2023 ANNUAL REPORT
A LETTER FROM OUR BOARD CHAIR and CEO
Judy Robison- Board Chair
Tracy Yellen - CEO
Dear Friends:
The Paso del Norte region is home to the most well-respected bootmakers in the world. Handcrafted, durable, and resilient, cowboy boots are symbolic of our unique region – and the work of the Paso del Norte Community Foundation (PdN Community Foundation) and our community partners to improve health, education, social services, economic development, and qualify of life in our binational, tri-state region.
Since our inception ten years ago, the PdN Community Foundation has received more than $136.1 million in contributions from thousands of donors, awarding over $100 million in grants and charitable expenses in partnership with hundreds of grantees and community stakeholders to make a significant community impact. We ended 2023 with $321.5 million in total combined assets.
In 2023, the PdN Community Foundation received $23.2 million in contributions from 9,768 donors, and invested $10.4 million in grants and charitable expenses in the community in four priority areas:
Philanthropic Giving
Community Projects
Nonprofit Investment
Community Resilience
We were thrilled to celebrate our 10th anniversary, making a difference in our community, and recognizing our founding board members, donors, and community partners at a reception hosted for the occasion. This followed a special breakfast honoring past board chairs held earlier in the year.
To our board members, staff, community partners, and grantees who make us unique and strong – just like our cowboy boots – thank you for working with us to make an impact.
We invite you to learn more about our impact in 2023, thanks to our generous donors, community partners, and nonprofit organizations, at pdnfoundation.org.
Respectfully,
Judy Robison
Chair, Board of Directors
Tracy J. Yellen
Chief Executive Officer
CHEERS to 10 years
2023 marked a significant milestone for the Paso del Norte Community Foundation (PdNCF), our 10th anniversary! The Paso del Norte Community Foundation was established in 2013 with a core mission to support the philanthropic goals of individuals, families, corporations, foundations, and nonprofit organizations. The PdNCF, with the help of our community, board, and staff, has helped improve education, health, social services, economic development, and the overall quality of life in our region.
To mark this incredible milestone, a series of events were held to honor our valued donors and community partners.
Past Presidents Breakfast - A Past Presidents Breakfast was hosted as a tribute to and celebration of the past and current board chairs from our family of foundations, the Paso del Norte Community Foundation, the Paso del Norte Health Foundation, and the Fundación Paso del Norte.
PdNCF Scholarship Reception - Scholarship fundholders, recipients, and families came together to recognize the 2023 PdNCF scholarship recipients and to celebrate their achievements.
10-Year Anniversary Reception - Donors, fundholders, community leaders, board members, staff and friends gathered for an unforgettable evening to celebrate a decade of collective community impact. This event was a reminder of the strong roots that bind the PdNCF to the community it serves.
The Paso del Norte Community Foundation is grateful to the entire community for its unwavering support and commitment to growing our community of philanthropy for decades to come.
PHILANTHROPIC GIVING
New Funds Make a Difference in Our Binational Community
Donor-Advised Funds
One of the most effective ways to make a meaningful and lasting impact in the community is by partnering with the Paso del Norte Community Foundation and starting a charitable giving fund.
In 2023, the Paso del Norte Community Foundation grew donor-advised funds to 47, welcoming the Randy and Janet Wechter Charitable Fund, The Border Life Fund, the Russell Tanner Life is Good Fund, and the Furman Family Charitable Fund, among many others. Thanks to our generous donors, $8,305,293 in grants were made from donor-advised funds to support our region – from the new Steve and Nancy Fox Cancer Center at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso and business school at the University of Texas at El Paso to the El Paso Children’s Hospital and La Nube. Donor-advised funds are making a difference.
DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS
The Anchondos Give Back to the Community They Love
The Daniel and Martha Anchondo family and Anchondo Law Foundation established three new endowment funds to support the Braden Aboud Memorial Foundation, St. Matthew Catholic School and scholarships for the University of Texas at El Paso.
These funds joined over 250 donor-advised, designated and scholarship funds that make up the Paso del Norte Community Foundation’s growing community of philanthropy.
The Moody Family Foundation Continues a Legacy of Giving
The Moody Family Foundation was established by Judge Bill Moody and Maggie Moody and their extended family to support charitable organizations in the Paso del Norte region and beyond that provide services for children and adults with disabilities. The Moodys have been involved in the region for many years, both in public and community service, and the PdNCF was proud to welcome them to our community of philanthropy.
Fox Family Paves the Way for Local Cancer Center
Thanks to a generous $25 million leadership gift from Steve and Nancy Fox and family, and the work of the El Paso Legislative Delegation, our region is another step closer to having its own comprehensive cancer center at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso. This incredible gift establishing the Fox Cancer Center will support clinical trials, research, and recruitment of the world’s best physicians, nurses, and researchers. The Paso del Norte Community Foundation is proud to work with generous donors, like the Fox family, who continually strive to make our region a better place.
