El Paso Community Foundation

You're invited to participate in the More the Merrier online event! This will benefit Every Little Blessing Preschool and their mission to support the development and independence of children with Down syndrome and children with similar education programming needs.

Join us from Saturday, December 9 to Sunday, December 10th-20% of your purchase will go to Every Little Blessing Preschool! Buy your holiday gifts in-store, or shop online at kendrascott.com
Use code - GIVEBACK-FQOXP at checkout to participate.

Please help us spread the word by sharing on your socials, and telling your friends and family!!

Remember! Use code - GIVEBACK-FQOXP at checkout to participate.

"I believe, I believe, it's silly, but I believe!" The FREE Holiday Movies at WinterFest continues this weekend with the 1947 classic, MIRACLE ON 34th STREET! This time at the El Paso Museum of Art.

Bring family and friends Downtown on Saturday, December 9th at 3pm to the El Paso Museum of Art to enjoy this timeless classic about the power of faith. This showing is FREE, with no tickets required-just show up and enjoy.

For the full El Paso Community Foundation Plaza Classic Holiday Movies at El Paso WinterFest SCHEDULE, visit: https://plazaclassic.com/schedule

Want to change the world? Do it one person at a time. The Spirit of Giving gives you the chance to help these generous agencies get a gift into the hands of children, older adults and people with disabilities that otherwise might go without. Each tag represents to story of someone that is asking for a little compassion. You can pic a tag at one of the trees at The Shoppes at Solana (formerly Sunland Park mall) or Cielo Vista mall. You can also pick a virtual tag here: https://spiritofgiving.epcf.org/

We can't do this without our community partners, and the gifts will go to people in our community served by these wonderful agencies:

Aliviane, Inc.
Programs for clients seeking treatment for substance abuse.
Amistad - El Paso
Delivers social services, including transportation for seniors for medical appointments.
Bienvivir All-Inclusive Senior Health
Provides care to the elderly population of El Paso, including medical, transportation, rehab and recreational therapy, and social services.
Boys & Girls Clubs of El Paso
Enables young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible adults.
Candlelighters of El Paso
Candlelighters is dedicated to serving children with cancer ages birth to 20.
Center Against Sexual & Family Violence
Provide the necessary guidance and resources to help those who experience violence on the road to a healthy recovery.
Centro De Salud Familiar La Fe
Founded in the Segundo Barrio, now serves low income families with health and educational services throughout the El Paso community.
Cesar Chavez Headstart
Cesar Chavez Head Start seeks to educate parents and empower families to break the cycle of poverty to provide brighter futures for their children.
Child Crisis Center of El Paso
Protects children from birth to age 13 from abuse and neglect by providing shelter, family support services, education and prevention services.
El Paso Center for Children
Provides counseling, life skills, and foster care services.
El Paso State Supported Living Center
Provides live-in facilities for those who have intellectual developmental disabilities.
La Familia del Paso, Inc
Provides behavioral and mental health services to the El Paso Community.
La Posada Home EP
Provides shelter for women and children fleeing domestic violence.
Miracle League of El Paso
Provides recreational and socialization programs for individuals of all ages with special needs.
Paso del Norte Children's Development Center
Helps children with special needs achieve their fullest potential.
Paso del Norte Center of Hope
Provides support, referrals and advocacy for survivors of human trafficking.
Programa Compañeros
A Juarez non-profit working in HIV and AIDS prevention, care, education and research aimed at socially vulnerable groups.
Project Vida
Provides technical assistance to small businesses, health resources, housing, day care, and after school programs.
Reynolds Home
Provides a safe shelter for women and children while transitioning out of homelessness.
South Side Volunteers
Youth group with ties to the first Segundo Barrio Girl Scout troop founded in 1992, is involved in projects to improve the community.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso
Provides services in the El Paso area for participants with multiple diagnoses in the Community Living Assistance and Support Services program.
YWCA El Paso Del Norte Region
Provides a safe, secure housing environment with programming to empower women with children experiencing homelessness.

