2024 Montezuma Ball to benefit R4 Creating, Mandy’s Farm
Montezuma Ball, one of New Mexico’s oldest traditions and largest fundraisers to benefit area nonprofit organizations, has selected R4Creating and Mandy’s Farm as beneficiaries of this year’s annual fundraising ball to be held on Nov. 23 at Hotel Albuquerque in Old Town.
Montezuma Ball was created in 1902 as part of the New Mexico Territorial Fair, and it continued until the last ball was held at the Alvarado Hotel in 1968. In 2000, Heritage Hotels & Resorts restored this New Mexico favorite and inaugurated the event in its Alvarado Ballroom inside Hotel Albuquerque. Since then, Montezuma Ball has raised millions of dollars for nonprofit organizations.
R4Creating’s mission is to provide support for those organizations making valuable contributions to increase the number of STEM opportunities for students.
“We are thrilled to be the primary beneficiary for the 2024 Montezuma Ball, and so grateful for SUNNY505 launching us on a positive note,” said Dr. Shelly Gruenig, R4Creating’s sounding executive director. “Our goal is to raise $1 million at this year’s event, which will allow us to expand our STEAM services throughout the state and have an even greater impact on New Mexico’s young people.”
Mandy’s Farm is a nonprofit organization that assists individuals with developmental disabilities in achieving their goals for living, learning and working in the community.
“Mandy’s Farm is grateful for the opportunity to raise awareness for the inclusion and support needs of youth and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” said Melissa McCue, executive director. “The Montezuma Ball presents a distinctive platform to expand outreach and awareness of essential services to the wider New Mexican community. We are thrilled to be working alongside R4 Creating to make this event successful and memorable.”
SUNNY505 kicked off the fundraising with a $50,000 contribution in honor of Joanie Griffin, its founder, who will serve as queen of the 2024 Montezuma Ball.
Past beneficiaries of the ball include Junior Achievement, United Way of Central New Mexico, Explora Science Center & Children’s Museum, DreamSpring, Museum of NM Foundation, YDI, WESST, the National Institute of Flamenco, Animal Humane of New Mexico, KIMO Foundation and many other organizations.
“Both R4 Creating and Mandy’s Farm are making a huge difference for New Mexico’s young people,” said Jim Long, founder and CEO of Heritage Hotels & Resorts. “We can’t wait to see how the money raised will take both organizations to new heights.”
Montezuma Ball
Be part of more than 100 years of tradition, while supporting the mission of R4Creating. Support Montezuma Ball today!
Montezuma Ball began 100 years ago, starting in 1902 as part of the New Mexico Territorial Fair. The tradition continued until the last historic Ball was held at the Alvarado Hotel in Albuquerque in 1968. In 2000, Heritage Hotels and Resorts restored this New Mexico tradition to inaugurate its new Alvarado Ballroom at Hotel Albuquerque. Since then, Montezuma Ball has raised millions of dollars for deserving nonprofits across New Mexico. The event includes cocktails, gourmet dinner, an entertaining and inspiring program, and after-party dancing.
R4Creating is the secondary beneficiary in 2023 and the lead beneficiary of the 2024 Montezuma Ball. Your attendance at this event will support our mission of enriching the lives of youth with STEM experiences and learning.
Click here to buy a table before they run out.
STEAM Center of Excellence Grand Opening
Partnering with Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, R4 Creating has opened a new STEAM Center to facilitate learning, leadership, and growth within the STEAM community. The center welcomes educators, employers, and families to develop and acquire skills pertaining to 3D printing, robotics, engineering, and much more.
Click here to view an article and video from KOAT covering the STEAM Center of Excellence’s grand opening.
R4Robotics team wins world recognition with Google Award
This video shares the journey of VEX Robotics team #373 as they reached out to the community to share robotics and STEM with more than 48,000 people in 2019.
R4Creating Executive Director Inducted into Global STEM Hall of Fame
Shelly Gruenig and Karena Omdahl are instructors, coaches, teachers, and mentors. Their team, R4Robotics, is multiple-time state and regional champion and has won the Google Community International Award.
Students participating in VEX Competitions encounter “Inspiration All-Stars” each and every day. Some are teachers and mentors who work with individual teams to make a robotics program work. Others are volunteers who help make events happen. They all are devoted individuals who put in many hours of hard work with persistence and passion. These individuals help students achieve goals that may have seemed out of reach. They provide opportunities for students to expand their knowledge and solve problems in the worlds of STEM. These all-stars show true leadership and dedication to the VEX Competition experience.
R4Creating offers tips on how to get kids involved in STEM
R4Creating has developed a STEM pipeline process that guides students through four levels of development, leading to academic, personal, and career success. The R4Creating nonprofit organization includes a community-based robotics team of students called R4Robotics
Dr. Gruenig highlights her top tips for getting students involved in STEM learning fields.
R4Creating is currently signing up students 8-18 for this season’s robotics team. Those interested are encouraged to learn more about the team’s competitions and to visit their Battling Bots events.
Students learn from PNM Lineman
What happens when the lights go out? Typically, linemen for the local electric utility go scrambling to fix the problem. In an emergency, speed and safety are paramount concerns in getting the power back on. A group of New Mexico students involved in the “Off the Grid” robotics competition are faced with those parameters in their quest to build a robot that can help linemen in a pinch. Recently, a crew from PNM gave the students a look at some of the dangers they face. R4Creating is the local nonprofit that seeks to inspire students to pursue students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). New Mexico in Focus went along for the demonstration, which helps put students in the middle of a problem and lets them work their way to a solution.
Robotics Training Institute: Sandia National Labs goes virtual
R4 Creating is leading the way with virtual robotics training.
"The kids have to make a program that allows the robot to move across the arena completely by itself and so they had these things called risers and they need to stack them and put them in particular places across the board in order to get points," said Alex Fiera, who was part of the camp and has since become an intern at Sandia.
This is the third year Sandia has collaborated with R4 Creating for the camp. R4 Creating is a group that helps provide resources to STEM learning.
R4Robotics team defends regional title, takes home top award at robotics competition
R4 Robotics champions hold open house at Explora
Six weeks ago, R4 Robotics was preparing for a competition at NMSU in Las Cruces. CEO of Be Greater Than Average, Shelly Gruening and the students return to discuss how that competition went as well as their upcoming open house.
Local student takes home top STEM award participating in 2 national competitions
Last week, local student Gianna Nilvo was among 30 participants to travel to Washington D.C. for the Broadcam Masters Science and Engineering Fair. For the first time, all winners were girls at this competition.
Students create their own 3D printers during Robotics Training Institute
Last week, students representing seven different STEM programs in the area attended the Robotics Training Institute hosted by Sandia National Laboratories Robotics Vehicle Range in partnership with the nonprofit R4Creating. Campers were able to build their own 3D printers and learned how to operate and troubleshoot their own devices.
