Donor Stories
Nellita Walker
In her 80's Nellita Walker was always ready for an adventure or journey to a new place, never letting anything slow her down. She played tennis, lunched with friends, and was ready at any moment to travel to new destinations.
Nellita enjoyed helping others, whether it was volunteering as an usher at Popejoy or giving contributions to support organizations helping the disadvantaged, such as Albuquerque Rescue Mission or Roadrunner Food Bank.
Nellita was born in 1918 in New Orleans. As a child she traveled with her father who was an orchestra cellist. In 1932, she moved to New Mexico to enroll in UNM and earned a degree in English. It was there that she met her future husband, Andrew Ralph Walker. Later she earned a MA in Education, becoming a teacher and reading specialist.
Nellita also worked for the Albuquerque Journal, reported for the International News Service and started the Youth Employment Service. Before Ralph passed away in 1996, the Walkers established a Charitable Remainder Trust with the Albuquerque Community Foundation as the beneficiary.
Several years later, Nellita established two endowment funds, the Nellita E. Walker Fund for KNME-TV and the Nellita E. Walker Endowment Fund. Both funds will receive contributions from Nellita's estate and continue to benefit our community forever. The fund for KNME-TV provides resources annually for education programs while the Nellita E. Walker Endowment Fund is one of the many funds pooled to provide grants through the Foundation’s Competitive Grants Program.
Grants will be made to benefit organizations providing adult literacy and education services as well as programs to benefit the elderly.
