Las Vegas Community Foundation Elects New Leadership
The board of directors of the Las Vegas Community Foundation convened its regular Annual Meeting on Dec. 30 to elect new officers and board members.
Elaine Luna, a lifelong community advocate, social work professional, and leader in Las Vegas, was elected as new board chair. Retired state police Captain, Northeast NMSP District Commander and ranch manager Toby Dolan was elected Vice-Chair. Immediate past chair Carla Romero will serve as Treasurer and educator Lorraine Martinez was elected as Secretary. The new officers will serve one-year terms.
Luna served several terms as Vice-Chair and has been instrumental in the tenacity and dramatic growth of the community foundation through the trials of the COVID pandemic and Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon wildfires. “This is an exciting time for our community foundation, and we have gained the trust and support of our donors, nonprofit organizations, and other important foundations in New Mexico. We look forward to providing more financial support to our communities in San Miguel and Mora Counties as we recover and heal,” she noted.
Carla Romero enjoyed a highly successful one-year term as chair, as major grants from the Anchorum Foundation in Santa Fe and the New Mexico Department of Justice in 2024 have enabled a new health and wellness initiative for Mora and San Miguel Counties. Under Carla’s leadership the LV Community Foundation staff has grown to six, including Executive Director Elmo Baca, Administrative Coordinator Aneata O’Brien, Administrative Assistant Sarah Martinez, VISTA program member Betty Bastai, and Anchorum Fellows Ariel Cordero and Arielle Hawney.
Three new board members were also elected, including Dr. Edward Martinez, former President of Luna Community College and current chair of the Forestry Department at NMHU. Jorge Martinez, of the North Central New Mexico Economic Development District, was appointed to the board of directors. Also elected was Aaron Atencio, a volunteer firefighter and Manager of the Pendaries RV Park.
The board of directors bade fond farewells to retiring board members Richard Lindeborg and Rose Contreras-Taylor, who each served multiple terms during the foundation’s formative years and donated generously of their time, treasure and talents.
