New Mexico Spirit of Achievement Award Dinner

Clara Apodaca, executive director of the National Hispanic Cultural Center Foundation, and Dale Dekker, a founder and partner of the architecture firm Dekker/Perich/Sabartini, received the National Jewish Health Spirit of Achievement Award on Monday, May 3, in the presence of 275 guests in Albuquerque. Special guests at the event included Congressman Martin Heinrich, New Mexico Secretary of Economic Development Fred Mondragon, Mayor R.M. Berry and First Lady Maria Berry, Director of Economic Development for the City of Albuquerque John Garcia, and Executive Director of the Kirtland Partnership Committee Stu Purviance. The annual event, this year co-chaired by Del Archuleta and Cynthia Reinhart, raised $54,000 to benefit patients at National Jewish Health in Denver.

National Jewish Health provides medical care and education to hundreds of patients from New Mexico each year. In the past three years, 629 New Mexico residents traveled to Denver to receive treatment at National Jewish Health. And last year 120 doctors in New Mexico called the National Jewish Health Physician Line to consult with its expert physicians. Currently 10 former National Jewish Health fellows practice in New Mexico.

Cynthia Reinhart, KPMG LLP, co-chair of the dinner alongside Del Archuleta, Molzen-Corbin and Associates, said, "National Jewish Health is finding the causes of rare diseases and treating them, leading the nation in respiratory care and, most importantly, instilling hope in its patients. Through your support tonight, you are helping other New Mexicans who may not otherwise be able to seek treatment at National Jewish Health get the care they need."

Ross Kedl, MD, Assistant Professor in the Integrated Department of Immunology at National Jewish Health, spoke at the event and said, "I am indeed grateful to all of you for your support of National Jewish Health and our efforts to reach out to communities across the country, including the New Mexico community."

Treasurer for the Albuquerque Spirit of Achievement Award Dinner was Debbi Moore, Rio Rancho Regional Chamber of Commerce. Chairman of the New Mexico Regional Council of Trustees is Sherman McCorkle. Dinner committee members included Loretta Armenta, Kathleen Avila, Roy W. Bidwell, Terri L. Cole, Pat Dee, Joe Di Gregorio, Jesse Dompreh, Robert Feinberg, Larry Greher, Marcia Hembree, Henry Jaramillo, Robert Jung II, Greg Leyendecker, Marshall Martin, Jennifer Riordan, Michael Stanford, Lynn Trojahn and Bill Wiley.

Sponsors included Technology Ventures Corporation and Molzen-Corbin and Associates and dozens of other local businesses and foundations.