IV Wellness Foundation

04/21/2026

🌱 Shape the Future of the Imperial Valley 🌱

The Imperial Valley Wellness Foundation is inviting community members from across the Valley to join our Board of Directors. This is an opportunity to bring your voice, your experience, and your passion to the table as we work together to create a stronger, healthier community.

We believe in the resilience, culture, and potential of the Imperial Valley. Our mission is focused on building connections, supporting local organizations, and investing in solutions driven by the community itself.

Whether you're a neighbor, parent, volunteer, or local leader, there’s a place for you here.

📩 Interested in learning more or applying?

Email: [email protected]

📞 Call: (619) 322-5299

🌐 Visit: ivwf.org

Together, we’re building a better Imperial Valley for all.

04/05/2026

📣We are excited to share that our very own Roque Barros has been appointed to the California Arts Council by Governor Gavin Newsom.

Roque’s leadership has always been defined by commitment to community, equity, and improving the quality of life for all. As he shared with us:

“Wellness requires a comprehensive approach, and IVWF utilizes multiple pathways to address health and wellness. Over my career, art and culture has been one of the most impactful ways to improve the quality of life for all, which directly aligns with our vision of making the Imperial Valley a better place to live for all.”

🎉Congratulations, Roque, on this exciting and well-deserved appointment.

SACRAMENTO — Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday the appointment of Roque Barros, a veteran nonprofit leader from San Diego, to the California Arts Council, tapping a seasoned expert in

12/15/2025

We are happy to support the many great organizations in the Imperial Valley through the Health and Wellness Grant program.

These grants continue to make the Imperial Valley a better place to live for all, and we are proud to provide funding for these organizations that are making a difference every day.

12/11/2025

It was our honor to host the The Colorado Health Foundation to the Imperial Valley to learn about our community engagement strategies. It's collaborations like this that helps strengthen our collective ability to support communities.

11/04/2025

At Imperial Valley Wellness Foundation, we believe lasting change begins with community trust and collaboration. It was an honor for our Executive Director, Roque Barros, to join this national conversation with other rural leaders on how Rural Development Hubs are strengthening civic life and expanding opportunity in our communities.

Thank you to Trust for Civic Life and The Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group for creating space to share our story.

👉 Watch the full conversation below to hear how rural communities across the country are leading with connection, partnership, and purpose.

Trust for Civic Life + Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group invite you to join a conversation exploring how Rural Development Hubs are creating opportu...

10/28/2025

Trusted Connections Create Meaningful Change

Last week, Roque joined a panel at the Grantmakers in Aging Conference to share how Communities of Care and Belonging are driving change in the Imperial Valley through the ECO Group Project, led by community partners including the Bombay Beach Community Services District, Calipatria Latin American Club, NorthEnd Alliance 111, and the Westmorland Community Food Pantry (Westmorland Community Presbyterian Church).

By centering lived experience, trusted community connections are shaping real solutions and lasting impact.

10/16/2025

Celebrating 2025 IVWF Health & Wellness Grantees 🎉

The Imperial Valley Wellness Foundation (IVWF) is proud to announce the 18 nonprofit organizations selected to receive a 2025 Health and Wellness Grant!

These incredible organizations are driving meaningful change across Imperial County—addressing health inequities, building community strength, and advancing wellness for all.
💙 2025 Grant Fund: $102,500
💰 Awards: $5,000–$10,000 per organization

Congratulations to our grantees:
Best STEP Forward
Bombay Beach Community Services District
Campesinos Unidos, Inc.
Cody's Closet
CASA of IC
El Centro PAL Event Center
Imperial Valley Food Bank
Lifted Up Living
Neighborhood House of Calexico, Inc.
NorthEnd Alliance 111
Proyecto Heber
San Diego State University
Soroptimist International of El Centro
Turning Point Men's Home
Make-A-Wish San Diego
The Salvation Army Imperial Valley Corps
United Way of Imperial County
Westmorland Community Presbyterian Church

“Each year, we continue to be inspired by the incredible dedication and impact of the nonprofit agencies serving our community.”
— Antonio Romayor, Jr., Chair, Imperial Valley Wellness Foundation
As Executive Director Roque Barros adds:

“We’re proud to support organizations advancing health, wellness, and community engagement—especially in areas that have long been underrepresented. Together, we’re making the Imperial Valley a better place to live for all.” https://na2.hubs.ly/H01DGVb0

Norman Chandler

10/14/2025

We’re still feeling inspired after the IVWF Endowment Celebration held earlier this month— an unforgettable evening that honored trust, partnership, and the collective power of community.

Thanks to the Alliance Healthcare Foundation, Imperial Valley now has a long-term endowment designed for growth and investment, to ensure lasting, locally led impact for generations to come.

Hear the story behind this bold move and what it means for our community in our new short video:
🎥 [Watch now → https://bit.ly/4oiQ0Az

This celebration was more than a moment — it’s a movement toward shared leadership, equity, and a healthier future for all.
Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties

10/10/2025

Still basking in the afterglow of last week’s IVWF Endowment Celebration! ✨
More than 100 people joined us — community members, local nonprofits, funders, government leaders, business partners, and friends — all coming together to celebrate this milestone for Imperial Valley. We were especially grateful to welcome past board members and honorary council members who helped lay the foundation for our work today.

It was an evening filled with joy, gratitude, and hope — a celebration of partnership, trust, and shared vision for a healthier, more equitable Imperial Valley.

Each photo captures a piece of that story — the smiles, the connections, and the promise of what’s possible when philanthropy moves power to where it belongs: in the hands of the community. https://bit.ly/3VZ7MNc

Special thanks to our partners at Alliance Healthcare Foundation for their unwavering trust and commitment to our shared mission and to Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties for co-hosting the celebration.

📸 Swipe through to relive the celebration!

Alliance Healthcare Foundation Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties NorthEnd Alliance 111 Westmorland Community Presbyterian Church

10/07/2025

We were honored to join this year’s , hosted by Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties at the A Reason To Survive (ARTS) campus — a gathering celebrating the “bright spots” of social impact.

Our breakout session with Alliance Healthcare Foundation on the journey that led to the new IVWF Endowment was full of energy, thoughtful questions, and shared learning.

Watch the short video we shared during the session, announcing the endowment and highlighting the incredible Imperial County nonprofit community:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQUAPlSYhuo&list=PL-CwI2rkvFSURRGEhJJYJeVpBJKsp4bz2&index=1

Grateful to be part of such an inspiring space for collaboration and community building. 💙

In early 2025, Alliance Healthcare Foundation (AHF) transferred $7.5 million (10% of its endowment) to Imperial Valley Wellness Foundation (IVWF). These fund...