Community Commitment

“We make a living by what we get.  We make a life by what we give.”

– WINSON CHURCHILL

 

We founded City Different Investments so we could work with a group of people who respect each other, trust each other, and share common values. One of those shared values is listening. We always strive to hear the voices of our peers, our clients, and everyone whose lives intersect with our own, so we can better understand their needs and learn how we can help.

Since the beginning, our team members have consistently volunteered time and resources to give back to the communities where we live, work, and invest, seeking to leave our world a little better than we found it. Below are some of the charitable organizations we are proud to support:

Note: All descriptions are adapted from the organizations’ website.

 

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Big Brothers Big Sisters
Mountain Region

For more than a hundred years, Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) has operated under the belief that every child has the potential to succeed and thrive. As the nation’s largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, BBBS makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers and children ages six through eighteen.

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Research shows that positive relationships between Littles and their Bigs have a direct and measurable impact on children’s lives. Having a special adult they can turn to gives a Little greater self-confidence, leads to better choices, and generates more hopeful plans for the future.
Esperanza Shelter

Esperanza Shelter

Esperanza Shelter is a domestic abuse agency offering safe, confidential housing, counseling, food, clothing and supplies for victims and their children. Esperanza Shelter primarily serves Santa Fe County and the eight Northern Pueblos and occasionally shelters domestic abuse victims from other parts of New Mexico and even some from other parts of the U.S. when necessary. Esperanza Shelter has been committed to its mission for 45 years.

The Food Depot

The Food Depot is ending hunger in Northern New Mexico by providing food to a network of over 145 partner nonprofit agencies throughout nine counties. Partner agencies such as food pantries, meal programs, homeless shelters, youth programs, and senior centers distribute food received from The Food Depot to people who are experiencing hunger. Each month, The Food Depot distributes over 527,000 pounds of food, more than 439,000 meals through its partner agencies.
Habitat for Humanity

Santa Fe Habitat for Humanity

Santa Fe Habitat for Humanity promotes affordable homeownership for Santa Fe area residents by constructing simple, adequate, and energy efficient new homes and repairing or rehabilitating existing homes through the cooperative efforts of partner families, volunteers, donors, and staff.

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Research shows that positive relationships between Littles and their Bigs have a direct and measurable impact on children’s lives. Having a special adult they can turn to gives a Little greater self-confidence, leads to better choices, and generates more hopeful plans for the future.
Kitchen Angels

Kitchen Angels

Kitchen Angels prepares and delivers free, nutritious meals to Northern New Mexicans who are homebound and facing life challenging illnesses and conditions. Kitchen Angels believes no one in our community who is homebound because of a chronic, surgery-related, or terminal medical condition should ever go without appropriate nutrition. Making sure those in need have enough to eat is simply the right thing to do.
New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence

New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence

New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence (NMPGV) is a 501(c)3 non-partisan organization whose mission is to reduce firearm injury and death through public health, education, advocacy, and public awareness, in order to protect the safety of our families and communities.

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In January of 2013, a group of concerned citizens formed NMPGV in response not only to the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School (where 20 children and 6 adult staff members were fatally shot) but also to the escalating gun violence that was starting to define our state and country. Several thousand members strong from across the state of New Mexico, NMPGV partners with schools, school boards, cities, counties, police departments and interfaith groups as well as national and local organizations to reduce gun violence in our state.
Reading Quest

Reading Quest

Reading Quest provides free structured literacy tutoring and social emotional support for hundreds of striving readers. The organization is an outgrowth of the student-led literacy campaign, Hooked on Books, and the NM Alliance for Literacy created by Santa Fe middle school students and their teacher, Rayna Dineen at Santa Fe School for the Arts & Sciences, along with local high school students.

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Hooked on Books students helped create the ‘Reading is Magic’ Summer Program which trains and hires teens and master reading specialists for intensive summer reading programs for students who are 1-2 years below grade level in reading. During the past ten summers, campers have made, on average, slightly more than one year’s growth during each two-week camp session, as measured by a standardized reading assessment.
St. Elizabeth Shelter and Supportive Housing

St. Elizabeth Shelter and Supportive Housing

St. Elizabeth Shelter and Supportive Housing is dedicated to assisting homeless individuals and families by providing emergency shelter, food, case management, and counseling, as well as supportive housing and referrals to partnering human service agencies. St. Elizabeth’s ultimate goal is not only to shelter the most vulnerable, but to end the cycle of homelessness altogether.
St. Vincents Hospital

St. Vincents Hospital

Established in 1980 by forward-thinking, philanthropic community members and governed by its own independent volunteer Board of Directors, the St. Vincent Hospital Foundation improves the health of the community by supporting CHRISTUS St. Vincent Health System in providing excellent, compassionate healthcare to patients and families in Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico, regardless of ability to pay.
Think New Mexico

Think New Mexico

Think New Mexico is a results-oriented think tank whose mission is to improve the lives of all New Mexicans, especially those who lack a strong voice in the political process. They fulfill this mission by educating the public, the media, and policymakers about some of the most serious challenges facing New Mexico and by developing and advocating for enduring, effective, evidence-based solutions.

Tomorrow’s Women

Tomorrow’s Women trains young women from Palestine, Israel and the United States to be strong, compassionate leaders who partner to resolve conflicts and inspire action that promotes equality, peace and justice for all.

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Founded in 2003 out of the realization that it only takes one person to change history, this vision holds true today: when equipped with the tools, skills, and confidence to lead, the power of just one extraordinary woman can transform conflict with strength and compassion.
University of New Mexico

The University of New Mexico

Founded in 1889 as New Mexico’s flagship institution, The University of New Mexico now occupies nearly 800 acres near old Route 66 in the heart of Albuquerque, a metropolitan area of more than 500,000 people. UNM is a place where cutting-edge research and creative endeavors flourish. UNM research injects millions of dollars into New Mexico’s economy, funds new advancements in healthcare, and augments teaching – giving students valuable hands-on training in state-of-the art laboratories.