R4 Creating, Abrazos among PNM Resources Foundation Grant Recipients

Two Sandoval County nonprofits were announced as recipients of PNM Resources Foundation 2024 Nontraditional pathways to education grants Thursday.

Abrazos Family Support Services in Bernalillo and Rio Rancho-based R4 Creating were two of the 38 grant recipients.

The grants are for nonprofits whose mission includes furthering learning by using nonconventional teaching methods and nontraditional pathways to education, such as online courses, apprenticeships and self-directed learning.

Non-traditional Education Pathway grants are for programs offered by qualified 501c3 nonprofits. Examples may include programs for learners who are developmentally disabled, veterans, seniors, formerly incarcerated, unhoused, youth interested in STEAM or agriculture education (healthy food access, crops, food security) and housing for direct education purposes. Extra consideration will be given to programs working to include underserved populations and those providing a framework to explicitly ensure all persons are included and valued.

R4 Creating, which has won multiple championships and awards, works to connect STEAM educators with the necessary resources to prepare students ages 6-18 to enter the STEAM Workforce Pipeline. R4 promotes the growth of STEAM education and enrichment through its robotics teams and a Robotics Leadership Academy. Classes cost $175 per semester, but Dr. Shelly Gruenig, the executive director of R4 Creating, said no child has ever been turned away from the program. She works tirelessly to raise money to make sure any student who wants it has access to the lessons learned at R4.

“I say it’s like at the intersection of where fun and learning collide. Because it is that right?” Gruenig said. “It also just takes more resources. We’ve been really fortunate to have a lot of really great volunteers over the years. Because it takes a whole staff of volunteers to supervise, make sure everybody’s safe, especially around the machines, and not only just say fingers and toes, but also save hearts and minds and just help them, but there’s so much reward from it.”

Since 1978, Abrazos has provided a variety of specialized educational, health, developmental and parent support services that help families to meet the special needs of their infants, children and adult family members with disabilities.

The mission of Abrazos Family Support Services is to support children and adults who have developmental disabilities and delays by providing an array of community-based services that meet the needs of the individuals and their families.

The services are available to individuals and families who live in Sandoval and Bernalillo counties and include Infant/Toddler Services (early intervention), Autism Services, Respite Services and Family Living.

Mandy’s Farm, a nonprofit organization that assists individuals with developmental disabilities in achieving their goals for living, learning and working in the community based in Los Ranchos and serves Bernalillo and Sandoval counties, also was a recipient of the PNM grant.

“PNM empowers adults with developmental disabilities to achieve career aspirations through unique education programs at Mandy’s Farm,” said Amy Berman, Mandy’s Farm development director. “PNM Resources Foundation awarded a grant to Mandy’s Farm to advance our nontraditional education program that empowers adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to achieve their career goal of becoming an agriculture producer.”

PNM Resources Foundation has been committed to supporting nonprofits in the communities it serves since its inception in 1983. Over the years, the foundation has awarded millions of dollars in grants to organizations working to improve the quality of life for individuals PNM serves across New Mexico.