BallantinesPR

New Mexico Community Foundation
Announces Record $2.5 Million
in Statewide Grants

Santa Fe, NM – September 28, 2006 – The New Mexico Community Foundation Board of Directors today announced its Fall Grants, which will benefit exceptional community and educational organizations throughout New Mexico.

The announcement included awards in support of the NM SPARK (Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids) and Youth Initiatives, two core initiatives of the Foundation.

The Foundation is funding projects as diverse as promoting youth radio, enhancing leadership skills with tribal communities, youth organizing for social and environmental causes, teaching outdoor skills and providing age-appropriate information on child sexual assault prevention. As well as awards to libraries in 57 rural New Mexico communities to upgrade their computer technology, with the establishment of the New Mexico Library Fund in association with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the New Mexico State Library.

Also among the grants are a record number of scholarship awards, as a result of the newly established Robert & Deb Chase Scholarship Fund which assists youth from Artesia, NM with their educational endeavors. With the initiation of this Fund, the Foundation’s scholarship programs have increased fourfold.

“We are all proud to positively affect the lives and outlook for our New Mexico neighbors,” said Nelsy Dominguez, NMCF Program Director. “Thanks to our donors and Foundation partners, in New Mexico and around the US, we have this Fall announced our largest grant awards this year, $2.5 million of our expected $3.5 total NMCF grantmaking in 2006, touching communities across the state through highly motivated and focused local organizations.”

NM SPARK will celebrate its 4th successful year on October 18th in Albuquerque’s Duranes Elementary School. NM SPARK coordinators in six New Mexico communities work with educators, parents and kids to implement strategies that create seamless transitions to school for vulnerable children ages 3-6. Grants approved to six NM SPARK community sites totaled $497,000.

For further information on the New Mexico Community Foundation visit
http://www.nmcf.org

The following is a sampling of grant awards through the New Mexico Community Foundation’s Fall grants.

1000 Friends of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM Albuquerque Public Schools Foundation Albuquerque, NM Amy Biehl High School Foundation Albuquerque, NM ARCA Foundation Albuquerque, NM Center of Southwest Culture, Inc. Albuquerque, NM College Success Network of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM Common Bond, Inc. Albuquerque, NM KUNM-FM Public Radio 89.9 Albuquerque, NM La Plazita Institute Albuquerque, NM New Mexico Civic Engagement Albuquerque, NM NM Forum for Youth in Community Albuquerque, NM New Mexico Wildlife Federation Albuquerque, NM Roadrunner Food Bank Albuquerque, NM Southwest Research & Information Center Albuquerque, NM St. Pius X High School Foundation Albuquerque, NM Shuter Library of Angel Fire Angel Fire, NM Artesia Public Library Artesia, NM Bayard Public Library Bayard, NM Belen Public Library Belen, NM Pueblo of Santa Ana Community Library Bernalillo, NM Town of Bernalillo Public Library Bernalillo, NM Bloomfield Public Library Bloomfield, NM Capitan Public Library Capitan, NM Eleanor Daggett Memorial Library Chama, NM Albert W. Thompson Memorial Library Clayton, NM Michael Nivison Public Library Cloudcroft, NM Irene S. Sweetkind Public Library Cochiti Lake, NM Pueblo de Cochiti – Library Cochiti Pueblo, NM Columbus Village Library Columbus, NM Southwest Youth Services, Inc. Corrales, NM Cuba Public Library Cuba, NM Embudo Valley Library Dixon, NM Jicarilla Public Library Dulce, NM Edgewood Community Library Edgewood, NM Cultural Energy El Prado, NM El Rito Public Library El Rito, NM Las Cumbres Learning Services Espanola, NM Santa Clara Pueblo Community Library Espanola, NM Espanola Public Library Espanola, NM Estancia Public Library Estancia, NM San Juan County Partnership, Inc. Farmington, NM Farmington Public Library Farmington, NM Fort Sumner Public Library Fort Sumner, NM National Indian Youth Leadership Project Gallup, NM Glenwood Community Library Glenwood, NM Deva Found – Creativity for Peace Camp Glorieta, NM Hatch Public Library Hatch, NM Child & Family Services Inc. of Lea County Hobbs, NM Pueblo of Isleta – Library Isleta, NM Pueblo of Jemez – Walatowa Jemez Pueblo, NM Pueblo of Jemez Education Initiative Jemez Pueblo, NM Jemez Springs Public Library Jemez Springs, NM Jemez Pueblo Community Library Jemez, NM Laguna Department of Education Laguna, NM Laguna Public Library Laguna, NM Community Action Agency of Southern NM Las Cruces, NM Court Youth Center Las Cruces, NM Dove Learning Center, College of Education-NMSU Las Cruces, NM

