19 April 2011
The Texas Capitol, Austin – State Representative Sergio Muñoz Jr. is pleased to announce a grant to be awarded to the Boys and Girls Club of Pharr Texas by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. The Community Outdoor Outreach Grant will enable 250 local participants to visit 9 different sites of the World Birding Center as part of a nine-week outdoor curriculum on birds in Texas.
The funds supporting this grant program are derived from a portion of the state sales tax on sporting goods. Grants are issued upon review by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department to allow tax-exempt organizations and municipal governments to provide outdoor recreation and environmental education activities to communities on a need and merit basis. The Boys and Girls Club of Pharr is set to receive the grant in the amount of $44,500.
Speaking on the acceptance of the grant, Alfredo “Freddy” Mata, Jr. CPO of the Boys & Girls Club of Pharr issued the following statement:
“We are very excited to be a recipient of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Departments Community Outdoor Outreach Program Grant. Although the Rio Grande Valley is a Mecca for bird watchers across the nation, local residents do not fully comprehend what we have in our own back yards. We now have the opportunity to educate our community’s youth about the tropical birds that are found in our area. Bird Brains: The Ultimate Journey is a collaborative effort between the Boys & Girls Club of Pharr, Boys & girls Club of Edinburg, and Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Madre and spans throughout Cameron and Hidalgo Counties. This program will cater primarily to at-risk youth, who may not otherwise have the opportunity to participate in outdoor recreational activities. These youth will participate in outdoor recreation and education activities throughout the summer months while visiting the nine sites that make up the World Birding Center in our area, three of which are Texas State Parks.”
“These types of grants are a very welcome bonus for our children here in Deep South Texas,” added Muñoz. “It is another source of education and exposure to our natural resources right here at home.”