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610 W. University Ave.
El Paso, TX 79968
April 16, 2024
Dear UTEP Alumni & Supporters
The UTEP Centennial Museum was founded during the Texas Centennial in 1936 and is the oldest museum in El Paso. Over the last 88 years, the Museum has firmly secured its reputation as being the institution preserving the story of the natural and cultural history of the Chihuahuan Desert region, the largest desert in North America.
In addition to our permanent exhibits (which primarily focus on paleontology, geology, biology, and anthropology), every year we host a variety of temporary exhibits addressing themes related to “Life in the Chihuahuan Desert,” including border life and culture, the natural history of the region, and the University's history and current activities. We hope you and your family will stop by soon and check out our two current exhibits:
- A Waddle Through Time: Ducks, People, and the Conservation Odyssey; and
- Punto de Partida: Immigrants, Asylum Seekers, and Hospitality in the Borderlands.
2024 marks the Silver anniversary of UTEP’s Chihuahuan Desert Gardens. Located on the grounds around the Centennial Museum and just off UTEP’s beautiful Centennial Plaza, the Gardens are a certified Texas Wildscape site and feature more than 600 species of plants that are native or adapted to the Chihuahuan Desert. The Chihuahuan Desert Gardens are visited by thousands of people each year, from UTEP students and staff looking for a peaceful place to study to international scholars conducting research to international tourists to local school children learning about our unique plant life. Thanks to hundreds of people who have invested in the Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens over the years, this space has become one of the most visited on campus and an important research laboratory.
This year, our greatest need is securing the funds for the creation of an exhibit celebrating the 25 years of the Gardens’ exemplary history (a $10,000 goal.)
The good news is that Tuesday April 16th and Wednesday April 17th of this week, we all have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference to the UTEP Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens during UTEP’s Raise Your Pick Giving Day. On this day, we have the chance to come together and build on our legacy. Every contribution, no matter how big or small, makes a difference.
As a member of the Advancement Council, I have already committed to making a personal gift to the Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens and I hope you will do the same.
Giving is easy! Between Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at 12:00 noon MDT and Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 8:00 p.m. MDT, simply:
- Follow this link to learn more about the UTEP's Centennial Museum and make your Donation using a credit or debit card and designate your gift specifically for the Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens:
https://givingday.utep.edu/amb/centennialmuseum.
- Write a check payable to the “University of Texas at El Paso,” put Centennial Museum/CDG in the memo box, and mail it to us at the above address.
- Call us at (915) 747-5565 and one of our volunteers will pick up your check from your home or office.
If you have any questions or would like more information about our mission and plans, please feel free to reach out to me. I'd be more than happy to share the details and answer any questions you might have. Thank you for supporting UTEP, the Centennial Museum, and the Chihuahuan Desert Gardens. We can't do it without you!
Gratefully,
Alicia de Jong-Davis
Member, Advancement Council
UTEP Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens
Cell: (915) 217-7361
Direct: (915) 545-2083
alicia.dejong.davis@gmail.com
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