Uncategorized – NB3 Foundation

NB3 Foundation Announces New President and Chief Executive Officer

The Notah Begay III (NB3) Foundation is proud to announce the appointment of Jon Driskell as the organization’s next president and chief executive officer. Driskell steps into the role after five years of impactful leadership as the foundation’s chief operating officer (COO).

During his time as COO, Driskell played a vital role in advancing the foundation’s mission of ensuring Native children achieve their full potential by advancing cultures of Native American community health. His deep knowledge of the organization, strong relationships and commitment to community-led work have helped drive the foundation’s work forward.

“As we move into the next chapter of our work, Jon’s leadership will be crucial,” said the NB3 Foundation board of directors. “His vision, dedication and experience provide us with confidence that he will strengthen impact of the foundation’s work in Native communities.”

“Serving Native youth and communities is a privilege, and I’m honored for the opportunity to step into this role,” Driskell said. “I look forward to working alongside our team, partners and donors to drive meaningful initiatives and programs that will empower the next generation of youth to lead healthy lives.”

Driskell brings a renewed focus on visionary leadership and strategic growth. He is committed to building on the organization’s legacy while shaping its future to meet the evolving needs of Native youth and communities. With a strong dedication to collaboration and the mission, he will continue to advocate for Native-led solutions and elevate the voices of Native youth.

The NB3 Foundation invites partners, funders and community members to join in congratulating Jon Driskell as he begins this new chapter. Under his leadership, the foundation remains deeply committed to improving the health and futures of Native youth.

May 14, 2025/by NB3 Foundation

By NB3 Foundation

Clint Begay honored by PGA of America

On Monday, December 9, 2024, Clint Begay was honored by the Sun Country Section of the Professional Golfers’ Association of America with the prestigious Marilea Bush Amateur of the Year award. This recognition celebrates Clint’s outstanding contributions and unwavering dedication to the game of golf and the golf industry as a whole.

Clint has been a valued member of the NB3 Foundation for over 18 years, serving in various capacities both formally and informally. He is currently the Director of our NB3FIT program, where his leadership continues to inspire and impact our community.

Congratulations, Clint, on this well-deserved recognition! We are incredibly proud to have you as part of our team.

December 19, 2024/by NB3 Foundation

By NB3 Foundation

NB3 Foundation Announces Simone Duran as Director of Community Empowerment

We are thrilled to announce that Simone Duran, Pueblo of San Felipe, has been appointed as the new Director of Community Empowerment at the NB3 Foundation.

“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve as Director of Community Empowerment at the NB3 Foundation. I’m excited to continue supporting our communities and youth through grant making and empowering youth,” Duran said.

Simone has been a dedicated member of the NB3 Foundation team since 2009, contributing significantly to the growth and success of our organization’s grantmaking department. Throughout her tenure, she has collaborated across departments working her way to the Community Empowerment Coordinator.

In May 2024, Simone earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from the University of New Mexico. Her expertise, dedication and trusted relationships with Native communities across the country have made her an integral part of the NB3 Foundation’s journey, including her instrumental role in establishing and advancing our grantmaking program.

Simone’s commitment to empowering Native communities is unwavering. From her early days as a coach to now leading the Community Empowerment department, her passion and leadership have consistently elevated our mission.

In her new role, Simone will bring her extensive knowledge and experience to further strengthen the department’s efforts in supporting Native communities through impactful grant opportunities and meaningful knowledge sharing.

We are grateful to witness Simone’s growth and excited to see her excel in this role. Please join us in congratulating Simone Duran on this well-deserved achievement!

December 19, 2024/by NB3 Foundation

By NB3 Foundation

Good Luck to NB3FIT XC at USATF Jr. XC Nationals!

A huge congratulations to the NB3FIT XC team as they head to the USATF XC Nationals in Shelbyville, Indiana, on December 14! After a season of hard work and dedication, 28 runners — 3 teams and 6 individual qualifiers — earned their spot at this event. Best of luck to all the athletes as they represent their families, communities and the NB3 Foundation while showcasing their incredible talent and determination on the national stage.

November 22, 2024/by NB3 Foundation

By NB3 Foundation

NB3FIT Day: A Celebration of Health and Community

NB3FIT Day, held at North Domingo Baca Park in Albuquerque, NM, brought together over 70 Native youth and families for a day of fun, fitness and celebration in honor of Native American Heritage Month. This free event, which is part of our ongoing commitment to providing events for the community, focused on promoting healthy, active lifestyles for Native youth and their families.

The event featured a variety of activities designed to get participants moving, from obstacle courses, rock climbing call and tennis, all aimed at getting families and community moving together. It was an opportunity for families to connect, have fun and prioritize health while celebrating Native heritage.

A special thanks goes out to our incredible partners, San Felipe Project Venture, Indigenous Farm Hub and US Tennis Association, whose support helped make this event a success. Their presence and contributions highlight the importance of collaboration in creating healthier communities for Native families.

We’re grateful to everyone who came out to support the event and look forward to continuing our work to provide access to health and wellness resources for Native youth and families. Thank you to all who attended, and we can’t wait for next year’s NB3FIT Day!

