News

20 years of serving the Paso del Norte region

January 23, 2015

In 1995, the Paso del Norte Health Foundation was created from the sale of Providence Memorial Hospital to Tenet Healthcare Corporation for $130 million. The Health Foundation is one of the largest private foundations on the U.S.-Mexico border. The goal of the Health Foundation is to improve the health and promote the wellness of the people living in west Texas, southern New Mexico, and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico through education and prevention.

On September 30, 2015, the Paso del Norte Health Foundation will celebrate its 20th Anniversary. To commemorate the occasion, several activities…

Fred Rogers Leadership award "The Trolley"

January 23, 2015

On October 15, 2014, Myrna J. Deckert, CEO of the Paso del Norte Health Foundation received the Fred Rogers Leadership award in Philanthropy from Grantmakers of Children, Youth and Families (GCYF). The award is a plaque with a replica for the “The Trolley” that was featured on the Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood show.

GCYF gives this prestigious award annually in memory of one of the country’s most beloved advocates for children, Fred McFeely Rogers (“Mr. Rogers”). This award recognizes outstanding contributions and leadership by grantmaking staff, trustees and donors in all fields of…

Kids at YWCA are engaging in after school programs.

January 21, 2015

Meet Lorraine, a 14-year-old living with her family at the YWCA Sara McKnight Transitional Living Center (TLC), where more than 200 families just like her are staying.

Since 2013, Lorraine has been attending Bassett Middle School where she is now in 8th grade and excelling academically and participating in out-of-school activities. Her out-of-school activities was recently made possible through a grant from the Paso del Norte Health Foundation’s IGNITE initiative.

While the TLC provides children with transportation to and from school, it doesn’t allow for children to participate in…

Phase 2 of City's Clean Air Ordiance took effect on January 1

January 5, 2015

The second phase of the ordinance started on January 1, 2015. Smoking will be prohibited at all City-Owned, enclosed as well as outdoor facilities at all times, (with the exception of designated places at the El Paso International Airport). These changes apply to all sports arenas and stadiums, all parks and playgrounds, as well as 20 feet from the entrance of all outdoor public transportation stations, platforms, and shelters under the authority of the City.

For more information, visit http://home.elpasotexas.gov/health/ or call 915-212-0220.

Foundation awards new grants under Two Should Know Initiative

November 6, 2014

The Paso del Norte Health Foundation recently awarded seven grants totaling more than $2.1 million under the Healthy Relationships Priority Area – Two Should Know initiative.

The overarching goal of the initiative is to effect long‐term improvements in sexual health across the life-span and reduce negative health outcomes in the Paso del Norte region. Newly funded organizations are:

Center Against Family Violence - $221,607.10 No Means No - Good to Go

To provide No Means No sexual violence prevention presentations to approximately 13,000 middle and high school youth in El Paso…

Helping disconnected girls find a place in Girl Scouts

October 20, 2014

Unlike other days, Maria couldn’t wait to get home to show her mother the flyer she received at school about joining Girl Scouts. She has always wanted to be a Girl Scout, but troops were not organized at her school or around her neighborhood until now.

The Paso del Norte Health Foundation’s IGNITE initiative has awarded $50,000 to the Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest (GSDSW) to create 24 new troops and offer Girl Scout Leadership Experience to 240 disconnected girls from Doña Ana, Luna and Otero Counties in New Mexico.

The goal of IGNITE is to improve a range of health outcomes…

Tocando helps disconnected youth at Hart Elementary

October 13, 2014

As the last bell rings at the end of the school day, 35 students from Hart Elementary rush quickly through the halls, not to leave the school campus, but to get their instruments and prepare for their music lesson. Through collaboration with the Paso del Norte Health Foundation’s IGNITE initiative, the El Paso Symphony Orchestra (EPSO) is working to improve the range of health outcomes for disconnected youth through their Tocando! music program. The Foundation refers to “disconnected youth” as people between the ages of 7 – 18 years old who are not involved in out-of-school activities or…

CEO receives prestigious Fred Rogers Leadership Award

October 10, 2014

On October 15, Myrna J. Deckert, CEO of the Paso del Norte Health Foundation will be awarded the Fred Rogers Leadership Award in Philanthropy for children, youth and families for 2014.

Grantmakers for Children, Youth and Families (GCYF) gives this prestigious award annually in memory of one of the country’s most beloved advocates for children, Fred McFeely Rogers (“Mr. Rogers”). This award recognizes outstanding contributions and leadership by grantmaking staff, trustees and donors in all fields of children, youth and family philanthropy. This year’s award will be presented at GCYF’s…

Dr. Whigham's appointment to benefit obesity prevention in the region

September 17, 2014

Dr. Leah D. Whigham, Executive Director for the Paso del Norte Institute for Healthy Living (IHL) was recently selected to serve on the Obesity Society Council as Clinical Practice Councilor and on the Advocacy Committee.

As a Clinical Practice Councilor, Dr. Whigham will serve a three-year term, which includes oversight of and reporting about committees, sectors and task forces with a primary responsibility of coordinating activities to meet strategic plan goals and strategies of the Obesity Society Council. On the Advocacy Committee, she will be responsible for tracking legislative and…

Foundation awards grants to support healthy youth

September 15, 2014

The Paso del Norte Health Foundation recently awarded 12 grants for more than $1,247,000 under the Healthy Relationships Priority Area – IGNITE Initiative. The goal of the IGNITE initiative is to work with community organizations and schools to improve health outcomes of youth through participation in out-of-school programs.

Funded organizations are:

Creative Kids, Inc. - $91,944.60 Project ABLE (Art Brokers Learning Experiences) To offer an after-school and summer visual arts education program for 115 disconnected youth 7-18 years old in Fabens, TX.

Girl Scouts of the Desert…