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Covarrubias-Aprendamos Foundation

Welcome to the Covarrubias-Aprendamos Foundation! We are committed to planting seeds to put future generations on a path to success. We are proud to lead from the heart, have an impact within the state of New Mexico, share knowledge with our community, and celebrate the agricultural and immigrant workers who are the backbone of our region!

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Planting Seeds of Success

About Us

Founded in 2023, the Covarrubias-Aprendamos Foundation aims to act as a vehicle to ensure youth in our community thrive and have equitable access to opportunities to support their education, development, and success. With a mission to provide children with experiences that value and celebrate them as individuals and honor and foster their gifts and talents, the foundation team is eager to partner with individuals, nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations, and businesses. Through community partnerships, the foundation aims to build collaborative opportunities and learning communities for children in Southern New Mexico. 

Building Stronger Communities

Who We Have Funded

We have funded a range of organizations from youth sports leagues to non-profits, all dedicated to fostering the growth and potential of children in our communities.

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Voices of Impact

Making a Difference

"We work every day to build great futures, but our mission could not be accomplished without the support from community partners like Aprendamos Family of Services. Thank you for all you do to help our Club's youth reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens!"

Ashley Echavarria, CEO, Boys & Girls Club of Las Cruces

"Your generosity has not only given these children a chance to play baseball but has also opened doors to valuable life lessons and experiences that will stay with them forever."

Mario Lopez, Coach, NM Howlers

“We have been able to support children, help them deal with challenges, and work through these challenges as they participate in Camp New Amigos. The program has been a vital resource to children and families with an autism diagnosis in our community, and we are so grateful for the support from Aprendamos to help make these opportunities possible!

Ruth Ortiz, Board & Community Liaison, Hearts for Autism

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Apply today to secure funding for projects that uplift and empower the youth of Southern New Mexico. Let's co-create impactful opportunities for future generations together.

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Investing in Southern New Mexico

Funding Priorities

The Covarrubias-Aprendamos Foundation prioritizes initiatives that align with our mission to support and empower youth in our communities. Our scholarship funds will continue to be housed and administered by our partners at the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico, Doña Ana Community College, and the New Mexico State University Foundation.

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Our Grants

We offer financial support through grants and sponsorships, designed to catalyze impactful projects and programs that address critical needs and create opportunities for youth in our local area to thrive and reach their full potential.

Who We Fund

We provide funding to a diverse range of organizations including nonprofit entities, youth sports leagues, and other groups that demonstrate a strong commitment to serving and empowering youth in our local communities.

The Funding Cycle​

Grant and sponsorship opportunities are made available on a quarterly basis, allowing eligible organizations multiple chances throughout the years to apply for funding that supports their youth-focused programs and initiatives.

Empowering Youth

Our Mission

The Covarrubias-Aprendamos Foundation will partner with individuals, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, and businesses to co-create and build collaborative opportunities and learning communities for children in Southern New Mexico. Our mission is to provide children with experiences that value and celebrate them as individuals and honor and foster their gifts and talents.

Guiding Our Vision

Our Board of Directors

Our board of directors brings together passionate leaders who are commited to advancing our mission of empowering youth thorugh community-driven initiatives.

Abel Covarrubias

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Monica Marrujo

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Alexa Covarrubias

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Krystal Chavarria-Gonzalez

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Ali Covarrubias-Parra

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Danny Palma

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Contact Us:

info@covarrubiasaitfoundation.org
1675 Hickory Loop, Las Cruces, NM 88005
(575) 526-6682 x 121

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Grant Application

Please use this application for all Covarrubias-Aprendamos Foundation funding requests. Our team will review applications and respond to requests on a bi-monthly basis. Thank you for all you do to foster the growth and potential of children in our community!

Abel Covarrubias

Abel Covarrubias is the founder and Chief Executive Officer for the Aprendamos Family of Services organization and Covarrubias-Aprendamos Foundation. Abel founded Aprendamos Early Intervention in 2006 to provide early intervention services for children ages birth to three who are affected by a developmental delay or disability. To continue meeting the community’s needs, Abel created five additional programs to provide a continuum of services for children and their families to include Esperanza Children’s Therapy Clinic, Mariposa Autism Service Center, Alegría Family Counseling, Cariño Home Visiting Program, and the Conscious Fathering Program of Southern New Mexico. These six programs round out the Aprendamos Family of Services organization.

Abel’s background has shaped who he is as a leader. As a first-generation Mexican American and native of New Mexico, his journey began in the farming community of Arrey, NM. He relocated to Las Cruces, NM where he attended New Mexico State University and received a Master of Arts Degree in Special Education/Communication Disorders. It was at NMSU where he met his wife, Monica Marrujo. They later welcomed three daughters to their family: Alexa Rae, Avery Sofia, and Nyla Jade.

Although he did not become a farmer like his brothers, Abel believes in planting seeds to support future generations and giving back to our community. He is a Co-Founder of Hearts for Autism and actively involved in various boards including Las Cruces Catholic Schools, NMSU College of Health, Education and Social Transformation Transition Advisory Committee, Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico Economic Development Advisory Board, Southern New Mexico Catholic Education Foundation, NMSU Foundation, and ZERO TO THREE, a national board based in Washington, DC. 

