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SANTA FE, N.M., Aug. 18, 2026—The Santa Fe Boys & Girls Club - Valle Vista Site unveiled renovations made possible from a Panda Cares Center of Hope Grant last week, and Santa Fe County staff showed up to celebrate.

The $45,000 grant transformed one room into an education hub with new school furniture, 14 desktop computers, a digital whiteboard, and a custom panda-themed mural. The computers will help students with homework and school-related projects. Panda Cares is the philanthropic arm of Panda Restaurant Group, dedicated to serving the health and education needs of underserved youth.

Santa Fe County Housing Authority was honored to support the Club’s efforts to pursue the competitive grant by writing a letter of support for their application. The County has a contract with Santa Fe Boys & Girls Club to operate four Club locations in Santa Fe County, three at Public Housing Authority sites. Annually, Santa Fe County provides about $190,000 to assist the Boys & Girls Club operations and services. As part of this partnership, youth residing within designated Santa Fe County Housing Authority properties are eligible to participate at no cost.

"The Boys & Girls Club is an invaluable community partner that provides our youth with safe, enriching opportunities to learn, grow, and succeed. Their programs strengthen the connection between our housing communities and youth development services while increasing participation and engagement. We are grateful for this collaboration and the volunteer, educational, and recreational opportunities the Club provides to our residents and families," said LaToya G. Ricketts, MPA, former Executive Director of the Santa Fe County Housing Authority.

“Over the years, the partnership between the Club and the County has been instrumental in expanding opportunities for the young people we serve. The County's ongoing investment and support have enabled us to provide high-quality programs in communities that might otherwise have limited access to our programs. This partnership has strengthened our ability to meet the needs of local youth and families while creating lasting positive impacts throughout the community. We are deeply grateful for the County's continued commitment and look forward to building on this strong partnership for years to come,” said Christian Naea, Executive Vice President of the Santa Fe Boys & Girls Club.

Among other services, the Boys & Girls Club:

• Conducts monthly pop-up enrollment events within County housing communities
• Offers Club activity demonstrations, games, and family engagement opportunities
• Hosts annual back-to-school and summer enrollment events
• Provides immediate enrollment opportunities onsite
• Expands access to youth development, educational, recreational, and enrichment programming for children and families
• Creates stronger connections between housing residents and community-based youth services
• Provides opportunities for youth to participate in structured activities in a safe and supportive environment

The Valle Vista Boys & Girls Club Site is a Tween Center, offering licensed school age programs to middle schoolers ages 10 to 12, mostly from Turquoise Trail, Milagro, and Ortiz middle schools. Staff support students in five core areas, including education and career development, leadership development, arts and culture, sports, fitness and recreation, and health and life skills. The center is open when school is out of session. During school breaks, it’s open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and during the school year, it’s open after school until 6:00 p.m.

For more information about joining a Boys & Girls Club, visit the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Fe website or call at 505-474-0385. For more information about Santa Fe County Housing Authority, visit the Santa Fe County Housing Authority webpage.

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