Boys & Girls Club of Pharr–San Juan Breaks Ground on New Teen Site & Vocational Center
The Boys & Girls Club of Pharr–San Juan held a groundbreaking event on Wednesday, February 26 for the organization's latest expansion, a Teen Site & Vocational Center. This project, located near 704 N. Veterans Blvd. in San Juan, TX, will be a hub for community teens and young adults, providing them with a safe, enriching space. The center will offer developmental and vocational programs to support their educational success, career and workforce readiness, and overall wellbeing. In attendance for this momentous ceremony was the Boys & Girls Club of Pharr–San Juan and its Board of Directors, elected government officials, local school districts, and community partners.
"May this center be a beacon of hope, a source of knowledge equipping our young people with wisdom, skills, and confidence to build a bright future," said Olivia Gomez-Tamez, Boys & Girls Club of Pharr–San Juan Board Treasurer, as she led the event's invocation.
The Teen Site & Vocational Center is a collaborative project brought together through the Boys & Girls Club of Pharr–San Juan, Hidalgo County Precinct 2, and ARPA funding (American Rescue Plan Act 2021). With a goal to provide transformative opportunities to our community youth and bring dreams to life, this partnership was born, planned, and is now set to be built by September 2025. The talented experts of B2Z Engineering and Celso Construction are spearheading the 17,000 sq ft facility, which is anticipated to be a beautiful space of modern innovation.
"As we break ground today, we are laying the foundation for a brighter future for our teens. We recognize that our youth face challenges, whether it be economic hardships, language barriers, or lack of access to essential educational resources, but through partnerships like this we are ensuring that these young people have a safe place to learn, grow, and thrive. This initiative embodies what true collaboration looks like when government, education, and community organizations come together for a common purpose to uplift and empower the next generation," said Hidalgo County Precinct 2 Commissioner Eduardo "Eddie" Cantu."This groundbreaking symbolizes progress and the beginning of a new chapter to benefit PSJA ISD students. We thank you for providing students with a place to go to feel welcomed and to feel valued," said Diana Serda, PSJA ISD School Board President."We are so excited for this beautiful facility that is coming to the City of San Juan in the near future. On behalf of the city, our doors are always open and we will always support our youth, because our youth is our future," said Mario Garza, Mayor of the City of San Juan."Hope. That is what we are here for. That's what we do at Boys & Girls Clubs. This vision to give our kids a vocation is amazing—to get them started in the right direction. Hopefully, through this facility, they are able to walk away with skills that they didn't have before to do well in their life. That is what this teen center is for—for them to gather together and gain that hope," said David Garza, Boys & Girls Club of Pharr–San Juan Board Member.
The mission of the Boys & Girls Club of Pharr–San Juan is to provide a safe and nurturing environment to enable our children to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible individuals. The organization and Board of Directors extend their sincerest gratitude to all who continue to join in this mission and further its impact. Thank you to every project partner for making this vision a reality, and to all our community supporters for helping build bright futures.