HOBBS, New Mexico – Responding to the needs of Lea County’s nonprofit community last year, the JF Maddox Foundation invested $7.2 Million in 22 organizations throughout Lea County, New Mexico. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $5 million and were all aimed at helping organizations grow amidst the uncertainty of the pandemic.
“We know that our nonprofit sector has seen its fair share of challenges over the last a couple of years responding to growing needs from the Lea County community in the wake of a major public health crisis and the economic instability that comes with that,” said Mayra Lovas, Senior Program Officer, JF Maddox Foundation. “The JF Maddox Foundation is here to help bolster our nonprofits while working toward creating a vibrant community for our citizens.”
In 2021, the Foundation continued its investment in the building and creation of Hobbs Municipal School’s CTECH high school as well as helped Habitat for Humanity of Hobbs purchase a new building to open a Restore in 2022.
The Foundation’s grants also enabled organizations to host several outdoor events that were sensitive to COVID-19 concerns such as Lovington Mainstreet’s 2021 Smokin’ on the Plaza BBQ Cook-Off; Hobbs Jaycees Community Fund, Inc’s Hobbs August Nites; and WHI Hobbs’, 2021 Aaron Watson Heart of Lea County Fest.
As the community continued to see economic uncertainty, the Foundation supported a variety of grants to provide housing insecurity relief to the 2-1-1 fund, the Salvation Army and Guidance Center of Lea County, Inc. In addition, it provided a grant to the United Way of Lea County to support utility assistance to those who were facing tough economic times.
With the support of the Foundation, Nor-Lea Hospital District was able to expand its COVID-19 vaccination clinics and outreach. The Foundation also helped to facilitate a housing agreement between the New Mexico Junior College, Covenant Health, and The University of New Mexico provides housing for medical residencies in Lea County.
“We have a community full of passionate people,” stated David Reed, Senior Program Officer, JF Maddox Foundation, “when times get hard, we work harder. The Foundation is lucky to have such incredible grantee partners that are not willing to give up in difficult times. It is their work that we support, and we are proud of every investment we make.”
One of the significant investments made in 2021 was the matching campaign made to United Way of Lea County. In order to enhance philanthropic giving and ensure local dollars are leveraged further, the Foundation matched donor dollars two to one. In 2021, the Foundation funded a total of $369,432 for campaign support to United Way.
“The Maddox Foundation’s matching grant played a key role in our ability to fundraise for this year’s campaign which ultimately raised more almost $1 million that helped our nonprofit agency partners to keep serving the Lea County community,” said Becca Titus, Executive Director of the United Way of Lea County. “With the Maddox Foundation support our fundraising dollars go further which encourages businesses and individuals to give.”
Building on the success of its 2021 investments, the Foundation will prioritize 2022 investments in its pillar areas: social services, diversified economy, community assets and aesthetics, education, and community health and safety.
“Our goal is to work alongside our grantees to help them not only meet the needs of the community but to think big about the ways they can enhance the quality of life for our residents. We are looking forward to doing more of that in 2022 and beyond,” Ray Caraway, Chief Executive, JF Maddox Foundation said.
Questions? Contact:
David Reed, Communications Manager
Phone: (575)393-6338 ext. 138
Email: dreed@jfmaddox.org
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