La Academia Dolores Huerta Las Cruces, NM Lions Crane Reading Program, Inc. Las Cruces, NM NM Rural Development Response Council Las Cruces, NM Thomas Branigan Memorial Library Las Cruces, NM Carnegie Public Library Las Vegas, NM Lordsburg Hidalgo Library Lordsburg, NM Los Alamos County Library System Los Alamos, NM Lovington Public Library Lovington, NM Mescalero Community Library Mescalero, NM Eastern New Mexico University Portales, NM Portales Public Library Portales, NM Acoma Learning Center Pueblo of Acoma, NM Arthur Johnson Memorial Library Raton, NM Red River Public Library Red River, NM Rio Rancho Public Library Rio Rancho, NM Roswell Public Library Roswell, NM Eco-Servants/Sierra Blanca Service Corps Ruidoso, NM Ohkay Owingeh Library San Juan Pueblo, NM Citizen Action Sandia Park, NM Somos un Pueblo Unido Santa Fe, NM Forest Guild Santa Fe, NM Alice King Family Center Santa Fe, NM Indigenous Language Institute Santa Fe, NM Santa Fe Youth Radio Network – Santa Fe Santa Fe, NM No. NM Radio Foundation (KSFR 90.7) Santa Fe, NM Santa Fe Rape Crisis Center Santa Fe, NM Many Mothers Santa Fe, NM Center for Contemporary Arts Santa Fe, NM Assistance Dogs of the West Santa Fe, NM River Source Santa Fe, NM Southwest Grassfed Livestock Alliance Santa Fe, NM Santa Fe Farmers Market Institute Santa Fe, NM Peace Action New Mexico Education Fund Santa Fe, NM Earth Care International Santa Fe, NM IMPACT Personal Safety Santa Fe, NM New Mexico Association of Grantmakers Santa Fe, NM Somos un Pueblo Unido Santa Fe, NM St. Elizabeths Shelter Corporation Santa Fe, NM The Food Depot Santa Fe, NM Fine Arts for Children & Teens, Inc. (FACT) Santa Fe, NM Santa Fe Public Library Santa Fe, NM Pueblo of Pojoaque Public Library Santa Fe, NM Pueblo of San Ildefonso Youth Program Santa Fe, NM San Felipe Community Library Santa Fe, NM Moise Memorial Library Santa Rosa, NM Santo Domingo Pueblo Library Santo Domingo, NM The Public Library (Silver City) Silver City, NM Socorro Public Library Socorro, NM New Mexico POZ Coalition Taos, NM Amigos Bravos Taos, NM Rocky Mountain Youth Corps. Taos, NM Taos Public Library Taos, NM Red Willow Education Center Taos, NM Tatum Community Library Tatum, NM Santa Fe Mountain Center Tesuque, NM Talking Talons Youth Leadership, Inc. Tijeras, NM Truth or Consequences Public Library T or C, NM Center for Biological Diversity Tucson, AZ Tucumcari Public Library Tucumcari, NM Zia Enrichment Library Zia Pueblo, NM

Media contact:
Frank O’Mahony
Ballantines PR
(505) 699 3985
frank@ballantinespr.com
http://www.ballantinespr.com

SHOWING HIS METAL

When Edward J. Fraughton’s masterful bronze ‘Where Trails End’ comes under the hammer at the Santa Fe Art Auction in November, those in attendance will have the opportunity to buy a piece of history. The sculpture depicting a mournful cowboy standing over his horse, who has died of exhaustion while they were making their way through a blizzard, was a prominent feature at the White House during Ronald Reagan’s presidency. First admired by Reagan when he was Governor of California, friends lent him their cast of the bronze when he became President. It was initially placed in his private study on a chest of drawers next to his desk, where it can be seen in numerous photographs, and later moved to a more prominent position in the Billiard Room so more people could enjoy it.

Not every one of the lots in this year’s SFAA will have quite such an illustrious story attached, but all are considered among the finest examples of classic Western Art. Since its formation in 1994, the SFAA has established itself as the Southwest’s largest auction of classic Western art. Focusing primarily on the works of the artists of the renowned Santa Fe Art Colony and the Taos Society of Artists, as well as the historically significant painters and sculptors of the American West. Last year’s auction, which included works by Frederic Remington, Charles M. Russell, Joseph Henry Sharp, Henry Farny, E. Martin Hennings and Thomas Moran, raised a record breaking $3.7m.

Fraughton is another who can be included in that exalted company. Born in Park City, Utah in 1939, his artistic talent was recognized at an early age. As a ten year-old he won a national contest before going on to gain a BFA at the University of Utah. By Fraughton’s own admission ‘Where Trails End’ marked a significant point in his career. He considers it his most important early sculpture and the piece that first gained him recognition from collectors. Since then he has gone on to produce works of varying scales from medallions to monuments. In addition he is exhibited in museums and has received numerous awards, including the first Gold Medal for Sculpture from the National Academy of Western Art in 1973 for ‘Where Trails End.’ The piece inspired its most famous custodian to say, “It has been wonderful having this magnificent example of American art in our home.” The Santa Fe Art Auction will enable one fortunate person to experience the same pleasure Reagan had from ‘Where Trails End,’ while others will hope to find equal enjoyment amongst the other rich and varied works of art available.

Santa Fe Art Auction 2006
Saturday, November 4, 2006
Eldorado Hotel, Santa Fe, New Mexico
For further information, contact the SFAA at:
P.O Box 2437
Santa Fe, NM 87504-2437

Tel: (505) 954 5858
Fax: (505) 954 5754

Email: curator@santafeartauction.com
http://www.santafeartauction.com

High Res pictures available online at http://www.ballantinesbiz.com/newmexico/SFAA

Sarah Robarts
sarah@ballantinespr.com
310-454-3080 Tel.
310 570 7355 Cell
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