Barrio Boyz, Ram Herrera to Headline at Concerts Benefiting A&M International

Texas A&M International University and the United Way will benefit from two concerts to be held in Laredo this weekend as part of "El Kick de Texas," a fundraising campaign sponsored by Miller Lite and Border Beverage, Inc.

The first concert, to benefit the Texas A&M International University Alumni Scholarship Fund, will be held at the Laredo Convention Center on Friday, May 29 beginning at 8 p.m. with doors opening at 7 p.m. Scheduled performers will be Xtasy, Soleil, and headliners the Barrio Boyz. Tickets are $10 each and may be purchased at the door or from Alumni Association president Sue Nichols, 326-2169.

The second concert, featuring Tejano star Ram Herrera, will be held on Saturday, May 30 from 9 p.m. - 1 a.m. at the Casablanca Convention Center. Doors open at 8 p.m. The concert will begin with performances by local artists. Ram Herrera's performance will include songs from his latest CD, Con el Mismo Amor. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at the door or from the University's Office of Public Affairs, 326-2180. Proceeds will benefit the Texas A&M International University President's Scholarship Fund.

Persons who purchase tickets for the May 30 concert will be entered in a drawing to participate in a "Kick for Cash" soccer challenge worth $250,000 in prize money. Since the "Kick" will be held during the concert, the ticket holder who wins the drawing must be present to compete in the soccer challenge.

Persons who purchase tickets for either concert may, for a nominal donation, sign their names to a jumbo-sized soccer ball to support the "Autographs for Cash" program. The signed ball will be displayed in the Rio Grande Valley at Border Bash, the final "El Kick de Texas" fundraiser.

The El Kick traveled through nine cities across Texas in May with a goal of raising $100,000 through a soccer-themed fundraising campaign.

Events in each city aimed to celebrate soccer, unite the community, and generate funds under the Miller Lite "El Kick de Texas" banner, explained Vince Cantu, general manager of Border Beverage, Inc.

"The benefit of having a program like Miller Lite's 'El Kick de Texas' is that the special events offer the public the opportunity to make a difference," said Cantu.

"The idea is to come out and have a good time and know that you are doing something good for the community. Long after El Kick is completed, the benefits to the University and to our youth will still remain," he added.

Cantu noted that Border Beverage, Inc. is proud to participate in the El Kick fundraiser.

"We recognize the importance of obtaining higher education and understand the financial constraints of attending college. By hosting two concerts we have essentially doubled our fundraising efforts with Miller Lite's El Kick de Texas and hope to make obtaining a college education a little easier for future Laredo students," Cantu said.

For more information on the May 29 and 30 concerts benefiting A&M International, please contact the University's Office of Public Affairs at 326-2180. University office hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Friday.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu