Thanks for keeping it on, GSA y'all.
There's a special evening coming up
where you have the chance to support
the boys and Girls Club of San Antonio.
It gets even better because San Antonio
native John Quinones from the hit show.
What would you do?
He will actually be there.
I learned a bit more about his
ties to this local nonprofit.
John Quinones, you are an alumnus of
the boys and Girls Club of San Antonio.
Could you tell us about your experience
and how it has changed your life?
You know, it changed my life dramatically.
I grew up in the barrio there on
the West side of San Antonio and
we couldn't afford, you know,
to go to any fancy health clubs or any.
It was the church or the Boys Club
on 19th St. and it saved my life
because it kept me off the streets.
You know, back then there were drive
by shootings and all these drugs.
On the streets. And it was a tough,
it was a tough neighborhood.
And it just taught me all about life.
You know, it's been proven that that
the boys Club is a safe haven for kids
to anywhere from the age of 6 to 18,
to play right, to play,
to grow and to learn all about life.
They empower.
I know they empowered me,
young men and now women, to excel in school,
to become good citizens and to lead healthy,
productive lives. I'm convinced that.
It was the the learned,
the teaching and the counseling and
the advice that I got the at the
Boys Club that you know prepared
me to be a reporter and to try to
shine a light on things that are
wrong in this world and to do a
show like what would you do right,
which is all about ethics and morals
and trying to do the right thing.
That's what my show, what would you do?
Is all about.
And I think I learned the seeds
of that came from my time at the
Boys Club and Girls Club now.
Those who are hearing your story
right now to know that you are
a product of San Antonio and
everything that you've been able to
do is a full circle moment I think.
And all the clubhouses,
including the guy that owned
clubhouse promote and enhance the
development of young people.
Just like you said you
needed that in those years.
Could you tell us more about it?
You know the the Boys Club has a beautiful
symbol of clasped hands come together,
two hands, almost like a prayer.
And I think it represents the guiding hands
that the boys and girls get from that club.
They have clubs all over the country,
all over you know all over the world and and
they and they're in places like the varios,
you know in in urban areas and and housing
complexes but also in in places that
are rural areas and in native lands.
They just catered to kids who needed
the most and they do it for free.
I mean, if it wasn't for a lot of these
fundraisers and very generous donors,
they wouldn't exist. And yet they do.
And they've been around for 160 years,
if you can believe it.
It started, as I said, as a boys club.
But then thank God they OK.
They saw the light and they
incorporated young women.
I'm so honored to be going
back to my hometown, you know,
my son Antonio, to receive such.
It's going to be a wonderful.
And prestigious award,
because I've been a fan of
the boys and Girls Club.
As I said all my life,
and not only that,
we're going to be honoring the youth of the
year and there's going to be like 5 kids.
I never got that award when I was a kid.
I wasn't that good, but they are.
And at the Whitney Museum next Wednesday,
the February 8th,
I'm going to be there with these
kids as they received their awards.
They're the most important part of it,
definitely. They are the
testament to everything you just
spoke so beautifully about.
How were those five?
Analysts selected.
They were studied,
there were a lot of applicants and
they were the kids who just excelled.
You know, the kids who have proven
that they are compassionate
and generous with their time,
that not only excelled at their own
sports and activities there at the club,
but also helped other kids,
the younger ones come up.
But these kids are so
impressive and they earned it.
They it it was a tough
process to get selected, but
that's a good problem to have
to have so many great kids.
When is the gala happening
and how can people attend?
Uh, their tickets are still on
sale and I'm going to be there
and I'm going to be talking.
I'm going to give a big speech.
There'll be orderves and drinks
and dinner at the Whitney
Museum Wednesday, February 8th.
I want everyone there with his
worthy, worthy cause.
I think everyone will come out.
I'm sending you a big hug. John,
thank you so much for your time and
being such a poodle. San antonian.
Thank you, Roma. It's a pleasure being
with you this morning. Thank you.
Basically, we're best friends guys.
It was so great talking to him.
The information for the boys and Girls
Club is on your screen right now.
You guys can give them a call at
210-380-3023 or go to
bgcsaevents.org.