Abel is passionate about philanthropy and believes we have the opportunity to help shape future generations through our actions. He has completed mission trips to Ecuador and Nicaragua and enjoys running marathons, reading a good book, and spending time with his family. Thanks for leading with your heart, Abel, and all you do to make a difference for Aprendamos, the Covarrubias-Aprendamos Foundation, and our community! 

Krystal Chavarria-Gonzalez

Krystal Chavarria-Gonzalez  is a Developmental Instructionist II/Evaluator for Aprendamos Early Intervention. Krystal received her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from New Mexico State University and endorsements in Bilingual Education and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.)

Krystal’s career at Aprendamos began in 2006 as a File Clerk when she was a senior at Oñate High School. Upon graduation in December 2011, she became a Family Service Coordinator/Developmental Specialist II. In her 19 years with Aprendamos, she has  held many positions such as Lead Family Service Coordinator/Developmental Specialist, Child Care Liaison, Community Education Coordinator, Evaluator, and Program Director for the Early Intervention Program. Krystal also created the Early Intervention Internship Program that included collaborations with NMSU, WNMU, UNM and ENMU for the Family Service Coordinator/Developmental Instruction department and later expanded to other therapy departments. With the birth of her daughter in November of 2022, she took a pause in her career and returned to Aprendamos in February 2023. 

Krystal maintained her presence and participation in Leadership and Coalition initiatives through UNM, Doña Ana Early Childhood Coalition, ACT Early Statewide Coalition, and the Gadsden Chapter and serves on the board of directors for the Children’s Reading Alliance. Krystal is also a co-author for “CREATE EC,” a Zero to Three Journal article published in June 2023. The CREATE EC (Creating Responsive Educational Avenues for Training Environments in Early Childhood) Leadership Academy aimed to strengthen early childhood goals for culturally responsive workforce development through relational leadership and co-create a community informed approach that shifts early childhood education to grow educators from statewide rural, indigenous and Spanish speaking communities. 

Through her Covarrubias-Aprendamos Foundation board involvement, Krystal looks forward to using her leadership skills to strengthen the Advancing Social Equity Initiative and Nuestra Juventud programs, initiatives she has participated in since their inception. She looks forward to collaboration with school districts in rural communities such as Gadsden Independent School District, Deming Public Schools, and Hatch Valley Public Schools to support our youth in the surrounding rural communities and develop mentorship opportunities for students in sectors such as health, education, business, technology, science, math, and engineering. Thank you, Krystal, for your dedication to youth in our community and your leadership on the Covarrubias-Aprendamos Foundation!

Ali Covarrubias

Alejandra “Ali” Covarrubias-Parra is the Director for Alegría Family Counseling, a Mental Health Clinician, and a board-certified supervisor in New Mexico. She earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work in 2014 and her Clinical Social Work license in 2020. Ali began her career with Aprendamos Early Intervention as a Development Therapist and Social Worker. She has worked with the Children Youth and Families Department, Treatment Foster Care, Public School Districts, and Building Bridges Counseling Services to provide Play Therapy Counseling for children.

Ali is certified to provide training to parents through the Circle of Security Parenting Program and certified in CAMS, a framework approach in treating suicidal risks. She has received training in Synergetic Play Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) and offers individual and family therapy for complex trauma and PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, behavioral management, parenting support, suicide ideation, and caregiver-child attachment issues. In her free time, Ali can be found exploring the outdoors with her daughter, weight lifting, or spending quality time with her family. Thank you for making a meaningful difference for the children and families served through Alegría and throughout our community, Ali!

Danny Palma

Danny Palma is the Founder of Direct Therapy Services (DTS) and a shareholder for the DTS and Aprendamos Family of Services organizations. Originally from New Mexico, Danny attended New Mexico State University and received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, and Master of Arts in Communication Disorders. Specializing in Augmentative and Alternative Communication and Medical Speech-Language Pathology, Danny has used his expertise to serve Direct Therapy Services clients on the New Mexico Developmental Disabilities Waiver Program. 

Danny has also been able to see the impact made in the lives of the clients and families served through the DTS and Aprendamos programs, and now the Covarrubias-Aprendamos Foundation. He shared, “I have observed people get the power of choice making and the pride and self-determination developed when people are valued and allowed to direct their own lives.” The power of positive testimonials has also reinforced the difference these programs can make in people’s lives. Danny added, “I have so many people tell me what a great impact Direct Therapy Services and Aprendamos have had in a friend or family member’s life. It always humbles me and I am always grateful for all the people who have chosen to work with DTS and Aprendamos. What we do matters to so many people.”

In his spare time, Danny enjoys mountain biking, playing pickleball, hiking, and traveling with his wife, Elaine. Thanks for your leadership and all you do for the Direct Therapy Services, Aprendamos Family of Services, and Covarrubias-Aprendamos Foundation organizations, Danny! 

Your Application Has Been Submitted!

Thank you for submitting your grant application to the Covarrubias-Aprendamos Foundation. We appreciate your dedicationg to fostering children’s growth and potential in our community. Our team will review your application and contact you soon.