Do you like stand-up comedy? The Jewel Box Series presents AN AFTERNOON OF COMEDY at 2:30 pm Sunday, Dec. 10th in the Philanthropy Theatre (Plaza Theatre-Downtown), with El Paso comedian, Orlando V Cordova headlining, with assists from ABQ comedian Carla Vasquez in the feature slot and El Paso's Anthony Ryan hosting! Tickets are $15 at the door (no service charge) and Ticketmaster.com (service charge added). For more information: https://epcf.org/jewelboxseries

We’re proud of Adam Tirres for being selected to receive the Employer of the Year award by Volar Center for Independent Living on behalf of Howdy Homemade Ice Cream - a project of the El Paso Community Foundation. Evan George Vourazeris (Howdy Homemade employee and actor) joins him on stage.

So,... good news, I saw a dog today! But, we're also excited to celebrate the 20th anniversary of ELF as the free Holiday Movies at WinterFest continue.

We're showing the modern Christmas classic, starring Will Ferrell as the man-elf himself, on Sunday at 1pm in the Plaza Theatre, followed by Chevy Chase in NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION at 3:30 pm, also on Sunday in the Plaza Theatre. Both movies are FREE. No tickets are required-just show up and enjoy.

Rick Garven will perform on the Wyler Mighty Wurlitzer Pipe Organ 30 minutes before each show.

For the full El Paso Community Foundation Plaza Classic Holiday Movies at El Paso WinterFest SCHEDULE, visit: https://plazaclassic.com/schedule

Did you know that there's ONLY a little over a week left to participate in the El Paso Community Foundation's Spirit of Giving? Each tag represents the story of someone that might go without this holiday, so you're essentially picking a person you want to make smile this season. Pick that tag, either from our virtual tree: https://spiritofgiving.epcf.org/ or a tree at The Shoppes at Solana (formerly Sunland Park Mall), or Cielo Vista Mall.

For more info: https://spiritofgiving.epcf.org/about

Creativity fuels our community and the Border Art Residency, a project of the El Paso Community Foundation, is seeking a new resident artist for Spring/Summer 2024! The deadline to apply is January 1, 2024. Apply at: https://www.borderartresidency.com/apply-1

The Border Art Residency provides the selected artist a living/studio space in El Paso, Texas for a period of time to cultivate their creativity. Resident artists are provided with a fully furnished living/working space, a monthly stipend, and paid utilities.

The next open residency period is from March 1 to August 24, 2024. Applications will be accepted until January 1, 2024. The selected artist will be notified by February 1, 2024.
For more information, visit: https://www.borderartresidency.com/

This weekend's Skills Link Series hosted by Fab Lab El Paso will be an insightful one! Did you know AI can be used to secure sensitive info? This Saturday join Senior Software Developer, Luis Trejo, to dive into real-world AI cybersecurity use cases and more. Join us for networking, professional development, and LinkedIn certifications!
Register Here: https://loom.ly/IXOV7sQ
Check out all the Skills Link sessions here: https://loom.ly/2lw73_8

TODAY is GivingTuesday! The El Paso Community Foundation is part of the global movement that unleashes the power of radical generosity. GivingTuesday reimagines a world built upon shared humanity and generosity. Help us celebrate GivingTuesday by making a donation to one of the El Paso Community Foundation’s funds, projects or affiliate organizations devoted to making the El Paso borderland a better place. For more information, and suggestions on where to support, visit: https://epcf.org/news/help-us-celebrate-givingtuesday

Also visit epcf.org/give/donate to donate by specific fund name, category or even initiate change by starting your own fund for GivingTuesday!

