News Release

April 14, 2003

PNM Foundation Announces More Than
$15,000 in Grants for Education Programs
in Albuquerque and Northern New Mexico

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NEWS MEDIA CONTACT Susan Sponar Telephone: (505) 241-2768

Albuquerque: The nonprofit, shareholder-funded PNM Foundation has announced awards to three New Mexico organizations to support education programs that benefit youth in Albuquerque and rural Northern New Mexico. The grants total $15,250.

"Education is the foundation for the growth and prosperity of New Mexico," said Diane Harrison Ogawa, PNM Foundation executive director. "The PNM Foundation is proud to partner with these organizations to help build a stronger foundation and brighter future for our state."

The following organizations received funding:

First Choice Community Health Care: An award of $5,000 will buy books to help prepare children to enter school ready to read. Reach Out and Read is an early childhood literacy program that reaches out to entire families. Doctors counsel parents during well-child medical visits on the importance of reading at home. "Prescriptions to read" are given to the parents along with appropriate books for the children to keep.

Puppet Theatre Los Titiriteros: This mobile theater made from a 1955 milk truck brings performances to small rural communities in Rio Arriba and Mora counties, where there are no facilities for theater. The $5,250 grant funds "Out of Order," an educational puppet show about conservation of resources. The puppets, which are built from recycled materials, examine the importance of resources that are often taken for granted.

New Mexico MESA: The 2003 Summer Enrichment program is a statewide high school summer session designed to strengthen students' academic performance and build interest in science and engineering. The $5,000 grant will help girls from minority backgrounds to study math, science and engineering.

The grants announced today were for the first grant period of 2003. Deadlines for the next two rounds of grants from the PNM Foundation are May 15 and Sept. 15.

Learn more about PNM Foundation grants

Celebrating 20 years of improving New Mexico's quality of life, the PNM Foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation that was originally endowed by a gift from PNM's shareholders. No customer funds are part of the endowment. For more information, please contact the PNM Foundation at (505) 241-2284.