FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11/18/2005 CONTACT: Jackie Alshawabkeh 505-438-0776

Largest Health Care Foundation in New Mexico Awards $1.2 Million.

Con Alma Health Foundation has awarded more than $1.2 million in grants to 39 New Mexico charitable, non-profit organizations. This is the fourth year the four-year old Foundation has provided grant support to health-related organizations throughout New Mexico.

Over $802,000 was awarded to nineteen organizations to continue the development of projects originally awarded in 2003 and 2004 to address youth risk behaviors for preadolescent children. Six new Target awardees will receive over $200,000 for new targeted projects. These organizations are working on programs as diverse as developing a model to provide teleconference visits for children of prisoners and development of a comprehensive media and training program to help children who experience or witness abuse.

Another 14 grants were awarded for small programs. These awards, which range from $5,000 to $10,000 and will fund such varied projects as creating capacity among infant mental health practitioners and programs dedicated to increasing medical coverage for children in New Mexico.

“These organizations are making a difference in the health care available to New Mexicans,” said Robert Desiderio, Con Alma Health Foundation Executive Director. “With these awards we continue to work toward our goal of healthy New Mexicans living in healthy communities.”

The Con Alma grants were presented at its fourth annual awards and fundraising banquet on November 18 at the Hotel Albuquerque Old Town. Over 500 attended the banquet which was sponsored by over 55 individual and corporate supporters.

Multi-year Target Program recipients are:

Abrazos Family Support Services, Bernalillo

Center of Protective Environment, Alamogordo

Chaparral Community Health Council, Chaparral

Community Against Violence, Taos

DAC Advocates, Las Cruces

Domestic Unity, Reserve

Gathering Place, Thoreau

Gerard’s House, Santa Fe

Hidalgo Medical Services, Lordsburg

Jardin de los Ninos, Las Cruces

New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Albuquerque

National Indian Youth Leadership Project, Gallup

PB & J Family Services, Albuquerque

Presbyterian Medical Services, Fort Bayard

REACH 2000, Roswell

Saint Elizabeth Shelter, Santa Fe

Santa Fe Boys & Girls Clubs, Santa Fe

Service Organization for Youth, Raton

WNMU Foundation in behalf of the Early Childhood Family Counseling Center, Silver City

New Target Program recipients are:

Colonias Development Council, Las Cruces

Las Cumbres Learning Services, Northern New Mexico

National Dance Institute of New Mexico, Statewide

NM Voices for Children, Statewide

REACH 2000, Roswell

UNM Envision NM, Statewide

Small Program recipients are:

Ben Archer Health Center, Hatch

Challenge New Mexico, Santa Fe

Crisis Center of Northern NM, Northern New Mexico

Evangelical Lutheran Church, Statewide

NM Center on Law and Poverty, Albuquerque

NM Community Aids Partnership, Statewide

NM Health Care TAKES ON DIABETES, Albuquerque

NM Human Needs Coordinating Council, Albuquerque

NM Voices for Children, Statewide

Otero Preventative Action Towards Health, Alamogordo

Partners in Education/Cooking with Kids, Santa Fe

Pecos Valley Medical Center, Inc., Pecos

REACH 2000, Roswell

Southwest Creations Collaborative, Albuquerque

Southwestern College, Santa Fe

Con Alma Health Foundation, Inc. is New Mexico’s largest health foundation. It was created as a result of the sale of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico, a non-profit corporation. The conversion provided charitable assets of more than $20 million for the foundation, which is governed by a statewide, 19-member board of trustees. In addition, a 16-member statewide community advisory committee provides advice and counsel.

Contact:

Con Alma Office

(505) 438-0776 Voice

(505) 438-6223 Fax

www.conalma.org

# # #