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April 2024                                Earth Day Clean-up

We are so thankful for the enthusiasm and energy brought by Bank of America’s Rio Rancho Call Center volunteers! The 3rd & 4th crews of BofA volunteers did some much needed – and appreciated – spring cleaning throughout our campus. We love this community partnership!

 

March 2024                                 $20,000 Grant

It is with sincere gratitude and pride that we announce a $20,000 grant from longtime funder and friend of Abrazos, The Carl C. Anderson, Sr, and Marie Jo Anderson Charitable Foundation. After exceeding the challenge to raise $20k in other donations and small grants, Anderson’s generous match doubles recent fundraising efforts to bring a total of $40,000 in support of our mission.

 

February 2024                                 ABA’s  Sweet Treat 

The Valentine theme is inescapable in February – and our Applied Behavior Analysis Program made the most of it! They decorated their classroom door with larger than life candy hearts, complete with sweet messages of the season. Watch an animation of their designs here – and have a lovely February!

 

January 2024                                 Staff Retreat

On January 31st, the Abrazos offices will be closed to give our entire staff body an opportunity to come together off-site for training, brainstorming, and connection. Skilled facilitation will be provided by Mary Farias of New Mexico Gas, who will guide our team through the insightful DiSC assessment process. Many thanks for retreat support from Nusenda Credit Union and New Mexico Gas!

 

December 2023                                 Abrazos Holiday Gathering 

We held our annual staff gathering at Martha Liebert Public Library this year, as we have outgrown our largest conference room. It is a beautiful space and it was wonderful to have us all together to munch & mingle. Once again this year, The Range Café donated a delicious lunch! We just love our Bernalillo neighbors – happy holidays to all!

 

November 2023                                 Giving Tuesday Fundraising Campaign 

Abrazos invites you to join us in supporting our mission! Giving Tuesday is an opportunity to be part of a worldwide movement of charitable giving on November 28th, 2023. Giving to Abrazos is safe and secure via our website. This year – your gift will be doubled through a generous matching grant!

 

October 2023                                 Family Friendly Recognition 

Abrazos is proud to share that for the 8th year in a row, we have been recognized as a New Mexico Family Friendly Business. This year our Platinum award includes a special designation for excellence in supporting staff education.

 

September 2023                                 Play ball! 

Big thanks to Southwest Copy Systems for the gift of tickets to an Isotopes game and the use of the HP suite! A great time was had by a fun group of Abrazos staff, family, and friends.

 

August 2023                                 Breastfeeding Awareness

Abrazos is proud to share a wonderful resource available to nursing mothers. Early Intervention Developmental Specialist, Lynnae Rael, also serves as a Certified Lactation Counselor. For qualified families, Lynnae can provides breastfeeding assessment and support through our Early Intervention program.

 

July 2023                                 Gratitude from Abrazos

Thank you to the Enterprise Holdings Foundation for donating $2500 to Abrazos. Its support will help us continue to fulfill our mission.

 

June 2023                                 Campus Clean-up

Many thanks to the hardworking volunteers from University of New Mexico Project ECHO for their help with pulling weeds and landscaping. What a great group!

 

May 2023                                 Better Hearing and Speech Month 

Abrazos provides speech language and hearing loss therapies through our Early Intervention program. Our Speech Language Pathologists are American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) certified and licensed by the state of New Mexico. Do you have concerns about your child’s speech or hearing? Reach out to schedule an evaluation by our experienced team!

 

April 2023                                 Family Friendly Business Recognition 

Abrazos has once again been recognized as a Family Friendly New Mexico Business – for the 7th year in a row! As a Platinum award recipient, Abrazos is honored at the highest level for going above and beyond family friendly policies. From the FFNM website, “We have added the Platinum level award to recognize Gold awardees who offer additional workplace policies in the areas of Pay Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, and Community Investment.”

 

March 2023                                 Medicaid Renewal Changes

Are you or a loved one a Medicaid recipient? The renewal process has changed – and we want to make sure you’re aware! Please refer to the Medicaid Renewal Checklist above to ensure your coverage is not interrupted. Visit yes.state.nm.us to update your contact information and get started on the process.

