Dear Club Friends,
My name is Abel Covarrubias, and I am honored to be serving as the Chair for the Boys & Girls Club of Las Cruces Building Great Futures Capital Campaign Committee. As the CEO for Aprendamos Family of Services and a former board member of the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico (CFSNM), I have had the opportunity to witness the partnership between the Club and the Community Foundation. For years, the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico team has been steadfast in their support of the Boys & Girls Club. From acting as the home for the Club's endowment to offering grants and opportunities for matching funds, their commitment to organizations like the BGCLC has been extraordinary.
Today, we are honored to share that the current CFSNM Board of Directors voted to support our Building Great Futures Capital Campaign with a generous $50,000 investment. The foundation’s gift allows us to create a reading nook in our new, state-of-the-art learning center and also provide signage with our logo statue that will greet Club members and our community. The Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico Reading Nook will serve to support literacy initiatives for our Club members and give them a designated space to learn and build foundations for academic success.
"Nothing is more impactful to our communities’ long-term sustainability than our children. The continuous work and support provided by the Boys & Girls Club of Las Cruces to our youth exemplifies a non-wavering effort and focus that the BGCLC maintains towards their mission of 'enabling all young people, especially those who need us the most, to reach their full potential,'" said CFSNM Board Chair, Gary Bruner. "The BGCLC’s Building Great Futures Campaign will allow them to achieve a long-term dream of providing not just a new building offering learning and socialization opportunities, but a home that will support the children of Las Cruces in realizing their full potential and one that will transform their lives," he added. CFSNM Board member Rico Gonzales also echoed Bruner’s sentiments and looks forward to a future where investments like these can impact organizations across Southern New Mexico. “The foundation serves twelve rural counties in Southern New Mexico, giving us the privilege of working with many organizations driving change in their communities. We are proud to support this project and look forward to seeing a revitalized Club facility that will serve generations of children in Doña Ana County,” Rico shared.
Ashley Echavarria, CEO for the Boys & Girls Club of Las Cruces, said, “The Community Foundation team means so much to nonprofits in Las Cruces. They act as mentors, but they also define what a true community partnership should be. They are the first to celebrate our wins and here for us in the most challenging of times, so this gift is incredibly meaningful to us and our Club Kids.”
The investment from the foundation brings us a step closer to our goal of raising $10 million towards our campaign to renovate and expand the property at 1005 El Paseo Rd., and the $7.5 million needed to officially break ground. For more than 60 years, the Club has served as a cornerstone for youth development, reaching thousands of children and teens each year with programs in academics, the arts, sports, and leadership. The new building and expanded campus will significantly increase the Club's capacity to serve children and teens in our community, providing the safe spaces and resources that our growing Las Cruces and Doña Ana County community needs.
Please join us in thanking the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico for their generous support and for all they do to ensure local Club members are on the path to great futures! We are grateful for their leadership and look forward to continued partnerships and a shared commitment to youth development, education, and community well-being.
With Heartfelt Gratitude,
Abel Covarrubias
CEO, Aprendamos Family of Services
Chair, Boys & Girls Club of Las Cruces Capital Campaign Committee