Boys & Girls Clubs of Laredo

A big thank you to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for visiting the Benavides Boys & Girls Club today!

Our members enjoyed an informative and engaging presentation and were especially excited to meet the K-9 unit and watch a live demonstration. The experience gave our youth a better understanding of the important work CBP officers perform and inspired them to learn more about serving their community.

Thank you for taking the time to educate, inspire, and connect with our members. It was a memorable experience for everyone!

Presenters:
• Nick Hernandez
• Joe Martinez
• Chris Terrasas
• Tessa Zertuche

🐕🇺🇸💙

🌟 Leadership in Action: A Powerful Commitment to Children in Need 🌟

For the last two years, two great guys have been quietly doing something extraordinary — not for recognition, not for applause, but for children who need a reason to smile again.

Lee Thurkettle, COO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Laredo, and Jose Garza, Sports Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Laredo, have been growing their hair with one purpose: ✨ to donate it to Children With Hair Loss — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free human‑hair replacements to children and young adults facing medically‑related hair loss.

When a child loses their hair due to Cancer treatments, Alopecia, Trichotillomania, burns, or other medical conditions, the impact goes far beyond appearance. It affects confidence, identity, and emotional well‑being.

ChildrenWithHairLoss.org steps in to restore not just hair — but hope. Each year, more children request help, and with community support, more children can receive the hair replacements they deserve at no cost to their families.

But today… something awesome happened.
Lee and Jose completed their 2‑year journey and made their donation.

And then something even more amazing happened.
Three more Boys & Girls Clubs of Laredo employees stepped forward and donated the required amount of hair — helping even more children receive the wigs they need and reminding us what true compassion looks like.

A huge thank you to Kayla Serna, Yaritza Ramos, and Rylee Gaona for stepping up, giving back, and leading by example. Now, they’re challenging YOU to join the movement.

🌟 Grow it out.
🌟 Donate it.
🌟 Change a child’s life.

👏 Please join us in recognizing and applauding these employees for their generosity, leadership, and dedication to the well‑being of young people.

🚒🔥 Thank You, Laredo Fire Department! 🔥🚒

The staff and members of the Benavides Boys & Girls Club would like to thank the Laredo Fire Department for visiting our Club and sharing important fire safety awareness with our youth.

Our members had an amazing time exploring the fire truck, learning about firefighters’ equipment, and even getting the opportunity to test out the fire hose! The excitement and smiles on their faces made this a truly memorable experience.

Thank you for your dedication to our community and for inspiring our youth while teaching valuable fire safety lessons. We greatly appreciate your time, service, and commitment to keeping Laredo safe.

❤️🚒

🚒🔥 Today, the Laredo Fire Department stopped by the Lamar Bruni Vergara Boys & Girls Club, and our members had an amazing time learning all about fire safety! Our kids had the opportunity to test out the firefighter hose, explore the fire engine truck, and learn valuable safety tips from our local heroes.

A huge THANK YOU to the firefighters listed below for taking the time to educate, inspire, and make this a fun and memorable experience for our members. We truly appreciate your dedication to keeping our community safe! ❤️👨‍🚒👩‍🚒
🔥R. Charles
🔥E. Garcia
🔥R. Guerra
🔥A. Mendoza
🔥A. Ochoa
🔥E. Salazar

Today during our ring ceremony, we had the honor of inducting Coach Ramon Aviña and Coach Jesus Reynaga in to our BGC Sports Hall of Honor. These volunteer coaches combine for over 70 years of service to the the young athletes of Laredo. They have helped develop and inspire generations of our youth and continue to serve ‘til the day.
A special thank you to Mindy Casso and Jessica Reynaga for their beautiful speeches introducing our honorees.

The Lamar Bruni Vergara Boys & Girls Club members are cheering on the San Antonio Spurs and wishing them the best of luck in the Finals! 🏀👏 We are rooting for you all the way — Go Spurs Go!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Boys & Girls Clubs of Laredo Announces New Date for the 2026 High School All-Star Game

Laredo, Texas — The Boys & Girls Clubs of Laredo is excited to announce that, after receiving heartfelt feedback and requests from many graduating seniors, coaches, families, and supporters, the 2026 High School All-Star Game will officially take place on Thursday, July 2, 2026.

Following the previous announcement regarding the cancellation of this year’s game, we heard directly from many senior athletes who expressed how much this opportunity means to them. For many, this game represents more than another competition — it is a final opportunity to proudly wear their school colors, compete alongside their peers, represent their families, and celebrate years of dedication, sacrifice, teamwork, and love for the game.

We listened.

At the Boys & Girls Clubs of Laredo, our mission has always been centered around our youth. When our young people speak, we have a responsibility to hear them, support them, and do everything possible to create meaningful experiences that celebrate their achievements.

The Class of 2026 deserves this moment.

Our team is committed to working closely with athletes, coaches, volunteers, and community partners to ensure this year’s All-Star Game is a memorable celebration that recognizes the outstanding talent, commitment, and character of our graduating seniors.

“We appreciate the passion and voices of our senior athletes and families who reminded us why events like this matter,” said Andrew Russell, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Laredo. “The All-Star Game is not simply about the final score — it is about memories, friendships, leadership, and giving these young men and women one more opportunity to shine. We are proud to bring this event back and celebrate the Class of 2026.”

We sincerely thank our community for its patience, understanding, and continued support. Together, we will make the 2026 High School All-Star Game a special experience worthy of the incredible student-athletes who have given so much to their schools, teammates, and community.

2026 High School All-Star Game
📅 Thursday, July 2, 2026
Additional game details will be provided soon.

Contact Information

BGC Sports
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]

Website: bgcsports.com

Boys & Girls Clubs of Laredo
Celebrating 80 Years Strong — Building the Next 80 Years.