 

February 2023                                      Children’s Books Grant 

A warm Abrazos thank you to our friends at Rio Rancho Friends of Libraries and Literacy for granting our request to fund the purchase of board books which will be given to families and their little ones in our Early Intervention Program. Thank you, FOLRR!

 

August 2022                                      Outdoor Table and Chairs Donation 

Albertsons Market in Enchanted Hills donated an outdoor table and chairs to Abrazos’ universally accessible campus project. This set will be greatly appreciated by the children and their families when they are on our campus. Thanks, Albertsons!

 

July 2022                                           Academic Success Support Received

Sandia National Laboratories awarded Abrazos $7,500 to purchase computer laptops for our autism therapy program. Abrazos is proud to partner with Sandia National Labs in working to improve the academic success of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

 

May 2022                                           Outdoor Therapy Area Support

The Rio Rancho Community Foundation awarded Abrazos $2,500 designated for the new outdoor therapy area. The Community Foundation is able to provide grant awards from the proceeds raised at the annual Mayor’s Gala in September.

 

May 2022                                          Outdoor Therapy Area Support

Abrazos is proud to be one of the recipients of the Del Norte LOV Foundation’s spring grant cycle. The $2,500 grant award is dedicated to the costs to build our new outdoor therapy area. This area provides an additional space to deliver our specialized services for at-risk children with developmental disabilities and delays.

 

March 2022                                    Autism Curriculum Books Received

The Friends of Libraries and Literacy awarded Abrazos’ $800 to purchase autism curriculum books for the new ABA Therapy Program. This organization operates a used book store in Rio Rancho and uses the proceeds to support non-profits that work with children to enhance their reading skills.

 

January 2022                                Nusenda Credit Union Supports Economic Opportunities

 

Abrazos was proud to receive $5,000 from Nusenda Credit Union’s Community Rewards program to advance economic opportunities in the local area. These funds will support the behavior technician skills-based training program at Abrazos.

 

January 2022                                Anderson Charitable Foundation Year-end Grant Received

Abrazos was honored to have received $10,000 from the Carl C. Anderson Sr. & Marie Jo Anderson Charitable Foundation in recognition of Abrazos’ Executive Director, April Spaulding, participation in their Cohert Leadership program.

 

December 2021                           Abrazos Opens Doors to New Building

                            

April Spaulding, Executive Director, and members of Abrazos’ Board of Directors cut the ribbon on December 4, 2021 to officially open the doors to the new 5,000 sq ft building that now houses the new autism therapy program. This building cost over $1.6 million and was made possible because of the support received from many generous businesses, foundations, and individuals.

 

December 2021                           Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico Supports Outdoor Therapy

Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico recently supported the creation of Abrazos’ new outdoor therapy and education space by providing $5,000 to support the costs of this area.

 

December 2021                          PNM Provides LED Lighting

The Reduce Your Use grant program of PNM Foundation awarded Abrazos $5,000 for the purchase of LED lighting in our new building.

 

December 2021                          Civitans Provide Therapy Swings

The City of Vision Civitan Club raised $2,500 for Abrazos to purchase a sensory frame and three swings. This equipment will be used at the new outdoor therapy area on Abrazos’ campus.

 

November 2021                        Sandoval County Improves COVID Mitigation

Abrazos received a $67,585 grant check from Sandoval County’s American Rescue Plan Act program. Abrazos qualified for funding based on expenses incurred for COVID mitigation redesign efforts. Pictured are Katherine Bruch, County Commissioner (District 1), April Spaulding, Executive Director of Abrazos, and Dora Dominguez, Economic Development Director for Sandoval County.

 

November 2021                        Albertsons Market Supports ABA 

Abrazos is proud to welcome Albertsons Market as a new partner in supporting our efforts to improve the lives of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Albertsons Market awarded Abrazos with a $1,000 grant for the construction of our new building that will house the ABA Therapy Program.

