Thirty years ago, a group of community leaders in El Paso envisioned a healthier region built on disease prevention. That vision took shape in 1995 when proceeds from the sale of Providence Memorial Hospital to Tenet Healthcare Corp. established the Paso del Norte Health Foundation, dedicated to improving health and wellness across West Texas, southern New Mexico and Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua.
At the NMSU Foundation alone, this commitment has translated into more than $3 million in funding through 90 grants over the past 15 years, supporting research and outreach in areas such as nutrition, diabetes prevention, physical fitness and community health education. Guided by its founding board of directors, it invests in programs at New Mexico State University that give individuals and communities the knowledge, resources and environments to live healthy, productive lives.
From the start, the Health Foundation has consistently granted 5% of its assets each year to organizations across the Borderplex region, staying true to its mission of investing in initiatives that advance health and prevent disease throughout the binational, tri-state region.
Its latest investments target the region’s most pressing challenges — especially diabetes, which affects about 11% of New Mexico adults. Through hands-on partnerships, NMSU faculty and students are helping communities rethink their diets and adopt practical, nutritious ways to manage and prevent the disease.
“The Diabetes Management and Prevention Program provides education and support for people with diabetes, prediabetes or those at risk,” said NMSU’s Dr. Lucinda Banegas-Carreon, National Diabetes Prevention Program manager and Diabetes Self-Management Program manager. “Our goal is to reduce the impact of diabetes through innovative education and research, and the ongoing support of the Paso del Norte Foundation makes that possible.”
Recent programs supported at NMSU include:
- National Diabetes Prevention Program (2021–2025)
- Eat Well Otero (2018–2020)
- On the Road to Living Well with Diabetes (2021–2026)
- Autism PEERS (2023–2024 and 2026)
“Investing in New Mexico State University helps build the next generation of leaders and problem-solvers who strengthen communities across the Paso del Norte region and beyond,” said Dr. Michael Kelly, vice president of programs for the Paso del Norte Foundation. “By focusing on diabetes prevention and nutrition education, we’re not just treating symptoms, we’re empowering families to build healthier futures.”
Looking ahead, the Paso del Norte Foundation’s new five-year strategic plan focuses on emerging priorities such as healthy aging, continued efforts to promote mental health, and the expansion of Healthy Kids and diabetes programs in partnership with NMSU and other universities.