The Border Life Fund Supports Causes in the Paso del Norte Region and Beyond
The Paso del Norte Community Foundation was thrilled to announce the establishment of a new fund dedicated to enriching the lives of our border community. The Border Life Fund was established by Mel Maese Goldberg and Brett Goldberg, because of their love, passion, and commitment to giving back to El Paso, the city they love.
Mel and Brett are longtime residents who recognize the unique needs and opportunities of our border region. Through The Border Life Fund, they aim to support a variety of causes that enhance the richness and overall well-being of our community, while uplifting others and modeling the importance of philanthropy for their son.
SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS
Scholarship Helps Students Dream Big Dreams
The Coach McLain Track and Cross-Country Scholarship was established by LaDeena and Toby Spoon and their son, Isaac Spoon, in recognition and appreciation of Coach McLain’s exceptional leadership and selfless service and commitment as a coach. Coach McLain has inspired countless student-athletes to envision themselves attending college and dream big dreams, helping many secure track scholarships and continue their high performance at the collegiate level. This year, the Coach McLain Track and Cross-Country Scholarship Fund awarded a 4-year, $60,000 scholarship to Ian Diaz, who exemplifies Coach McLain’s leadership and example.
Scholarship Funds
In 2023, we awarded $729,593 in scholarships to 398 students to help them reach their full potential.
The Paso del Norte Community Foundation is home to 47 scholarship funds, with over 100 scholarship opportunities including the Deby Lewis Foundation and Coach McLain Track and Cross-Country Scholarship Fund for students at Eastwood High School, and memorial scholarships like the Tito’sWay Scholarship established in honor of Lyone “Tito” Velez Segarra and the Braden Aboud B Strong Scholarship in memory of Braden Aboud.
PdNCF Celebrates 10-year Anniversary with Scholarship Award Ceremony
The Paso del Norte Community Foundation was excited to celebrate the success of its 2023 scholarship recipients and fundholders with an inaugural scholarship award ceremony. The PdNCF takes immense pride in supporting local and national scholarships. Thanks to the generosity of our dedicated scholarship fundholders, a record $729,593 was awarded to 398 students across the region. The reception provided students the opportunity to celebrate their successes and meet the individuals who helped turn their dreams of continuing their education into a reality. Over the past decade, the Foundation has helped award over $2 million in scholarships to students to pursue higher education.
Designated Funds
The Paso del Norte Community Foundation continued to work with individuals and groups to support important community initiatives and projects.
Operation Noel and the Heart Gallery of El Paso were welcomed under the PdNCF umbrella, and designated funds such as the jaclynstrong Foundation, Azul Arena, and the Yolanda Arriola Black and White Party Fund continued to make a difference through various events and programs. The PdNCF was proud to support these unique and meaningful initiatives.
DESIGNATED AND ENDOWED FUNDS
Over $1 Million Awarded by National Foundations to Empower Arts in the Border Region
The Paso del Norte Community Foundation was honored to expand its partnership with several national foundations in 2023 with over one million dollars in commitments from the Mellon Foundation, Ford Foundation and MacArthur Foundation to support arts projects in the Paso del Norte region. Investments from these prestigious national foundations support the work of four designated funds under the PdNCF umbrella - Azul Arena, The Fund for the Ethical Practices of Transborder Art, Femme Frontera, and Edificio de Los Sueños. The projects are led by remarkable individuals with extraordinary entrepreneurial and artistic talent. In collaboration with the Rubin Center at the University of Texas at El Paso, these important efforts are changing the landscape for artists in El Paso and Cuidad Juárez by providing the resources and administrative support needed to encourage, support and amplify artistic and cultural endeavors in the border region.
Warming Hearts Through Coats and Grants for Children in Need
The Paso del Norte Community Foundation welcomed Operation Noel as a designated fund under our umbrella. Since it was established more than forty-years ago, and with the generous leadership and support of former Mayor Dee Margo, Operation Noel has collaborated with local organizations to provide warm clothing - and most recently, coats - to children in need. The PdNCF is honored to carry on Operation Noel’s legacy of helping children through the Operation Noel Fund. This past holiday season, we continued Operation Noel’s important work providing more than 1,200 coats to children in Ciudad Juárez and El Paso with the help of our generous donors and community partners including the Fox Family Foundation, Fox Auto Group, Ricardo Fernandez, the Foster Family Foundation, and the El Paso County Community Services Department.
