Top moments of community connection in 2024

Benefiting area nonprofits, students and businesses with $3.1 million in grants 

Economic diversity, education and community giving got a big boost this year, thanks to the Community Commitment Plan, a $3.1 million grant from Triad National Security. Three key long-term partners received a total of more than $1.5 million: the LANL Foundation for STEM education, scholarships and teacher support; the Regional Development Corporation to support economic diversity, including an internship program and awards to small businesses; and United Way of Northern New Mexico to support nonprofit collaboration and capacity-building, and tackle substance-abuse issues. The Triad investment was also used to match employees’ giving to nonprofits in Northern New Mexico. Additionally, more than $250,000 funded a range of grants and sponsorships to other organizations in the region. All funds support eligible nonprofits from the seven counties surrounding the Laboratory: Los Alamos, Mora, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San Miguel, Santa Fe and Taos.

Spreading joy with holiday giving campaign for charities, scholarships and toys

The Laboratory’s participation in the Northern New Mexico Toy Drive (established by Los Alamos-based EXIT Realty Advantage NM) may be the most visible part of the Holiday Giving Campaign thanks to 136 employees volunteering to organize teams to sort and deliver 2,693 gifts (pictured above). However, the full campaign stretches even further, with $2.2 million in donations to nonprofits, $376,458 to the Los Alamos Employees’ Scholarship Fund and an additional $30,157 to buy even more toys. The monetary contributions to the Toy Drive will be used to purchase toys that, together with those already donated, will be given to around 50 agencies for children and teens. 

Expanding child care options in Northern New Mexico

Lack of available, affordable child care is a crisis for parents nationwide, but at Los Alamos National Laboratory, the mission depends on it. This year, the Laboratory, together with Bilingual Montessori School — a local small business — and Triad partner University of California, cut the ribbon for the new Bilingual Montessori School of Los Alamos, now fully open and caring for 150 children ages 0-5. The Laboratory also developed an early-childhood teacher-training program with UNM-Los Alamos to train more child care workers in the region, increasing the capacity of childcare centers across Northern New Mexico. For information, contact Bilingual Montessori School. There are still some slots available.

Sharing hiking trails on Laboratory property with easy-to-use online map

The Laboratory manages about 25 publicly accessible trails, which span around 36 miles, on Laboratory property, including Anniversary Trail (above). The land on which the Laboratory sits has been home to many — from Pueblo societies to Hispanic homesteaders to the scientists, engineers and others who worked on the urgent Manhattan Project in the 1940s. In recognition of this history, the Lab strives to make portions of the land it acquired for historical wartime efforts as accessible as safely possible. To help the public find and enjoy the trails, it developed this interactive map.