The eighth season of the El Paso Community Foundation Jewel Box Series at the Philanthropy Theatre showcased the second production, ‘Recommended Reading for Girls’ earlier this month.
Here are some photos from that performance. (Photos by Rudy Gutierrez)

The Jewel Box Series will feature monthly productions from November 2023 through May 2024 ranging from stand-up comedy and dramas to music and a musical about racism — with puppetry!

Keep an eye out for the NEXT Jewel Box Series show on December, 10th! with AN AFTERNOON OF COMEDY by Orlando V Cordova and friends. General admission tickets are $15 for each show and are on sale at the Plaza Theatre Box Office and: https://shorturl.at/ATWX3

The Jewel Box Series was created in partnership with El Paso Live in 2014 to host local performing artists and groups in that jewel box of a venue, the Philanthropy Theatre in the Plaza Theatre Performing Arts Centre. Here’s a rundown of the 2023-2024 season: https://epcf.org/jewelboxseries

The 12th El Paso Community Foundation Plaza Classic Film Festival Holiday Movies series begins Sunday, November 26th in the Plaza Theatre with Tim Burton's THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (30th anniversary) at 1pm and John Hughes' HOME ALONE at 3:30pm.

Admission is FREE and no tickets are required, but seating starts 30 minutes before each show. The Holiday Movies are presented in partnership with El Paso Live as part of the 8th annual El Paso WinterFest. More info at: https://plazaclassic.com/schedule See you here!

The El Paso Community Foundation Plaza Classic Film Festival Pass sale is on! Now through New Year's Eve, you can get a 2024 Plaza Classic Film Festival pass for a discounted price. Click below for details. https://plazaclassic.com/tickets

Tickets - Plaza Classic Film Festival | El Paso, Texas | July 18 - July 28, 2024 The Festival Pass is a great way to take in all the sights, sounds and stars of the Plaza Classic Film Festival. A Festival Pass sells for $200 and includes access to almost all ticketed festival movies, a jump-the-line express lane, reservations for Philanthropy Theatre movies, special events, and....

Happy Thanksgiving day from all of us at the El Paso Community Foundation. We're grateful to have such a supportive network of community partners within a beautiful borderland filled with some of the best people you'll find anywhere. Visit epcf.org for more information on how to make our community even better.

We know you're going to be verbalizing how thankful you are to your friends and family in couple days, and you can give someone something to be thankful for during the holidays too. Our 35th Annual El Paso Community Foundation Spirit of Giving campaign is in full swing with a virtual tree sponsored by community partners and physical trees at two local malls Your one gift might be the only gift someone receives this year. All you have to do is:

- Visit https://spiritofgiving.epcf.org/
- Choose a Tag, pay for the item and the El Paso Community Foundation will ensure it is delivered

OR

- Choose a Tag and purchase the gift yourself; place it in a gift bag (please do not wrap), print out the tag, and drop it off at the drop-off event location, dates and times.

Prefer picking tags in-person? The Spirit of Giving trees with tags are now up at Cielo Vista mall and the The Shoppes at Solana (formerly Sunland Park Mall)!

To pick a tag on our virtual tree today, visit: https://spiritofgiving.epcf.org/

Spirit of Giving | Presented by the El Paso Community Foundation This is a time of year when just about everyone gets into the Spirit of Giving. Choose a gift tag from our virtual tree and give someone less fortunate some holiday cheer!

The final Downtown Tasting Tour of the year is on December 13th! Downtown El Paso DMD is giving you the opportunity to experience five Downtown restaurants at this delicious event: Cónico Cocina Mexicana, unbranded tavern & kitchen, Weso Steakhouse, Barrio Eats & Drinks, and Kaffa Coffee Shop. Savor the flavors of Downtown and enjoy the holiday lights and decor at the same time!

For more information or to purchase tickets visit: downtownelpaso.com

“The climbing isn’t the enjoyable part,” Braun said. “It’s the challenge of solving the problem, of getting the equipment where it needs to be.” - Eric Braun, Rigger.

