Communities that Inspire Our Work for Families and Professionals in Southern New Mexico

By Colleen Cassity, Global Head, Oracle Social Impact—Sep 4, 2026

For more than 30 years, Oracle philanthropy has worked alongside local organizations to expand opportunity and strengthen communities around the world, but being a good neighbor takes more than investment. It takes time to listen, build relationships, earn trust, give trust, and understand the people, organizations, and shared spaces that hold a community together. As our work continues on Project Jupiter in Doña Ana County, I’ve been grateful for the opportunity to spend time with local organizations across Southern New Mexico that are deeply invested in the present and the future of their communities.

Empowering the next generation with educational opportunities

Education has long been central to Oracle’s philanthropic work because every child deserves the opportunity to see what is possible and build a positive future for themselves. In southern New Mexico, that commitment includes recently launched Oracle scholarships for students from Doña Ana County pursuing degrees at New Mexico public universities and community colleges, with special consideration for students from Santa Teresa, Sunland Park, and surrounding communities.

Our commitment to education also extends to helping students learn about potential fields of interest and build career pathways through Oracle Academy. By working with educators in New Mexico, including New Mexico State University, University of New Mexico, and Doña Ana Community College, we are dedicated to helping students develop technology skills and explore pathways into careers, including those supporting data centers.

Project Jupiter supported an important first-time experience for Gadsden Independent School District (GISD): the district’s high school students, faculty, staff and Superintendent were able to travel to the State Capitol to advocate for funding for GISD’s dual-language program. The visit gave students the opportunity not only to witness state government firsthand, but also to actively participate in democracy.

We are also proud supporters of the Boys & Girls Club of Las Cruces, which recently broke ground on a new facility on El Paseo Road. The new center will expand access to recreation, academic support, and a safe place to be outside of school hours, creating more opportunities for young people to build confidence, connections and skills. Once completed, the 30,000-square-foot facility will serve more than three times as many kids as the current building, a former church used since 1965.

Then there is Dino Dig, a planned education park in Sunland Park. The project is led by local nonprofit Moms on Board. Dino Dig was inspired by ancient dinosaur footprints found near Mount Cristo Rey. It will give children and families fun ways to unearth local history and ancient ecosystems with hands-on discovery. For Mayra Garcia Lopez, executive director of Moms on Board, this approach is key: “With Dino Dig, we can help turn science into something kids can see and touch.”

Helping people meet everyday needs

Other partnerships are focused on helping individuals and families meet daily needs. Project Jupiter has funded five major food distributions with Casa de Peregrinos, a longtime food assistance organization in southern New Mexico. The most recent were two Oracle-sponsored pop-up food pantry events in partnership with Roadrunner Food Bank and the City of Sunland Park. Together with our partners, Oracle Volunteers distributed more than 250,000 pounds of fresh produce, meat, and other essential items for more than 900 local families. To help Casa de Peregrinos align its commitment to “zero food waste” with “zero emissions,” Oracle recently funded the addition of three new electric vehicles to their fleet.

Oracle and Bloom Energy are also supporting . The new route is expected to distribute approximately 1 million pounds of food annually to families across southern New Mexico.

Last month, Oracle also worked with partners to provide 200 backpacks filled with school supplies to local students, helping families prepare for the new school year. Oracle and STACK volunteers packed the backpacks, along with Santa Teresa city officials and local seniors, and distributed them to local students at the Sunland Park Sports Complex. These contributions build on Oracle’s long tradition of giving and volunteering and we will continue to work alongside local organizations to help meet community needs.

Protecting natural resources and strengthening essential infrastructure

Environmental stewardship is another important part of this work and Oracle is proud to be collaborating with the Well Done Foundation to identify and cap orphaned oil and gas wells across New Mexico, while also supporting scholarships and field experience for local workers seeking certification as Orphan Well Qualified Measurement Specialists. Many of these abandoned wells are part of New Mexico’s long energy history, but left uncapped, they can leak hazardous gases, pollute soil, and create environmental and safety risks for residents and wildlife.

Reliable access to safe drinking water is something every community depends on, yet many water systems across Doña Ana County require significant investment to meet current and future needs. Project Jupiter is providing $50 million to help support repairs and improvements to the county’s drinking water infrastructure. By partnering with the county on these long-term investments, we hope to help strengthen an essential public resource that will benefit residents for decades to come.

These positive environmental and social impact efforts may take many different forms, but they share a common goal: supporting the organizations and community leaders already doing important work across Southern New Mexico. That kind of long-term partnership, grounded in listening, alignment with the community’s priorities, and collaboration, is what we hope and intend to continue building for years to come.

These programs are part of Oracle's broader investments in Doña Ana County and the State of New Mexico. We’re proud of the meaningful, lasting benefits Project Jupiter is bringing to the state and local communities. Our responsible data center Project is expected to generate more than $4.7 billion in long-term economic impact and has already delivered nearly $80 million in state and county tax revenue. The project has employed 2,700 workers to date, including nearly 1,000 New Mexico residents, and is expected to provide more than 7,000 construction jobs and 1,500 ongoing project-supported jobs.

I look forward to sharing more stories about how we are partnering with caring organizations in Doña Ana County to make a difference across the community.