Discover the rich history of the Boys and Girls Club of Laredo. Established to serve our community, we’ve been dedicated to providing a safe and nurturing environment for youth. Scroll through our timeline to explore the milestones that have shaped our mission.
Built by H.B. Zachry Corporation, our main building at 500 Moctezuma opened in 1943, serving as a USO during WWII.
The Boys Club of Laredo was chartered by local leaders and moved into the building, starting our journey of community service.
The Boys Club extended its reach by opening the Northwest Club to better serve our growing community.
We officially became the Boys & Girls Clubs of Laredo, embracing a more inclusive approach.
In 1990, the name changed to Boys & Girls Clubs of Laredo, cementing our commitment to all youth.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Laredo opens Lamar Bruni Vergara Club
Benavides Club has a remodel
Benavides Club has a Mens/Boys Restroom Renovation
Benavides Club Gets New Gameroom Floor
Clubs Get 4K Security Cameras Installed & New Buzz In Door Lock System Clubs Step up Safety & Security
Northwest Club Gets Gym Floor Replaced - New Basketball Goals Installed Benavides Club gets New Basketball Goals Installed. Lamar Bruni Vergara Club Gets New floors installed in recreation areas
The Boys & Girls Club’s mission is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.
The Boys & Girls Club of Laredo hopes to provide a safe place for children to learn and grow, to provide ongoing relationships with caring adult professionals and life-enhancing programs and character development experiences, as well as, hope and opportunity for the children in our community.




CEO
Administrative Director
Andrew P. Russell serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Laredo, one of South Texas’ most respected and enduring youth-serving organizations. As the leader of an institution approaching eight decades of transformational service, he is responsible for advancing a mission that empowers thousands of young people each year through education, leadership development, workforce readiness, athletics, and life-enriching opportunities. A distinguished executive, veteran, and community leader, Russell brings more than three decades of combined leadership experience spanning military service, banking, financial technology, and nonprofit management. Under his leadership, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Laredo continues to expand its impact, strengthen strategic partnerships, and build innovative programs that prepare the next generation of leaders while honoring a legacy of service that has shaped the Laredo community for nearly 80 years. Driven by a belief that every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, Russell is committed to creating pathways to success, inspiring community investment, and ensuring that the Boys & Girls Clubs of Laredo remains a cornerstone of hope, opportunity, and positive youth development for generations to come. Prior to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Laredo, Mr. Russell was the Chief Executive Officer for Sound Payments Inc. Reporting to the Board of Directors, Mr. Russell was responsible for the overall financial performance of Sound Payments, where he lead a team of innovators in offering the best in software development, state-of-the-art equipment, unparalleled technical and customer service delivery, advanced security and compliance, training, and double digit ROI for customers and shareholders. Russell is a believer in using technology to make life simple, effective, and efficient. During his past role as CEO of Mid-Atlantic FCU, Russell revamped the technology team, implemented-Fed-Global ACH, automated all reporting processes, applied programs for merchants of any size to process integrated payments, developed ACH Aggregation capabilities, and improved customer accessibility. During his 30 plus year military career, in both the Navy and Army, Russell worked with electronic systems, satellite communications, cryptology technology, specialized in COMSEC, and retired as a Combat Arms Officer in the Armor Corps. Russell began his banking career in Louisville, Kentucky in 1994, after eight and one half years in the United States Navy. Russell worked for JPMorgan Chase until 2001, when he joined PNC Bank until 2011 as Executive Vice President. During his tenure at PNC Bank Russell held multiple leadership roles in Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Greater Washington D.C. in the Consumer Bank, Business Bank, Capital Markets, Corporate Leasing and Real Estate Finance. In 2011, Russell joined Certus Bank as Executive Vice President, Director of the Business Bank Wholesale Group in Georgia and Florida. In 2013, Russell joined BBVA Compass as Senior Vice President and Corporate Relationship Manager. In 2015, Russell joined the Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union as President and CEO. In 2019, Russell retired with the rank of Major from the U.S. Army Reserves after 34 years of service. In 2016, Russell joined Sound Payments, Inc until 2025. Russell’s commitment to community is reflected by his prior service on the Board of Directors of Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Montgomery County, the Montgomery County Hispanic Advisory Group as well as his past service, in North Florida, on the City of Jacksonville Public Service Grant Council, President and CEO of the First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce Logistics Committee, and the Board of Directors of Northeast Florida Junior Achievement. Russell’s additional service includes, member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Directors of Pittsburgh’s Urban League, Board of Directors Leadership Pittsburgh, and on the Board of Trustees of the Community College Allegheny County. He was a member of PNC’s Consumer Bank Diversity Council. He was an advisor to the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and founding Chairman of the Greater Pittsburgh Diversity Festival. Russell, a Venezuelan-American, received a Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Arts from Excelsior University and earned his Master’s Degree from Troy State University. Russell has graduated and completed advanced studies from the American Bankers Association in areas of Commercial & Consumer Lending. Russell is a graduate of the Consumers Bankers Association Graduate School of Retail Bank Management at the University of Virginia. Russell received his Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification from the University of South Carolina. As a senior leader in the community, Russell is an alumnus of Leadership Pittsburgh Class XXIII, Jacksonville New Leadership Summit Class XI, and Leadership Montgomery Class 2016. Russell currently serves on the Governance Committee of the Organization of American States FCU, and on the Government Affairs Committee of the Laredo Chamber of Commerce.
COO
Unit Director - Benavides Club
Unit Director - Northwest Club
Unit Director - Lamar Bruni Club
Office Manager
Sports Director
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
Parliamentarian
Immediate Past President
At Large Executive Member
At Large Executive Member
At Large Executive Member
At Large Executive Member
At Large Executive Member