From Our Team
BOOST Network can help families find quality programs that benefit children
Posted on October 19, 2021 by Sandra Day
Do you remember an adult who made a difference in your childhood?
For me, it was a coach named Mr. Castillo. I was born in Juárez, and when I moved to El Paso I was shy and self-conscious.
Coach Castillo was someone I could look up to and get advice from. He turned a group of adolescents into a team, and those teammates became my friends, giving me a sense of belonging.
Of course, I didn’t realize this at the time. I thought I was just learning to play soccer. My parents were just grateful I had something to do after school. But looking back, I see what a difference my…
Empowering children living with diabetes and their parents to lead healthier lives
Posted on September 22, 2021 by Dr. Michael Kelly
Childhood obesity is on the rise, and so is type 2 diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the rate of body mass index nearly doubled during the pandemic in children age 2 to 19 years from .052 (January 2018-February 2020) to .100 (March 2020-November 2020). The CDC says the percentage of children who suffer from obesity increased in August 2020 from an estimated 19.3 percent in August 2019 to 22.4 percent in August 2020.
Navigating and controlling pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes isn’t easy, even for an adult. Now, imagine being a child living with…
Paso del Norte Health Foundation (PDNHF) announces leadership gift to TTUHSC El Paso Hunt School of Dental Medicine
Posted on August 13, 2021 by Tracy J. Yellen
In celebration of the Paso del Norte Health Foundation’s 25th Anniversary and its continued work to improve the health of the region, the board of directors is pleased to announce an $11 million grant to the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso Woody L. Hunt School of Dental Medicine.
The Health Foundation’s $11 million commitment is made up of two gifts: a $6 million commitment in 2016 to support the startup phase of the dental school to develop an innovative curriculum, hire world-class faculty, recruit the first class of students, and help leverage state funding, and a…
The Paso del Norte Center at the Meadows Institute: A Commitment to Mental Health Care in Our Region
Posted on July 20, 2021 by Tracy J. Yellen
Mental illness has traditionally been treated – when treated at all – in piecemeal fashion, and too often not until after a crisis event has occurred. Waiting to provide care until after a crisis means the first attempt at treatment occurs after the illness has already reached an advanced stage. Just like with cancer and heart disease, early detection and intervention are key to the best possible outcomes, so a primary challenge is changing the delivery of health care to reflect this reality.
For most of the past decade, the Paso del Norte Health Foundation has been working – in…
Foundations release their 2020 Annual Reports
Posted on June 7, 2021 by Tracy J. Yellen
Endurance • Resilience • Community “Where flowers bloom, so does hope.” – Lady Bird Johnson
The boards and staff of the Paso del Norte Community Foundation, Paso del Norte Health Foundation and Fundación Paso del Norte are pleased to announce the release of their 2020 Annual Reports.
Like a cactus in the desert, 2020 underscored our collective ability to face difficult circumstances with dignity, grace, and hope. We came together as a Community of Philanthropy with a combined $35.5 million in grants and charitable projects in 2020 and $255.3 million since 1995 to respond,…
Help your kids ease back into schooling with out-of-school programs
Posted on May 18, 2021 by Bianca De León
If you think back on your childhood, chances are there was that one afterschool or summer program that was formative in your life. Maybe it helped you build your self-esteem, pick up new skills, or build a network of friends and mentors that stuck with you throughout your childhood.
For me growing up, it was more than 10 years of ballet folklorico. Perhaps you were a Brownie or a Boy Scout, belonged to a Boys & Girls Club, or attended summer science camp. If so, your life was also touched by an out-of-school time (OST) program, and you can appreciate why the BOOST Network exists in our…
Get out, get active and enjoy the outdoors on Celebrate Trails Day
Posted on April 19, 2021 by Jana Renner
Spring has sprung here in the Borderland. What better way to enjoy some sunshine than getting out and walking, biking or hiking some of the beautiful trails that the region has to offer?
Celebrate Trails Day celebrates all the incredible health and mental wellness benefits that trails provide which include recreation, education, exposure to flora and fauna, wildlife and preservation.
The Paso del Norte Trail will host Celebrate Trails Day on April 24 at 9 a.m. at the Playa Drain Trail to encourage the community to discover some of the benefits that the trail has to offer…
Take Time for Home Cooking to Celebrate National Nutrition Month
Posted on March 23, 2021 by Jana Renner
March is National Nutrition Month, so it’s a perfect time to talk about some of the things the Paso del Norte Health Foundation and its partners are doing to improve the health of our community.
The Health Foundation’s Healthy Living priority area supports a variety of programs throughout the Paso del Norte region which provide educational and promotional programs, such as nutrition and cooking classes, that influence behavior in selecting, preparing, cooking, and eating healthy foods.
La Semilla Food Center is a nonprofit organization that operates in El Paso and southern New Mexico…
Promotoras helping to Reduce the Risk in El Paso County’s most isolated, vulnerable populations
Posted on February 17, 2021 by Dr. Michael Kelly
By Pema Garcia, Regional Director for the Texas A&M Colonias Program & Dr. Michael Kelly, Vice President, Programs, Paso del Norte Health Foundation
Nearly a year has passed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in our region. We have all experienced multiple challenges in this time but have come together to help the residents of our region – including the most vulnerable - “Reduce the Risk” by providing timely and accurate information regarding COVID-19 health and safety, mental health and well-being, and financial and social services.
The Texas A&M Colonias Program, which has…
Strategic Plan 2025: Our Guide to the Future
Posted on January 26, 2021 by Tracy J. Yellen
A strategic plan is an invaluable navigation tool to help organizations make strategic decisions and guide their way.
Through crises – like the tragic shooting of August 3rd and COVID-19 pandemic – and the day-to-day - the Paso del Norte Community Foundation, Paso del Norte Health Foundation, and Fundación Paso del Norte have used our strategic plan to advance our core work while responding to the immediate needs of the community. We are proud of the relevance of our missions and agility and impact of our organizations.
With continued adaptability and the future in mind, the boards…
