Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Foundation Announces 2013 Community Investment Fund Grant Recipients

SILVER CITY, N.M. March 11, 2013 – Recognizing organizations with a vision for a sustainable future in the areas of health & wellness, education, economic development and resilient families, the Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Foundation announced the 2013 Community Investment Fund grant recipients. Thirteen programs from local nonprofit and other organizations were awarded a total of $500,000.

Recipients were recognized and received their monetary awards at a presentation Monday in the WNMU Besse-Forward Global Resource Center.

The awards represent Freeport-McMoRan’s efforts to partner with local nonprofits and other organizations working on projects that create sustainable benefits for the community. “Freeport-McMoRan is committed to working with communities to identify effective partnerships that will bring lasting benefits to the people of Grant County,” said Tracy Bame, President of the Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Foundation.

“Through the Investment Fund, our goal is to continue to empower the community to take the lead in identifying and creating the kinds of programs and projects that will help generate sustainable benefits and shape the kind of community they want. We extend our gratitude to the many exemplary leaders and organizations with whom we are fortunate to work in the programs,” she said.

The Community Investment Fund was established in 2011. It is governed by a committee consisting of nine community leaders from diverse organizations and two Freeport-McMoRan representatives from Grant County. The community leaders were selected by the Grant County Community Partnership Panel. This Panel was established by Freeport-McMoRan four years ago to foster open and ongoing dialogue with the community, allowing the company and the community to work together to develop thoughtful solutions that address community issues.

The Community Investment Fund Committee cultivates and selects programs that address the priorities identified by the community to receive financial support based on established criteria, and strives to assist in the success of recipient programs. Funding decisions are made by the Committee.

The 2013 grant recipients are:

Bridge Community – $50,000
Bridge Community will build a retirement complex that will provide a continuum of care for Southwest New Mexico senior residents of diverse cultural and economic backgrounds. A parcel of land for the project site has been purchased using funds from the 2012 Freeport-McMoRan Community Investment Fund grant and an in-kind contribution. This award will be used for the completion of a detailed feasibility study/pro-forma business plan and for site planning.

Corp. for Downtown Development/Arts & Cultural District Clay Festival – $30,000
The Silver City Clay Festival is a community-based initiative aimed at broadening the economic base of the county. This multicultural, collaborative event benefits regional artisans and businesses by gaining regional, national and international recognition for the area, establishing and supporting connections with arts and business communities in the state, and bringing in outside revenue generating a sustainable income stream.

Corp. for Downtown Development/Theater District Phase Two – $50,000
Phase Two will equip the downtown Silco Theater with modern digital projection and sound facilities, which will allow the theater to be used for first-run movies, in addition to
enhancing utility for meetings and live performance. Beneficiaries include downtown
merchants with the development of additional traffic, local government with the
generation of increased tax revenue, and residents of and visitors to Grant County with
a wider variety of family entertainment and cultural opportunities.

Gila Regional Medical Center Foundation/First Born Program – $40,000
Healthy mothers and healthy families are core to the long term health and success of the community, which is a goal of the First Born Program. It will receive a grant to provide health and wellness services to first-time families by building strengths and competencies through relationships, support, education and referrals.

Gila Regional Medical Center Foundation/Community Health Council – $50,000
The funding for the Grant County Community Health Council will allow for the continuation of popular community health programs, such as the Red Hot Children's Fiesta, Jump into Summer, resource directories, and health fairs, as well as other wellness priority activities identified by the 2012 Community Assessment – a project directed by the Health Council.

Gila Regional Medical Center/Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities – $22,000
This project will oversee a family-oriented childhood obesity intervention program, which focuses on feeling positive, nutrition and fitness. The program will educate families to choose healthier food options, become active and think about how emotional health impacts them.

Hidalgo Medical Services/FORWARD NM – $30,000
FORWARD NM, a program of Hidalgo Medical Services, will create a four-week summer math, science and health careers summer academy for Grant County high school sophomores, juniors and seniors. The academy seeks to increase college admissions, assist with exam preparation, strengthen academic competitiveness and core competencies, promote interest in health professions and provide students with information about healthy behaviors.

Imagination Library of Grant County, Inc. – $45,000
This project will deliver a free book each month to registered preschool children under the age of five who live in Grant County. The major objective is to provide an early childhood literacy experience. Research demonstrates that early education and reading is a significant factor in helping prepare children for a successful learning experience in kindergarten and beyond.

Literacy Link Leamos – $25,000
This program builds literacy skills in the county through one-to-one tutoring, English as a second language classes, computer literacy instruction, workshops, and by the annual donation of more than 10,000 books to Head Start and elementary students. Literacy is critical to obtaining employment, functioning well in today’s society, and to managing a family.

Silver Consolidated Schools – $38,000
A reading project will provide a rigorous program of foundational instruction to students from kindergarten to the 12th grade, including special education students. By providing a rigorous and relevant program beginning in kindergarten, as well as additional remedial instruction to those students struggling in the upper grades, the district aims to meet the challenge of increased proficiency in reading.

Silver High School – $32,000
The grant will allow the high school to update its computer lab. A primary objective is to allow students and staff the ability to properly utilize today’s technology and access additional learning materials and experiences through online resources.

Silver Regional Sexual Assault Support Services – $50,000
The project will build capacity for the organization by adding a part time outreach and education coordinator, and a contracted mental health therapist. These new services will provide additional resources to survivors of sexual violence and the community. The contract therapist will work directly with survivors, while the outreach position will seek to further engage and educate residents on the realities of sexual violence, including prevention and intervention measures.

The Wellness Coalition – $38,000
Funds will be used to further develop a youth center called “The Spot” in Silver City. The facility appeals to young people ages 11 through 20 and provides a safe environment for them to spend out-of-school time with many opportunities to grow themselves and explore the world around them. The goals of The Spot programs are to decrease risky behavior, while increasing health and wellness, youth civic engagement, and workforce and leadership skills.

Organizations that are interested in learning more about 2013 funding opportunities can visit www.FreeportInMyCommunity.com.

Photos by Mary Alice Murphy and her camera