Mr. Braun is utilizing his unique set of skills to install the Anything's Possible Climber attraction that is part of the upcoming children's museum, La Nube.

Read the full El Paso Inc. story about this captivating installer here: tps://shorturl.at/pCR24

Look out below! Circus acrobat scales La Nube to install signature attraction Seasoned rigger Eric Braun has been climbing up and down – as high as four stories – on ropes inside the cloud-shaped building of La Nube in Downtown El Paso.

Level-up with this networking and LinkedIn course certification!
Erik Pavia, startup founder and CEO of Pantheon, will be leading the Fab Lab El Paso hosted Skills Link workshop this Saturday!

Erik has launched apps, recruited engineering teams, and created new college courses with his tech entrepreneurship and business law expertise. Join us to learn from him and earn an in-demand LinkedIn course certification.

Register Here:
https://loom.ly/IXOV7sQ

Check out all the Skills Link sessions here
https://loom.ly/2lw73_8

Creativity fuels our community and the Border Art Residency, a project of the El Paso Community Foundation, is seeking a new resident artist for Spring/Summer 2024! The deadline to apply is January 1, 2024. Apply at: https://www.borderartresidency.com/apply-1

The Border Art Residency provides the selected artist a living/studio space in El Paso, Texas for a period of time to cultivate their creativity. Resident artists are provided with a fully furnished living/working space, a monthly stipend, and paid utilities.

The next open residency period is from March 1 to August 24, 2024. Applications will be accepted until January 1, 2024. The selected artist will be notified by February 1, 2024.

For more information, visit: https://www.borderartresidency.com/

The FREE Holiday Movies return to the Plaza Theatre — and expand to the El Paso Museum of Art this year! Part of the 8th annual El Paso WinterFest, our 12th Holiday Movies series includes anniversary showings of Tim Burton's THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1993), Will Ferrell in ELF (2003), and Disney's FROZEN (2013), and the return of IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE after a year hiatus. All movies are FREE. No tickets are required. The series kicks-off on Sunday, NOVEMBER 26th! Check out the schedule at plazaclassic.com/schedule Plaza Classic

The El Paso Community Foundation's 35th annual Spirit of Giving is underway with a virtual tree sponsored by community partners and physical trees going up in two local malls in the coming weeks!

Get into the holiday spirit by donating a gift to children, older adults and people with specials needs – people who might otherwise go without during the holidays.

How can you make someone’s holiday special?
- Visit https://spiritofgiving.epcf.org/
- Choose a Tag, pay for the item and the El Paso Community Foundation will ensure it is delivered
OR
- Choose a Tag and purchase the gift yourself; place it in a gift bag (please do not wrap), print out the tag, and drop it off at the drop-off event location, dates and times.

Prefer picking tags in-person? The Spirit of Giving trees with tags will be up by Thanksgiving week at Cielo Vista Mall and the The Shoppes at Solana (formerly Sunland Park Mall).

To pick a tag on our virtual tree today, visit https://spiritofgiving.epcf.org/

From all us here at the El Paso Community Foundation, we appreciate your service, and happy Veterans Day not only to the those that have served but to the family's that support our troops.

THE 2023 Annual Down Syndrome Coalition for El Paso HOLIDAY EVENT is happening Saturday, December 2nd from 5:30pm-9pm!

The party is intended for children with Down syndrome & immediate family members. If you're new to the community, you're welcome to come and make new friends!

There will be special gifts for the first 100 guests and its FREE for individuals with Down syndrome and $8 for accompanying friends or family for parties up to six. To RSVP please visit https://dscep.org/events/holiday-party

Theme: Candy Cane Lane – Red and White attire encouraged.

Space is limited, so RSVP early! Ticket sales close November 15th, no exceptions. If you have a group larger than 6 or are in need of financial assistance please contact the Down Syndrome Coalition at [email protected]. We want you there!