Many Hearts, One Mission: Launching the Heart Gallery of El Paso
In partnership with the Heart Galleries of Texas, Texas Alliance, and Moritz Center for Societal Impact at the University of Texas at El Paso, the Paso del Norte Community Foundation launched the Heart Gallery of El Paso to use professional portraits displayed at host locations throughout El Paso, combined with community outreach, to connect families to exceptional youth in the care of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services that are interested in adoption. Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott traveled to El Paso for the Heart Gallery of El Paso’s launch event held in November 2023 at the home of Rick and Ginger Francis.
COMMUNITY PROJECTS
For the past 10 years, the PdNCF has supported charitable projects in partnership with various community partners to improve the quality of life in the region.
In 2023, work was done to promote awareness about the Downtown Deck Plaza and the Star Ceiling Project by El Paso-born artist Leo Villareal.
HEALTH / MENTAL HEALTH FUNDS
Star Ceiling Coming to Downtown El Paso
The Paso del Norte Community Foundation was proud to partner with the El Paso Museum of Art Foundation and City of El Paso to engage world-renowned and El Paso-born artist Leo Villareal in the design and installation of Star Ceiling (El Paso) outside the El Paso Museum of Art. Thanks to the generosity of numerous donors, this 120-foot installation will be composed of 13,500 individually addressable, monochrome, and energy-efficient LED lights activated in non-repeating patterns, creating a unique interactive space and new experience for every visitor. The project officially broke ground in January 2024, with completion expected in the fall of this year.
A Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity for El Paso
In partnership with the City of El Paso, the Downtown Deck Plaza Foundation hosted a series of community meetings to develop a feasibility study for a 14-acre deck park over I-10 in the downtown corridor.
With input from the public, planners developed guiding principles and preliminary programming concepts for a community recreational and green space over I-10 from Campbell to Prospects streets.
The feasibility study is funded by a $900,000 Federal RAISE Grant to the City of El Paso and $400,000 in matching funds from the Downtown Deck Plaza Foundation, thanks to generous donors and partners. The feasibility study includes planning and visioning, landscape architecture, civil engineering, structural assessments, and market and economic feasibility assessments of constructing a deck plaza.
When realized, the Deck Plaza will reconnect neighborhoods, provide opportunities for inclusive economic development, and create a regional amenity for residents and visitors to enjoy.
Nonprofit Investment
The Paso del Norte Community Foundation continued to support the nonprofit sector through various capacity building events designed to empower and connect nonprofit leaders and promote sustainability. These events included El Paso Giving Day, Gator Tank and Nonprofit Conference: Reimagine!
NONPROFIT INVESTMENT & COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
Second Annual Juárez Giving Day
The Paso del Norte Community Foundation was additionally pleased to support the second annual Juárez Giving Day, sponsored by our sister Foundation, the Fundación Paso del Norte, which raised over 1.5 million pesos for 22 nonprofit organizations in Cd. Juárez during the November 2023 campaign, with generous gifts from over 500 donors on both sides of the border.
Knocking it Out of the Park this El Paso Giving Day
El Paso responded with overwhelming support for PdNCF’s 8th annual El Paso Giving Day. The region’s largest day of giving was held on Thursday, October 19, raising $1,328,836 for 235 participating nonprofit organizations with over 7,000 gifts from 5,561 new and returning donors and individual and corporate matching funds and incentive prizes. This year, in partnership with the El Paso Chihuahuas, the Paso del Norte Community Foundation held a nonprofit night to raise awareness about the opportunity to support El Paso nonprofits, and El Paso Giving Day was hosted at the Southwest University Ballpark with live interviews showcasing the essential missions and programs of nonprofit organizations in our community.
Gator Tank Competition for Nonprofit Organizations
The Paso del Norte Community Foundation hosted the second annual Gator Tank event for five nonprofit organizations to perfect their fundraising pitches and compete for $18,000 in monetary prizes. The innovative program is designed to increase the capacity of small to medium-sized nonprofit organizations as they work to grow their impact in the community.
From July through October, participating nonprofit organizations, including Fab Lab El Paso, Paso del Norte Center of Hope, El Paso Jazz Girls, Boys and Girls Clubs of El Paso, and NAMI El Paso, worked with mentors to prepare and perfect their pitches. Mentor sessions provided thoughtful leadership, guidance, and insights for the participating organizations to learn effective fundraising and communications skills. In conjunction with the El Paso Early Giving Kick-off Event on October 12, the five participating nonprofits made their final case for support during a five-minute fast-pitch to a live audience.
Helping Nonprofit Organizations Reimagine at the 3rd Annual Nonprofit Conference
Recognizing the need to build the capacity of nonprofit organizations in the region and serving as a great professional development and leadership opportunity, the Paso del Norte Community Foundation hosted the 3rd annual Nonprofit Conference: Reimagine! on May 3rd at the Starlight Event Center. Over 370 nonprofit executive leaders, staff, and board members came together to think, develop, network, and grow. Attendees enjoyed a day of high-level thought leadership and skill-building focused on a variety of topics and themes.