 

October 2021                             Rio Rancho Rotary Foundation Supports Outdoor Therapy Area

The Rio Rancho Rotary Foundation provided Abrazos with a $2,000 check in support of creating a new outdoor education and therapy space on Abrazos’ campus. Thank you, Rio Rancho Rotary Foundation for your continued support of our programs!

 

October 2021                            Sandia Foundation Supports Education

Abrazos is honored to have been selected as a grant recipient in October 2021. We received $10,000 to support our new outdoor education and therapy area. Thank you, Sandia Foundation!

 

October 2021                           Abrazos is Family Friendly

For the 6th year in a row Abrazos has been recognized as a business leader in implementing family friendly workplace policies. These policies include: paid leave, health insurance, flexible work schedules, pay equity, diversity and inclusion.

September 2021                       Abrazos 3-year Strategic Plan

The Board of Directors and management team convened in August to develop the 2021-2024 Strategic Plan. To read this plan please click on: Strategic Plan

 

September 2021                       Hancock Family Continues Support

For the second year in a row, the Hancock Family Foundation, has granted Abrazos $2,000 designated for our new outdoor therapy and education space. This support is greatly appreciated in helping us provide a COVID safe environment for our clients.

August 2021                               Friends of Libraries and Literacy

The Friends of Libraries and Literacy recently presented Abrazos with a $1,184 grant for the purchase of new books to use for our Early Intervention Program and Autism Program.

 

August 2021                               PNM Supports Education Programs

 

Abrazos was a proud recipient of PNM’s back to school funding program by receiving $2,500 to support Abrazos’ educational programs.

 

July 2021                                    del Norte Credit Union Assists Abrazos

It was a privilege to be one of two non-profits to be selected by del Norte Credit Union to receive a $1,250 donation in honor of their first location in Rio Rancho (3634 Rio Rancho Blvd NE).

July 2021                                   SNL Supports Outdoor Education

Sandia National Laboratories generously granted Abrazos $7,500 for the creation of a new outdoor education/therapy space on Abrazos’ campus. This area will be available for as an additional method of delivering our specialized services.

 

July 2021                                      Bradbury Stamm Promotes New Jobs

Abrazos is thrilled to be a proud recipient of the Albuquerque Community Foundation’s Economic & Workforce Development Grant Program receiving $10,000 from Bradbury Stamm Construction’s Giving Program. This funding is dedicated to the ABA Therapy Program in which we will be hiring and training many new employees to become certified Behavior Technicians.

March 2021                             Anderson Foundation Match Received

Individual supporters made it possible for Abrazos to achieve the challenge goal of $20,000 and received the full match from the Carl C. Anderson Sr. and Marie Jo Anderson Charitable Foundation in March.  This capacity building funding is dedicated to the construction of the new building on Abrazos’ campus.

March 2021                              Intel Supports New Building

Abrazos greatly appreciates Intel’s $5,000 contribution to the new building being constructed on Abrazos’ campus. This new building with house the new autism therapy program and is anticipated to be completed by September 2021.

February 2021                         PNM Supports Their Communities

PNM Resources Foundation provided Abrazos with a $10,000 Strategic Grant to support our mission of providing specialized services to infants through adults with developmental disabilities and delays. We greatly appreciate PNM’s continued community support!

 

November 2020                         Abrazos’ Largest Grant Received

A large national corporate foundation recently awarded Abrazos $200,000 to be used for the construction costs of a new building on Abrazos campus located in Bernalillo, NM. This new building will house the ABA Therapy Program, and will provide much needed staff space for current and future program needs. This foundation wishes to remain un-named, but Abrazos GREATLY appreciates this support!

September 2020                           Reduce Your Use Grant Received

PNM awarded Abrazos $5,000 to replace the cooling system in its Early Intervention building. The grant will provide a much more efficient system and a much more comfortable work environment for the staff. Thanks PNM!

