The mission of the FEMAP Foundation is to support and advance the mission of FEMAP (Salud y Desarrollo Comunitario de Cd. Juárez, A. C.) in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, which is to improve the quality of life of individuals and families through health, education, social and economic empowerment. Founded in 1973 by Guadalupe De la Vega, FEMAP established a small clinic and network of community health workers to provide important overlooked medical services and education for poor and marginalized women in the community. In response to the needs of the region, FEMAP's mission has grown to include the whole family, and now also entails a 70-bed teaching hospital, a state-of-the-art nursing school, a mobile medical unit, a microfinance program, and several outreach programs for children and youth. This comprehensive approach to development brings about significant and sustainable change to this cross-border region. In 1992, the FEMAP Foundation was established to provide support for the many FEMAP initiatives, and to serve as a connection between El Paso, Texas and Cd. Juarez, Mexico. Today, the two organizations serve as a model of the importance of cross-border collaboration and solidarity.