News

New program to help treat children with feeding difficulties

July 17, 2019

It’s dinner time, and once again you look for an innovative approach to get your child to eat. Is he a picky eater or a problem feeder? The Paso Del Norte Children’s Development Center (CDC) has an answer for children with special needs.

With support from the Paso del Norte Health Foundation’s Healthy Eating Active Living Initiative, the CDC has launched their “Off to a Good Start”…

Trailblazing Highlights

July 16, 2019

2018 led our community of philanthropy on new and expanding paths, with the leadership of our boards of directors, staff and hundreds of community partners and volunteers that believe in our vision to ensure that the people of our binational, tri-state region have the knowledge, resources, support and environment to lead happy, healthy and productive lives. Today, we celebrate this trailblazing work with several highlights from the Paso del Norte Health Foundation and the Paso del Norte Community Foundation:

[**Paso del Norte Health…

El Paso County Opens Application Process for $1 Million in Healthy Food Financing Initiative Funds

July 16, 2019

El Paso County has broken new ground as the first county in the country to establish a Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) to increase access to healthy and affordable food. In December of 2018, El Paso County allocated $500,000 of the County Economic Development Impact Fund to start the initiative. With this investment, the County will offer grants and low-interest loans to develop and expand healthy food retail and infrastructure in high-need areas of El Paso County.

On July 1, Commissioners Court unanimously approved agreements with two HFFI partners to move forward and open…

Meet the newest member of our Accounting Team

July 16, 2019

We are pleased to welcome Namgyal Wangchuk to the Paso del Norte Health Foundation and Paso del Norte Community Foundation. As Accounting Support Assistant, Namgyal is responsible for assisting with payroll, payables and other accounting functions and support with financial reporting and customer service.

Namgyal is originally from Thimphu, Bhutan, which is the capital of Bhutan. He is a recent graduate of UTEP with a bachelor’s in business administration with a focus on accounting. In his spare time, he enjoys taking long walks with his two dogs.

Namgyal can be reached at:…

Texas Tobacco 21: a new law in Texas

July 16, 2019

More than automobile crashes, gun violence and opiate overdoses combined, tobacco is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the U.S. and kills over 480,000 people each year. While cigarette use has decreased over the last few years, e-cigarette use, particularly by youth, is rapidly increasing. E-cigarette use by youth has been called an epidemic by the FDA and is up 77% from last year.

On June 7, 2019, Governor Greg Abbott signed SB 21, or Tobacco 21, which raises the minimum legal age in Texas to purchase tobacco from 18 years to 21 years. Presently, 95% of smokers start before…

PDN Community Foundation Update: $3 Million Gift to advance the future of health education at TTUHSC El Paso

June 12, 2019

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso (TTUHSC El Paso), along with the Paso del Norte Community Foundation and Rick and Ginger Francis, announced earlier this month a $3 million gift that will help drive the university toward a bright, impactful future.

Encouraged by TTUHSC El Paso’s success and driven by their passion to leave the community better for future generations, Rick and Ginger Francis established the Ginger G. and L. Frederick Francis Foundation in the Paso del Norte Community Foundation. <iframe width=”1162” height=”654”…

Playa Drain Trail improving health

June 12, 2019

Mr. Charles Ortiz is one of the many residents in the community that is using the Playa Drain Trail for his health. Diagnosed with diabetes, his doctor recommended that he have a more balanced diet and regular exercise.

The Playa Drain Trail has provided a great way to enjoy daily physical activity and a safe way to get around the neighborhood.

To stay up-to-date with future…

Tobacco 21 goes into effect on September 1

June 12, 2019

On June 7, Governor Abbot signed SB 21, or Tobacco 21, which raises the minimum legal age in Texas to purchase tobacco from 18 years to 21 years. Tobacco 21 also makes changes to how tobacco sales to minors are enforced. A person can be charged under the law if they sell, give, or knowingly purchase with the intention of providing a cigarette, e-cigarette, or other tobacco product to someone who is younger than 21 years old. A conviction calls for a fine of $100. The new law also requires retailers to train their clerks to prevent a violation of this law. Exemptions to the law include…

Foundation Awards New Grants to Support Healthy Eating and Active Living

June 12, 2019

The Paso del Norte Health Foundation recently awarded 12 grants totaling more than $1.9 million under the Healthy Eating and Active Living Priority Area – HEAL Initiative. The purpose of the HEAL initiative is to make healthy eating and active living the easy choice for youth and their families.

Funded organizations are:

Arbol de Vida - $139,963.63
HEAL
To provide nutritious meals and physical activities to children in Rancho Anapra and Loma de Poleo in Ciudad Juárez, México.

Border Partners - $98,120.00
HEAL – Year 5
To establish home and school…

Celebrating a trailblazing year

June 11, 2019

The boards and staff of the Paso del Norte Community Foundation, Paso del Norte Health Foundation and Fundación Paso del Norte para la Salud y Bienestar are pleased to announce the release of our 2018 Annual Report: Trailblazing 2018annualreport.pdnhf.org.

The online 2018 Report highlights the collaborative work to improve health, education, social services, economic development and quality of life in the region, grants awarded to nonprofit organizations and an accounting of foundation resources.
Collectively, in 2018, the…