July 20, 2020                                  Economic Stability Grant Received

Abrazos received $10,000 from Sandia National Laboratories in support of providing family stability through our economic development program in which Abrazos will be providing 25 new skills-trained jobs in the town of Bernalillo.

 

July 2020                                       Hancock Family Support Received

The Hancock Family Foundation consisting of Charles (Chick) Hancock, Lynn Springer, Jane Hancock, Emily Hancock Lisignoli, Christina Stoll, and Jessie Brown awarded $2,000 for Abrazos’ new ABA Therapy Program.

July 2020                                            Grant for Autism Program

Abrazos is honored to have received funding from the Sandia Foundation for two years in a row for our soon-to-be offered autism program called Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy. The Sandia Foundation generously provided $10,000 for this program.

June 2020                                      United Way Supports Early Intervention

Abrazos, along with the three other members of the B4-3 Network, LifeROOTS,  Alta Mira, and NAPPR, received the highest grant award this year from United Way of Central New Mexico for the collaborative efforts of providing early childhood services to families whose infants/toddlers have developmental disabilities/delays and are at risk for adverse childhood experiences in the counties of Sandoval, Bernalillo, Valencia, and Torrance. B4-3 is an acronym for before the age of three.

June 2020                                         Preschool Readiness Grant

A long-standing tradition of supporting early education programs, the Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation recently provided $3,500 to Abrazos’ Preschool Readiness Program. This program is designed for children with a developmental disability or delay to become better prepared for starting school.

June 2020                                    PPE Grant Received

The Rio Rancho Rotary Foundation provided Abrazos $2,000 to be used to purchase PPE scrubs for staff to use when doing in-home client appointments.

 

June 2020                                      COVID Grant Received

The All Together New Mexico Program, a combined initiative of many foundations throughout New Mexico awarded Abrazos $3,995 to support increased expenses incurred to continue communications with clients.

May 2020                                     COVID Grant Received

 

A joint effort of the United Way of Central New Mexico and the Albuquerque Community Foundation awarded Abrazos $3,955 to be used for increased client communication expenses incurred due to COVID-19.

May 20, 2020                    Telehealth Grant Received

The New Mexico Early Childhood Funders Group, Santa Fe Community Foundation awarded $5,000 to Abrazos to support telehealth services during COVID-19 for Early Intervention Program.

 

January 30, 2020             Grant from New Mexico Gas Company

Abrazos was thrilled to receive a $10,000 grant check from New Mexico Gas Company to be used for the start-up costs of Abrazos’ ABA Therapy Program. This autism therapy program will be hiring, providing skills-based training, and certifying 24 full-time individuals as behavior technicians in its first year of operating.

November, 2019                   Abrazos Receives Statewide Recognition

For the 4th year in a row, Abrazos was recently recognized for being a Family Friendly Business and was one of only 13 other businesses in the state of NM to attain the highest level, Platinum. Abrazos strives to provide a healthy balance between work life and home life for its employees by providing family friendly policies.

 

November 2019                                   United Way Recognition

Katie Shaw an Megan Hare of the United Way of Central New Mexico attended Abrazos’ November Staff Meeting to thank the employees for 100% participation in the United Way 2020 campaign.

September 2019                                 Sandia Foundation Supports New Autism Program

Abrazos was awarded $10,000 from the Sandia Foundation’s Hugh and Helen Woodward Fund of the Albuquerque Community Foundation. This funding support was awarded to Abrazos for the new ABA Treatment Therapy Program. The Sandia Foundation supports Abrazos’s efforts to improve outcomes in education and quality of lives of children with autism.

August 2019                             PNM Supports New ABA Therapy

The PNM Fund, a division of PNM Resources Foundation, awarded Abrazos $10,000 in support of start-up costs for the new ABA Therapy Program. This new therapy is known as the leading and most successful treatment therapy for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.  Abrazos will be hiring 25 new employees in the first year of the program to train and certify as behavioral technicians.

August 2019                              Washington Federal Supports Abrazos

Washington Federal Foundation recently awarded $500 in program support for Abrazos’ Autism After-School Program. This program offers middle schools students in Rio Rancho the opportunity to go on cultural and educational field trips throughout the school year.

