El Paso Giving Day: Empowering Nonprofits and Strengthening Our Community

El Paso Giving Day is here again, marking the 9th year of this incredible campaign organized by the Paso del Norte Community Foundation. This annual event brings together the people of El Paso to support the nonprofits that work tirelessly to improve our city, from providing healthcare services to protecting our environment and rescuing animals. Whether your passion lies with helping children, supporting mental health initiatives, or uplifting the elderly, today is the day we come together to create lasting change.

The beauty of El Paso Giving Day is that you don’t need to be a millionaire to make a difference. With a donation as small as $10, you can contribute to the cause that resonates with you the most. It’s an opportunity for everyone in our community to participate, regardless of their financial situation, and help our city soar to new heights.

Why Participate in El Paso Giving Day?

Support Local Causes: This day provides a unique opportunity to make a direct impact on the local causes you care about most. Whether it’s education, healthcare, environmental conservation, animal welfare, or arts and culture, there’s a nonprofit in El Paso dedicated to the cause that matters to you. From over 250 nonprofits registered this year, about 30 of them are located in Downtown El Paso, making our vibrant downtown the heartbeat of giving.

Strengthen Community Bonds: Giving fosters a sense of belonging and unity within our community. When you participate in El Paso Giving Day, you join a movement that strengthens the bonds among neighbors and friends as we all work together toward a common goal: making El Paso a better place for everyone.

Amplify Your Impact: Your donation, no matter how small, can have a ripple effect. It can inspire others to give, multiplying the impact of your generosity. Every contribution helps push our community toward a brighter, stronger future, and together, we can elevate our nonprofits to new levels of success.

Downtown El Paso’s Nonprofits Leading the Way

Downtown El Paso is home to a diverse range of nonprofits working across various sectors. Whether it’s organizations supporting the arts, helping animals find forever homes, or offering vital health services, these groups form the backbone of our community’s social services. By supporting these nonprofits on El Paso Giving Day, you’re not just helping them complete their individual missions—you’re contributing to the continued growth and vibrancy of Downtown El Paso.

So, today is the day to be part of something bigger. Join us in supporting our local nonprofits and help make El Paso an even better place to live, work, and thrive. Let’s come together, lift each other up, and show the power of community-driven generosity!

Supporting the Heart of Our City: Downtown El Paso’s Nonprofits on Giving Day

Causes: Advocacy, Arts and Culture, Education

For the 2024 Giving Day in El Paso, Texas, the community is invited to support impactful initiatives that benefit both El Paso and Ciudad Juarez. Key campaigns include Operation Noel, which provides warm coats to families in need, and Amor Por Juarez, which has fostered cultural and artistic growth for over thirteen years. Their latest project, the Region One Art Gallery in Downtown El Paso, showcases contemporary art from emerging and established artists, elevating the local art scene. Donations on Giving Day will help sustain these efforts, blending humanitarian aid with cultural enrichment.

Basketball in the Barrio

Causes: Advocacy, Arts and Culture, Children and Youth

For over 30 years, Household Furniture’s Basketball in the Barrio in El Paso has blended sports with culture, inspired by the values of Rocky Galarza, Don Haskins, and Nolan Richardson. Set in Segundo Barrio, the camp emphasizes discipline, teamwork, and pride in the border community, integrating Mexican-American music, dance, art, and storytelling. Each camper receives a basketball, t-shirt, two bilingual books, a harmonica, and inspirational materials. With 30 volunteer counselors, the camp remains accessible to all children for just one dollar, offering an enriching experience that celebrates community and heritage.

Causes: Children and Youth, Education, Health and Mental Well-being

Since 1929, the Boys & Girls Clubs of El Paso have offered vital educational, leadership, sports, and personal development programs for low-income and underserved youth aged 6-18. Their after-school and summer programs provide a safe and supportive environment, helping kids avoid negative influences and build confidence. With affordable fees and no child turned away, the organization continues to be a lifeline for many. Donations ensure they can continue to deliver guidance and opportunities, with $700 covering a child’s annual participation.

Causes:Arts and Culture, Children and Youth, Health and Mental Well-being

Creative Kids Inc., a 25-year-old nationally recognized nonprofit, provides impactful visual art education to over 1,200 youth annually. Their programs include Project ABLE, serving disconnected and disadvantaged youth, Project MAP for at-risk youth at the Boys & Girls Club of El Paso, and Project AIM, supporting children battling cancer. They also offer Project RAP, helping families affected by the August 3rd tragedy. Many participants come from modest backgrounds, and Creative Kids fosters their talents, encouraging them to pursue lifelong learning and higher education.

