If you go to Party City, or perhaps other stores in the city, you will undoubtedly run across this sign asking you for a donation.
We don't remember when the last time Brownsville had a Boys and Girls Club, but it's been a while.
In fact, the only thing close to it is at the Downtown Recreation Center that serves as the community recreation center for the Buena Vida Neighborhood in Central Brownsville.
Since 1974, the facility was home to the Brownsville Boys and Girls Club, but now hosts the Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) administrative offices, the VAC Community Youth Programs Center, new Teen Center, a new health/fitness room, and offers recreational programs.
Today, there is no one place in Brownsville that can actually be called a Boys and Girls Club or is in any way associated with the national organization.
Intrigued, we called the Southern Cameron County United Way to see if they were behind the fundraising and we were told they were not. Actually, that is not quite correct. Some local residents have complained in the past that the local United Way was funding the Port Isabel and Los Fresnos Boys and Girls Club while not doing anything for the Brownsville kids.
And we understand that a call was made to the manager of the Party City to see how it is that his business is collecting money to give to out-of-town organizations
And we understand that a call was made to the manager of the Party City to see how it is that his business is collecting money to give to out-of-town organizations
The local United Way personnel suggested we try the Northern Cameron County United Way and sure enough, they actually do the fund raising for the Harlingen and San Benito Boys and Girls Clubs.
So what are they doing raising funds from Brownsville residents when the kids of the barrios in this city don't even have the opportunity to join or attend their own boys and girls club?
So what are they doing raising funds from Brownsville residents when the kids of the barrios in this city don't even have the opportunity to join or attend their own boys and girls club?
San Benito officials in 2013 urged the San Benito Boys and Girls Club to launch a major fundraising program to keep the club from shutting down. In a special meeting, officials warned the organization could face further funding cuts from the city and United Way.
City Manager Manuel Lara told them then that the city received a message from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development saying that if the club closes, then the city would be responsible for federal HUD grant money that it gave to the club.
Tommy Ramirez, the club’s board president, said the United Way, which gives the organization about $30,000 a year, informed the club that United Way would stop funding the club if the city cuts its funding.
City Manager Manuel Lara told them then that the city received a message from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development saying that if the club closes, then the city would be responsible for federal HUD grant money that it gave to the club.
Tommy Ramirez, the club’s board president, said the United Way, which gives the organization about $30,000 a year, informed the club that United Way would stop funding the club if the city cuts its funding.
“If that happens we might as well put a ‘closed’ sign on the building,” Ramirez said. “Without communities being involved in funding, 75 percent of clubs in the country would not exist,” Ramirez said.
So it is apparent that the good folks of San Benito and Harlingen decided to use the United Way of Northern Cameron County to solicit the financial support of the people of Brownsville. It's bad enough that we have hundreds of them holding jobs here, but now they are actually taking money from local people to give their kids recreational opportunities while ours go without. We are, indeed, a giving people!
So it is apparent that the good folks of San Benito and Harlingen decided to use the United Way of Northern Cameron County to solicit the financial support of the people of Brownsville. It's bad enough that we have hundreds of them holding jobs here, but now they are actually taking money from local people to give their kids recreational opportunities while ours go without. We are, indeed, a giving people!
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