Boys & Girls Club of Las Cruces receives historic donation

Through a historic gift of $1.5 million from Nusenda Credit Union, the Boys & Girls Club of Las Cruces will be able to build a new gym.

Nusenda Credit Union and the Boys & Girls Club of Las Cruces announced the donation on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. The $1.5 million donation will be distributed over five years.

The donation will allow Nusenda Credit Union to have naming rights over the new gym. The credit union will also launch a financial literacy program at the Boys & Girls Club.

“For years, the Boys & Girls Club has poured heart and dedication into making the most of every inch of their current space – and in doing so, they’ve impacted hundreds of families across Las Cruces,” Michelle Dearholt, president and CEO of Nusenda Credit Union, said. “This expansion is more than bricks and mortar - it’s a promise to our kids that they matter, and that their dreams deserve a space to grow. Nusenda is proud to stand behind that promise and help build a future where every child in Las Cruces has access to the kind of support and opportunity that can truly transform lives.”

Through the Boys & Girls Club of Las Cruces’ Building Great Futures Capital Campaign, the organization aims to raise $10 million to renovate and expand the existing Allen Theatres Video 4 Facility. This major transformation — will turn the building into a modern, 30,000-square-foot facility, the Club’s first new home since 1965. For more than 60 years, the Club has served youth and provides programs in academics, the arts, sports and leadership.

The expanded campus will increase the Club’s capacity, providing safe spaces and resources for Las Cruces families.

Ashley Echavarria, Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Club of Las Cruces, said she is grateful for the donation and said it is the largest gift in the organization’s history.

 “This transformational support will make possible something we have dreamed of for decades: a gymnasium for our kids. The new gymnasium will stand as a symbol of opportunity, health, and community, while pushing our Building Great Futures campaign beyond $6.1 million raised to date. This investment is not just a milestone—it is a legacy that will impact generations of young people for years to come.”

In addition to the gymnasium, the new facility will feature a state-of-the-art STEM lab, spaces focused on the arts, learning spaces, and an entire wing dedicated to teens, providing opportunities for after-school programs, summer camps, and leadership development. Together, Nusenda and BGCLC will build on their shared commitment to education and community well-being.

For more information about Nusenda Credit Union’s community impact initiatives, visit Nusenda.org.