Don't miss the next certification workshop from the Skills Series hosted by Fab Lab El Paso, this Saturday, November 11th at 1pm! We'll be diving into the latest materials and their applications with expert and entrepreneur, Philip Morton. Register: https://loom.ly/IXOV7sQ

Also, check out these highlights from last Saturday's workshop! Instructor and mentor, David McCoy, shared his programming journey since age 8, mixing insightful stories with humor and offering us valuable lessons.

Check the schedule for future at the Microsoft El Paso Innovation Hub. https://fablabelpaso.org/skillslink/

Carlos Barba is our newest Do-Gooder! He is the Artistic Director of the El Paso Youth Jazz Ensemble and is passionate about helping young students advance in their musical abilities, "It feels great to be part of something greater than just yourself; music can be a great vehicle for that," he said.

Selected Do-Gooders have $1000 donated in their name to a charity of their choice and are spotlighted by KVIA ABC-7 and Nichole Gomez ABC-7! To nominate, visit: https://epcf.org/do-gooder

The El Paso Community Foundation’s 35th annual Spirit of Giving campaign kicks-off with a virtual tree sponsored by community partners and physical trees going up in two local malls in the coming weeks!

Get into the holiday spirit by donating a gift to children, older adults and people with specials needs – people who might otherwise go without during the holidays. This year promises to be one of the best as 2023 marks the 35th year for the campaign with more than 67,000 gifts donated so far. Let's add to that number of smiles in 2023!

How can you make someone’s holiday special? Here's how: https://epcf.org/news/el-paso-community-foundation-launches-35th-annual-spirit-of-giving-campaign

The FREE Skills Link Series hosted by Fab Lab El Paso continues this Saturday with: "Mastering IT Security Risks"

With the increasing digitization of our world, it's critical to learn how to protect sensitive data from rising cyber threats. Join us this Saturday, November 4th to hear about the latest tech to manage IT security risks and earn a LinkedIn certificate on the topic!

Spots are going fast, reserve yours here: https://loom.ly/d5sYVVM

Instructor, David McCoy, is a seasoned veteran with over 27 years of military expertise and an extensive background in digital infrastructure and security.

Saturday, November 4, 1pm - 4:30pm
El Paso Innovation Hub, 500 W Overland Dr, Suite 210

Just between us, FREE Holiday Movies are back as part of El Paso WinterFest! Since they'll probably be Downtown, “You see gum on the street, leave it there. It isn't free candy.”

The eighth season of the El Paso Community Foundation Jewel Box Series at the Philanthropy Theatre will showcase the second production, ‘Recommended Reading for Girls’ at 2:30 pm Sunday, November 12th! https://epcf.org/jewelboxseries

Directed by Rachel Mullins and featuring seven talented El Paso actresses, Star on the Mountain Theatrical Productions’ version of the Ellen Struve comedy-drama is a love letter to family and literature that brims with humor and heart. Amy Saunders already has a lot on her mind when she arrives at her childhood home — a broken heart, a recent layoff, and her mother’s chemotherapy. Things get weird when characters from her favorite childhood novels begin showing up, including Anne of Green Gables, The Little Princess, and Heidi. Pregnant sister Jackie sees them, too.

The Jewel Box Series will feature monthly productions from November 2023 through May 2024 ranging from stand-up comedy and dramas to music and a musical about racism — with puppetry!

General admission tickets are $15 for each show and are on sale at the Plaza Theatre Box Office and: https://t.ly/0-4YK

The Jewel Box Series was created in partnership with El Paso Live in 2014 to host local performing artists and groups in that jewel box of a venue, the Philanthropy Theatre in the Plaza Theatre Performing Arts Centre. Here’s a rundown of the 2023-2024 season: https://epcf.org/jewelboxseries

Leadership Texas, honors 10 local women, including our very own, Kathrin Berg, Executive Vice President, EPCF, for contributions to the community!

Leadership Texas, an endeavor to learn more about Texas cities, is organized by Leadership Women, with a mission to ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic, and public life.