Causes: A ONCE-IN-A-GENERATION OPPORTUNITY FOR EL PASO, TEXAS

The Paso del Norte Community Foundation created the Downtown Deck Plaza Foundation to support the vision of building a deck plaza over I-10 in downtown El Paso. This project aims to reconnect neighborhoods divided by the highway and provide green space, recreational areas, and hike/bike trails. Although ambitious, the Deck Plaza is within reach, and donations on El Paso Giving Day will help bring it closer to reality. The community is encouraged to engage in the design process by visiting downtowndeckplaza.org for updates and opportunities to get involved.

Causes: Children and Youth, Education, Health and Mental Well-being

The Drowning Prevention Coalition of El Paso was established in 2010 to reduce fatal drownings and promote water safety. Formed after nine tragic drownings in El Paso County, the coalition includes 30 local agencies dedicated to raising awareness and educating children, adults, and families about drowning prevention. Their efforts target high-risk groups, including children under 14, males, and individuals with autism, who face a higher risk of drowning. Through community education, the coalition works to build a culture of water safety in El Paso, honoring the memory of Christian Castle, who tragically drowned in 2006.

Causes:Advocacy, Education, Entrepreneurship

The El Paso Chamber of Commerce Foundation is dedicated to fostering economic growth, education, and community engagement in the El Paso region. With a clear vision, robust programs, and strong partnerships, the foundation aims to create a lasting impact on regional prosperity. By continuously monitoring progress, adapting to changes, and promoting collaboration, they strive to fulfill their mission of building a thriving El Paso community.

Causes: Children and Youth, Health and Mental Well-being

El Paso Children’s Hospital has been serving the community for over 10 years, significantly reducing the need for children to seek medical care outside the area. Prior to the hospital’s establishment, 650 children had to leave for treatment; however, thanks to the hospital and its specialty services, over 85 percent of these children can now receive care locally. Contributions from El Paso Giving Day will support the purchase of life-saving equipment, further enhancing the hospital’s ability to provide essential medical care within the community.

Causes:Arts and Culture

By supporting the El Paso Film Festival, contributions help elevate the impact and development of local filmmakers as they present their work on a bi-national stage. Since its founding in 2018, the festival has awarded over $35,000 in cash prizes to encourage the next generation of storytellers and artists in the TV and film industry. The festival aims to provide a platform for the bi-national community to share their narratives, reflecting El Paso’s resilience, compassion, and creativity. Your donations will enable the festival to continue its mission and support the arts and culture in the El Paso community.

Causes: Advocacy, Arts and Culture, Education

The El Paso International Music Foundation is a local non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the music community in the US-Mexico border region. It focuses on four key areas: education, advocacy, health, and outreach. The foundation offers programs and workshops to help musicians navigate both the artistic and business aspects of the industry. It connects El Paso, TX, Las Cruces, NM, and Juarez, Mexico, to create a broader music community while promoting fair wages and increasing job opportunities for musicians. Additionally, the foundation assists musicians in accessing affordable healthcare and mental health services. Through outreach efforts, it raises awareness and improves the visibility of the local music scene at local, national, and international levels, fostering a vibrant and supportive environment for musicians in the region.

Causes: Education, Environment, Migration

El Paso Matters is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization dedicated to providing high-quality local news coverage for the El Paso community since 2020. The organization focuses on critical issues such as local government, education, healthcare, climate change, and immigration, offering essential context often absent in national discussions. In this crucial election year, El Paso Matters enhances civic engagement by delivering in-depth analysis, candidate profiles, and timely election reporting to empower voters in their decision-making process. Committed to factual and unbiased journalism, the organization ensures that everyone has access to reliable information without a paywall or subscription fees. However, producing this journalism costs approximately $25,000 a week, and El Paso Matters relies on community support to sustain its operations, allowing the public to read and share important news for free.

Causes: Arts and Culture, Children and Youth, Education

In 2023, the El Paso Museum of Art (EPMA) launched Frontera Forward, an initiative designed to celebrate the diverse cultural expressions of the Borderland and enhance community engagement through exhibitions and free public programs. This initiative focuses on highlighting underrepresented voices and will offer activities such as artist-led workshops, art classes, family days, and special performances for the El Paso community. Founded in 1959 to house a significant donation of European Baroque and Renaissance artworks, EPMA now features a collection of over 7,000 works and is the only American Alliance of Museums-accredited art museum within a 200-mile radius. Serving as a major cultural resource, EPMA welcomes over 75,000 visitors annually and is dedicated to preserving and interpreting art that reflects the region’s rich cultural diversity.

