& Mission
In 2022, in recognition of La Fonda on the Plaza’s 100th Anniversary, La Fonda Family Investors formed La Fonda Foundation.
They envisioned creating a nonprofit organization committed to promoting upward economic mobility, improving employees’ living standards, and driving systemic change for hourly wage earners within the hospitality industry.
In August 2023, Leticia Bernal was hired as the full-time Executive Director of the Foundation. Working alongside the University of New Mexico (UNM) ’s Cradle to Career Policy Institute, an employee survey for La Fonda on the Plaza was created to uncover the realities that these employees and their families face.
Based on the analysis provided by UNM, La Fonda Foundation began creating programs to address these challenges.
Foundation History
La Fonda Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to promoting upward economic mobility, improving the standard of living, and driving systemic change for hourly wage workers in Northern New Mexico's hospitality industry.
Our Work is Family-specific. Our Impact, Intergenerational.
Each success story builds momentum, inspiring others and strengthening our community:
First-Level Impact: Families achieve stability, better education, and access to higher-paying jobs.
Long-Term Impact: Communities thrive as more workers achieve living wages and economic independence.
Core Values
We lead with an entrepreneurial mindset: La Fonda Foundation embraces an entrepreneurial spirit, recognizing that taking risks sometimes leads to the chance of failure. We see failure as an opportunity to learn, innovate, and refine our approach, ultimately enhancing our ability to serve the community more effectively.
We are led by data: La Fonda Foundation is dedicated to making data-driven decisions. We continuously collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data to evaluate our impact and make corrections and improvements in our programs..
We are a collaborative organization: We value collaboration with the community as a pathway to prosperity. Built on trust and respect for diverse points of view, we celebrate our partners' successes, support their efforts, and connect their programs to the families we serve.
Hospitality Industry Partnerships
Our collaborations with the hospitality and restaurant industries provide critical support to workers and their families. Through partnerships, such as on-site English classes and financial literacy programs, we help bridge resource gaps and elevate the hospitality workforce.
Spotlight on Programs and Initiatives
Through our mission-driven approach, La Fonda Foundation is building a stronger, more equitable future for hospitality workers and their families.
Family Services Program
This eight-month program empowers families with resources and guidance tailored to their unique needs, including financial literacy, education, English classes, tutoring for children, access to social emotional, and other health-related resources, and much more. Participating families receive a grant for participation and to help offset any costs that they may incur during the program, including childcare, transportation, and potentially lost wages.. Learn more on our Events page.
Hourly Employee Hardship Grant
Launched in September 2024, this fund provides immediate financial support for hourly employees facing unexpected hardships, ranging from one-time financial issues to medical emergencies.
Partnerships
We proudly collaborate with organizations that share our commitment to uplifting hourly wage earners of hospitality.. Examples include:
Literacy Volunteers of Santa Fe: Offering on-site English classes to hospitality employees.
Homewise: Providing financial literacy training and home-buying assistance.
Santa Fe Children’s Museum: Engaging families through educational and recreational programs.