The Boys and Girls Club of Baja California Sur announces changes to its Board of Directors, along with an alliance with Casa Hogar and a new project.
The Boys and Girls Club of Baja California Sur today announced changes to its board of directors. The new board will consist of a new president, Mr. Renato Mendonca, the former Director of Operations and General Manager of highly respected hotel groups in Los Cabos and former president of the SKAL Club and the Hotel Association; Raúl Godín, Industrial Engineer and businessman will hold the position of secretary; Mauricio Balderrama, hotel entrepreneur of the Balderrama Hotel Colection chain and general manager of the Cabo Surf Hotel, will hold the position of treasurer; Linda Mchatton, business owner, general director of PR Solutions and former president of the Los Cabos Rotary Club will sit on the board along with Fredy Rodríguez, business owner, general director of GET Consultoría and Anchor Storage Los Cabos and former president of the Los Cabos Rotary Club.
The first major project of the new board of directors is to form an alliance with Casa Hogar in Cabo San Lucas. Casa Hogar is a large non-profit association in Los Cabos led by director Jayson Stirrup and a team of professionals who have been very influential in improving the lives of children and adolescents in need. The alliance with Casa Hogar will involve inviting the Boys and Girls Club to operate a new headquarters located on the 3,500 m2 lot adjacent to the Casa Hogar facilities in Cabo San Lucas.
Renato Mendonca comments: “I have spent my whole life in the hospitality industry and have worked for many years as General Manager of several hotels, always involved and aware of projects for the community. It is a great honor for me to be able to contribute my knowledge and experience to help the Boys and Girls Club of Baja California Sur, giving back all the love that Los Cabos has always given me and my family. It is a great honor for me to be able to work on this first project with Jayson, whom I have known for many years. Jayson is a very dedicated person and is passionate about what he does and I am sure this alliance will help us tremendously”.
The Boys and Kids Club traces its origins to the United States, where it began in 1860 organized by three women in Hartford, Connecticut – Mary Goodwin, Alice Goodwin and Elizabeth Hammersley. In 1906, several Boys’ Clubs decided to affiliate, marking the beginning of a national movement and organization. In 1931, the Boys’ Club Federation of America became the Boys’ Club of America and in 1990 its name changed to the Boys and Girls Club of America.
In 2008, the Boys and Girls Club of America supported the creation of the Boys and Girls Club of Mexico, with the city of Tijuana being the first area to adopt this project. The presence and scope of the Club has increased in recent years to 12 centers in operation throughout Mexico, serving more than 2,000 children daily with an average of 80% attendance.
At the same time “Young People for a Change”was really helping to change lives in Baja California Sur and caught the attention of an international charity called“El Club de Niños y Niñas”. As a result of the success of their programs they were invited to be part of the first Boys and Girls Club of Baja California Sur.
The Boys and Girls Club of B.C.S. – formerly known as Gente Joven por un Cambio – helps provide our young people with a safe, supportive, fun and nurturing space that inspires and helps them to reach their greatest potential. The merger of these two foundations has provided the youth of B.C.S. the opportunity to learn and socialize in healthy and safe spaces.
The programs are geared toward free time after school. This is the time that if left free tends to promote unproductive and even criminal behaviour. Our extracurricular activities complement the current educational programs and help children and youth succeed in school, explore career opportunities, stay healthy, and gain valuable skills that will serve them throughout their lives. Sports and artistic activities are encouraged, as well as social skills to learn to managing conflicts in a positive way. The aim is to help children develop self-confidence and self-esteem.
The story of “Young People for a Change” (YCW) begins with Onagh and Bill Ash. Together they discovered the beauty of Mexico, and Baja California Sur, on a visit to the area more than 20 years ago. Her passion has always been to help children. Onagh knew that she needed to do something to help the local youth so she tapped into her experience from her days in Silicon Valley working with «Girls for a Change.» She knew that most of the local children in the Los Cabos community did not have the opportunity to receive an education and training that would help them live a life full opportunity and success.
“My goal is to help children fulfill their dreams. I have held this belief and vision for many years with my family and friends around the world. (…) I believe that children can achieve what they want if they have an education and mentors.”
This is how “Gente Joven por un Cambio” began in 2012. In its early years, GJC was able to establish itself as a recognized Mexican foundation that provided local youth with the guidance, direction, and education they needed to succeed in today’s world.
GJC’s after school programs were designed to give children the tools that they didn’t receive in school. These students were called “Agents of Change” and identified necessary initiatives in their community that would make it a better place to live.
Six years later, GJC had grown to 400 students guided by 40 volunteers called “Coaches” who served children from 8 to 18 years old. The programs offered help young people achieve their dreams by empowering them with a voice, life skills and the freedom to explore. These programs have been so successful that GJC has become the Boys and Girls Club of B.C.S.
Early in 2020 the first Boys and Girls Club of B.C.S. (CNYNBCS) was formed and is currently located at the Los Cabos Youth Center in the Visa Hermosa neighborhood in San José del Cabo. CNYNBCS plans to expand within the cities of San José and Cabo San Lucas as soon as suitable locations are found. The Boys and Girls Club of B.C.S. Vista Hermosa is the 12th club in Mexico which is hosted by the Boys & Girls Club of America and we will soon open another venue in San Lucas.
We greatly appreciate the presence of Rafael García Ceseña, General Director of Economic Development and Tourism of Los Cabos. Natalia Olvera, from the System for the Comprehensive Protection of Children and Adolescents (SIPINNA) in representation of Professor Oscar Leggs Castro Municipal Mayor for the XIV City Council of Los Cabos. Gabriela Ledesma Loya, Financial Coordinator of the Municipal Institute for the Development and Inclusion of People with Disabilities of Los Cabos in representation of Esmeralda Ceseña Coria, General Director of the Institute. Guadalupe Aviles Cesena, Coordinator of PAMAR in representation of Ms. Flora Aguilar, President of the DIF. Selene Molina Bernal Product Development Coordinator of the Los Cabos Tourism Trust (Fiturca), in representation of Rodrigo Esponda Cascajares, Director of the Los Cabos Tourism Trust (Fiturca), Mauricio Salicrup, president of the board of the Hotel Association for de Los Cabos and Lic. Lilzi Orci, Executive President of the Los Cabos Hotel Association.
Rafael García Ceseña, director of Economic Development and Tourism, of the XIV Los Cabos City Council, concluded: “I want to be able to encourage the community and remind them that these spaces and Civil Organizations are real and are committed to the development of the Community. Today Renato Mendonca represents the leadership of the Boys and Girls Club of Baja California Sur, A.C., but it is our duty to actively help make these changes and positive impact happen.’’
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