Causes: Arts and Culture, Children and Youth, Education

In October 2024, donations from El Paso Giving Day will support the Tocando Music Project, an initiative by the El Paso Symphony Orchestra (EPSO) that provides music education to underserved children, helping to enhance their self-confidence, leadership skills, and aspirations for higher education. Launched in 2013, Tocando operates on donations and aims to empower students through immersive music learning and performance, with programming focused on children from three elementary schools and one middle school in El Paso’s Segundo Barrio. The project offers intensive music classes four days a week, with opportunities for students to perform for their peers and families, thereby fostering a sense of community. Tocando’s partnership with the El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) allows for free programming space, snacks, instruments, and transportation, while collaboration with the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) provides pathways to college through career field trips and mentorship. Tocando’s mission extends beyond creating musicians; it seeks to instill valuable life skills that encourage students to break the cycle of poverty and pursue higher education. The success of Tocando relies heavily on community support to continue its impactful work.

Causes: Homelessness and Housing, Women’s Issues

Villa Maria is the only transitional shelter for women in El Paso, offering a supportive and spiritual community where single homeless women can transition from crisis to self-sufficiency. Many women arrive at Villa Maria in dire circumstances, often feeling hopeless and questioning their self-worth. Through the shelter’s programs, residents discover hope, encouragement, healing, and empowerment, transforming their lives and reclaiming their value.

Causes: Children and Youth, Education, Entrepreneurship

Fab Lab El Paso was founded in 2014 as a grassroots makerspace aimed at providing access to digital fabrication resources for skill development, workforce training, creative collaboration, prototype development, and product manufacturing. As the first of its kind in the West Texas region, Fab Lab has made significant contributions to the community by installing ten makerspaces in local high schools and opening a sister lab at the Juarez Tech Hub. To enhance accessibility, they also launched a mobile Fab Lab and produced over 500 pieces of PPE during the pandemic. In 2022, Fab Lab became a NASA Community Anchor Site, offering exceptional educational experiences, including a trip for 19 students to witness the historic Artemis I launch at the Kennedy Space Center. Recently, their award-winning K-12 Maker STEM education program relocated to the children’s museum La Nube, where their fully-equipped makerspace, the Make IT Zone, now hosts field trips, camps, and workshops. Fab Lab is committed to fostering a community-first, human-centric, and inclusive tech ecosystem in El Paso.

Causes: Children and Youth, Social Justice

 

The Heart Gallery of El Paso is dedicated to ensuring that every child has a loving and permanent family. Acknowledging the challenges faced by many children in foster care, the organization focuses on connecting those who have waited the longest with families who can offer love and stability. With over 6,000 children in Texas awaiting adoption, including 1,500 needing additional recruitment efforts, The Heart Gallery utilizes the power of photography to share the stories of these children. Their galleries showcase portraits of older children, sibling groups, and those with higher medical needs, highlighting the resilience and hopes of those often overlooked. Each portrait reflects the transformative power of belonging and the dreams these children hold. To support their mission, contributions help fund the photography of these children, coordinate outreach efforts, and facilitate pathways to adoption, ultimately making a life-changing difference for the most vulnerable members of the community.

Causes:Children and Youth, Education

La Nube aims to provide magical moments for children as they explore hands-on exhibits and engage with passionate educators, igniting their curiosity and dreams of becoming future scientists, mathematicians, or engineers. Recognizing that all children deserve such experiences, funding from El Paso Giving Day will support initiatives to make these opportunities accessible to children from lower-income households, those with sensory sensitivities, and those who learn differently. With community support, La Nube plans to purchase adaptive equipment, create special events, and offer camp scholarships. Their year-round open-door policy ensures that visitors facing economic challenges or learning differences feel welcome, helping to narrow the achievement gap for underserved families and fostering a stronger, more vibrant future for the entire community.

Causes: Children and Youth, Education, Religion

Lydia Patterson Institute (LPI) provides scholarships to all its students, reflecting its longstanding commitment to the transformative power of education for every child, regardless of race, location, background, or socioeconomic status. For over 100 years, LPI has worked to create opportunities for students to succeed and positively impact their families and communities. Support for the institute fosters a legacy of generosity, embodying the belief that those with resources should share with those in need.

Causes:Children and Youth, Disability Services, Health and Mental Well-being

A nonprofit organization is committed to making El Paso a more family-friendly place to live. In 2024, they celebrated the grand opening of the All-Abilities Playground at Ascarate Park and are now working on their next project, Dino Dig—a sensory-friendly fossil excavation experience designed for children of all abilities. This hands-on digging box, filled with soft sand, allows young explorers to unearth replica dinosaur fossils inspired by local discoveries, combining play, learning, and sensory-friendly exploration. The organization seeks community support to make Dino Dig a reality, with all donations matched by the Andrea Dorsey Kirs Legacy Fund, up to $5,000, doubling the impact of each contribution toward creating this inclusive feature for the community.

