Newsletters & Updates - Los Alamos Community Foundation

New Members Join Board of Directors

The Los Alamos Community Foundation (LACF) welcomes two new members to its Board of Directors: Diana Martinez and John Benner.

“Both Diana and John bring long histories of service to Los Alamos,” said Steve Laurent, LACF Executive Director. “They each add unique perspectives, professional expertise, and connections to our community that can help elevate the important work we’re doing.”

Martinez recently retired from The Family YMCA after a 25-year career serving as a Senior Program Director and Development Director with a focus on grant writing. She has a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Missouri. Martinez is a freelance writer and has been published in numerous local and national periodicals. A 2006 graduate of Leadership Los Alamos, she was the recipient of their 2017 Distinguished Alumni Award. Through her work with the Family YMCA and raising three children in town Martinez has established a deep appreciation for the community and its nonprofit organizations.

Benner joined Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1993 and moved to Los Alamos in 1995. He has held a variety of leadership positions at the Lab including Associate Director for Weapon Engineering and Experiments and Executive Officer for Weapon Programs. Benner is currently the Associate Laboratory Director for Weapon Production and leads the plutonium pit production activities at the Laboratory. He has a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from West Virginia University and was recently inducted into its Academy of Distinguished Alumni of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Benner is the proud father of three sons, all of whom attended Los Alamos Schools and participated in Little League, Boy Scouts, and church youth groups. He enjoys being part of the White Rock and Los Alamos community.

For additional information about Martinez and Benner, along with others serving on the LACF board, please visit www.losalamoscf.org/about-us/our-board-of-directors-and-staff.

About the Los Alamos Community Foundation: Established in 2015, the mission of the Los Alamos Community Foundation is to build enduring philanthropy to empower our community’s nonprofit organizations. LACF stewards fifteen permanent endowment funds and supports local nonprofits through training, initiatives and grantmaking. For more information about the Los Alamos Community Foundation, visit www.losalamoscf.org.

LAYSL Receives Youth Sports Grant for New Equipment

(Steve Laurent, Los Alamos Community Foundation Executive Director presents a ceremonial check to Susie Schillaci, Los Alamos Youth Soccer League Girls Competitive Coordinator, and other adult and youth representatives of LAYSL)

Serving hundreds of kids each year means the Los Alamos Youth Soccer League (LAYSL) has a lot of equipment to maintain and replace. Fortunately, LAYSL recently received a $500 competitive grant from the Los Alamos Community Foundation to support the League’s equipment needs. The grant is funded by the Los Alamos Community Youth Sports Endowment established by Paul and Jill Cook with the purpose of supporting competitive youth sports in Los Alamos.

Susie Schillaci, Girls Competitive Coordinator, said that their goal is to provide all coaches and teams with equipment that is in good condition and is appropriate for each level.

“Our intention is to use the LACF grant for purchasing balls,” said Schillaci. “We spend about $2,000 annually on soccer balls to support our recreational and competitive programs for ages 5-18. We have over 500 participants annually between Fall and Spring season.”

Schillaci added that the “generous grant will go a long way in helping LAYSL reach our goal of supporting kids, coaches, and the soccer programs within the League.”

The primary mission of the Los Alamos Youth Soccer League (LAYSL) and its associated Los Alamos Football Club is to provide a high-quality, safe, and fun opportunity for the youth of Los Alamos and the surrounding area to learn the “beautiful game” at a modest cost.

LAYSL is interested in creating lifelong soccer players and fans of the game. We want kids of all ages and abilities on the pitch playing. The League strives to teach players the individual technical skills needed to play the game and a fundamental tactical understanding of how to play. Players learn life skills including responsibility, commitment, discipline, sportsmanship, and teamwork.

Coro de Cámara Receives Judy Dudziak Endowment Fund Grant

Matt Lewis, Coro de Cámara Board Chair and Nylea Butler-Moore, Artistic Director celebrate receiving a grant from the Judy Dudziak Endowment for Community Music Organizations through the Los Alamos Community Foundation.

