Alex Olsen & Martyn Pearson
Memorial Fund

Alex Olsen & Martyn Pearson Memorial Fund

Alexandra (Alex) Olsen and Martyn Pearson were dear friends to many in Silver City.  The loss of their lives in 2022 deeply affected our community, and we will feel their absence forever going forward. 

The memorial fund is a way that we can work together to keep their memories with us and to continue their excellent work and play.  Alex and Martyn were both philanthropists – generous with their time, money, and energy.  When they did something, you might not have known it was them — they just saw a need and filled it.  While so many of us were thankful for what they did, they never asked for or expected thanks in return.  It was simply the way they lived – making things better for those around them, and by extension, for themselves.

This is the spirit behind their memorial fund – see a need, fill the need.

In just over a year, this fund grew to the level that it could be endowed – which means that the principal of the fund will never be spent, but the investment growth of the fund will be granted out each year.  Currently, this allows for 1-3 small projects per year to be funded.  However, since the fund is now Permanent – the sky’s the limit!  What would Martyn and Alex do?

Alex and Martyn were instrumental in so many facets of Silver City life, sometimes together and sometimes individually.  Martyn was a musician, a writer, an outdoorsman, and a local trails advocate.  Alex was a swimmer, a chef, a teacher, a coach, and such a capable organizer.  Together they were cyclists, hikers, parents, business owners, event organizers, and advocates for all kinds of recreational development in Silver City.  They both joyfully worked for all of us, and whether or not you knew them personally, you benefit from their enthusiasm and commitment to our community.

Since its creation, the Fund has awarded two grants to Gila Resources Information Project to support its summer day camp programs for children. The Fund has also provided support to the Town of Silver City for the purchase of swimming pool bulkheads used by the Silver Swordfish Swim Team and, in 2026, helped sustain the Tour of the Gila bicycle race during a year when the event faced the loss of a major funding source. Martyn often said that the Tour of the Gila was like “Christmas” to him, making the opportunity to support the race a particularly meaningful tribute.

Each year, the Fund makes grants to projects that strengthen Southwest New Mexico and reflect the interests and values of Alex and Martyn. Priority areas include youth and families, culinary arts programs, recreation—particularly swimming, cycling, and trails—arts, poetry, and community building.

Through continued investment and community support, the Alex & Martyn Memorial Endowment Fund ensures that the legacy of Alex and Martyn will continue making a positive impact for generations to come.

You can participate with your memorial gift, either a one-time gift or a recurring gift.  Yes, the Community Foundation uses some of the funds for administrative purposes, and that’s OK.  This allows the fund to exist in perpetuity with minimal administrative cost, and allows your contributions to be tax-deductible.  The Foundation provides the framework for this fund to be a permanent, sustainable source of funding in our community, and that’s something that Alex and Martyn would appreciate.