Rose Gailey, partner in Heidrick & Struggles, presented a keynote address on her book, Future Focused: Shape Your Culture, Shape Your Future, which explored the importance of future-ready leadership. Jimmy LaRose presented a second keynote on major gifts fundraising. The conference was supplemented with presentations on digital transformation by Microsoft’s J.J. Childress and a presentation by Workforce Solutions Borderplex CEO Leila Melendez on the changing landscape of the workforce. Notably, Laura MacDonald of the Giving USA Foundation discussed philanthropy and charitable giving trends, while Dr. Andrea Tawney of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso shared fundraising strategies to enhance impact.
Attendees left with important information to support their organization's missions and success. Thank you to our planning committee, nonprofit community, and sponsors for supporting this event.
COMMUNITY RESILIENCE
Over the past decade, the Paso del Norte Community Foundation has played a key role in understanding the needs of the community. This has involved engaging with organizations and individuals serving on the frontlines to address a wide range of issues, such as the humanitarian crisis on the border.
COMMUNITY RESILIENCE
Migrant and Refugee Support Fund
During the cold months of December 2022 and January 2023, the Paso del Norte Community Foundation established the Migrant and Refugee Support Fund to support local nonprofit organizations responding to the humanitarian crisis on the border providing food, shelter, healthcare, and support services to thousands of migrants and refugees. Donations large and small helped fill gaps in local, state, and federal funding available to shelters and food providers working on the front lines, distributed in coordination with the City and County of El Paso.
The Paso del Norte Community Foundation further led a coat drive collecting and distributing over 4,300 coats to keep migrants and refugees warm as they arrived in El Paso and traveled to cold-weather cities across the United States.
GRANTS and FINANCES
Contributions and Revenue
$23.2
MILLION
The Paso del Norte Community Foundation received $23.2 million in contributions and revenue as a result of gifts from 9,768 donors for more than 250 charitable funds, investing $10.4 million in grants and charitable expenses in the community, and ended the year with $39.4 million in assets, excluding assets of the PdN Health Foundation.
The Paso del Norte Community Foundation received $23.2 million in contributions and revenue as a result of gifts from 9,768 donors for more than 250 charitable funds, investing $10.4 million in grants and charitable expenses in the community, and ended the year with $39.4 million in assets, excluding assets of the PdN Health Foundation.
Diverse Funds
2023 Board of Directors
Judy Robison
Board Chair
Community Advocate
L. Frederick Francis
Vice Chair
WestStar Bank
Ernesto Avila
Sunflower Bank
Julio Chiu
Seisa Group
Ed Escudero
High Desert Capital
Allison Glass
The Raben Group
Leonard “Tripper” Goodman III
Goodman Financial Group
Richard Moore
Community Advocate
Caroline North
Community Advocate
Lisa Peisen
L&F Distributors
Hector Retta
Commissioner of the Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending
William Pablo Sanders
Strategic Growth Capital
Stacey Hunt Spier
Hunt Family Foundation
Linda Troncoso
TRE & Associates, LLC
Susan Melendez
Ex-Officio
Paso del Norte Health Foundation
Steve Lauterbach
Emeritus
Lauterbach Borschow and Co.
Woody Hunt
Emeritus
Hunt Companies and Hunt Family Foundation
Mission
The Paso del Norte Community Foundation is a public charity established in 2013 to support the philanthropic goals of individuals, families, corporations, foundations, and nonprofit organizations to improve education, health, social services, economic development, and quality of life in the Paso del Norte region.
Vision
To ensure that the people in our binational, tri-state region have the knowledge, resources, support, and environment to live happy, healthy, and productive lives.
PdNCF Staff
Tracy J. Yellen
Chief Executive Officer
Kellie Burns-Franco
Director of Development
Andrea Macias
Development Coordinator
Monica Narvaez
Development Assistant
Mica Short
Vice President of Development
Supporting Staff
Faviola Calvo
Accountant II
Diana Camacho
Accountant II
Sandra Day
Associate Program Officer
Juanita Galaviz
Program Administrator
Audrey Garcia
Program Officer
Marcela Garcia
Vice President of Finance and Operations
Rosemary Hernandez
Director of Accounting
Michael Kelly
Vice President of Programs
Julia Lucero
Content Creator Associate
Ida Ortegon
Director of Communications
Claudia Perez
Program Administrator
Jana Renner
Senior Program Officer
Daniela Salazar
Operations Support Assistant
Diana Rodriguez-Seabrooks
HR Administrator/Executive Assistant
Ashley Vargas
Accounting Support Assistant
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