, Luna, McKinley, Mora, Otero, Rio Arriba, Roosevelt, Sandoval, Valencia, San Juan, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Socorro, Taos, Torrance, Union and Valencia counties.

In addition to our annual grants, Con Alma awarded $525,000 in vaccine equity and community rebuild grants to help ensure COVID-19 vaccines are distributed equitably across the state and support communities to address the disproportionate impact the pandemic has had on them.

We congratulate all the 2021 Grant recipients! Visit our website to learn more about each of our grantees.

2021 Grantee Highlights

Con Alma’s $20,000 grant to Pegasus Legal Services for Children will assist the Albuquerque nonprofit’s efforts to ensure indigenous children receive culturally appropriate placements in the foster care system.

“Pegasus is grateful for this opportunity to work in partnership with Native American Disability Law Center to improve conditions for Native American foster families and Indian children who are in State custody,” Pegasus’s Executive Director Bette Fleishman.

Tribal Adaptive Organization in Farmington will use a $20,000 Con Alma grant to increase access to athletic activities and social functioning for youth who have physical disabilities.

“We are trying to help a small underserved population of individuals and trying to do so in a way that will be replicable in other communities,” Noah Hotchkiss, co-founder of Tribal Adaptive. “Con Alma has recognized that small organizations like ours can be very effective on the frontlines of change and their support is meaningful to our mission and our participants.”

With a $15,000 grant, the Santa Fe-based Child Counseling Center and Play Therapy Institute of New Mexico plans to continue its successful training series, build a new Play Therapy Certificate Program, and increase outreach to rural communities, tribal entities, and school districts throughout Northern New Mexico, according to Lisa Dykes-Harrell, the Institute’s director of training.

“The ultimate goal of our training project is to increase the availability of developmentally appropriate, equitable, culturally sensitive and effective mental health services available to children in New Mexico,” Dykes-Harrell.

Doña Ana Communities United will use a $20,000 grant to strengthen three interconnected core initiatives — time banking, social equity mapping, and Just Community radio — in partnership with underserved residents

“We will utilize Con Alma funding to further our timebank so community members from all walks of life can exchange services with each other,” Kari Bachman, director of Doña Ana Communities United, which creates welcoming spaces for everyone. “Members obtain help for free, build personal skills, and develop relationships based on mutual respect.”

Con Alma awarded $20,000 to 100% Otero to achieve its goals of ending childhood trauma, promoting racial equity, and working toward health equity through promotional campaigns and ensuring everyone receives vital services needed for health, safety, resilience, job readiness and community engagement.

“To achieve our goal of health equity, we are mobilizing to ensure all residents, especially those who have faced historical disparities, have access to vital services for surviving and thriving,” Michelle Perry, 100% Otero’s principal investigator.

In Los Alamos, Rio Arriba and Santa Fe counties, Big Brothers Big Sisters Mountain Region will spend its $15,000 grant to expand its opioid prevention work through intensive match support and referral services.

“The grant will allow more children to be matched with life-changing Big Brothers and Big Sisters, making a difference in our community,” Sarah Rogala, director of development for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

The Los Alamos Juvenile Justice Advisory Board will use Con Alma’s $7,500 grant to continue providing mental health training to adults and strengthen the network of support for youth within the community, said Lisa Zuhn, the Board’s executive director.

“Through Con Alma’s grants, more than 500 individuals have taken advantage of the youth mental health first aid training,” Zuhn. “Participants learn how to provide youth support and focus on decreasing self-harm, depression and suicide.”

Con Alma awarded $15,000 to the Family YMCA in Española, which “keeps kids in school, engaged, learning and out of trouble,” Diana Martinez, the YMCA’s development and communication director. “Adult mentors build relationships and trust with youth through fun programs. We teach them how to cook, feed them, help them with their homework, and guide them toward continuing education. We provide a place to rest, a listening ear, and guidance when needed.”

Visit our website to learn more about each of our grantees.