ALBUQUERQUE — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico has awarded more than $860,000 in grants to 25 statewide nonprofits through its Blue Impact℠ Grant program. These grants address social determinants of health that impact the well-being of the communities BCBSNM serves.
“Social and economic factors can have a profound impact on achieving and maintaining good health,” said Janice Torrez, BCBSNM president. “Through our Blue Impact initiative, we’re working with organizations across the state to provide New Mexicans with greater access to the essential resources and the support they need to live healthier lives.”
The grants focus on:
- Economic Opportunity and Stability
- Nutrition
- Neighborhood and Local Assets
- Locally Defined Health Solutions
- Optimal Health Outcomes
Through a competitive grant application process, the grant program evaluates applications from 501(c)(3) organizations based on impact, feasibility, capacity, collaboration and sustainability. The grants were awarded for programs in place from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
The 2024-2025 Blue Impact grants include funding for:
Economic Opportunity and Stability
- ABQ Faithworks Collaborative: Providing rental, utility and case management assistance to keep individuals and families safely housed and connected to resources that will sustain their housing.
- Barrett Foundation: Providing case management to support unhoused women to achieve self-sufficiency through stable housing, employment, education and healthcare.
- New Mexico Child Advocacy Network: Providing community-based, skill-building support to young people transitioning into adulthood who have experienced foster care, the juvenile justice system and/or homelessness.
- United Way of North Central New Mexico: Connecting people to opportunities and services to equitably improve lives and strengthen communities.
Nutrition
- Albuquerque Meals on Wheels: Providing monthly meals to over 300 homebound older people in need.
- Casa De Peregrinos: Providing and distributing free, fresh produce and food at pop-up produce stands to low-income families throughout Doña Ana County.
- The Community Pantry: Providing education on growing, harvesting and producing food by engaging the Gallup community at the Community Pantry Hope Garden.
- Fraction Farms: Growing thousands of pounds of fresh, organic produce to donate 25,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables to those in need.
- Silver Horizons: Offering food markets that provide 100% choice, no-cost, nutritious food options to low-income older people and grandchildren they are raising.
- Storehouse: Helping New Mexicans experiencing food insecurities by providing free, nutritious food.
Neighborhood and Local Assets
- Rebuilding Together Sandoval County: Providing free home safety repairs and medical modifications to improve the health and well-being of low-income veterans, older people and families.
- YES Housing: Improving health outcomes and housing stability by providing accessible, onsite social services and healthy living programs to residents and community members.
Locally Defined Health Solutions
- American Cancer Society: Increasing care access by providing transportation and lodging to patients undergoing cancer-related medical treatment.
- American Heart Association: Providing culturally appropriate materials and medical devices to help reduce hypertension in McKinley County.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Chaves and Lincoln Counties: Providing preventive programs to reduce the effects of substance misuse, mental illness, illiteracy, behavioral issues and poverty on Lincoln and Chavez county youth.
- Family Promise: Providing shelter, meals and community support to unhoused families.
- New Mexico Dental Health Association Foundation: Providing oral health education and free dental treatment for all New Mexicans.
- Pegasus Legal Services for Children: Offering free, bilingual civil legal services to New Mexico's children, youth and their caregivers, including information and advice, representation, community legal action and systemic advocacy.
- Saranam: Guiding unhoused families to achieve long-term self-sufficiency by providing safe and stable housing, vocational and career development and life skills education for independent living.
- Zuni Youth Enrichment Project: Improving the well-being of Zuni youth by providing positive mentorship, enriching programs and nurturing spaces rooted in Zuni cultural traditions.
Optimal Health Outcomes
- American Cancer Society: Educating New Mexicans about the importance of cancer-related screenings with state and regional awareness messaging and educational materials.
- Albuquerque Healthcare for the Homeless: Providing integrated, trauma-informed behavioral health care to unhoused people.
- New Mexico Alliance for School Based Healthcare: Providing evidence-based interventions and tailored training initiatives to address students’ behavioral health needs and expanding behavioral health access in New Mexico schools.
- Southern New Mexico Diabetes Outreach: Providing diabetes education, support and screening at no cost in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico Care Van®.
- New Mexico Pharmaceutical Care Foundation: Improving vaccination accessibility for underinsured or uninsured New Mexicans by providing no-cost vaccines in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Care Van® at community events across the state.
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About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico is one of the largest commercial health insurers in New Mexico with 700,000 New Mexicans carrying a Blue Cross and Blue Shield card. Since 1940, BCBSNM has been committed to promoting the health and wellness of its members and communities through accessible, cost-effective, quality health care. BCBSNM is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, the country’s largest customer-owned health insurer. Health Care Service Corporation is a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.