Governor to help honor award winners
Tickets available for Jan. 28 luncheon
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham will help honor a special group of New Mexicans whose inspirational stories define the Spirit of New Mexico. The 10th annual Albuquerque Journal Spirit of New Mexico Awards luncheon will celebrate this year’s winners, selected from organizations and individuals featured in Journal stories for doing extraordinary deeds that have bettered or helped their communities.
Tickets are now available for the lunch, scheduled Monday, Jan. 28, at the Sandia Casino Golf Event Center ballroom, at 30 Rainbow Road. Doors open at 11:30 and the program starts at noon.
Tickets may be purchased on eventbrite.com and cost $50. Those interested in purchasing a table can contact Lynn Marie Rusaw by email at lmrusaw@abqjournal.com or by phone at 823-3353.
Attendees will hear from Journal reporters who wrote stories about these amazing individuals and from the awardees themselves. Gov. Lujan Grisham will present the awards, and the program will be co-hosted by KOAT’s Shelly Ribando and Journal editor Karen Moses.
The event will also provide an opportunity for award recipients to display literature and additional information about their organizations’ work.
“We hope this luncheon will inspire others to find ways to make a difference in New Mexico, leading to more good news stories in our community,” said Journal publisher William Lang.
This year’s recipients are:
Michael Riordan and the Jennifer Riordan Foundation, which he started to honor his wife, Jennifer, who was killed in a tragic airline incident. The foundation has awarded grants to numerous nonprofit organizations.
Leigh Caswell, director of the Presbyterian Center for Community Health and the Food Pharmacy, which provides fresh produce and other healthy options to patients.
President Jasmyn Madison and the primarily African-American Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority for participating in several public service projects and its efforts to register voters and provide scholarships.
Holly Slade, founder of the nonprofit organization Feed New Mexico Kids. The group provides nonperishable food items Albuquerque Public Schools students can take home each weekend to share with their families.
Anthony Trujillo, founder of the Holmans Foundation for Autism, and hometown hero and Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman, who sits on the foundation board.
Albuquerque Public Schools teacher Sandra Torres and school nurse Carrie L. Pérez, for their dogged and successful efforts to get help for a young student and her siblings whom they believed were in danger at home.
Mike Smith, Triple Crown-winning jockey and New Mexico native, who never passes up a chance to tout his home state.