In a year of transitions, the Partners in Education Foundation is about to make another big change. After almost 17 years in the Public Service Company of New Mexico customer service building on South Pacheco Street, Partners will be moving to new offices in the B.F. Young Professional Development Center. While we are excited to move to a larger space that will accommodate our anticipated growth in programs and fundraising, we are extremely grateful to PNM for hosting us for so many years.

PNM has donated office space to Partners in Education for nearly two decades. Their gift has included rent, utilities, access to the break room, the board room, the copier and storage space.

This amazing corporate generosity has saved Partners many thousands of dollars over the years, allowing us to put more resources into programs in our public schools.

PNM has given to our schools in another significant way. Several years ago, the PNM Foundation established a $100,000 endowment at the Santa Fe Community Foundation, the earnings of which fund five $1,000 grants to math and science teachers every year through Partners in Education.

Each year, Partners in Education is fortunate to receive gifts of cash and in-kind support from local companies to help us in our mission to improve the quality of public education in Santa Fe. Our business community is very generous in their support of public education, and they deserve a great deal of thanks from all of us. PNM's corporate giving benefits our community directly, and serves as a model for other companies in town.

Does your company have extra office space? There are many nonprofit organizations in this town that would welcome the relief from paying high Santa Fe rents. And your donation is tax deductible.

Is your company interested in supporting education in a particular subject area? Perhaps your company values the arts, history, English as a second language, student wellness or conservation. Consider establishing an endowment that will provide permanent support for public education in this field.

This model of giving has the potential to benefit every public school in Santa Fe. Thanks again to PNM for its generosity, and for serving as an example for all of our business leaders in giving back to the community.

Partners is also grateful to Santa Fe Public Schools for donating our new office space and furnishings in the B.F. Young Professional Development Center, 1300 Camino Sierra Vista. We will be moving in over Thanksgiving week and holding an open house for the public before the winter holidays. More information will be coming in a future column.

Founded in 1988, Partners in Education works to improve the quality of public school education by linking the community with its schools, providing teachers and their students with the materials, equipment and services they need. For more information, contact 474-0240 or rgreeley@sfpartnersineducation.org. Correspondence can be sent to: Partners in Education Foundation, PO Box 23374, Santa Fe, NM 87502.