UWNNM Grants Committee Chairman Steve Renfro, left, meets with LAFC Executive Director Jordan Redmond and LAFC Clinical Supervisor Laura Woodring during a recent site visit to the LAFC facility at 1350 Central Ave., Suite 102. Photo by Jenn Bartram/ladailypost.com
UWNNM News:
There are a lot of people whose suffering was compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic and the United Way of Northern New Mexico (UWNNM) Community Action Partners did not stop fighting for them.
Rather, they fought harder than ever to provide help to those in need. Twenty-eight nonprofits serving residents of Los Alamos and Rio Arriba counties have received $475,000 in UWNNM Community Action Awards. These Awards provide critical operational and programmatic funding to nonprofits offering direct services to Northern New Mexico’s cities and rural/frontier towns and villages.
“The UWNNM is proud to support the agencies in our communities helping to build thriving families and communities in Northern New Mexico,” Grants Committee Chairman Steve Renfro said. “Our United Way volunteers and donors are the lifeblood of our ability to give, empower and create lasting change.”
Renfro provided leadership and oversight to the Grant Evaluation Committee, which utilized multiple local assessments, reports and community health profiles to determine the 2022 priorities.
Funding priorities for the 2022 Community Action Fund Grant Cycle include:
- Education/Youth Mentoring;
- Behavioral Health/Parent Support;
- Food/Housing; and
- Senior Transportation.
“Our nonprofit sector is vibrant in Northern New Mexico, and we are proud to support these agencies that continue to provide outreach and assistance to those in our region facing more extreme poverty and isolation than ever before due the pandemic,” UWNNM Executive Director Monica Griego said.
The 2022 UWNNM Grant Committee consists of Community Action Fund Investors, Partners, Community and Board Members who worked tirelessly over the course of about a month helping to decide where funds can best serve residents of Los Alamos and Rio Arriba counties.
The Los Alamos Family Council Award, one of the most longstanding UWNNM grantees, was awarded $40,000 to promote the emotional and social well-being of Los Alamos youth and families through education, prevention and counseling. Support from United Way to the Los Alamos Family Council can be traced back to 1964, when the United Way was originally called the Los Alamos Community Chest.
Newer grantee, Inside Out Recovery, provides direct behavioral health services and support programs to residents of Rio Arriba County. Inside Out Recovery was awarded $45,000 to support the agency’s outreach programs to the homeless, food insecure, victims of violence and now senior support services. Over the past year, the agency experienced a 40 percent increase in caseload – mainly due to the elderly looking for essential resources.
“Many of the elderly that we serve are on fixed incomes and have needs that absolutely cannot be addressed on their fixed incomes,” said Inside Out Recovery Executive Director Kathy Sutherland-Bruaw. “We have had requests for assistance with appliances, propane tanks, propane refills, wood, and water heaters. A broken appliance for someone on Social Security cannot easily be replaced. Many of these people live on $800-$900 a month.”
To learn more about the 2022 UWNNM Community Action Fund Awardees, visit www.UnitedWayNNM.org
About the United Way of Northern New Mexico:
Since 1954, UWNNM has united organizations and companies to activate solutions for the region’s most pressing issues. UWNNM fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in Los Alamos and Rio Arriba County. It’s work is fueled by companies and their employees who give time, money and voice to improve the lives of others.
For more information about the United Way of Northern New Mexico, visit www.unitedwaynnm.org.
UWNNM Grants Committee Chairman Steve Renfro, back row third from left, and UWNNM Executive Director Monica Griego, right, gather with Inside Out Recovery staff during a recent site visit. Photo by Jenn Bartram/ladailypost.com
Inside Out Recovery clients gather to view elements of a computer literacy training program as staff and UWNNM Grants Chairman Steve Renfro, left, look on during a recent site visit to the facility in Española. Photo by Jenn Bartram/ladailypost.com