July 2019                              Rio Rancho Community Foundation Supports  Recreational Respite

The Rio Rancho Community Foundation awarded Abrazos $2,500 in funding to be used for the Autism Recreational Respite program. This program offers children 4-21 years of age the opportunity to participate in physical activities like swimming, bowling, and jumping at trampoline parks.

May 2019                            United Way Supports Collaborative Efforts for Infant/Toddler Services

Abrazos, along with the three other members of the B4-3 Network, LifeROOTS,  Alta Mira, and NAPPR, received $180,000 in funding from United Way of Central New Mexico for our collaborative efforts of providing early childhood services to families whose infants/toddlers have developmental disabilities/delays and are at risk for adverse childhood experiences in the counties of Sandoval, Bernalillo, Valencia, and Torrance. B4-3 is an acronym for before the age of three.

“This funding will allow us to provide additional case management services for the families who we serve that need more support and resources,” stated April Spaulding, Abrazos’ Executive Director. “We are thrilled United Way’s Mission Families initiative is being used directly in the community to support New Mexican families.”

The collaboration between the four organizations was established in 2012 in an effort to coordinate early intervention services in the four counties of central New Mexico. Since that time marked improvements in quality and quantity of our services has benefited the families we serve whose children have developmental delays and disabilities.

May 10, 2019       Wells Fargo Support Received

Wells Fargo and their Albuquerque Corporate Philanthropy Team recently provided $2,500 in funding for Abrazos’ Autism After-School Program. Their support will provide students at Lincoln Middle School in Rio Rancho the opportunity to go on cultural field trips in the 2019-20 school year.

Wells Fargo’s Arts and Culture Giving Priority focuses on the importance of artistic and cultural programs for children. Experiencing and participating in artistic, cultural, and enrichment programs for all children is extremely important to developing skills necessary for becoming productive adults. Exposure to arts and culture stimulates creativity, improves motor skills, and improves academic performance.

THANK YOU WELLS FARGO!

May 1, 2019       Support Received for Therapy Supplies

Clothes Helping Kids, Inc. recently granted Abrazos funding to purchase therapy supplies for children who need special spoons, cups, oral motor stimulation tools, picture books, weighted vests, etc. Although many of these therapy materials are small, they are expensive. State funding does not cover the cost of therapy materials.

“We will continue to seek grant funding so that we may provide these needed therapy materials to children and their families in our program,” stated Randi Malach, FIT Program Director.

Thank you so much, Clothes Helping Kids!

April 17, 2019       Anderson Foundation Support

The Carl C. Anderson Sr. & Marie Jo Anderson Charitable Foundation (The Anderson Foundation) recently provided funding to Abrazos for the addition of a developmental specialist to more effectively serve the needs of infants – adults diagnosed with a developmental delay or disabilities in Sandoval and Bernalillo counties.

The Anderson Foundation, located in Austin, Texas, supports non-profits in New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma that provide services for low-income and vulnerable populations focusing on: programs that provide basic and essential needs of children and youth, programs that improve or enhance the quality of life for seniors, and programs that improve or enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities.

Thank you, Anderson Foundation, for supporting Abrazos!

 

March 1, 2019            Program Support Received

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico‘s signature grant program, Healthy Kids, Healthy Families, recently awarded $15,000 in grant funding to two of Abrazos’ programs, the Recreational Respite Program and the Toddler Movement Program.

The Recreational Respite Program is available to youth diagnosed with Autism and is designed to improve motor skills, muscle tone, and muscle strength through physical activities. The Toddler Movement Program focuses on young children that are walking but could improve their movement skills through building their muscle strength and coordination.

Healthy Kids, Healthy Families is part of BCBSNM’s commitment to help children and their families to get healthy and stay healthy through programs in the community that help children to improve their overall well-being and teach their parents ways to help their children to be more physically active and healthy.

For information on either of these Abrazos’ programs feel free to call 505-867-3396.