From Our Team

Afterschool programs are key to healthy future for kids and the community

Posted on October 22, 2019 by Bianca De León

The school year is in full swing and that means busy schedules for parents and students.

Youth need more than classroom time, curricula, and good teachers to be successful. Study after study shows that afterschool programs have a wide-ranging benefit for children, including boosting academic performance, improving social skills, creating a more positive environment for children to learn and grow, promoting health, and encouraging other good habits such as leadership and time management.

The Paso del Norte Health Foundation’s IGNITE initiative aims to engage disconnected youth in the…

El Paso Child Guidance Center helping children, families by creating community of Trauma-Informed Care

Posted on September 17, 2019 by Guest Author

Psychological trauma comes in all forms and nobody is immune. Trauma is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience. When such an event occurs, the overwhelming amount of stress can exceed one’s ability to cope with the emotions tied to that experience. If not addressed properly, trauma can have lasting effects on individuals and communities for years.

To help address trauma, El Paso Child Guidance Center (EPCGC) partnered with Paso del Norte Health Foundation to champion a culture of Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) throughout the community. Our first steps were to invest in trainings and…

Kelly Memorial Food Pantry helps individuals overcome food insecurity

Posted on July 16, 2019 by Jana Renner

We’ve all heard the saying: “Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime.”

Every day in the El Paso region, there are thousands of individuals and families who suffer from food insecurity. According to FeedingAmerica.org, nearly 80,000 people in El Paso County suffer from food insecurity and about one out of every five children go hungry each day.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods or uncertain ability to acquire these foods in socially acceptable…

Creating a culture of Healthy Eating and Active Living is key to regional well-being

Posted on June 7, 2019 by Jana Renner

We’ve all heard from experts, physicians, friends and family about the benefits of eating healthier and leading an active lifestyle. Unfortunately, if these aren’t habits you picked up at an early age, they can be harder to develop later in life.

But with the help of La Semilla Food Center’s Edible Education and La Cosecha programs, students and community members of all ages in southern New Mexico and El Paso are not only learning the benefits of gardening, they are getting hands-on experiences growing, cultivating, and cooking fruits and vegetables.

The Edible Education program is…

Improving Patient Care through Data Sharing

Posted on May 1, 2019 by Guest Author

My daughter is not even two years old yet, but she already has medical records across El Paso. She was born at The Hospitals of Providence, has seen a specialist at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, has been to the emergency room at El Paso Children’s Hospital for a high fever, and has had labs done at a University Medical Center clinic. She is very young and healthy, but you can imagine how complicated it can get for those who are older and require more medical care. Providers need this vital information from across different organizations, particularly in emergency…

Is your child vaping?

Posted on April 9, 2019 by Bianca De León

You might not be aware of it, but there’s a new trend amongst teens that is sweeping the nation.

It’s not the latest K-pop boy group, or flashy sneakers. This trend can sometimes be harder to detect, making it more attractive to teens looking to conceal their new interest from parents and teachers.

The trend is vaping – the inhaling of a vapor created by an electronic cigarette. E-cigarettes are devices that operate by heating a liquid solution to a high enough temperature so that it produces an aerosol that is inhaled. Vapes, vape pens, mods, tanks, juuls, and suorins are also common…

Gathering at the family table helps improve health

Posted on March 5, 2019 by Enrique Mata

As Spring weather approaches I look forward to finding some time to grill outdoors with my family and take advantage of some beautiful El Paso evenings. With my two daughters busy with school work and out of school activities, we must work hard to set aside at least one evening a week to gather at the family table. Studies show that there are multitude of benefits that come from eating together as a family. My own two decades of parental experience also reinforce that the mental health and emotional well-being benefits are too great to ignore.

Disconnecting from technology and the…

REALIZE trainings build competency among current and potential nonprofit board members

Posted on February 7, 2019 by Michael Kelly

Each year, hundreds of men and women throughout the Paso del Norte region answer the call to serve on nonprofit boards. The organizations they lead provide services including support for people in need, education, arts, youth sports and animal welfare.

Whatever their mission, board members would benefit from training and tools to effectively fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities and make a positive impact on our community.

Last week, 45 board members, representing 25 nonprofit organizations, participated in the first of a series of workshops that will not only help them better…

El Paso leading the charge in national fight against obesity

Posted on January 18, 2019 by Jana Renner

Three hundred thousand El Pasoans struggle with obesity. The latest science shows that obesity is a complex disease that generally requires medical treatment. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention defines obesity as a Body Mass Index (BMI) at or above 30 for an adult. Unfortunately, only a handful of healthcare providers – nationwide – know how to treat this condition. El Paso has been no exception … until now.

In 2018, the Paso del Norte Institute for Healthy Living (IHL) at the University of Texas at El Paso, with funding from the Paso del Norte Health Foundation, created two…

Generous Hearts, Caring Community - 2018 Year-End Giving

Posted on December 3, 2018 by Mica Short

One of my favorite quotes has always been words spoken by Winston Churchill, “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” Whether it is time, talent, or treasure that is given, each of us can make the world a better place, and when we work together to make a difference, our impact and reach is even greater.

The Paso del Norte Foundation exists in part to help bring your philanthropic vision to reality. We embrace the roles of the public sector, private enterprise, religious institutions, and a generous spirit of philanthropy to promote the well-being and…