Causes: Advocacy, Education, Health and Mental Well-being

NAMI El Paso relies on contributions from El Paso Giving Day to support its mission of providing mental health education, support, and advocacy for the thousands of El Pasoans affected by mental health conditions. The organization offers free courses and presentations aimed at reducing stigma and empowering individuals within the community. Donations are encouraged to help reinforce the message that mental health matters.

Causes: Advocacy, Education, Emergency Relief and Response

The Paso del Norte Community Foundation (PdNCF) aims to enhance health, education, economic development, and quality of life in the Paso del Norte region by supporting the philanthropic goals of individuals, corporations, foundations, and nonprofit organizations. Established in 2013, the Foundation has grown over the past decade to address the community’s diverse needs by collaborating with over 200 nonprofit organizations to build capacity, promote best practices, and achieve fundraising goals. With continued support, PdNCF can sustain its efforts in philanthropic giving, nonprofit investment, community projects, and resilience initiatives.

Causes: Health and Mental Well-being

The Paso del Norte Health Foundation leads, leverages and invests in initiatives, programs and policies that promote health and prevent disease in the Paso del Norte region.

Causes: Advocacy, Education, Entrepreneurship

P21, formerly known as the Hub of Human Innovation, fosters regional economic development by transforming ideas into self-sustaining companies through outreach and educational opportunities that promote innovation. To date, P21 has supported over 200 ventures and served 1,042 entrepreneurs in 2022, 1,194 in 2023, and 775 in 2024. Key programs seeking funding include the P21 Venture Mentoring Service (VMS), which connects Borderland entrepreneurs with expert mentors and has 54 mentors since its launch in 2022, and the Innovation Accelerator Workshop Series, which helps entrepreneurs develop, test, and grow business ideas before market launch. The Financial Accelerator program, which graduated its first cohort in January 2023 with 14 entrepreneurs, provided a total of $20,000 in access to capital, addressing the critical need for financial support among local entrepreneurs. In September 2023, P21 graduated its third cohort of the Innovation Accelerator, serving 32 entrepreneurs, and in 2024, 25 entrepreneurs participated in the Pitch Challenge Accelerator and Innovation AI Workshops. Through these initiatives, P21 aims to strengthen the innovation community in the region, and donations will help sustain these programs while ensuring no membership costs for participants.

Causes: Arts and Culture, Children and Youth, Education

The Tom Lea Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the art, character, and legacy of Tom Lea. Committed to educating students and the public about Lea’s significance in history, art, and literature, the Institute employs a variety of methods, including curricula, public programs, exhibits, and publications, to share his legacy and inspire future generations. Through its digital library, educational resources, and exhibitions, the Institute aims to engage audiences of all ages, encouraging them to explore and appreciate the rich regional art, history, and culture represented by Tom Lea’s work.

Causes: Health and Mental Well-being, Women’s Issues

University Medical Center (UMC) of El Paso serves as the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and is the community’s sole not-for-profit hospital. It acts as the primary teaching institution for the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, affiliated with Texas Tech University, making it the only academic healthcare facility in far West Texas and Southern New Mexico. This unique status ensures that high-quality healthcare services are accessible to all individuals, regardless of their ability to pay. The University Medical Center Foundation of El Paso, a designated 501(c)(3) charitable organization, aims to support UMC in its essential mission of providing patient care, educating healthcare professionals, conducting research, and delivering community services.

Causes: Education, Emergency Relief and Response , Health and Mental Well-being

United Way of El Paso County works to solve local problems through support services, fundraising, and volunteer work. We connect people with assistance and offer opportunities to make a positive impact on our community.

Causes: Advocacy, Education, Women’s Issues

The Women’s Fund of El Paso, established in 2004 as an all-volunteer organization, aims to connect women with community resources while promoting educational advancement and leadership development through scholarships. Funding from El Paso Giving Day will directly support scholarships for underserved women and girls, covering tuition, books, supplies, and childcare for their dependents. These scholarships are crucial, as they empower recipients to pursue higher education and achieve their dreams of self-sufficiency. The mission of the Women’s Fund is to enhance access to funding, information, and networking opportunities, facilitating education and personal economic growth for women. Since its inception, the organization has awarded 145 scholarships totaling over $200,000, alongside professional development opportunities for teens and additional funding for education and leadership development. The Women’s Fund relies on the generosity of sponsors and individuals to continue its mission, with every donation contributing to the empowerment of women in the community.
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Category: Insider Blog

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