iAlumbra founder Christy R. Walton creates and partners with innovative businesses that diversify the economic base of communities while honoring and nurturing the planet.

The wealthy have a vital role investing in projects that are new and unproven, ones that traditional investors shy away from, yet that benefit the whole.

Christy founded many of the iALUMBRA BUSINESSES described on this website. She is also a committed philanthropist, actively participating in land and sea science and conservation, coastal restoration, aquaculture, renewable energy, air and water quality, cultural and architectural projects, youth education, reproductive choice, and healthy foods. Through her works and funding, she supports vibrant communities and different approaches to living.

Passionate about iAlumbra businesses, their purposes and their operational details, Christy is dedicated to pioneering approaches that have a commercial future and that simultaneously restore and strengthen particular communities and particular environments. While she occasionally supports macro level policy initiatives, she wants to see, hear, and feel the results of her efforts. Providing successful models that can be replicated by others is her gift to future generations.


COMBINING BUSINESS and PHILANTHROPY
TO CREATE HEALTHY SYSTEMS

 
My interest is in investing in systems that bring positive changes in social, environmental, and economic health, which I see as inextricably intertwined.

In business, a level of profitability is a litmus test of viability. When pushing the boundaries of a system into a more vital yet untested realm, a level of wealth is often necessary in order to absorb the failures, and to create opportunities. This investment is often unrecoverable. Once the goal is reached however, a pathway to the future is opened so that others can participate at a reasonable level of investment and change can take place.
— Christy

 

Christy Walton: put away the seafood watch cards, and put the focus on sustainable aquaculture

With the world’s wild caught fisheries at or near collapse, we need to move from wild catch to aquaculture. We as foundations, family offices, and influencers in the space need to act and think differently about how to put capital to work.

INTRAFISH | October 2022

new exhibit explores beautiful Baja California

Christy Walton was honored by the San Diego Natural History Museum with the opening of a new Baja Expedition wing that includes the Christy Walton Gallery. The naming of the gallery recognizes her decades-long support and contributions to the museum’s expansion, programs, and operations.

THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE | May 2022

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN Mexico

Christy Walton joins Mexican state governors, business leaders and environmental advocates to discuss ways to support sustainable economic growth in the region that borders the Gulf of California.

DISCUSSION WITH CHRISTY WALTON, FORO MAR DE CORTÉS | January 2022, and — EL SOL DE MÉXICO | November 2021


glimpse at Oregon’s first electric tractor

[The] region’s quietest, cleanest tractor… [is] undergoing test runs at… Rusted Gate Farm.[Alumbra Innovations Foundation] offered farm owners an outlet for selling and retiring without sacrificing the land they had worked to build. And Walton… will safeguard small farming in the region for years to come.

— MAIL TRIBUNE | July 2021

Mountain-biking MECCA IN MEXICO OFFERS AN ISOLATED ESCAPE INTO NATURE

“The idea of bringing greater good to a community by way of eco-friendly tourism makes sense to Walton… Like many of her projects, the aim is to create a profitable business in a responsible way.”

ROBB REPORT | March 2021

A flood of new funds are investing in aquaculture, fisheries and seafood

“… early-stage investors [are] tapping the seafood and ocean technology space for expansion, including Christy… Names like Walton, Gates… are the surest way to get people to notice a sector, and the more they buy in, the more others will follow.”

INTRAFISH | August 2020

A TEST KITCHEN EMERGES FOR ROGUE VALLEY FARMERS

“[Rusted Gate Farm] wants to help educate people about sustainable farming practices while helping local small farms thrive. Walton decided… to help fund this non-profit’s work to save small farms.”

NBC | April 2020


Rancho Cacachilas,
FEEL GOOD MOUNTAIN BIKING

“Christy Walton may be famous for the many millions of dollars she donates, but in Baja California [Sur], she is known as an organized, forward-thinking doer that is making things happen in an organic way, pun intended.”