“We are grateful to LACF and the Judy Dudziak Endowment Fund for this support,” said Lewis. “This will allow us to compensate local musicians as guest artists to support our programming for the coming year.” Coro de Cámara performs a diverse repertoire ranging from classical to contemporary.

Lewis added that the grant will, for example, support their February 2024 concert, “Time to… Dance”, a pops program of hits from the 1960s-1980s that will feature an instrumental combo (piano, bass, and drums). Our guest instrumentalists enrich the musical experience for singers and audience alike.”

Don Dudziak created the Judy Dudziak Endowment for Community Music Organizations to honor his late wife and her love of music.

Pictured L to R: Nylea Butler-Moore, Coro de Cámara Artistic Director; Matt Lewis, Coro de Cámara Board Chair; Steve Laurent, LACF Executive Director; Don Dudziak, Fund creator

PEEC Receives Capacity Building Grant

Jillian Rubio, Executive Director of the Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC), expressed her gratitude at receiving one of six capacity-building grants given by the Los Alamos Community Foundation to area non-profit organizations.

Building upon a marketing survey conducted for PEEC by UNM in 2021 (also funded by LACF), this funding allows PEEC to create and begin the implementation of a new marketing plan.

“Our intention is to investigate how to reach audiences not currently engaged with PEEC programs, thereby advancing our mission, strengthening our long-term financial sustainability, and positively impacting the community,” said Rubio. “We’re extremely grateful to LACF for their continued support.”

Pictured L to R: Kristen O’Hara, Director of Interpretation; Steve Laurent, LACF Executive Director; Jillian Rubio, Executive Director; Ryan Ramaker, Visitor’s Services Manager; Ashleigh Lusher, Gift Shop & Programs Coordinator; Beth Cortright, Operations Manager

Los Alamos JJAB Receives LACF Grant

Staff and Board members from the Los Alamos Juvenile Justice Advisory Board (JJAB) recently celebrated a grant award from the Los Alamos Community Foundation (LACF) which will be used to support its financial audit process. Executive Director Rachel Mohr-Richards expressed her delight at being selected for a discretionary grant from the LACF. “These funds will be utilized toward the cost of JJAB’s annual financial audit, which ensures the financial health and sustainability of our organization, as well as conveys transparency to our funders and the public about how we fund our programs,” explained Mohr-Richards.

“Our discretionary grants target uses that strengthen and support an organization’s long-term sustainability,” said Steve Laurent, LACF Executive Director. “I’m not sure many grants out there are for audit purposes, yet a financial audit often improves practices and procedures that lead to greater confidence in organizational stability from funders and donors alike. We’re pleased to support actions that enhance nonprofit accountability, transparency and resiliency.”

Pictured L to R: Steve Laurent, LACF Executive Director; Zachary Sestric, JJAB Youth Liaison; Dianna Reichelt, JJAB Resource Specialist Program Manager; Rachel Mohr-Richards, JJAB Executive Director; Elizabeth Allen, JJAB Board Chair; Morrie Pongratz, JJAB Board Member.

LACF Awards Grant to Family Strengths Network

Staff from the Family Strengths Network (FSN) were thrilled to receive a grant from the Los Alamos Community Foundation (LACF) that will be used to support a marketing position.

Mitsi Pair Willard, FSN’s Executive Director, said FSN helps the community by improving the quality of family life for generations through education, information, support programs, and activities for all types of families.
“These programs, however, are only beneficial if the community is aware of them,” said Willard. “So, to ensure awareness, we recently decided to implement a Marketing Manager position as part of the organizational structure.”
The grant will cover wages for the marketing manager, giving FSN time to find a more permanen funding solution. Willard noted that “FSN’s partnership with LACF is making a real difference for the organization.”

Pictured L to R: Steve Laurent, LACF Executive Director along with FSN staff Monica Romo, Lissie Ham, Mitsi Pair Willard, Erika Stupka (front)

LACF Announces 2023 Spring Grant Recipients

The Los Alamos Community Foundation (LACF) is pleased to announce the local nonprofit recipients from its Spring 2023 competitive grant cycle. Grants of up to $5,000 are being awarded under three funding categories, with a total of nearly $28,000 granted to nine local organizations.

