Texas Border Business
PHARR, TX – San Juan’s Chief Executive Officer, Alfredo “Freddy” Mata, Jr. received the prestigious Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) 2020 Blue Spirit Award. This award is the highest honor bestowed by BGCA to a local club leader in a region. The Blue Spirit Award recognizes leaders who have demonstrated the “blue culture” and have gone above and beyond to drive impact and make a difference.
The announcement was made at this year’s BGCA National Leadership Conference and was presented by the president of the national organization, Jim Clark. “Blue Spirit winners”, said Jim Clark, “embody and exemplify, the true spirit of the movement and our shared mission. They are tireless advocates and champions for kids in their communities”. The conference was held virtually this year via Zoom due to the current pandemic.
Having been a Club kid since the age of 8, Mr. Mata has been involved with Boys & Girls Clubs for the past 30 years. Starting out as a concessionaire at the age of 16, Freddy has been employed within Boys & Girls Clubs in the RGV for the past 24 years. Moving his way up the ranks to now CEO for the Boys & Girls Club of Pharr-San Juan, where he has served in this capacity for the last 13 years.
As CEO for the Boys & Girls Club of Pharr-San Juan, Mr. Mata has made incredible strides on behalf of the organization including leading the organization in building 2 new facilities to expand the organization’s reach, raising over 2 million dollars in funding to provide mental health services for children and families throughout Hidalgo County,
Serving on the National Board for the Professional Association of Boys & Girls Clubs, and hosting a conference for local professionals in South Texas for the past 12 years.
“We do this work day in and day out, not for us but for the youth, teens, and families that we serve,” said an emotional Mr. Mata upon receiving the award, as he held back tears of gratitude.
 2020 Blue Spirit Award.){kind=link}