News

Sunland Park Adopts Trails Master Plan

July 21, 2021

The Sunland Park City Council recently adopted a Trails Master Plan which builds on the many years of planning and development of regional trail networks. The City of Sunland Park is currently planning on expanding their existing trail system with their vision for the Paseo del Sol Trail which spans across the City of Sunland Park and includes a total of 34 miles of trails.

Portions of the Paso del Sol Trail connect to the main alignment and spurs of the planned Paso del Norte Trail, including planned segments along the Rio Grande, Sunland Park Drive, Dinotracks, Montoya Canal Spur, and…

Health Foundation supports vaccination efforts based on focus group findings Expanding work in partnership with the County of El Paso

July 21, 2021

Over the last six months, the Paso del Norte Health Foundation has partnered with Dr. Ted Cooper with the University of Texas at El Paso and Barracuda PR to conduct focus groups to understand vaccine hesitancy. We have put the findings to work through the Reduce the Risk campaign to nimbly respond to the changing COVID-19 dynamics in our community.

Here’s what we’ve learned:

• Hyper-convenience is key – making shots available in places unvaccinated individuals are already visiting will help with vaccine uptake
• Finger-wagging does not make those who are vaccine-hesitant more likely…

Health Foundation awards new grants to support Healthy Eating & Active Living (2021)

June 23, 2021

The Paso del Norte Health Foundation recently awarded 8 grants totaling more than $1.2 million for the Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Initiative under the Healthy Living Priority Area. The purpose of the HEAL Initiative is to make healthy eating and active living the easy choice for youth and their families in the region.

Funded organizations are:

Arbol de Vida - $151,905.36
Arbol de Vida program
To provide nutritious meals and structured physical activity to 100 children in Rancho Anapra and Loma de Poleo in Ciudad Juárez, MX.

Border Partners - $134,400.00 …

Grantee partnership addresses emotional health needs of children at YWCA facilities

June 23, 2021

With funding by the Health Foundation, the YWCA El Paso Del Norte Region, through its Active Learning Mindful Achievement (ALMA) Project, is now engaged with the El Paso Child Guidance Center Trauma-Informed Care Team to provide educators and children with the skills to recognize and address emotional health needs in productive ways.

The El Paso Child Guidance Center Team trained 130 YWCA staff members in Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) practices. Seven YWCA Early Learning Academies and nine YWCA after school programs have implemented TIC…

Paso del Norte Health Foundation - 2020 Annual Report

June 23, 2021

The Health Foundation worked to ensure that it was flexible and responsive to the immediate needs of the community. In 2020, the Health Foundation invested $12 million in grants and charitable expenses working with more than 70 organizations across the five priority areas – including COVID-19. Learn more about the projects and services in our annual report that contributed to improving the health of the region.

Paso del Norte Trail video

June 23, 2021

Texan by Nature (TxN), an Austin-based nonprofit founded by former First Lady Laura Bush, and one of our trail partners, was here in April to ride and film the anticipated 68-mile Paso del Norte Trail in El Paso County that begins near Gadsden Middle School and ends at the County Line Lakes. With over 15 miles completed to date, the goal of the trail is to create a regionally significant landmark that promotes active transportation, preserves the history and culture of our region, highlights the Rio Grande River, supports economic development and ecotourism, provides educational and…

United Way of El Paso County selects our Foundations for their Chairman’s Award

June 23, 2021

Our boards and staff of the Paso del Norte Health Foundation and the Paso del Norte Community Foundation were honored to accept the United Way of El Paso County Chairman’s Award, which was presented virtually on Friday, June 11. Both foundations have partnered with the United Way for many years in supporting the needs of our community.

The United Way Chairman’s Award is presented once a year to an individual or organization(s) that demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to the community and the United Way of El Paso County.

“The Paso del Norte…

Community Celebration of Life - Myrna J. Deckert

May 28, 2021

On Friday, September 11, 2020, one of El Paso’s most respected community leaders and former CEO of both the Paso del Norte Health Foundation and YWCA El Paso del Norte Region passed away – Myrna J. Deckert. She was an extraordinary leader committed to improving health, education, economic development, and quality of life in our region.

While at the Health Foundation, Myrna developed a Regional Framework for Health to promote health and prevent disease. She helped establish the REALIZE leadership development program, Paso del Norte Community Foundation, Fundación Paso del Norte, and PHIX…

Deadline approaching to submit REALIZE Executive applications

May 24, 2021

The deadline to submit applications for the REALIZE Executive leadership program is Friday, June 11 at 5 p.m. The REALIZE Program offers a cohort of 20 executives the opportunity for individualized leadership growth over 15 months. The goal of the REALIZE experience is to inspire already effective leaders to become transformational leaders for the benefit of the region’s health. The 2021-2022 cohort is scheduled to begin in the fall 2021. To learn more about REALIZE Executive, click here.

Local food pantry program featured in recent published book for approach in providing more than food to clients

May 24, 2021

The Fresh Start program at the Kelly Center for Hunger Relief is one of the food pantries featured in Dr. Katie S. Martin’s recently published book Reinventing Food Banks and Pantries for its approach in providing pantry clients more than food. The Fresh Start Program, partially funded by the Paso del Norte Health Foundation, offer case management, referrals, and wraparound services to increase self-sufficiency and food security. Participant goals include securing employment, finishing a degree, and learning English. Participants also attend nutrition and fitness classes and volunteer at…