PNM employees build wheelchairs
Nearly 90 PNM employees from across the state came together to assemble wheelchairs for those in need and donated them to Adelante Development Center Inc., a local nonprofit agency that serves more than 1,000 New Mexicans with mental, physical, and developmental disabilities.
“We care about the communities we serve,” said Becky Teague, PNM executive director of external affairs. “This event with our good friends from Adelante was a perfect fit for our employees to show how much they care about the customers they serve every day.”
Employees included meter readers, southern New Mexico collections, and staff from regional payment centers.
The project was professionally facilitated and, in all, 12 wheelchairs were assembled and given to Adelante’s Back in Use program.
PNM employees also learned about the challenges people with disabilities attempt to work through every day through different obstacle courses and simulations.
Since 1999, PNM has given more than $283,000 to Adelante Development Center Inc., helping to provide quality services and programs to keep people with disabilities moving forward and pushing past social barriers and stereotypes, set goals, and achieve them.
Macy’s, Barrett join for shopping event
For the first time, Macy’s is partnering with the Barrett
Foundation and inviting customers to participate in Macy’s eleventh annual national Shop for a Cause charity shopping event, taking place Friday, Aug. 26 through Sunday, Aug. 28.
Customers can begin purchasing shopping passes from the Barrett Foundation now. Macy’s Shop for a Cause is a unique shopping event dedicated to supporting local nonprofit organizations’ fundraising efforts. Formerly a one-day initiative, this year Macy’s has extended Shop for a Cause to a weekendlong event. Since 2006, the program has helped raise tens of millions of dollars for charities throughout the country.
“At Macy’s, we believe in supporting the communities where our customers and associates live and work,” said Holly Thomas, Macy’s group vice president of cause marketing. “That is why we are so proud of Shop for a Cause, which has helped raise tens of millions of dollars for charitable organizations since 2006. With this year’s extension to a weekend-long event, we’re offering even more opportunity to support local and national causes, and thanking our customers with special savings at Macy’s.”
Macy’s has provided the Barrett Foundation with shopping passes to sell for $5 each, and the organization will keep 100 percent of the proceeds for every shopping pass that it sells. By purchasing a shopping pass from the Barrett Foundation, customers support homeless women and children and can also enjoy spectacular discounts at Macy’s stores all weekend long Friday through Sunday.
“This will be our first year participating in the Macy’s Shop for a Cause event and we are so grateful to be included among other charities.” said the Barrett Foundation’s executive director, Connie Chavez. “Funds raised will aid in helping us provide shelter, food, and resources for the women and children we serve.”
For more information about Macy’s Shop for a Cause, visit macys.com/ shopforacause. To purchase a shopping pass from the Barrett Foundation, contact Mallory Martinez, development coordinator, at 505-246-9244, Ext.107 or email communityengagement@ barrettfoundation.org.
BCBS helps kids get gear for school
Starting a new school year is exciting to many New Mexico students; however, it can also mean stress and anxiety for many other students and their parents. For 26 years, employees of Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico have worked to help elementary students prepare for another school year by providing school supplies to students in need through their Operation Back to School (OBTS) campaign.
“What makes Operation Back to School such a wonderful project is that it is completely employeedriven,” said Janice Torrez, divisional vice president of external affairs and chief of staff at BCBSNM. “Our employees come together year after year to support education and assist young children in need. It is critical that students get the tools they need to succeed in the classroom. We are proud to help make that happen.”
BCBSNM will be delivering more than 22,000 supplies to 16 elementary schools over the next few weeks. Operation Back to School began on a small scale in 1990 as a project to assist the New Mexico Public Schools Insurance Authority. The program delivers spiral notebooks, wide-rule looseleaf paper, No. 2 pencils, crayons, glue, erasers, tissues and hand wipes.
The employees of BCBSNM work hard during July and August to raise funds or donate supplies for the OBTS campaign. This year, the employees were able to gather: 3,538 spiral notebooks, 1,824 packages of loose-leaf paper, 2,383 boxes of crayons, 4,170 erasers, 2,473 packages of colored pencils, 6,161 glue sticks, 372 bottles of hand sanitizers, 664 boxes of tissues, and 2,417 packs of pencils.