Los Alamos Uniting for Community Health
LAUNCH is uniting the community around programs related to health and wellness for everyone. We are a collaborative group of individuals and organizations with the specific goal of improving community health and wellness in Los Alamos County.
Based on needs identified in recent data and interviews, our current efforts focus on mental health and wellness, specifically: 1) Access to Mental Health Services 2) Support Groups 3) Youth Mental Health and 4) Suicide Prevention.
We believe that by working together we can improve the mental health of our community.
Become Involved
Everyone can be involved: businesses, individuals, churches, etc.
Commit to improving mental health for yourself and your organization by prioritizing health and wellness and attending a training session.
Suicide Prevention Training
Our goal is to make it as easy as possible to attend a training and learn how to reach out if one suspects a person may be contemplating suicide with compassion, empathy, and referrals to a mental health professional. Ideally, learning this information becomes almost fun: bring a friend, learn a new skill, help save a life! Bring a free 1.5 hour training to your business or organization. Contact– Brandi Weiss brandi@losalamoscf.org
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
LATEST NEWS
Los Alamos – Los Alamos Community Foundation hires Brandi Weiss as a new Anchorum Fellow Program Manager dedicated to community health and wellness. Her role will include assessing the needs of our community, and determining how we might collaborate with Anchorum Health Foundation (AHF), local nonprofits, Los Alamos County, and donors to meet some of those needs.
Program Manager
Brandi has a Master’s in Sociology from New Mexico State University and a passion for community health and wellness. Brandi was raised in Los Alamos, and is returning home. She has a vested interest in the health and wellness of our community. “Health and wellness is the foundation of any thriving community, and Brandi brings an enthusiasm, fresh perspective, and experience in data analysis that will help us launch this new initiative,” says Liz Martineau, LACF Executive Director.
“I am excited to get to work with members of the community who have similar passions and am honored to be a part of this incredible community initiative to make Los Alamos an even better place,” says Brandi Weiss.
This position was made possible by the Anchorum Health Foundation (AHF), whose funding includes placing an Anchorum Fellow at five community foundations across northern New Mexico. “Our aim is to strengthen these foundations so they can achieve lasting, meaningful impacts in their communities,” said Jerry Jones, President and CEO of AHF. Thanks to Anchorum’s local investment, the Los Alamos Community Foundation is excited about expanding our work in health and wellness.
If you are interested in donating to help fund Los Alamos Community Foundation’s Health and Wellness Initiatives, contact Liz Martineau at liz@losalamoscf.org
About the Los Alamos Community Foundation: Established in 2015, the Los Alamos Community Foundation seeks to improve the local quality of life by inspiring, facilitating and supporting enduring
philanthropy, and building the capacity and success of our local nonprofit organizations. The Los Alamos Community Foundation currently stewards sixteen locally endowed funds and has total assets of over $1.5M. For more information about the Los Alamos Community Foundation or to donate, visit www.losalamoscf.org.
Los Alamos, NM — Los Alamos Community Foundation (LACF) will receive $150,000 along with continued financial support for five years from Anchorum Health Foundation, which is partnering with community foundations across northern New Mexico. This investment acknowledges the vital role that community foundations, like LACF, play in enhancing community health and well-being.
“We are looking forward to working with the Anchorum Health Foundation, an organization that shares our dedication to community collaboration, to strengthen the health and wellness of Los Alamos County,” said Elizabeth Martineau, Executive Director of LACF. “This unique AHF model invests in community engagement to strategically identify and address issues at the local level. Along with Anchorum’s investments and assistance, LACF is poised to leverage community relationships to achieve local change.”
LACF is one of five northern New Mexico community foundations that will be part of Anchorum’s $25 million investment over five years. The others are Las Vegas Community Foundation, New Mexico Foundation, Taos Community Foundation, and Santa Fe Community Foundation.
“These are investments in the sustained health and vitality of our communities,” said Jenny Parks, Senior Vice President of Strategic Philanthropy at Anchorum. “These commitments provide the stability and resources necessary for innovative solutions, ensuring TCF can effectively address their community’s unique evolving needs and drive impactful change for years to come.”
The funds can be tailored to meet the needs of each community, but they are focused on addressing the social impediments to health, such as food security, safe and affordable housing, transportation and more.
As part of Anchorum’s efforts to build capacity at LACF, they will also sponsor an Anchorum Fellow, who will be an employee at LACF. This Fellow will play a vital role in providing insights about emergent and chronic trends that are detrimental to our community’s health. If you are interested in joining this initiative and making a difference in our community, please visit our webpage, losalamoscf.org, for a job description and hiring details or contact us at info@losalamoscf.org.
