TOTAL GRANTS AWARDED IN 2008/09: $63,500 impacting the lives of almost 4,000 children.

Congratulations to our many sponsors!

• Cancer Services of NM — Albuquerque — $3,500
  Zoo Night for Kids with Cancer (July 12, 2008) will provide a buffet dinner, an educational talk by a pediatric oncologist, T-shirts, door prizes, face painting, goodie bags and an exhibit area featuring organizations that address pediatric oncology issues.  This event will be open to all NM pediatric cancer patients/survivors.
• Children's Grief Center of NM — Albuquerque — $4,000
  Grief support for children experiencing loss.  Support groups are designed to give the child the opportunity to talk, draw, write, play or act out their experiences with others who are going through the same thing.  
• Camp Rising Sun — Albuquerque — $6,000
  A summer camp for 50-60 children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.  Under the guidance of trained counselors, campers will hike, make crafts, ride horses, participate in rope courses, swim and work on social and language skills deficient in people with ASD.
  
• Boys and Girls Club of Bloomfield — Bloomfield — $4,500
  Afterschool Club activities are available for all children, immediately after school.  After a healthy snack, children are split up into grade level groups and work in computer technology, art, Club Library, lounge/media, game room and outdoor play area until 6 pm.  The Club Library is open from 6 - 7 pm.
• Kirtland Youth Association — Kirtland — $4,000
  The grant will provide a wireless internet router, a wireless printer and ten laptops for both the After School and the Summer Literacy and Recreation Programs.  Children kindergarten through 8th grades work on literacy activities, social studies, math and science.
• Mesilla Valley CASA — Las Cruces — $6,000
  Children First provides supervised family visitation services to help children in foster care move to permanency in a timely manner.  Parent-child bonding is facilitated through the use of games, books, puzzles and toys.  
• CASA First Judicial District — Santa Fe, Los Alamos & Rio Arriba Counties — $5,000
  The Power Up Transitioning Youth Pilot Program will provide: 1)training and support for CASA volunteers to more effectively advocate for older foster youth; 2) train foster parents and youth attorneys on community resources and services available for foster youth; and 3) enhance direct support for foster youth transitioning to the adult world.
  
• SF Trail School for Performing Arts — Raton — $4,500
  Raton Youth Theater is a summer workshop program for children from second through twelfth grade.  Also included are performances throughout the calendar year.  This Theater as Therapay program helps participants to see beyond their immediate circumstances to the glorious possibilities for their future.  
• Assistance League of Chaves County — Roswell — $5,000
  KAPS (Kids Are Pretty Special) seeks to assist CASA and the local law enforcement in caring for the children affected or removed from meth houses by providing diapers, clothes, car seats, toys and other items.  
  OSB (Operation School Bell) provides new school clothes to the needy children of Chaves County.  
  
• SE NM Downs Syndrome Foundation — Roswell — $2,000
  The Learning Center teaches language and early reading skills to children with Downs Syndrome.
• Wings for Life — Roswell — $6,000
  LIFE  (L ife-skills for I nmate F amilies and E ducation)will help incarcerated, juvenile women redirect their lives and equip them to be responsible parents.  Class tropics include substance abuse, building self-esteem, anger and forgiveness, problem solving and life-skills/manners.
• Community Partnership for Children — Silver City — $4,000
  Playful Parenting Training Series will train up to 100 parents, home care providers, early childhood teachers and therapists in relationship skills.  The ABCDE approach will use play therapy to Acknowledge feelings, set Boundaries, give Choices, Discuss and Encourage.
• Casa Mia Ranch Summer Self Discovery — Silver City — $4,000
  Summer Self Discovery program will conduct four Wilderness Self-Discovery Camps in the Gila Wilderness.  Using the accredited curriculum "Behavior Management Through Adventure", children and adolescents with histories of abuse, neglect and trauma will learn communication, problem solving, trust building, conflict resolution and teamwork.
• Truchas Services Center Inc. — Truchas — $5,000
  Truchas Art Project is a 5 week summer enrichment program of visual arts and music.  It includes a community wide fiesta and parade on July 26, 2008, to coincide with the traditional Santa Ana celebration.  Activies include guitar, drum, weaving, drawing & painting, 3-D wood carving, clay sculpture and tin smithing.