“This is our third year of funding competitive grants at LACF,” said Executive Director Steve Laurent. “We’re thrilled to see steady growth in interest from our nonprofit organizations as well as an increase in the quality of applications.”

Grant applications were reviewed and scored by teams consisting of community members and LACF board representatives. “There are over 130 nonprofit organizations in Los Alamos County,” noted review team member John Ruminer. “It was a rewarding experience to review grant proposals from organizations whose common mission is to help other people.”

Reviewer Benigno Sandoval added: “We really are fortunate to have such an active nonprofit community and I appreciate the opportunity to be involved, especially as it involves the giving of grants through the Community Foundation.”

LACF Spring 2023 grant recipients are as follows:

LACF Discretionary Grants: These grants support efforts at improving long-term nonprofit sustainability. Grants are funded in part by the Enterprise Bank & Trust Community Endowment.

Family Strengths Network
Los Alamos Visiting Nurse Service, Inc.
Pajarito Environmental Education Center
Self Help, Inc.
Los Alamos Family Council
Los Alamos JJAB

Grants from the Los Alamos Community Youth Sports Endowment: These grants support the building of leadership skills in youth through achievement in competitive team sports.

Los Alamos Junior Roller Derby (The Family YMCA)
Los Alamos Youth Soccer League

Grant from the Judy Dudziak Endowment for Community Music Organizations: This fund supports organizations whose work expands knowledge and appreciation of genres including classical and orchestral band music and choral performances.

Coro de Cámara

Overall, the Community Foundation reviewed over $55,000 in grant funding requests. “It’s wonderful to be able to fund so many organizations,” noted Laurent, “but it was difficult this year because every application presented a need or project worthy of community support. We were able to fund only half of the total requested amount to just over half of the applicant nonprofits.”

In the end, Sandoval summed up the process as a rewarding experience. “As a resident of the area I’d like to thank to the Community Foundation for supporting local organizations and thank all the organizations for supporting our community.”Additional details on each grant award will be shared in the coming days. Public contributions to the above-named endowments, or any of the fifteen endowments managed by LACF for the benefit of the community, are always welcome. losalamoscf.org/giving

N3B and LACF Partner to Support Los Alamos Nonprofits

Officials from Newport News Nuclear BWXT Los Alamos (N3B) and the Los Alamos Community Foundation (LACF) met recently at Family Strengths Network (FSN) to celebrate a successful matching grant collaboration in creating a new endowment fund to provide permanent support for the local nonprofit.

This is the second year such a celebration took place. Last year, the Los Alamos Family Council was the recipient of a N3B matching grant that helped grow its endowment at LACF. “To encourage nonprofits to focus on long-term sustainability through endowment funding, we approached N3B last year with a proposal to match funds raised by local organizations,” said Steve Laurent, LACF Executive Director. “N3B stepped up with a $10,000 grant that is being passed through as matching funds to organizations establishing or growing an endowment fund at LACF.”

FSN saw the N3B grant as a great opportunity to establish an endowment fund. Carie Fanning, FSN Executive Director, started working with LACF when an investment plan was adopted by the organization’s board of directors. “We know we’re an important community resource, and we want to be here for the long term,” said Fanning. “So, when LACF approached us with the N3B grant opportunity we thought, let’s give this a try, it’s perfect timing with our long-term sustainability planning.”

Fanning and her team put out a call to raise $1,500 from supporters to match up to $1,500 available in N3B grant funds. In a few short weeks, more than $5,000 has been raised for the FSN endowment. “I am floored,” Fanning said. “The support has been amazing.”

“Community commitment has always been foundational to N3B and our parent companies Huntington Ingalls Industries and BWX Technologies,” said Juan Griego, Acting Chief Financial Officer for N3B. “We’re honored to be a part of supporting the regional nonprofit community. Family Strengths Network does an excellent job supporting families in Los Alamos. We are happy to partner with LACF to help nonprofits achieve long-term sustainability.” Laurent added that LACF is working with other nonprofit organizations in Los Alamos to take advantage of the generosity of N3B’s matching grant.