About the Los Alamos Community Foundation: Established in 2015, the mission of the Los Alamos Community Foundation is to build enduring philanthropy to empower our community’s nonprofit organizations. LACF stewards sixteen permanent endowment funds and supports local nonprofits through training, initiatives and grantmaking. For more information about the Los Alamos Community Foundation, visit www.losalamoscf.org.
Anchorum Health Foundation is dedicated to improving the conditions that have the greatest influence on the health of communities in our region. We are committing our resources to strengthening community-based partners tackling critical local issues. For more information, visit anchorum.org.
Anchorum Health Foundation News:
SANTA FE — Anchorum Health Foundation has announced a $25 million investment over the next five years in five community foundations across northern New Mexico.
This investment acknowledges the vital role community foundations play in enhancing overall health outcomes and reflects Anchorum’s commitment to supporting partners who address health disparities and promote wellness.
Furthermore, this investment extends Anchorum’s service area to thirteen northern New Mexico counties, as well as all of the state’s Pueblos and Tribal Nations.
“We are thrilled to advance these long-term strategic partnerships with community foundations across northern New Mexico,” Anchorum President and CEO Jerry Jones said. “Through targeted financial support and capacity-building efforts, we aim to strengthen these foundations so they can achieve lasting, meaningful impacts in their communities.”
The five community foundations are:
- Los Alamos Community Foundation;
- Las Vegas New Mexico Community Foundation;
- New Mexico Foundation;
- Taos Community Foundation; and
- Santa Fe Community Foundation.
Each foundation will receive a proportional share of the $5 million annual allotment, determined by their capacity, size, and proven track record addressing health and wellness issues within their service area.
“This is more than just a generous donation,” said Rosemary Romero, Chair of the Board of Directors at New Mexico Foundation. “It’s a lasting commitment to enhancing the capabilities of community foundations, empowering them to aim higher and set ambitious goals with the confidence that they have substantial and sustained support.”
This $25 million commitment represents a landmark moment for Anchorum, marking the first major investments in its expansion to serve all of the state’s Pueblos and Tribal Nations and thirteen northern New Mexico counties. This significant endeavor will extend Anchorum’s reach to the counties of Cibola, Colfax, Guadalupe, Harding, Los Alamos, McKinley, Mora, Rio Arriba, San Juan, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Taos and Union, ensuring that these communities benefit from the dedicated support of participating community foundations.
“This expansion underscores our unwavering commitment to enhancing health and well-being across a broader region than ever before,” said Jenny Parks, Anchorum’s Senior Vice-President of Strategic Philanthropy. “Investing in the diverse community foundations across our new
service area allows us to gain deeper insights and make more informed grant decisions. By listening to the unique voices and needs of each community, we can ensure our support is impactful and truly responsive to the people we serve.”
The funds at each foundation can be tailored to meet the unique and evolving needs of each community but will be focused on addressing the social impediments to health, such as food security, safe and affordable housing, transportation and more.
“The creation of this fund at Taos Community Foundation means that our work continues to evolve, identifying local needs around the social determinants of health, and offering evidence-based solutions with community input that will align with Taos county’s unique needs, culture, and heritage. De la communidad, para la communidad,” said CJ Grace, CEO of Taos Community Foundation.
“This gift is a tremendous contribution to meeting health and wellness needs in our two counties,” said Carla Romero, Board Chair of Las Vegas New Mexico Community Foundation. “It has the potential to surpass the nearly $1 million in contributions we received and continue to receive to help with relief efforts after the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon wildfires.”
As part of Anchorum’s efforts to build capacity at these foundations, Anchorum will sponsor and support an Anchorum Fellow at each of the five foundations. These Fellows will play a vital role in providing insights about emergent and chronic trends that affect their community’s health.
“This unique Anchorum Health Foundation model invests in community engagement to strategically identify and address issues at the local level. Along with Anchorum’s investments and assistance, Los Alamos Community Foundation is poised to leverage community relationships to achieve local change,” said Elizabeth Martineau, Executive Director at Los Alamos Community Foundation.
Anchorum Health Foundation is dedicated to improving the conditions that have the greatest influence on the health of communities in the region. Anchorum Health Foundation is committing its resources to strengthening community-based partners tackling critical local issues. For more information, visit anchorum.org.
“The Santa Fe Community Foundation is excited to deepen its strong relationship with Anchorum,” said SFCF President and CEO Christopher Goett. “This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to improving health outcomes in northern New Mexico and leveraging our philanthropic efforts to advance education, housing, and food security.”