The New Mexico Children's Foundation is looking to raise money for the foundation's annual grant program, which funds small non-profit organizations in the state that benefit children and families, by hosting an online auction.

Gary King, President of the New Mexico Children's Foundation, said the foundation typically holds an in-person fundraiser that includes both a silent and live auction, but due to the pandemic they decided to try something new. 

"We have a good donor base and you know, we hope that this will be fun for them and we hope that this will bring in some new people as well," King told the New Mexico Sun earlier this week.

The theme of this year's auction was "Going Places with the New Mexico Children's Foundation." Participants bid on weekend getaway packages in different areas of the state through Sept. 14. It raised nearly $28,500, according to the foundation's site.

King said past auction fundraisers have raised anywhere from $50,000 to $80,000 for the foundation. That money is then distributed to various organizations and programs across the state through grants.

Alice King, Gary's mother and former first lady of New Mexico, started the foundation 30 years ago when she saw a need to help provide funding for programs that didn't have the resources to employ grant writers, particularly in rural parts of the state. 

"My mother set the foundation up so it's flexible enough that we hope that we can support anybody that's got a great idea for kids," Gary King told the New Mexico Sun. 

The New Mexico Children's Foundation provides funding to small, community-based non profit programs designed to foster physical, emotional, education, and social development of New Mexico children and their families.

These programs include English as a second language, equestrian programs that help children with special needs, and ones that teach young people how to farm. 

King said they hope the online auction helps get the word out about the New Mexico Children's Foundation.