NEWS
Boys and Girls Clubs of Central NM receives $100K from Bank of America
Money to go toward new teen center that is slated to open by the end of the year
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As a child, Mercedes Holtry was a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central New Mexico, where she learned to play basketball and build her social and other skills.
When her parents got divorced, she said the Boys and Girls Club was 鈥渢he space where I could just decompress and be at home.鈥�
Over a decade later, Holtry is now the director of the club鈥檚 new teen center, slated to open at 3333 Truman NE by the end of the year, funded by a $100,000 grant.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a full circle moment to find my way back to this organization as an adult and be able to continue the mission of ensuring young people have a lot of opportunities,鈥� Holtry said.
On Monday evening, Bank of America New Mexico surprised the nonprofit by presenting them with a $100,000 check during an event at the Albuquerque Museum kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month, which began on Tuesday.
The grant is part of the bank鈥檚 Neighborhood Builders initiative, a two-year leadership development and grant program that supports nonprofits addressing pressing community needs, including organizations dedicated to helping children. Beyond the funding, grant recipients are eligible for multiyear leadership training for nonprofit executives.
Since the program began in 2019, the bank has selected eight organizations, according to Bank of America.
Boys and Girls Clubs of Central New Mexico CEO Colby Wilson said that while the bank has donated to the nonprofit in the past, the $100,000 is the largest amount it has received from them 鈥渁nd the timing is just right.鈥�
The organization is planning to open a new building at 3333 Truman NE that will house a new teen center. The facility will include a digital arts or computer room where kids can learn skills like videography and photography. It will also have a podcast studio that will double as a music recording studio, Holtry said.
鈥淲e鈥檙e thinking of doing some poetry and hip-hop programming in here as well and utilizing this space to do really cool audio projects,鈥� she said.
The teen center will also have a multipurpose room for community events and large gatherings, plus a kitchen that will support culinary arts programming and allow the club to provide free meals for up to 200 members per day, according to the organization鈥檚 website.
Holtry said the club will go to area schools and ask students to fill out surveys so they 鈥渃an give us information or feedback on what they want to see here since it鈥檚 their center.鈥�
Gregory R.C. Hasman is a general assignment reporter and the Road Warrior. He can be reached at ghasman@abqjournal.com or 505-823-3820.