“This is a wonderful investment by N3B in the long-term success of organizations at the heart of our community, he said. “We don’t expect our nonprofits and their volunteer boards to have the expertise needed to manage the investment of long-term endowment funds. The Community Foundation is here to take on that role so our nonprofits can focus on the important work of serving the community. We’re so grateful to have N3B as a partner in our efforts,” he added.

LACF Launches Web Portal for Volunteering

Los Alamos Community Foundation (LACF) has established a volunteer management web portal and invites the community to connect. The system makes it simple for local organizations to post, and for local volunteers to identify, volunteer opportunities in a single location: volunteerlosalamos.org.

“We have so many talented people who are willing to pitch in if called,” said LACF Executive Director Steve Laurent. “We really hope this resource will be a vehicle for harnessing some of that talent and funneling it to organizations that do good work in the community.”

How the site works:

Step 1: Individual users create a profile that includes their skills and causes they care about.

Step 2: Local organizations post volunteer opportunities, providing details about the need or event.

Step 3: As opportunities are posted, the system matches the opportunity to user profiles that are a good fit. Suggested opportunities are listed on each user’s profile page, allowing them to sign-up with the click of a button. Users can also receive email notices of opportunities that match their interests.

Registered users can also search for volunteer opportunities by date, interest, organization or location, and can even ‘fan’ organizations to receive all of their postings.

Laurent explained that the portal is not limited to Los Alamos residents. “Many local employees live off the Hill and many Los Alamos residents volunteer off the Hill,” he said. “Organizations serving Rio Arriba County are invited to join, and volunteer users can literally be from anywhere. We welcome anyone who wants to volunteer for a local organization regardless of where they’re from.”

The ultimate goal, according to Laurent, is to have all local volunteer opportunities posted through this site, providing a one-stop shop. “This should make it easier to volunteer because you’ll only have to go to a single website. At the same time, local organizations gain more exposure and accessibility to volunteers by having all opportunities posted in the same place.”

To join, go to volunteerlosalamos.org, click the “Information and FAQ” bar, and follow the link for volunteers. Registration takes just a few minutes.

If you are a nonprofit organization wishing to join, go to volunteerlosalamos.org, click the “Information and FAQ” bar, and follow the link for organizations. You can also contact LACF at info@losalamoscf.org.

Annual Volunteer and Board Member Appreciation Event, Tuesday, April 25th.

(LACF News): The Los Alamos Community Foundation (LACF) is excited to announce our second annual Volunteer and Board Member Appreciation Event on Tuesday, April 25th.

On the heels of National Volunteer Week, this event is a community-wide celebration of the volunteers and board members that make so much possible in Los Alamos.

This is the last event of the 2022-2023 season for our Community Philanthropy Series of public programs.

Nonprofits who serve Los Alamos County are invited to participate and to encourage their volunteers and board members to attend and be celebrated. If you are a nonprofit organization interested in joining the celebration, please contact Steve Laurent (steve@losalamoscf.org or 505-661-4420).

This event is open to the public. Anyone interested in volunteering or celebrating volunteerism is welcome. Advance registration is required, and can be done here: losalamoscf.org/ticket.

Feel free to share this information with your favorite organizations and volunteers.

Date: Tuesday April 25, 2023
Structure: In-person
Time: 4:30-5:30 pm
Location: SALA Event Center (2551 Central Ave)
Cost: Free; advance registration is required
Register here: losalamoscf.org/ticket
Program: A brief hour to say hello to friends and celebrate the spirit of volunteerism. Ongoing demonstrations of the new Volunteer Los Alamos web portal (voluntee rlosalamos.org) and registration of new users. Shortly after 5 pm we’ll have a brief program of remarks. Light refreshments will be available.

This event is sponsored by:

About the Los Alamos Community Foundation: Established in 2015, the focus of the Los Alamos Community Foundation is to build enduring philanthropy to empower our community’s nonprofit organizations. The Los Alamos Community Foundation currently stewards 15 local endowed funds. For more information about the Los Alamos Community Foundation, visit www.losalamoscf.org.