November 20, 2024/by NB3 Foundation

By NB3 Foundation

Traditions Run Recap: Celebrating Youth, Culture and Community

This year’s Traditions Run was a celebration of running, culture and the personal connections that each participant has to the sport. Hosted just east of the Black Mesa Casino in partnership with the Pueblo of San Felipe, the one-of-a-kind race brought together nearly 300 youth athletes from across the state. The Traditions Run is a reflection of the importance of running in Native communities. Running has historically been a vital part of our cultures. This event uplifts the strength of our youth and the deep roots of our traditions.

Open to all youth ages 6-18, regardless of team status, the race provides an inclusive space where young runners from all different communities come together, share in the experience and compete. The energy on the course was felt all around as youth participants tackled the tough terrain demonstrating their own strength and determination.

We are grateful to the local running community for their support and participation helping make the event a success. Their participation helped to inspire and motivate us all to continue showing up for our youth and neighboring communities.

Thank you to everyone who made this day possible. We look forward to continuing this Traditions Run for years to come, as we honor the cultural significance of running and the bright future of all youth.

November 18, 2024/by NB3 Foundation

By NB3 Foundation

November Events

Celebrate Native American Heritage Month by getting healthy with us!
In November, we are bringing back the Zero to 60 Challenge, if you don’t know what it is just know you’re in for a real challenge. We are calling on our partners, families, and friends to give up all sugary drinks for a full 30 days! You’d be surprised at how hard and awarding the challenge is. Sign up here!

We also have NB3FIT Month, a whole month dedicated to youth and families healthy and active. We are calling on tribes, organizations and schools at to host a health centered event for their community! Formerly, NB3FIT Week we expanded the week so there is more opportunity for people to participate! For NB3FIT, we are hosting the NB3FIT Community XC Race on Sunday, November 13 at Santa Ana Golf Club.

October 6, 2022/by NB3 Foundation

By NB3 Foundation

Over 65 youth will represent NB3FIT XC

Cross country season is back and is in full swing for NB3 Foundation’s NB3FIT program. This year boasts attendance numbers we have yet to see since the pandemic. With four practice sites in Albuquerque, Pueblo of Sandia, Pueblo of Santo Domingo and Rio Rancho over 67 youth ages 5-17 will be running this fall. Expanding back into surrounding communities is to thank for increased registration numbers. NB3FIT coaches are divided up at the separate locations where they lead practices twice a week. At the end of the week all runners come together for a communal practice to help promote team identity and encourage relationships between youth at the varies sites.

The team is set to run in it’s first race on Saturday, Sept. 17 at the John B. Roberts Dam. Stay connected with us on social media for updates on the team throughout the season.

August 31, 2022/by NB3 Foundation

By NB3 Foundation

Water Trailer will be rollin’ through the 2022 Gathering of Nations

You are invited to visit us and taste some refreshing fruit infused water from the Water First! Water Trailer at the 2022 Gathering of Nations. The NB3 Foundation crew will be out and about giving samples of healthy and tasty fruit infused waters, as well as providing information to youth and families about the benefits of choosing water over sugar-sweetened beverages.

The water trailer was created as a tool for the NB3 Foundation staff to take our Water First! Campaign on the road and into communities. If NB3 Foundation is asking you to drop sugary drinks, then of course we had to give a tasty alternative. Previous flavors have included pineapple-jalapeño, mint-orange, strawberry-basil, cranberry-orange, watermelon-mint and many more! Tell us what combinations you want to try!

We haven’t been to Gathering since 2019! So if you see us on the road, give us a honk and wave! We hope to see you soon at GON.

Friday and Saturday April 29-30, 2022 at EXPO New Mexico. The trailer will be located between the Manuel Lujan building and the Arts building. You can’t miss us!

March 30, 2022/by NB3 Foundation

By NB3 Foundation

NB3 Foundation announces 2021 NB3FIT Youth Golf Team

NB3 Foundation is excited to introduce the 2021 NB3FIT Youth Golf Team. The team is made up of 14 elite Native youth golfers ages 12 to 18 from across the state of New Mexico. The golf team was formed to provide an opportunity for young Native golfers to pursue their passion for excellence in golf, contribute to their communities and serve as positive role models to their peers.

“It’s been a long time coming and I’m excited we are able to provide this opportunity to Native youth golfers around the state,” Clint Begay, director of NB3FIT said. “Many of our youth face a number of barriers when pursuing high levels of competition in golf. My hope is that we can help bridge the gap by providing skills training, equipment, tournament opportunities and youth development through mentorship and community service.”

The golf team will meet and practice regularly, attend 10 golf tournaments through the end of the year and develop a community service plan, completing at least five hours of community service each month.

“It’s great that we are able to provide this opportunity to Native youth. It was not long ago that I was in their shoes, so I know how much golf means to them. I’m going to do everything I can to ensure they succeed on and off the course,” Demitrius Payne, NB3FIT coordinator said.

The golf team has started practicing and will be competing for the first time at the NB3 Junior Tour event May 15-16. They will continue to play 10-12 more tournaments throughout the summer giving them the opportunity to advance their golf skills to compete at all levels.