SENATE MEMORIAL 68

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

Gerald Ortiz y Pino

A MEMORIAL

RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE NEW MEXICO CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION IN SERVING THE PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL NEEDS OF NEW MEXICO CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.

     WHEREAS, residents of New Mexico are blessed to live in this great state, which ranks in the top tier of states in terms of the beauty of its landscapes, the richness of its cultures and the natural resources of its land; and

     WHEREAS, too many of New Mexico's youngest residents do not have the opportunity to live safe and healthy lives with bright futures; and

     WHEREAS, when it comes to caring for children, New Mexico ranks forty-ninth compared to other states in many indicators; and

     WHEREAS, former first lady Alice King, wife of former governor Bruce King, created the New Mexico children's foundation in 1992 because of her determination and dedication to support and nurture New Mexico's children; and

     WHEREAS, the mission of the New Mexico children's foundation is to support small programs statewide that serve the physical, mental, educational and social needs of children and their families in order to improve the lives of New Mexico children and their families; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico children's foundation is beginning its twenty-first year as a visionary, community-focused organization that provides meaningful grants to nonprofit children's organizations throughout New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico children's foundation has contributed over one million dollars ($1,000,000) in small grants to more than one hundred sixty nonprofit organizations across the state, in communities ranging from Bloomfield to Hobbs, Raton to Silver City and including cities and towns such as Las Cruces, Roswell, Ruidoso, Ojo Sarco, Taos, Las Vegas, Albuquerque and Santa Fe; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico children's foundation's grants have supported programs that deal with: suicide prevention; support for families and children who are grieving the loss of a loved one; court-appointed special advocates who represent children in foster care; summer camps for children on whose lives HIV-AIDS has had an impact; and summer programs in rural communities; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico children's foundation provides grants for basic necessities such as shoes, back-to-school supplies and emergency shelter for children and families, after-school programs that provide a safe and nurturing environment, science programs that complement school programs, libraries in rural areas, literacy programs for children and families and many more programs that enrich the lives of children and families; and

     WHEREAS, the board of directors of the New Mexico children's foundation works tirelessly to raise money through special events such as "100 women making a difference", golf tournaments and direct appeals; and

     WHEREAS, eighty-four percent of all of the money raised by the New Mexico children's foundation is used for making grants;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico children's foundation be recognized for its extensive efforts to serve the physical, mental, educational and social needs of New Mexico children and their families; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the New Mexico children's foundation.

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