THE LOAM WOLF | April 2020

EXPERTS SAY COVID-19 WILL LIKELY LEAD TO US DRUG SHORTAGES

“The Resilient Drug Supply Project aims to provide a detailed map of the entire supply chain for important drugs used in the United States. The research project has been supported for the past 18 months by Christy Walton.”

CIDRAP | March 2020

AQUACULTURE CHALLENGE PRIZE MONEY DOUBLED

“Finding alternatives to wild-caught fish is essential for the future of aquaculture,” said Christy Walton, founder of Cuna del Mar. “We are excited to be part of this global effort by industry leaders to make fish-free animal feed a reality.”

THE FISH SITE | May 2019

SUPPORTING VIBRANT COMMUNITIES IN BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR

“Christy Walton, a major charitable force in the region since the 1980s… Her efforts have focused primarily on environmental sustainability and cultural heritage.”

MEXICO NEWS DAILY | March 2019


EXPANDING AQUACULTURE OPPORTUNITIES IN NORWAY AND GLOBALLY

“Cuna del Mar, the investment fund of Christy Walton, invests in sustainable businesses that use innovation to produce healthy seafood.”

PRIVATE CAPITAL JOURNAL | January 2019

CANADA’S $950-MILLION “SUPERCLUSTER” OCEAN RESEARCH INITIATIVE

“Cuna del Mar, a U.S.-based family office funded by Christy Walton, of the Walmart Waltons, is contributing $15 million [to this project.]”

FINANCIAL POST | December 2018

WHALE SHARK LOGS LONGEST-RECORDED TRANS-PACIFIC MIGRATION

“[A] multi-year project [that] also tagged 45 additional sharks in Panama with sponsorship from Christy Walton's Candeo Fund at the ICF, along with STRI and Panama's science and technology bureau (SENACYT).”

SCIENCE DAILY | April 2018

BUILDING POCKET COMMUNITIES

“[Christy Walton] is trying to bring community into the designed spaces where we live. [Her] first project called Black Apple was recently built in Bentonville, Arkansas.”

EUROPEAN HOME | September 2016


Bless Me, Ultima — IMAGEN FOUNDATION AWARD

Watch and listen to Christy describe what the Bless Me, Ultima film project meant to her.

Christy produced the film adaptation of Rudolfo Anaya’s novel Bless Me, Ultima, which premiered at the Plaza Theatre in El Paso, Texas in September 2012. The following year, the film won four Imagen Awards: Best Feature Film, Best Actor, for Luke Ganalon, Best Actress, for Miriam Colon, and the President’s Award, for Christy.

Listen to a 2013 National Public Radio conversation about the film with actress Miriam Colon. Hear her voice, as well as Rudolfo Anaya’s, and learn how Miriam’s role was “a gift from heaven”:

 

Official Film Trailer — PG-13 — Biography, Drama, History


Olivewood Gardens & Learning Center — Cultivating healthy Communities

Watch this video to learn how Christy’s vision and home became what is Olivewood Gardens today.

In 2006, Christy donated her National City, California, Victorian home to the International Community Foundation with a stipulation that the organic garden be maintained to teach children and inspire communities to grow their own healthy fruits and vegetables.

In this 2013 PBS video—starting at 11m 30s—former Executive Director Healy Vigderson of Olivewood Gardens describes how Christy’s garden was instrumental in saving her son’s life.

Olivewood Gardens and The Kitchenistas went on to help overcome a health crisis in their community. This story aired on numerous broadcasting stations across the United States in 2016, and the program continues today to inspire people to take charge of their own well-being:


— visit individual iAlumbra business websites for additional news coverage —

CHRISTY WALTON SUPPORTS MYRIAD GROUPS & INITIATIVES

EDUCATION | CONSERVATION & SCIENCE | FOOD, CULTURE & ARCHITECTURE | COMMUNITY & CIVIL SOCIETY

 
Early on, my husband John and I decided that the main way to improve lives is through education. It is still an important component of what I do.
empowers the world's youth to take an active role in conservation while increasing ecological literacy.

empowers the world's youth to take an active role in conservation while increasing ecological literacy.

inspire curiosity, engagement, and leadership through transformative place-based education.