Read more about their visit to our region in the El Paso Inc.: https://shorturl.at/avEO9

The Howdy Homemade El Paso scoop shop will be closed today, Saturday, October 28th, BUT you can find their delicious in-house ice cream at the Dia de los Mu***os Festival in Downtown until 10pm, and at the Mesita school festival from noon to 4pm!

If you've never experienced the creative freight train that is Pechakucha, you're in for a treat!

PechaKucha returns to Downtown El Paso TONIGHT, with the Archtober Edition brought to you by the The American Institute of Architects, El Paso Chapter.

PechaKucha (Japanese for “chit chat”) is the world’s fastest-growing storytelling platform, used by millions around the globe. 20 slides. 20 seconds of commentary per slide. That’s it. Simple. Engaging. Spurring authentic connections. The first PechaKucha Night was first held in Tokyo in 2003 and has since exploded to 1,300+ cities around the world. Today, more than 50,000 people present at 1,100+ global PechaKucha Nights every year.

El Paso has been part of PechaKucha since 2008 and we are excited to be meeting in person again! We have a great lineup of artists, creatives and thinkers who will be sharing their passions and stories. PechaKucha (PK; p**n: Peh-cha Koo-cha, ペ-チャ-ク-チャ) 20 images x 20 seconds.

PechaKucha Night v.27 will take place TONIGHT, Thursday, October 26th at the Foundation Room (333 N. Oregon) directly across from San Jacinto Plaza. Doors open at 7pm. Admission is absolutely FREE!

Join us for this Saturday's Skills Link session hosted by Fab Lab El Paso! Steven Espinosa, Product Director of World Group, will guide us through the “Digital Transformation in Supply Chains” course. Sessions and the accompanying LinkedIn certifications are FREE of charge to you. Take a look at photos from last week's successful course where participants learned about artificial intelligence!

We suggest that you check out upcoming sessions, that again, are absolutely FREE!

Session calendar and opportunity to sign-up for the latest course: https://lnkd.in/gMZ-Wggr

Join us for the 2nd Annual Mike Abeyta Memorial Golf Tournament hosted by The Borderland 100 Club, THIS Friday, October 27th!

It'll be a great day of golf at Underwood Golf Course, amazing awards, and sensational raffles. Breakfast and lunch included!

- 4 Person Scramble
- $100 Per Person/$400 Per Team
- Event and Hole Sponsorships Available
- Prizes (1st, 2nd, 3rd, Hole in One, Closest to Pin)

Get your tickets at: https://tinyurl.com/34r6r739

With all proceeds benefiting our First Responders during financial and mental health crisis.

This Saturday's Skills Link session hosted by Fab Lab El Paso was a huge success! Microsoft Software Engineer II, Norma Rivera guided the group through modern AI tools and their applications.

Sessions and the accompanying LinkedIn certifications are free of charge to you. We suggest that you check out upcoming sessions, that again, are absolutely FREE!

Session calendar: https://fablabelpaso.org/skillslink/

Announcement: The 6th Run Internacional - The U.S. - México 10k has been rescheduled for March 2, 2024

La Run Internacional de U.S.-Mexico 10k, ha sido reprogramada para el 2 de Marzo de 2024!

We have celebrated five successful editions of the “Run Internacional” since 2015. As the only U.S.-MX cross border 10K, Run Internacional is committed to presenting a unique experience for runners to cross El Paso and Ciudad Juarez international boundary lines. In an effort to maintain the integrity of this binational event and due to the international nature of this race with factors outside of our control, Run Internacional is re-scheduled for March 2, 2024 in collaboration with U.S.-MX authorities.

We apologize for any inconvenience and we hope to see you for the 6th edition of Run Internacional on March 2024!

¡Pedimos disculpas por cualquier inconveniente y esperamos verte en la sexta edición de Run Internacional en Marzo de 2024!