inspire curiosity, engagement, and leadership through transformative place-based education.

promotes positive social change by empowering vulnerable populations including women, youth and seasonal migrant workers.

promotes positive social change by empowering vulnerable populations including women, youth and seasonal migrant workers.

is a continuing education program that teaches educators how to incorporate environmental science into their own classrooms and curriculum.

is a continuing education program that teaches educators how to incorporate environmental science into their own classrooms and curriculum.

offers spaces for book discovery and science development through their libraries, workshops in public schools, and a reading program in state boarding schools.

offers spaces for book discovery and science development through their libraries, workshops in public schools, and a reading program in state boarding schools.

provides basic support of food and education for children and adolescents from impoverished areas to give them the opportunity to complete their education and improve the quality of their lives.

provides basic support of food and education for children and adolescents from impoverished areas to give them the opportunity to complete their education and improve the quality of their lives.

creates and employs community and urban food gardens to teach healthy lifestyles.

creates and employs community and urban food gardens to teach healthy lifestyles.

specializes in conservation, environmental education and wildlife rehabilitation with an emphasis on amphibians and reptiles.

specializes in conservation, environmental education and wildlife rehabilitation with an emphasis on amphibians and reptiles.

Christy helped with the purchase of Isla Espíritu Santo to ensure its long-term protection by Mexico's National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP).

Christy helped with the purchase of Isla Espíritu Santo to ensure its long-term protection by Mexico's National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP).

works with lawyers and scientists to protect the environment through the development, implementation, and enforcement of national and international law.

works with lawyers and scientists to protect the environment through the development, implementation, and enforcement of national and international law.

features natural history and biodiversity exhibits, hosts environmental education programs, and is engaged in binational scientific research.

features natural history and biodiversity exhibits, hosts environmental education programs, and is engaged in binational scientific research.

researches alternatives to fossil fuels in order to reduce pollution and pollution-related diseases.

researches alternatives to fossil fuels in order to reduce pollution and pollution-related diseases.

is one of the most important centers for ocean, earth and atmospheric science research, education, and public service in the world.

is one of the most important centers for ocean, earth and atmospheric science research, education, and public service in the world.

explores two remarkably different, but inextricably linked worlds — the Sea of Cortez and the Baja California desert. Proceeds from this giant-screen film support further conservation, education, and research.

explores two remarkably different, but inextricably linked worlds — the Gulf of California and the Baja California desert. Proceeds from this giant-screen film support further conservation, education, and research.

restores coastal communities by strengthening their collective leadership. The communities in turn restore their environments, which eventually provide sustainable incomes from harvesting and fishing.

restores coastal communities by strengthening their collective leadership. The communities in turn restore their environments, which eventually provide sustainable incomes from harvesting and fishing.

is a top-tier academic medical center that improves health through innovative research, education and patient care.

is a top-tier academic medical center that improves health through innovative research, education and patient care.

delivers vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of people worldwide.

delivers vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of people worldwide.

combines the efforts of over 200 nonprofits and businesses to ensure that everyone has enough food during the COVID-19 pandemic and that medical professionals have the resources needed to effectively treat patients.

combines the efforts of over 200 nonprofits and businesses to ensure that everyone has enough food during the COVID-19 pandemic and that medical professionals have the resources needed to effectively treat patients.

Kumutú STEAM — intellectual, academic and socio-emotional development of young people

provides new possibilities for the intellectual, academic and socio-emotional development of young people from rural communities of La Paz, Baja California Sur.

is a global initiative helping to protect the world from mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever.

is a global initiative helping to protect the world from mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever.

protects the environment and improves the quality of life in Mexico, Latin America and beyond. For decades, much of Christy’s philanthropy has been implemented through ICF.

protects the environment and improves the quality of life in Mexico, Latin America and beyond. For decades, much of Christy’s philanthropy has been implemented through ICF.

Foro Mar de Cortés — development of the Sea of Cortez Region

integrates a group of business leaders and stakeholders committed to the economic, human, and environmental development of the region surrounding the Gulf of California.

— the above represents a sample of Christy’s contributions —